Pink Snow

By d.W. Whitfield

These short stories cover a gamut of styles and subject matter from the traditional to the not so traditional to the more experimental. The latter exhibiting a rejection of grammatical punctuation and capital letters, culminating in free verse, prose and poetry all entwining into a new story telling experience.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Aug 11, 2017
• ISBN: 9781546280163

d.W. Whitfield

The author’s second novel originally from N. East England now resides permanently in Mid-West France enjoying the beauty of the countryside. His other full time occupation is that of an artist exhibiting paintings throughout Europe and being published in art books and periodicals.

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© 2017 D W Whitfield. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 08/11/2017

ISBN: 978-1-5462-8017-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-8018-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-8016-3 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

A Cats Tale A Modern Fairy Story

A Family Affair

A Knock At The Door

A Letter

A Long Drink

A Meal Of It

A Name

A Package

A Sign

A Stumble

A Word In Practice

An Eye In The Hand

Another Wish - A Modern Fairy Tale

Bus Shelter

Car Park

Choice

Cold Rain

Collision

Dilemma

Dinner Guest

Freedom

Funeral

Golden Time

Goodnight

Haste

A Helping Hand

Home

If Only

I’m Back

In The Looking

Journey’s End

Les Moustaches

Letters

Pink

Return Journey

Rooms

Sunday Afternoon

The Appointment

The Apprentice

The Forest

The Note

The Restaurant

The Storm

The Table

The Waiting Room

Time

Two Brothers

Waiting Time

Waiting

Wheelchair

A CATS TALE A MODERN FAIRY STORY

it sat on the patio watching not moving

just watching with knowing eyes

with that unerving stare

the man dropped his newspaper and chased

it with a few choice curses

his wife protesting its harmless presence

in moments of innocence events are born

to take journeys unplanned

and thoughts in short sightedness

doth abandon the self

to emotions out of reach

for civility to drown

under greedy abundance to the centred self

no matter its previous response

the next day it returned to observe the woman

alone whilst her husband was away at the office

a greeting with milk enticed it closer but avoiding

contact as it lapped its refreshment

before bounding away

for days after it returned to drink

unknown by the man who disliked cats

the woman delighted for a little company during the

day began to leave out small morsels of food so the

cat tarried longer but still kept its distance from contact

when one morning a mouse was proudly delivered

her husbands response was of immediate anger

and threatened to poison the thing but her pleadings

dissuaded him eventually

the die was cast the heavens stirred

undecided the direction to take allowing the spirited

fates to play to decide the throw of dice

another mouse then another is a friends response to

warmth and affection which did turn the stomach

of the lady of the house who was beginning to tire of

this daily occurrence when by chance her husband

spied something glittering on the edge of the patio

have you lost an ear ring

the next morning there was another

matching the first as both stared in disbelief

these were not just trinkets they looked expensive

had the cat by chance found them in another house

for some days they pondered of what to do when

to their astonishment a necklace was deposited

puzzled and delighted the husband took an earing

to be valued and returned triumphant

it was very valuable tell no one I will sell them

quickly before a search is made from the owner

but strangely nothing was heard about thefts robberies

or missing jewelry

more days passed the cat continued to leave all manner

of valuables to which the husband collected together

and took them to a jeweller out of town explaining

that they had been left to him by his recently departed

aunt and being her only relative and male what else to

do but sell

the jeweller smiled in his understanding bored lipped

expression money was more important to both

returning home he shouted in glee throwing all the

money in the air let us go and spend and spend

the explanation given to the neighbours for this slight

extravagance was a large commission from his firm due

to him landing an overseas contract congratulations

and smiles especially as unknown to the neighbours the

valuables continued to be deposited every few days and

of exceptional quality

smugness struggled to leave ever widening smiles

on increased fattening figures

different jewellers needed to be found each time for

it would have been foolhardy to visit the same jeweller

twice

as amounts increased so did greed

another decision that of promotion to head of department

which would explain this further expansion of their

increased expensive lifestyle

a bigger car a lavish holiday abroad notwithstanding new

clothes and do come around for cocktails for a new lifestyle

to progress demands that status must be seen and paraded

with glistening artifacts and golden accessories to be

constantly changed to meet the insatiable demands

of fashionable snobbery

more always wants more and so did her husband who was

plotting to find the source of wealth if he could do so then

he need not have to wait upon the vagaries of that infernal

animal he could have more quicker

but he could not follow it as it was too quick and he too slow

it would not allow itself to be picked up let alone a collar

or lead to be attached

