Fast Fiction: Forest
Richard Mallinson tells a tale which will leave you deep in speculation.
As my wife and I were walking along a path that led to the forest we saw old Garny coming towards us.
'Arternoon vicar, arternoon missis,' said old Garny.
'Hullo, Garny,' I said, 'and what have you been up to?'
'Oh, not much, vicar, just potterin about in the forest.'
'You seem to spend a lot of time in the forest, Garny,' said my wife.
'Well, it's a interestin place,' said old Garny.
'More interesting than church, eh, Garny?' I said, laughing.
'Well, you said it, vicar,' he replied, moving on.
*
When my wife and I were in the forest she ran away.
'Where are you?' I shouted. There was no reply. Panicking, I ran one way, then another, past oaks and sycamores, through undergrowth.
I scrambled up slopes and slid into gullies. I called her name again and again but still there was no reply.
Finally, exhausted, I knelt and began to pray.
By now it was totally dark. Even so, old Garny found me and took me back to the vicarage, without a word.
'Where've you been, darling?' asked my wife. 'I was getting terribly worried.'
'You know where I've been ... in the forest. You were with me and then you ran away and I chased after you but couldn't find you.
'But darling I haven't been out of the house all day.'
'Aye, that's roight, vicar,' said old Garny.
**
To read more of Richard's fast fiction please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/fast_fiction/
