More X'lent Tales

By Noeline Slowgrove

More X’lent Tales is a second book of short stories following the previous book X’lent tales. No two stories are alike and most end with a twist. This collection begins with stories dealing with COVID 19. The stories go on to deal with the human condition and the nature of man. Others are amusing, while some are heart-warming. One story tells of a magical world of peace. The Fifth Dimension asks questions of the reader. The last and longest story, Solar Flares, tells of the bond between a divorced couple and a climatic scientist, as the world comes under threat of solar flares.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Jun 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669888932

Noeline Slowgrove

Noeline comes from the land down under, and lives in Sydney, Australia. Way, way back in a time when authors picked up a pen or tapped away at a typewriter, Noeline was bitten by the writing bug and its creative sting entered her blood. At the age of 12, she won a children’s short story competition. At the age of 27, she won another short story competition run by the Queensland Writer’s Workshop. Over the course of her life, many words have flowed from her pen resulting in a collection of short stories, and several novellas. Back in the 1960’s Noeline joined the peace rallies both in the U.K and Australia. It was at this time the seed of world peace was planted in her mind and the speculative novel “TWO WORLDS”, dormant for many years, finally came into being.

Book preview

THE DELTA 5.1 VACCINE

To Evelyn and Ewan Jones it seemed like yesterday. In fact, it had been more than 20 years ago…a time when the Coronavirus pandemic took over the world resulting in the deaths of millions of people. 20 years ago, multiple vaccines had sprung up in laboratories of pharmaceutical companies across the world. Like many people Evelyn and Ewan Jones were worried about the vaccines. There were stories of blood clotting, people dying and bad reactions. There were conspiracy theories. Wary of the vaccine, this elderly couple put their city home up for sale and went bush. They were not alone. Many others believed Forest Glen in the Blue Mountains would be a safe haven from the virus.

While thousands in the city lined up to get their vaccine shots, Evelyn and Ewan Jones settled into a small quaint cottage surrounded by bush, a white picket fence and a rose bower over the front gate. In this bushland setting the elderly couple felt free of fear. They believed the sunshine and fresh air was free from city contaminants, and they would be safe. Native bush flowers bursting into bloom and birds twittering in the trees assured them they had made the right decision to move. At night, overhead the stars shone brighter than Evelyn and Ewan had ever seen except for the place of their origin, Wales. And here in the small sleepy town of Forest Glen they were able to ignore the constant daily reminders they could die from the deadly virus.

During the first weeks of settling into their bush cottage they often strolled hand in hand along a bush track and continued to feel safe. Several days a week Evelyn wandered down a narrow bush track and into town where she could shop and potter around without feeling afraid. She made friends with the locals. But as the weeks passed Evelyn began to notice there were more and more people in town. Returning to her cottage, while unpacking groceries Ewan came in from the garden looking old and breathless. Concerned, Evelyn poured her husband a glass of water. Are you alright? Yep…old girl. I’m okay. Just a bit hot out there. That garden needs a lot of work. Mmmm…I suppose you’re right. Then don’t do so much.

Within a month more elderly couples sold their homes and re-located to Forest Glen. Many young families were amongst them. Over dinner one night Ewan complained, This town is swarming with newcomers. Looking up from her plate, Evelyn nodded then grumbled, Hope they haven’t brought that virus with them. Don’t worry old chook, these city folk would have had their vaccinations. But what if they haven’t? Don’t worry. There are no cases of COVID here. But what if there is…? The only thing for it, " he shrugged "we’ll have to get the jab." Shaking her head, Evelyn complained, I don’t want it. It’s not safe. We’re old …what if we have bad reactions? If the virus is in town….we have to get the jab. We must protect ourselves. I don’t like it…but there you are. Oh Ewey….I feel so worried about having a foreign substance put in my body….especially at our age. Don’t fret until it happens. After dinner, the elderly couple from Wales, each carrying a glass of wine went to their back garden and sitting under the stars discussed at length the pros and cons of having the vaccination. Looking up to the heavens, Ewan changed the subject. Look up there…I see the Southern Cross. Evelyn was not about to have the subject changed. Ewey, I think this virus is meant to kill off old people. I think they could be trying to get rid of us so the government doesn’t have to pay us our pensions. Ewan chuckled, "Now…there’s food for thought." What are we going to do? Well, if we hear a knock on the door, we’ll know they’re coming to get us. Ewey, stop it! You make it sound like Big Brother is watching us! Perhaps he is… Ewan couldn’t stop laughing, then said, Finish your wine dear, and let’s forget all this nonsense. Doubts still lingering, Evelyn muttered, I suppose you’re right. I hate this virus.

