The Listening Zone

Penned by writers from four generations, this miscellany reflects The Dance Of Life.

THE DANCE OF LIFE by Joan Moules

A young unmarried mother who can no longer cope after the death of her fiancé decides to leave her baby somewhere she is sure to be found. I can’t give her the kind of life I want to, the kind she deserves. She leaves the child in a hospital and hurries away… but I wheel around and race back.… I look into my baby’s eyes and suddenly I see my mother. And the young mother makes her way to her parents’ home. This story is set back about 50 years when the social climate was somewhat different, the emotions and anxieties expressed are just as relevant today.

YES DEAR by Louise Monaghan

Joyce is a widow coping with the recent loss of her husband, Ken. Although she has a family around her she feels lonely and depressed. But she imagines what Ken would have said throughout and gains strength from it. Then young Tommy bangs on the door, “Mrs Hale, Mrs Hale, come quickly, please. It’s our mam, she needs you, the babby’s come too soon…” and again she finds purpose in her life.

MICHAEL by Lynda Wakeling

Bob and his wife, Kath, - the narrator of the story – are enjoying their time together since their daughter had left home. Then, Debbie comes home and announces that she is pregnant and not going to marry the baby’s father. This story examines her mother’s memories as she clears out the loft, which is to be made into a room for the expected grandchild. Years before, she had been rushed into marriage to disguise her own untimely pregnancy. Stress had resulted in the loss of her first baby, Michael. “It’s going to be all right you know, Kath, with Debbie and her baby. Things have changed a lot since our day.” And Kath looked forward to being ‘the proudest granny in our street.’

JUNGLE TALE by Matthew Stanley (8 yrs old)

A charming little story about a tiger and a deer that has a twist in its tail, which would probably need a child’s imagination.

MY BETTER HALF by Nina Tucknott

This empathetic, gentle story is a duologue between the narrator and her inner voice. Written in the first person the author explores the feelings of a middle-aged woman from the time she is told she has breast cancer to post operation and the rebuilding of her self-esteem.

A LETTER FROM A SOLDIER by Joan Moules

On the anniversary of Dave’s death, Mary re-read his last letter in which he expressed his love for her and his hope for their future together after the war. She met her husband, Dave’s friend, when he brought that letter to her.

FOR THE LOVE OF VERA by Joan Stanley

The heroine of this story is Vera, a quarter-size violin. She is bought by a little boy, Timothy who is learning to play. “Ooooow-ooooow!” she cried as the bow was drawn to and fro. G,E,A,D, all her strings vibrated in pain, her neck trembled and her bridge collapsed.” Then Granddad came to tea: “Any violin that has a name must be able to sing, Timothy.” Within a year Vera was enjoying Tim’s allegretto, but it was only in the older man’s arms that her spirit soared in cantabile.

TED by Susan Wright

After buying an old teddy bear at a fête, Polly sees an advert in the church magazine asking for its return. Polly visits and becomes friends with the previous owner, June, who tells the involved tale of how she came by the toy. Before the story ends both Polly and June find romance.

THE WEDDING GUEST by Pam Weaver

All is not as it seems. As the story opens Karen enters the beautifully decorated church, supposedly as a guest to a very extravagant wedding. In reality she is a devious journalist looking for a scoop.

FOR MOKIE by Pam Weaver

Peter decides to set up a company, The Perfect Day, which designs and makes all the arrangements for lavish weddings. He is obviously emotionally involved in the particular event. The twist in this story is that it is his mother’s wedding.

TOGETHER by Lynda Wakeling.

Set in the nineteenth century, this story tell how a young orphan, country girl, expected to marry a young yokel, Jem, to whom she rightfully belongs, falls in love with the local vicar. Her love is reciprocated, but Jonathon will not take her from Jem, and leaves the village. On a bitter cold night, Mary sets out in find him. Finally they are re-united through death.

ARUN by Joan Stanley

A piece of almost poetic writing, which describes the author’s enjoyment of water and the River Arun.

AMIES MILL by Joan Stanley

This factual story tells how a peaceful pastoral scene is shattered when Win crushes her fingers in the mangle, and the ensuing chaos. Win decides to go home to her mother, in the nearby town of Horsham, with her new baby, Joan. Husband, Les, who couldn’t leave the farm, goes to his mother. Win is persuaded to stay away from the farm for a few weeks to recover. While the family is away two planes collide overhead. An engine falls through the cottage roof coming to rest in the baby’s cot. A seemingly disastrous accident turns out to be a blessing.

HAYMAKING by Joan Stanley

In this short piece of gentle, descriptive writing, the author looks at haymaking through three generations.