Seymour

By Laurie Brady

Seymour, a somewhat ‘different’ 22-year-old, is infatuated with Louise, and believing they are destined for one another, sets out to ‘win’ her love.
His attempt to put her on a pedestal for others to admire, fails, so persuaded that girls like boys to be tough, he is encouraged to show Louise his masculine side! When the results are not what he’d anticipated, he tries to seek favour with her parents, thinking Louise will be impressed with him if they are. At a dinner engagement with the family, he leaves their home a disaster area.
As one calamity follows another, he tries to change his image, thinking this might prove seductive for Louise. It doesn’t.
Believing commitment might be the solution, he has several unsuccessful attempts to propose. He misinterprets Louise’s final indifferent response as a positive sign, but is too hasty in stealing a ‘sealing’ kiss.
The story concludes with a letter to his parents outlining the results of his final attempt.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Aug 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9781398413894

Laurie Brady

Laurie Brady is a poet, having six published collections, and a writer of short stories, having three published collections. He spent his life in teaching and teacher education, retiring as professor of education at the University of Technology, Sydney.

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About the Author

Based in Sydney, Laurie Brady is a retired university professor of education who spent his professional life in teacher education. He has written many education books for teachers, university and school students, as well as adult literature (poetry, short stories, and a novel). Much of his writing reveals a keen sense of humour and a liking for the ridiculous as long as they provide a greater understanding of the nature of people.

Dedication

To all those who love, and seek to be loved

Copyright Information ©

Laurie Brady (2021)

The right of Laurie Brady to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398410756 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398413894 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published (2021)

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd

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London

E14 5LQ

Chapter 1

For the first time in his twenty-two years, Seymour thought he was in love.

How do you know? Brett asked. He’d also never been in love before.

It’s a really strange feeling Seymour answered, and paused to find words to explain the emotion that was consuming him.

Do you think you’re coming down with something? Brett was concerned and tried to feel Seymour’s forehead for signs of a fever. His hand was quickly brushed away.

I go all weak in the knees when I see her, my head feels a little strange, and my heart starts thumping. I want to gaze at her like there’s nothing else in the world worth looking at. If I can’t touch her, I’d still be happy just to feast my eyes on her.

Brett could see the glazed look in Seymour’s face, but dared not interrupt. He still wondered if his friend was not well.

I felt it as soon as I saw her. I knew then that she was the only one for me. So beautiful— Seymour’s voice trailed away. He seemed to be in another world, one that Brett was finding it hard to reach.

Wow mate. Brett considered whether this thing called love was worth having. People seemed to catch it like a virus. He knew that it made people blissfully happy, but also very sad. He knew that it made them do peculiar things.

He loved his mum and dad, his sister Naomi and his poodle Trixie, but that feeling couldn’t have been what Seymour was feeling. Does she feel the same? he asked bluntly, wondering if it was a common affliction.

I don’t know. We haven’t even spoken to each other yet. Seymour looked suddenly deflated, as if he’d been rudely awakened from a pleasant dream. I passed her on the street and she smiled when I said hello.

Brett was even more baffled. Did this thing called love just come from nowhere? Was a smile enough to catch it? So did she stop or was it just a hello? he asked.

Seymour didn’t answer. He sensed that his friend was finding it hard to believe, and the thought that she couldn’t care a less about him was too painful.

Seeing that his friend was becoming down-hearted, Brett tried another tack. Tell me about her. What’s her name? What does she look like?

Seymour warmed to the challenge. Her name is Louise—Lou-ise. He repeated and broke it into two syllables as if he were savouring a melting sweet. He brightened immediately. She’s about so high, he used his hand to indicate a height about the same as his own, and she has a figure, a figure—

Everyone has a figure mate, Brett interrupted, even you and me.

But Seymour continued as if he hadn’t heard. Blond hair like gossamer, a little turned-up nose, soft eyes—

What colour? Brett interrupted.

Seymour looked stricken. He wasn’t sure. Bluey-green, perhaps a little brownish. He needed to repress this lack of perception. He couldn’t admit to not knowing. And the way she walked, like she was walking on air, as if her feet weren’t even touching the pavement.

You’ve got it bad, haven’t you mate? Brett observed. So what comes next, what are you going to do about it?

Seymour looked surprised. The thought of doing something about his feeling hadn’t surfaced yet. Does every feeling you have, need to be translated into action? But the seed had been planted. Brett’s words were food for thought. I’d like to put her on a pedestal, he said, so everyone can see what I can see.

You’ve done that already, Brett replied. I know the saying ‘to put someone on a pedestal’ means to raise someone above all others in importance. He was pleased to air his limited knowledge. He’d heard the saying a few days before and had asked Naomi what it meant.

No, no. Seymour seemed annoyed that his friend had misunderstood. I mean, put her on a pedestal for real.

Brett scratched his head. He didn’t understand. Isn’t a pedestal a small platform like they put the bronze statues of famous people on in the park, dead war heroes and politicians?

Yes, Seymour answered, becoming excited as the possibilities began to dawn. Usually a small square base about a metre or two high that a statue or a person stands on.

I don’t think I’ve grasped this. Brett was puzzled. You’re telling me that you are going to get, or make a pedestal, a platform for Louise to stand on, so she’s like—like a living statue.

Seymour had only declared that he’d like to, not that he would, but Brett’s questioning firmed his resolve. That’s right. Make a pedestal. Why not? It is a great idea. You’re a genius Brett!

But—where—I mean, I understand she’s standing on the pedestal, but where is the pedestal going to be standing?

Wherever there are people. That’s the point. It has to be where people can see and admire her. Seymour