Crossed Wires

We’d been together for eighteen months

So I thought there was plenty of time,

We hadn’t discussed betrothal then,

But there, that isn’t a crime.

We met whenever we could back then

In our busy working days,

While you showed plenty of love to me

And I, in various ways.

 

So when your letter popped through my door

On that Friday afternoon,

And you sped off with a stranger in

That red and black saloon,

I frowned to open the envelope

And to read what you had said:

‘I’m sorry Tommy, I’ve called it off,

I’m going to go with Fred!’

 

The news hit me like a thunderbolt

Hit right between the eyes,

I thought, ‘How long was this going on,

How long were you feeding me lies?’

I must confess I was weaker then

And I cried a tear or two,

But nothing compared to the flood of tears

That I thought were coming to you.

 

I went through the stage of ‘sad’, of course,

And ‘desolate’ followed fast,

I went through the stage of grieving that

I’d lost my love at the last,

But after a day or two of that

My pride had begun to cringe,

How could she be so cold to me,

My mind cried out ‘Revenge!’

 

When jealousy tugs at your coat tails

Just be sure that you get it right,

Many a time I’ve pondered this

When I’ve tossed and turned in the night,

I know I should have ignored it - ‘now’

But ‘now’ it has come too late,

I gave myself to a fury, and

My heart was riddled with hate.

 

I crept around to your flat one night

Got in through the laundry door,

There wasn’t a sign of you or him

You’d not been back, I was sure,

A brand new Magnum of cold Champagne

Was tucked away in your fridge,

For celebrating the fact that I

Had been the one that was ditched.

 

My seminal anger knew no bounds,

I carried the champagne home,

Put ant poison in a medical syringe

And injected it there, alone,

I’d dropped it back and was leaving when

His car rolled up at your door,

And you jumped out with a wave and a shout,

‘Hi, what are you looking for?’

 

‘I’ve just got back from the Marketing Fair,

It’s lovely to see you, Tom,

Sorry about the rush and all

But Fred was driving us down.

I know you offered, but Fred said no,

It was better I went with him,

I’m glad you’re here, it’s good to be home,

I think we’d better go in!’

 

She dropped her coat, and gave me a kiss,

And said: ‘Do you know the date?

Today is February 29

A woman can choose her mate.

And so I say, will you marry me,

I’ve waited this long to ask…’

I sat there stunned and my stomach churned

As she carefully filled my glass.

 

David Lewis Paget

 

 

 

 

Reviews

[Jazique]

For a second I thought I was lost but, wow you definitly got us. I mean I thought he might hurt them or cause a scene but, no she proposes to him. You led us down a path that made us believe it just another one of these but, at the end you turned us around leaving us in disbelief. Awesome or in better word you've left me breathless.

[Tate Morgan]

lol that is great.Sometimes we find that our perceptions are not all that we wish. I have seen this type of pain a few times lately played out here at the cafeteria. It does seem that online romances hide way more than they tell.Unlike real life a person can truly stretch the imagination and the patience of their friends and acquaintances here. But to the point It is always best to stop and sleep on any rash thought.It usually shows itself for what it is in the new morning sun

[Marie]

I hope he was a very fast thinker indeed.

[quinfinn]

this is brilliant! i love stories told in this way, with those wonderful "gotcha" endings. i once saw a movie (or perhaps a tv show) in England when i was a lad. a woman had murdered her hubby by hitting him on the head with a frozen leg of lamb...when the detectives came around to make their inquiries, she offered them dinner, and they ate the murder weapon. this is my favorite genre, well done!

[Keith]

I think we all have been guilty of allowing ourselves to become worked up over situations that are largely a figment of our imaginations. But what a brilliant illustration of this? Smooth as silk with with that twist at the end.

[Lena M. P.]

Serves him right for not believing and trusting! Ha the silly bugger. Good piece. Enjoyable to the end.