Ten Short Stories: Wordsworth Shorts 21 - 30: Wordsworth Collections, #12

By Diane Wordsworth

Ten Short Stories: Wordsworth Shorts 21 – 30 is a Wordsworth Collection of ten short stories, most of which have all previously been published as standalone Wordsworth Shorts.

 

21. Wedding of the Year has been published in Twee Tales Twee, Twee Tales More and Five Third Age Short Stories.

22. After the Storm has been published in Twee Tales Too, Twee Tales More and Five Third Age Short Stories.

23. The Battle of Killiecrankie has been published in Twee Tales Too and Twee Tales More.

24. Sunnymead Farm has been published in Twee Tales Twee and Twee Tales More.

25. Burn has been published in Twee Tales and Twee Tales More. It also won a prize in a competition.

26. That's What Friends Are For has only been published as a Wordsworth Short.

27. Shaking the Tree has been published in The People's Friend, Twee Tales Too and Twee Tales More.

28. Blind Date has been published in Five Slightly Sinister Short Stories.

29. Crime Doesn't Pay has only been published as a Wordsworth Short.

30. Trick or Treat has not yet been previously published.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Baggins Bottom Books
• Release date: Oct 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215349373

Diane Wordsworth

Diane Wordsworth was born and bred in Solihull in the West Midlands when it was still Warwickshire. She started to write for magazines in 1985 and became a full-time freelance photojournalist in 1996. In 1998 she became sub-editor for several education trade magazines and started to edit classroom resources, textbooks and non-fiction books. In 2004 Diane moved from the Midlands to South Yorkshire where she edited an in-house magazine for an international steel company for six years. She still edits and writes on a freelance basis.

Book preview

Ten Short Stories: Wordsworth Shorts 21 – 30

Ten Short Stories: Wordsworth Shorts 21 – 30 is a Wordsworth Collection of ten short stories most of which have all previously been published as standalone Wordsworth Shorts.

21. Wedding of the Year has been published in Twee Tales Twee, Twee Tales More and Five Third Age Short Stories.

22. After the Storm has been published in Twee Tales Too, Twee Tales More and Five Third Age Short Stories.

23. The Battle of Killiecrankie has been published in Twee Tales Too and Twee Tales More.

24. Sunnymead Farm has been published in Twee Tales Twee and Twee Tales More.

25. Burn has been published in Twee Tales and Twee Tales More. It also won a prize in a competition.

26. That’s What Friends Are For has only been published as a Wordsworth Short.

27. Shaking the Tree has been published in The People’s Friend, Twee Tales Too and Twee Tales More.

28. Blind Date has been published in Five Slightly Sinister Short Stories.

29. Crime Doesn’t Pay has only been published as a Wordsworth Short.

30. Trick or Treat has not yet been previously published.

21. Wedding of the Year

(This short story has been published in Twee Tales Twee, Twee Tales More and Five Third Age Short Stories)

The beautiful white horse and carriage pulled up outside the church in the early afternoon sunshine. Jeanette waited while Jay hopped out and ran to her side to open the door, help her down and assist with her train, which was a good five feet long.

Once on the footpath, six little bridesmaids dashed towards them, an older one, Jeanette's younger sister Gwen, behind them, struggling to keep up with their young legs.

Surrounded by a cloud of pearly white satin, Jeanette leaned over the little girls' heads to accept a peck on the cheek from her sister.

You’re the most beautiful bride ever. She wiped a tear from her eye.

The photographer fussed, taking pictures of the bride, of the bridesmaids with the bride, of Jay with the bride, of Gwen with the bride. Pictures next to the horse and carriage, in front of the church gate, under the church gate, in the church doorway. Jeanette hoped he wouldn't go over the top all day.

The weather was perfect, the pearly white wedding dress with sixteen petticoats was perfect, her hair was perfect. Jeanette had even had her teeth done.

Everything is going to be perfect, sighed the bride, tightening Jay's pearly white bow tie and straightening his top hat. Then she took his arm again, the doors opened and Mendelssohn's Wedding March pumped out from the wheezing church organ.

Jay and Jeanette walked in, followed by the six little bridesmaids first, and Gwen at the rear.

It was perfect.

THE ENTIRE DAY PASSED without a hitch, with all the family on their best behaviour at the formal reception, which had been a very small affair. Now, on the evening, it was time to party with the rest of their friends and family.

It looks like something out of the 1970s! exclaimed Gwen, her eyes popping out of her head as she saw the scene.

That's because it is, said Jeanette, leading her sister into the transformed function room of their local town hall. That's how long I've been planning this one, she reminded her.

A glitter-ball suspended from the ceiling changed from cerise to turquoise to amber to silver. The dance-floor twinkled with multi-coloured lights. In the corner was an old two-deck/one-tape DJ console, with a CD player set up on a stool next to it. Behind the desk danced a man wearing a black cat-suit over a turquoise satin shirt, popping out the moves John Travolta style.

He looks like — said Gwen.

Fast Freddie! agreed Jeanette.

What?! Her eyes grew even bigger. You found Fast Freddie's Fantastic Disco Show? I thought he’d be long dead.

Oh no, shouted Jeanette over the music. He calls himself Agile Alf's All Star Disco Show now, though.

Agile Alf? How did he go from Freddie to Alf?

His name's Alfred. And you didn't half used to fancy him. Jeanette was amused to see her sister have the good grace to blush.

He's aged a bit since then, said Gwen.

We all have, agreed her sister.

Suddenly, Agile Alf interrupted the music over the microphone.

Aha, I see the beautiful bride has arrived. Jeanette tried to look suitably bashful as her sister led her into the middle of the dance-floor. And I see her equally beautiful sister is with her, said Alf. And Gwen blushed again.

You didn't tell him, did you? she hissed at Jeanette, who shook her head and laughed.

Where’s the groom? asked Alf.

A cry of here! went up and Jay escorted the groom onto the dance-floor too.

Robert the groom and Jeanette the bride were pushed together and they stumbled into each other's embrace, which caused great hilarity.

The first dance, said Alf, playing Python Lee Jackson's In a Broken Dream. Robert and Jeanette smooched for a few bars before being decently joined by some of their guests.

AS ROBERT SWUNG HIS bride around to Dancing Queen by Abba, Jay fielded questions from his new girlfriend.

How did they meet? asked Cathy.

"They met back in 1972 when Robert was a DJ, just like Freddie.