Writer's Notebook

Heartache went walking down the Lowsend Road in search of a companion. You see, heartache is all very well, but on his own, he is fairly ineffective and only comes truly into himself, if he succeeds in finding a gateway into someone's emotions. He sat down on a bench kindly provided by the town council in order of the former Mayor, now deceased - unfortunately not at my hands, heartache rued.

Starting to observe the passers-by his eyes soon fell on a young lady sauntering aimlessly down the street with what seemed like tears in her eyes. She cast a glance at the bench where heartache was sitting and came to sit right on top of him forcing heartache to move away quickly. As he observed her, a gleeful smile filled his face. Could this be a new prey? The tears in her eyes suggested, his influence might already have started to affect her. But when she pulled off her right shoe, the reason for her all too evident distress plunged heartache again into despair. Heartache had little chance of putting one over on physical pain, so he moved on. Evidently he'd have to look elsewhere for a victim.

After pottering around for a few minutes he decided to move closer to the town square and as he passed in front of Verbals department store he decided to do a little shopping. After all, once he found a victim, he'd need a few enticements. He started in the adverb department. On his way up he noticed a young man in verbs sitting and staring at the floor. If he's still there when I get back, maybe I can try to spin my web around him, thought heartache to himself. A lot of the adverbs available that day had already been snapped up. He snipped around a few of his old haunts and toyed with loudly, hopelessly, imperatively and for a time flirted with ostentatiously. But when it came down to it, none of these inspired him. That was when he stumbled upon recklessly. Of course, he said to himself. That's what I feel like right now; a little reckless living. What better a way to bring upon heartache. He snatched up recklessly and quickly made for the staircase. The young man was still there. Heartache's brain started to work fast. He'd need a few more nouns and at least, one verb. In addition, adjectives were on special offer that day - three for the price of one. He darted round the shop, picked up girlfriend, ring, jealous, mindless, saddening and a pack of assorted words lying beside the bargains counter, before finally settling on jangle as the most appropriate verb for ring. In a flash he was back with the young man and entered through his ear, whispering gently and helping the man to reflect on what happened. Suddenly, the whole scene began to play out before him once again.

"I've just about had enough of your reckless behaviour. You call me your girlfriend. The mindless way you staggered about last night was disgusting. And then, making up to that little bitch on the next table."

"But how could you be jealous of her. All I did was play around a bit. I needed a pick me up, after the saddening news I got at work. If you hadn't barged in..."

He didn't get to finish his sentence. With a piercing scream the girlfriend plucked the ring from her finger and threw down on the metal countertop. Its sound echoed through the otherwise silent store, jangling in the ears of the stunned onlookers. Heartache rubbed his hands with delight. He had won his prey.