It happened quickly. A week later cars lined up at a testing clinic on the roadside into town. The Forest Glen Medical Centre in the main street was already vaccinating people. In trying to re-assure herself the vaccine was safe, Evelyn chatted to elderly couples hesitant about having the vaccination. The rumour spread quickly the government was trying to get rid of old people with a new vaccine called the DELTA 5.1 exclusive to the over seventies. Evelyn was a nervous wreck beginning to believe the vaccine could trigger an under lying health issue. Compassionately, Ewan explained, Look love, the fact is … we are old. We can’t live forever. We should have the jab…in the long run it won’t make any difference. Evelyn moaned, I just don’t understand why this vaccine is for old people over seventy? I don’t trust the Government. Everyone here in Forest Glen thinks the same. Ewan grinned, And who started that rumour? Evelyn’s face coloured. In a strong and firm voice, Ewan said, Tomorrow we go get tested. Then we have the jab. We can’t live our lives in fear.

The following day, along with a large number of single and elderly couples, the Jones’s entered the Medical Centre and had the first of two Delta 5.1 vaccinations. As she felt the sting in her arm, Evelyn still believed these vaccinations, exclusive to the aged, had been approved too quickly.

Months later most elderly people in Forest Glen had had their vaccinations. Eventually the coronavirus went away and life returned to normal. Young couples moved back to their city homes, and the Blue Mountains once again became a safe haven for retirees and the elderly. Evelyn and Ewan Jones got on with life and were genuinely pleased when their pensions were increased….putting to rest the Government was not getting rid of old people to restore the economy. Evelyn often wondered how she had ever got caught up with this conspiracy theory.

One sunny afternoon a year later, Evelyn was in the kitchen humming to herself while stirring a pot of boiling jam on the stove. Already she had prepared several dozen jam jars. Having joined other elderly ladies running a Sunday market in the centre of town, Evelyn had set up her own cottage industry of homemade strawberry jam. Ewan had joined his wife setting up a stall for home grown fruit and vegetables. He had never looked healthier. His perpetual cough was gone and his breathing was calm and regular. Evelyn couldn’t help but think her husband of fifty years had never looked better and after a week in hospital having his pace-maker removed, for this elderly couple life was good. Forest Glen was as near to a Welsh village as they could get. The COVID 19 had not brought about the end of the world as people had thought. The Jones’s and the rest of the elderly community in the small sleepy town were remarkably healthy once the worry of the virus and vaccinations had gone. The lock-downs had kept them rested, at home and able to take up new hobbies. They felt younger… they looked younger. The vaccination was not as ominous as they had first thought.

Sadly those elderly who had refused the new vaccine for the over seventies….well they were booking into aged care facilities. The elderly who had been injected with the new vaccine were not suffering the ailments of the aged. These elderly didn’t appear to be aging. They were productive. Many had gone back to their previous careers.

*******

Soon after the pandemic was over, the World Health Organisation summoned its members to attend a meeting. The agenda…. COMING TO OUR ATTENTION THERE ARE REPORTS OF THE ELDERLY NOT AGING? The member for Switzerland rose to his feet. Several of our members have become aware many elderly people were given an experimental vaccine intended for people over seventy. The member for Canada raised his hand. "In the beginning, most of them were experimental. Can anyone tell me which vaccine these elderly had?" The member from China stood. I can. It was ours. It was a vaccine we made to kill off a new strain of the virus. We called this vaccine the DELTA 5.1. After months of testing on volunteers we found they began to show no signs of aging. Rats sick from previous experimental vaccines now vaccinated with the DELTA 5.1 were regaining weight. Arthritis in many older volunteers disappeared with weeks. This was good. We then released this vaccine and trialled it on the elderly over 70 years of age. Again, this was good. Unfortunately our vaccine started to mutate and we had to stop production.. Astounded the member for the United Kingdom stood. Are you are telling us these old people are not growing old? We don’t know. You don’t know? the member shouted. Explain to me in simple language what you do….and don’t know! Another hand went up. The head of World Health said, You may stand. A short, timid member from Ireland stood and said in a strong accent, "May I be askin’ the Chinese delegate, seeming ye be responsible for this experimental vaccine …what did yer do with the vaccine given to the elderly? We destroyed it. I repeat…it was still mutating." The Irish member grew red in the face. And now I be askin’ to whom and where did yer send this experimental vaccine…the DELTA 5.1? Lowering his head the member for China admitted, Elderly communities across the world. Banging his fist on the table, the delegate from Ireland yelled, Are ye be daft man! The country with the most sophisticated laboratories in the world…threw it out and destroyed all evidence of what ye had made? Ye may very well have discovered and destroyed the fountain of youth! From all delegates around the conference table, the silence was overwhelming. The stoic face of the Chinese member showed no emotion. But the twinkle in his eye told a different story.

