Open Writing

Ted's Wife's Age

...'Wait a moment, please, chairman,' said Harry. 'I really would like to know why you mentioned Ted's wife's age.'..

But why is Harry concerned about Ted's wife's age? Richard Malinson's short story reveals such a lot.

To read more of Richard's fast fiction please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/fast_fiction/

'We really have to face the fact that some of these problems have been with us for years and years,' I said.

'Oh,' said Ted, 'I thought they were of fairly recent origin.'

That's because of your age.'

'I don't know what you mean. I'm nearly 25.'

'In my eyes, that's rather young - and your wife's even younger, I believe.'

'My wife? What's she got to do with it?'

'Nothing . . . it's just that she's very young, isn't she?'

'Well, I hardly think that's an issue for this meeting.'

I looked round the table.

'Right, then,' I said, 'let's get on with the business in hand.'

'Wait a moment, please, chairman,' said Harry. 'I really would like to know why you mentioned Ted's wife's age.'

'Oh, please, let's move on,' said Sonia, Harry's wife.

'No,' said Harry, 'I'd just like to hear - '

'And so would I,' said Ted, grumpily.

'But it's not relevant, is it?' protested Sonia. 'I mean, we have a full agenda and here we are, wasting time on Ted's wife's -'

'Look,' I said, as if telling them something new, 'it all began when I said, or implied, that Ted didn't have a total understanding because of his age ... It was just an observation, not a criticism.'

'But why mention his wife?' asked Harry. 'That's what baffles me.'

I said to him, 'You do seem to be concerned, all of a sudden, Harry.'

Sonia said, 'Oh, but it's not all of a sudden ... is it, Harry?'