THE REUNION?

 THE REUNION

Marion Anthony

 Jimmy sat on the train reminiscing about the time when he was evacuated with his younger sister Alice.
The smell of the smoke from the engine brought back such sad memories of him saying goodbye to his dear mother at Paddington Station. There was commotion and confusion amongst the crowds of sobbing children and tearful mother's. It was all so daunting!

He had not only had to contend with his own sorrow but also that of his sister, Alice who was four years younger. There were of course helpers on the train that tried to console the children at this particular sad time.

Jimmy was taken by the hand and led away with a helper. He became separated from Alice. He spent four years with his adopted family and never returned home to London to be reunited with his family. He stayed in Coventry and was educated there, by the end of the war.

That was forty two years ago. He searched for Alice through different agencies and services. It was amazing how quickly he received a letter telling him that a contact had been found.

He wrote to Alice after finding her address in Leeds. Their emotions emerged in the letters they exchanged, they were heartwarming and consoling.

Now suddenly here he was at Coventry Station, sitting on a train, similar to the one that Had brought him here in 1942.

The train started off and the smell of smoke through the carriage windows, reminded him of his sorrow at leaving their dear mother. He was on his way to Leeds to meet Alice. They had been parted for the past forty two years.

He had seen photographs of Alice, her husband and three children but only Alice would be there to greet him today.
He was alone in the world now after losing his dear wife Emily to cancer two years earlier; they had no children.

The train slowed as it pulled into Leeds Station. He pulled his coat on, collected his bag and left the train…

Copyright Marion Anthony

 

Little things mean a lot...

 OUR MUM AND DAD

Marion Anthony 

We had the best Mum and Dad of them all.
They gave us such love and we can recall the happy memories that we shared.

The love they both showed us and the way they cared;
We were definitely rich in love.

The joy one Christmas Eve, when we were small,
on that particular occasion, I was only three,
when dad came home from work, we dressed the Christmas tree;
He lifted me up in his arms, so tenderly,

and said 'Listen can you hear that?
My eyes sparkled as I imagined Santa on his way.
With the bells of Rudolph pulling his sleigh
And oh the smile on daddy's face,
it was a memory to treasure forever!
My imagination runs riot, caught up in the wonderment of  childhood.

The ride up to bed on dad's back, made us giggle,

when he put us in bed and told us not to wriggle
and the soft tone of his voice lulled us in to sleep.
Along with the feeling of contentment and deep feeling of security in knowing that we were truly loved.

Copyright Marion Anthony

DO YOU REMEMBER 01

DO YOU REMEMBER 

Marion Anthony

 I can remember going to our nan and granddads house on a Sunday morning with my parents, two sisters and baby brother. I was about four years old.

We had to walk over a railway bridge where the steam train passed and was excited to see it coming down the track, with all the plumes of grey/white smoke.

We would stop at the sweet shop on the way.

Our granddad’s garden was square and had borders that held dahlias, pinks and carnations. He loved his garden.

We would race up to the front door, to be the first to knock.

The flooring was Lino in the hallway and on th parlour floor.

The living room had a large fireplace, with seats either side of it. Nan had a toasting fork too!

The smell in the scullery was of brussel sprouts cooking, mixed with the heat and smell of washing powder from the copper boiler in the corner.

There was a coal cellar where we would play hide and seek but only when it was nearly empty.

Nan would get out the Nice biscuits in her tin and hand them around.

We would stay all day and have tea with them.

We would sit on the tall black leather dining chairs with arms and ornamental backs. We called them the king chairs.

On Sunday mornings the fresh seafood man would push his barrow through the streets and stop outside the pub to sell to passers by. Granddad would bring them home to nan, after his midday drinking session. There were cockles whelks and shrimps in brown paper bags.

When we sat up the table for tea, we had a pin and had to pick the winkles out of their shells, and take the heads off too.  The heads & tails of the shrimps had to be pulled off too!

Nan would hold a crusty loaf of bread under her arm and slice the end off after, buttering it first.

I remember a large kitchen back door step.

My big sister, Pat when she was small, caught her finger in nans mangle and lost the top of her finger.

In his garden granddad kept rabbits and chickens. I remember all the hutches and the chicken runs.

 He grew cabbages and we would count all the caterpillars on them. 

At the end of the garden was a wooden gate that led to an alleyway,that led to the road.

I remember one day granddad was having a shave and he said Give me a kiss. As I lent forward, he moved his face and I got all the shaving cream on my face. It was a shock. We laughed!

One Christmas our six cousins came to nan and granddads house.

I remember the sausage rolls and, chocolate cream father Christmases, wrapped in coloured paper. They tasted so good. I have never forgotten them!

Until recently moving out of the area, I would stand outside nan and granddads house and remember my happy childhood and these very special times that shaped my adulthood.

 

Copyright Marion Anthony

  

the Challenge

Darkness, Balance, Silence, Hedgehog and Kaleidoscope.

By Marion Anthony

Here is my attempt at the Challenge. to include all five words in my story

Gina was a P.A in the catering business and was staying with her colleagues in a hotel near Bournemouth.

