Category: Lies

The night lengthens
the odds shorten.
Twenty years older
a former hippy and a challenge
two moves left
if they can be completed. Success.

A chance meeting and invitation to coffee
extended to dinner
it was all she meant, but hope had other thoughts.
Interest feigned in her past and the women’s issues
to which she attached great importance.
Any port in a storm
and one anchorage very attractive.

I am a rarity she said
a man who listens.
Camomile tea, natural, artificial chocolate
closer proximity.
Could we hold hands? “Yes.”

Tales of the 1960s and a river commune
spirituality
folk music
vegetarianism and nudity.
Men flocked
claiming self development as intent
but sex was their instinct
some women were very gullible. Apparently.

I was different
she could tell.
Thoughtful and empathetic
an interesting companion.
One who appreciated woman for their intrinsic worth
it was reassuring to meet an enlightened man.
Checkmated
by my own deceit.

The brochures showed scrubbed shining pupils
sharply attentive to a smiling instructor
sunlight floods into well funded laboratories
flames bubble obedient beakers.

At the career day staff
smooth through persuasive presentations
sedating apprehension
joshing uncertainty
challenging vacillation
doubt equals self awareness, age experience – “job or vocation?”
Sign here.

A bleak morning
by the calendar it is spring
by temperature and colour, winter.
Three days of observation from hardscrabble stalls
time now to be ringmaster
seen it all before eyes stalk from graffitied desks.

Guerilla warfare – non violent but lethal
a new boss whose workers are conspiring with defeat and derision.
At the end of the first week
honesty wonders if a single fact has been learned.
The tutor’s brow wrinkles. She is sure I am mistaken.

The periodic table is explained
and chemical symbols introduced.
A quiz at the end of the second week reveals
periodicity is about menstruation
chemical shorthand abbreviation for teenage cult figures.

I confess to the tutor
she looks around for vacant ears then sighs.
Apparently this is not a good school
most here do not maintain professional development
my technique is sound but alien to the unenlightened.
Truth settles for appeasement.

Geometry
solitary advantage afforded an interviewee
the unequal triangle
panel and table confronting single chair
renders visible
affirmation or alarm – confirmation is perpendicular.

The principal turned 90°
her eyes put the motion
a nod seconds credentials as acceptable.
Candidacy is a finalist. So far so good.

A pause.
“um”
another pause.
One matter needs to be addressed
“ the group you… er…the successful applicant
will be working with is poor and aware…..and…. ”
a third pause.
“And ”
I seem…“ah…a little…um …a little too… ah… middle-class.”

Present-day circumstances concur
history offers a submission
of time spent in factories, kitchens, killing plants
working alongside threadbare spirits in thrift shop clothes.

Both look ahead – address heard – jury unmoved.
Attendance is thanked.
Contact promised.
The verdict delivered. By mail.

Two weeks
God’s assigned convalesce time
medium to low grade anguish.
Examples
second date dumping
failing an exam
not getting the job.
The day is mild and untroubled
traffic lights share the unurgency
change can wait.
And wait.

Two drivers turn toward the other
palms up good natured forbearance.
Both are acquainted. Briefly. Very briefly.
One could not be expected to remember
a principal who empathises with poor people
at the wheel of a large, late model Mercedes Benz.