Category: Lies

A good-natured refrain or snarled taunt
“put your money where your mouth is”
Dental appointments are just that
or rather
putting your mouth where the money is.

I found them by accident – toothache
an urgent need for a dentist
I asked around for a recommendation
word of mouth I guess.

They were professional and private couple
he the surgeon, she the chair side assistant
a warm almost comic duo
who made dental visits fun
treatment painless and cost anaesthetised.

Competent no doubt
judgement trusted without question
a cheerful hard-working professional
able to solve that elusive quadratic – speed and quality
Formula One pace. A jeweller’s precision.

Elective surgery
friendly fire
particles of tissue swim north
confused missiles hone on an unsuspecting target.
Embolism. Oxygen deprivation. Stroke.

He was off work a long time
his peers judged him competent to return
where fingers once waltzed, they shuffled
machine-gun wit slowed to small bore volley
sometimes jamming with word loss.

Awkward loyalty made abandonment difficult
it seemed too harsh – callous.
Pre-fluoride teeth
nothing left to be filled.
Annual visit only – if luck holds
x-rays plus scrape plus payment.
“See you in a year,” his cheerful signing off
“look forward to it,” the reflexive reply.

I kept hoping he would retire
that there wouldn’t be a next time.

Application 1
Key attributes sought: reliable and hard-working
capable of thinking quickly and adapting to change
able to meet tight deadlines.
The closing date is 31 October
the letter arrives, February at its head
thank you
unfortunately…
Best wishes for the festive season.

Application 2
The successful candidate will be the interface
between our organisation and the public.
Essential qualities include attention to detail
and ability to create favourable impression.
The signature to the advertisement
takes prospective employees on a tour
a man of indeterminate age and philosophy
chummy and talkative
he stands comfortably too close
the breath packaging his words, sour and curdled.

Application 3
A fast paced workplace
requires a team player
to oversee nine teaching laboratories
frequently operating simultaneously.
Good timekeeping imperative.
The interview begins 25 minutes late.
No apology or explanation is offered.

Application 4
We seek
a motivated conscientious self-starter
to develop and manage professional
and empathetic relationships with customers.
Implementation of industry best standards.
Compliance with all agreed quality standards.
Documents are returned
imprinted with coffee cup halo.

Dark, petite and pretty – early 40s.
younger looking than passport age
intelligent – above average – but not too clever
adaptable and hard-working.

According to her own history
life had never been easy
an unhappy childhood and awkward education
adolescent confusion and intermittent marriage.
Problems were tall, time and money short
adversity a frequent companion.

People could choose she said
to be victim or survivor.
Each day a new act
in a long-running one-woman play.
Two roles. One star. A compelling performance
the audience appreciative and sympathetic.

Bold brushed posters
of water coloured truth
can disguise billboard fiction
perception shades inconsistency.
Two overseas trips in three years
stylish haircut, extensive house renovations
in private life, a sharp contemporary wardrobe.
Things couldn’t have been too bad.