It was coming up to Christmas, and they were all very busy. Gina finished her latest assignment and took a break. She decided to go for a walk in a nearby forest. It was winter and the nights were drawing in.  In the Darkness, Gina had to find her balance and avoid the tree roots under her feet.

The Silence was eery! 

All of a sudden, a Hedgehog ran across her path and disappeared under a bush.

After a while, Gina could see a Kaleidoscope of colours as a fairground was just about half a mile away. She eventually climbed through a fence and onto a main road.

"Now to find my way back to the hotel", she thought to herself.

Gina walked down the road and came to a road sign that she recognised. I know where I am now, she thought, relieved. It was not long before she was back at the hotel. Gina got showered and changed. There was to be a meeting of officials to be held that evening. They had come to taste samples of dishes that were planned to be served on a River Cruise ship for Epicureans. The evening was very successful, and the team were congratulated.

Gina recalled her misadventure in the woods.

I won't be walking alone in the dark in future, she thought.

Copyright Marion Anthony - Aug 2026

The Tiff

 The Tiff

Marion Anthony 

Gillian had just returned from New York after successfully completing her two year course. She was seated on the train to Edinburgh. If only she knew how Graham felt about her!

It had been a misunderstanding.  They had argued about the course she was enrolled in.

Trouble was, it was a two year course in New York.

Graham had looked hurt when she told him what she intended to do!

He'd accused her of being selfish and not considering his feelings.

They had been students together at University and everyone thought they were made for each other. Now she was not so sure...

If only they had not had such a fiery exchange of words before she left.

She looked out of the window and tears flowed down her cheeks, as she remembered their warm embraces in front of the fire, back home in Edinburgh.

Graham had written and agreed to meet up on her return, to discuss their future.

The rickety shaking of the rolling carriage, lulled her to sleep.

She was suddenly awakened, as the brakes were applied and the train pulled into Edinburgh station.

She gathered her luggage and stepped off the train. Her heart was pounding as she walked up the platform to the barrier.

Then she saw him standing there with his overcoat over his arm. The sun had come out and it had turned warm. Gillian could see the sun shining on his handsome face, and that familiar sparkle in his bright blue eyes.

The urgency on Graham's face, was all that she needed to know about his feelings for her.

He smiled, kissed her on the cheek, and took her luggage, helping her through the barrier.

They walked off, hand in hand, into the sunset.

Gillian knew that whatever problems beset them could be resolved.

He was her destiny!

 

Copyright Marion Anthony

Sally

Sally

Marion Anthony 

Sally was shifting some old papers out of an old suitcase that she had  stored away in the attic. Now as the family were moving to a larger house to accommodate their growing family,  she thought she would get rid of some junk. 

As she opened the suitcase a lot of leaflets and mementos fell on the floor. She quickly opened one up and read. It was an invitation from the Shipping Company that she used to work for, when she left school. 

It read that there was to be a Celebration Dinner on board one of it's vessels in a dry-dock in London.

Sally was lost in nostalgia as she read the words.

She was suddenly transported back to that night on board the Valencia. She wore a dress that she had bought especially for the occasion.

The staff and crew of the ship were all dressed up and very courteous towards the guests.

The dinner was served and Sally's eyes shone with amazement at all the different types of cuisine, along with all the cutlery and wine glasses. 

After dinner all the guests sat around on the lounge. Suddenly music started to play and she jumped up excited, she threw her handbag to the Director and shouted "Look after that for me please," grabbed Ben's hand, whom she worked with and said "Let's dance" as she pulled him off his chair.

Later they went up on deck under the stars, as he picked her up in his arms and swung her around. 

Sally had had a crush on Ben for some time. Unfortunately she had to leave her new boyfriend Colin at home.

They had been courting for the past six months.

Suddenly there was a knock on the loft door that brought Sally back to earth with a thud!

"Mummy what are you doing up here? Can I go and play next door with Julie please?" Miranda, her eight year old asked.

"Ok,” said Sally, irritated by the interruption. "Only for half an hour as dinner won't be long and daddy will be home soon.

When Miranda had gone, Sally picked up the papers and put them all back in the suitcase.

She had hopes and dreams with Ben but it seemed they came to nothing. 

“Hello, what are you doing up here?”

Sally turned around to see two lovely brown eyes looking at her lovingly.

"Hello" said Sally "Oh I was just reminiscing over some memorabilia in an old suitcase. Have you had a good day Colin?"

“It was OK," he said "But it's so nice to get home to you," He Planted a kiss on her lips. 

"We have a lot of packing up to do don't we?"

 "Yes" she replied smiling at him tenderly. "Let's go and have dinner shall we?"

Sally was happy and content to know that things always work out for the best and knew that she had made the right choice.

The future and new house adventure was so very exciting!

 

Copyright Marion Anthony 

The Family Trip

 The Family Trip

Marion Anthony

The car is packed and ready to go

Loaded with toys, baby food, bottles and baby grows;

For we are going to visit grandparents and stay overnight

Come on we said As the time is getting tight;

In urgency we rushed out of the door, eager to get on the road;

After traveling for a while, there’s a jolt, the car suddenly stops;

We look at each other in horror and shock

Oh No!  There’s something we’ve forgotten…

THE BABY!

Copyright Marion Anthony