it sensed the sedative in the food immediately

a further plan was to use stealth every morning he placed

himself closer to the cats pathway to the patio without

interference steadily creeping closer every morning so that

the cat was accustomed to his presence and felt safe

this progressed for some days until as the cat passed him

by one morning he pounced and threw himself with a net

over the startled animal pinning it to the ground

while his wife ran up with a collar and lead

avoiding its teeth and claws most of the time

then cutting away the net he allowed the cat

to bound away safely secured by the lead as he followed

puffing heartily down the garden across the field and into

the far woodland

his wife watched until they disappeared then went indoors

for breakfast later morning tea and biscuits lunch followed

afternoon tea then dinner later a little light supper a cup of

cocoa before retiring for the evening

next morning after breakfast she decided to phone the police

to report a missing person but failed to mention the cat which

she never saw again or her husband

after a lengthy search her husband was assumed dead through

misadventure

and so the game played with chance the winner

the house plus contents were all sold outstanding debts paid

and the bewildered widow retired to a small nondescript

housing estate on the other side of town to a life of whistdrives

tuppaware parties and baking of scones staying well clear of

any stray cats

eventually the incident was all but forgotten and life as usual

continued except that is

of a coincidence over in a small village some miles from town

a young couple sitting one morning in their back garden were

approached by a cat that stared and looked at them

they were delighted and made such a fuss

as bells ring in heaven and fate heaves a sigh

a rainbow melts its colours over autumn leaves

to set a unicorn dancing and trolls to hunting

for small juicy things to eat

the cat drinks the milk before strolling off to a chorused cooing

from these young things in their simple poverty

the familiar pattern unfolded with everyday visits before a mouse

or two were left it received some milk and tiny morsels left

by the couple until that day a small piece of jewelry appeared

the couple were horrified unsure what to do until another piece

also appeared immediately they informed the police who

explained that no reports had been received concerning

any items of jewelry so they were entitled to keep them

later in the week as more were left they scolded the cat

it was not the done thing their voices raised in disapproval

wishing that the cat would stop its behaviour

their wish was granted they received mice as usual

the cat settled in and all lived in poverty ever after

A FAMILY AFFAIR

they were brother and sister

a nice couple who shared a small cottage

just down a small track some little way from

the centre of the village

for some years now they had lived there quietly

and respectable raising no gossip or tittling tattle

both worked in quiet conservative part time

occupations the woman as a secretary for the

local council the man as a librarian occasionally

to be seen around the village as one would and

also occasionally frequenting one of the local pubs

a quiet one of course

his sister seen going about for the weekly shop

in correct sensible attire with sensible shoes and

of course devoid of any make up

somehow never seen together

as birds flew in seasons change

and colours settled into sleep

and evenings declined in length

and temperatures climbed and fell

and the sun rose

and the moon waned

the brother and the sister remained a steadfast

constant never changing habitual lifestyle

on alternate days of the week either the brother

or the sister could be seen walking purposefully

to their respective places of employment always

punctual whatever the weather both models of civility

and an upright characters

a line travels straight until a deviation that may call it

a curve a possible beginning of a circle but whither that

cause to change direction a dark cloud hovers

and birds flee

why the rain or its absence

as a mood changes in looks and words unknown

forces a smile or snarl in darkened corners

changes thus against the grain

echoed tides to take the strain

deep within they all have lain

blessed are those who avoid the pain

one such time during an annual holiday break the sister

left her home to visit their mother in the meanwhile her

other at this time unknown sister came to visit her brother

not having seen each other for many years

their mother apparently being unwell needed some help

so the sisters just swapped accommodation

but soon so soon the village gossips gathered to ascertain

this newcomer as to her presence catching all off guard

while her resemblance to her sister was undeniable

her character was not that of one who would be expected

from this family the epitome of conservatism in all matters

this surprising newcomer wore high heeled shoes short

skirts painted nails and daring black mascara

she paraded rather than walked even flounced and

surrendered herself to the partaking of alcoholic beverages

in the company of male admirers

with dazzling plumage doth the blind be drawn to the ever

fluttering mouth of red promising honey drips

but of this the sweet essence tis tincture of sour bitterness

unknown as yet to be tasted by these giddy schoolboys

shyness not being of one of her characteristics she soon

made her mark in the village hopping from bars to cafés

from clothes shops back to bars all fun and promise

but in no short time alas the