A Little Touch of Henry

A type of short love story, a revision

 

A Little Touch of Henry

Spontaneously over coffee, across dregs of bran cereal, and crusts of toast, Henry lowered the sports section of his morning paper and blurted.

 

“Do you still love me?”

Looking up from her Modern Romance, Ruth inclined her head forward so that her eyes could focus over the rims of her glasses.

“You can’t imagine,” she said, and returned her eyes to the tip of her forefinger; the exact spot where Henry  interrupted the misadventures of the buxom heroine and her savage lover.

If he had expected any reply at all it was some standard noise that could be translated as “yes” or “of course.” He mouthed her words silently as if he was chewing aluminum foil. Can’t imagine. Can’t imagine! I can’t imagine? Now where the hell does she get stuff like that?

Henry considered for a moment the notion that Ruth could be right. After all, the last mistake he clearly remembered her making had something to do with Richard Nixon. I had that son-ah-b***h pegged for exactly what he was. But now I can’t imagine. Can’t imagine indeed!

 

He put his mind to it, concentrating in the way he had focused on knotty problems during his decades with the bank, trying to see all sides of the question. It was no use, her words got bigger and bigger like a bit of gristle in an otherwise perfect steak.

Soon he quit trying. But, before he could open his mouth to question Ruth, get an amplification of what she meant or at least start an interesting argument, he had a thought, then another, and another, blurting away inside his head.

Henry thought of himself alone in all the world, naked, kneeling on a beach of terrible, endless sand. He imagined he was blind from the salt of his tears. Then Henry imagined his outstretched hand found Ruth’s and that their fingers meshed. In a final magnificent tour de force he imagined that hands were souls.

“Ruth, I believe you’re right. I’ll have to work on that.” Henry resumed his morning paper exactly where he had left off.

Ruth marked her place and warmed Henry’s coffee. Into his left ear, rather loudly, she said, “Old man, sometimes I think you are losing your mind.”

 

Henry grunted, completely engrossed in the box scores.

 

Author's Note

any comment welcome

Reviews

[h d e rushin]

I watched my Grandmother skin, clean the buckshot out, flower and fly the squirrel my Grandad
would bring home for breakfast. While I sat back, google eyed and totally repulsed. I learned
early on that expression of love was that which fit most snugly against the bosom. A clever
yet wonderful short story Delmar.

your biggest fan,

dana

[Delmar Cooper]

Lovely words Thanks Dana

[W.k.kortas]

It's sort of a reverse Walter Mitty, in a sense, innit? It's charming and well-built, just a very nice vignette.

[Delmar Cooper]

Sometimes I stumble along the keyboard and write something I actually like enough to re read from time to time. That is a personal observation, but I think all writers may have that same experience. I hope so.

[Pax]

This chapter is really nice, pretty clean, simplistic and short.

The dialog was smooth flowing, the conversation was short but profound, and the thoughts was simply good. I like it. Its quite realistic, and romantic...

“You can’t imagine”

Those lines, simply spoke a profound way of love. It made me think: How far does our love goes? How far can a person go to seek a love one? How far will it be to love someone - infinitely or just a lifetime.

All in all I enjoyed this short story, contemplating and imagining the things about love, simply beautiful work . Keep it up!

[Delmar Cooper]

I wish my stories were as well written as your comment.

[Pax]

they already are.. its really good and enjoyable... so its a pleasure to read it...

[Sami Khalil]

A splendid read and write..Thank you for posting...:)..........................

[Delmar Cooper]

I am honored by your comment. thank you.

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome...:).....................

[olla]

omgoodness.... I can't review this for structure as I am too busy enjoying the story.. well done.. you captured my imagination and made me smile all at the same time.. I remember Modern Romance Magaines...

[Delmar Cooper]

Thanks for reading. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
cooper