Fast Fiction: March 20, 2003
Richard Mallinson wrote this story on the day specified in the title – a day when British troops were reported to be involved in military operations, and a civilian was killed in Iraq.
At 7.37 am Ray Lampe switched his radio on and learned that cruise missiles had been launched against Baghdad - a 'surgical strike', not part of the main assault, which would come later.
Ray grimaced.
At 9.59 am Vic Dennis reached the supermarket. He bought wine and meat but was delayed at the checkout when the elderly man in front of him fell over.
Vic stayed calm and helped the man up. Vic began to think about his dying father, now at home.
At 11.23 am Miriam Hafner phoned Ray Lampe at work and asked him when he was going to make up his mind about leaving his wife.
'Yes, thank you, goodbye,' said Ray hurriedly, in his office voice.
He began to tremble.
At 11.59 am Vic Dennis said to his father that he wouldn't switch the tv on for the latest news but would wait for the World At One on the radio.
'Now,' he said, 'I'll read you some poetry.'
At 12.23 pm Miriam Hafner sipped a vodka and tonic in her flat and decided that she didn't want Ray Lampe to move in with her after all. He could stay with his cow of a wife - they deserved each other.
At 1 pm Vic Dennis switched on the radio for 'a special hour-long edition' of the World At One. Vic learned that British troops were involved in 'certain military operations.' One civilian had been killed in Baghdad.
Vic switched off. His father seemed to have fallen asleep.
At 2.23 pm, in a Brighton hotel, Miriam Hafner was asked by a middle-aged salesman who'd bought her a drink if she would go with him up to his room.
'Don't you know there's a war on?' she said. Outside, the sun shone and the sea sparkled. 'Oh, all right, then,' she said, finishing her drink.
At 5.37 pm, Ray Lampe, driving home from work, began to cry.