For the next twenty years elderly people from all parts of the world, with the wisdom of the aged continued to enjoy life. They grew healthier and avoided crippling arthritis and underlying health issues. With the knowledge they had gained over their long lives, they passed their life experiences, professions, trades and hobby craft onto the youth of their communities. The elderly became teachers, educators and artisans to the young and the middle aged. Which was not unusual as the elderly have always done this….but this time it was different….the words PEACE and TOLERANCE towards their fellow man was instilled in the minds of the young.

What the Chinese did with DELTA 5.1….no one will ever know.

Evelyn and Ewan from Wales continued to run their market stalls. Eventually Ewan Jones became the Mayor of Forest Glen. His fellow councillors were well into their nineties.

RUNNING OUT OF TIME

Young people rarely believe they will run out of time. Older people are different. Older people know they are running out of time as the years rush by.

Maude, Winifred and Bernard had been good friends and neighbours since they had said a last goodbye to their partners. Bernard and Winifred were in their late seventies and Maude had just celebrated her 80th birthday. All three were single ‘elderlies’ living in large homes, their families having moved far away and living their own lives. When Maude’s 80th birthday arrived, she shared her special day with her two closest friends.

Then after waiting all morning, Maude’s daughter Celia, with her husband and three teenage children, finally arrived after having flown up from Melbourne to share in her mother’s big day. And that was all it was….one day, a birthday cake, a take-away celebration dinner, and restless grandchildren. And she was pleased to see them. And, thank goodness Maude had asked her friends Winifred and Bernard to stay for dinner. Bless their hearts they had tried valiantly to amuse the teenagers….all of whom were fixated on their hand held devices. Maude’s special day came to an end just before 11pm when a taxi tooted its horn. She hugged and said goodbye to her family and shed a few tears, before they headed to the airport for the midnight flight back to Victoria. Alone, the 80 year old closed her front door, and exhausted, flopped down on a sofa and stared at the blank screen of her television set. Half a glass of champagne…its bubbles long gone, and the last piece of birthday cake sat on a coffee table. Tears sprung to Maude’s eyes. Out aloud she muttered, "Stop the blubbering … they have their own lives to live… Then indignantly she said aloud, 80 is not old!

The next morning, just after 9am there were no signs of a party having taken place. Making herself comfortable Maude settled down on her sofa to watch the Bold and the Beautiful and Master Chef which she had taped the day before her family arrived. What else was there to do? But…before the first commercial, there was a knock on the door. It was her elderly neighbours. Winnie... Bernie? she said, You’re too late. The birthday cake is all gone! Bernard, a twinkle in his eye, bent over and kissed Maude on the cheek. Happy birthday again, old girl. Maude retaliated, "Enough of that old girl stuff. So what got you pair out of bed so early?" A little deaf, Winnifred shouted, How many times do I have to tell you….we are not a pair! Bernard added, As a matter of fact we’ve come to take you out…our birthday treat.

It took Maude all of five minutes to get ready and tape another episode of the Bold and Beautiful. Where are you taking me? Where else? said Jerry, To the club. Breathlessly, with a lowered voice Winifred said, Or would you rather go to the Casino? Without hesitation, Maude replied, Yes. Most definitely. Bernard laughed, Good girl, then added, Winnie has three half price tickets for the all-you-can eat buffet.

The Casino, as always for these three elderly people, was amazing. The bright lights, background music playing, people moving around…and it was fun watching players spinning wheels, and the throwing of dice on the roulette wheels. Lunch was amazing….lobster, garden salads, Chinese…and the desserts were divine. After lunch Maude, Winifred and Bernard were lured to the poker machines. Amazingly, all three won a jackpot….only a few dollars…but a jackpot all the same and enough to cover the cost of lunch and a taxi fare home.

Back at Maude’s house, she insisted her friends come inside and share a bottle of champagne Celia had left in the frig. Her heart swelled with pleasure as she popped the cork