The Heart's Journey

Chapter 7-1

Marvin’s opened the biscuits too early again. There are crumbs scattered over the table and he’s currently munching his way through his fourth. I take the packet off him, before they’ve all gone, just as Freya walks through the door with Mr and Mrs Montgomery trailing after her. The six of us are here; our writing group is complete.

Raveena is immediately weeping on Esther Montgomery’s shoulder. Esther is a statuesque, striking woman, with high defined cheekbones and a beehive hairdo. Esther is taller than I am, she’s elegant and classy, wears designer clothes and spectacles, I watch her patting Raveena’s head and am irritated that yet again Raveena is hijacking the writing group with her personal problems. Mr Montgomery is small in comparison but just as dignified as his wife. His name is Alfred, he always wears a suit and tie and he’s a proper old fashioned gentleman. Then behind them comes Freya; a cute impish looking twenty something year old. She’s a trainee chemist with a two year old daughter. Freya is the quiet member of the group. I’ve spent the last three months gently coaxing her out of her shell and finally at the last meeting she shared a poem she’d written about daffodils. I like our eclectic group; they’ve become friends as well as writing buddies.

“I hate the bastard,” Raveena bursts out. Martha the librarian turns around and peers at her disapprovingly.

“Shall we sit down,” I motion for people to put their bums on seats, “Raveena come sit next to me.” I pat the empty chair and she skulks over. Marvin starts chatting to Mr and Mrs Montgomery about what’s going on in the soaps at the moment. Freya is taking stationery out of her bag and Raveena is still complaining about her ‘hapless’ husband.

“So shall we begin,” I say brightly, “would anyone like to share any writing they’ve done over the past month.”

“I’ve written a short story,” Mrs Montgomery pats the side of her perfectly coiffured hair.

“This is a good one,” her husband says proudly.

“Go ahead,” I urge, “let’s hear it.”

Esther reads to us in slow, perfectly pronounced standard English. She reminds me of the bygone presenters, when television was aired in black and white. Marvin says she speaks like The Queen and I have to agree with him. Mrs Montgomery is originally from the posh part of London, she moved up to the Midlands when she married Alfred. There is none of the Midlands slang and dialect evident in her rhetoric. I relax back in my chair and listen to her read. It’s an enjoyable tale, when she finishes we give her a round of applause. Then it’s Marvin’s turn. He’s all eager to read the next instalment of his detective novel and is very exuberant. He gesticulates with his hands and raises his voice, especially during a scene where there is an exciting car chase.

“Very good,” I say, when he’s finished and exhaling heavily. “Freya – have you anything you’d like to share with us?”

“I… urm, wrote another poem,” she colours slightly as we all turn to look at her.

“That’s great,” I nod my enthusiasm, “do you want to read it?”

Freya takes a deep breath and begins. She’s shaky at first, but quickly her confidence grows. It’s a lovely poem, about the love between a mother and her child. Martha the librarian has stopped to listen and as Freya finishes she wipes a tear from her eye. “That was beautiful.”

“It was very moving,” I turn my attentions to Alfred.

He shakes his head, “sorry, I’ve been busy in my greenhouse. Mrs Montgomery is insisting that I grow all sorts of vegetables for her casseroles.”

“I haven’t had chance to write anything either,” sniffs Raveena, “sorry.”

“That’s no problem,” I smile, “I suppose I should read what I’ve been working on.”

Esther Montgomery claps, “yes, please do.”

I clear my throat, “it’s another children’s story.”

“I love hearing your children’s stories,” Alfred says.

“Is it for the wee ones?” Asks Marvin.

Yes,” I shuffle the papers, “it’s a picture book story, age range from two to five and it’s called the shark who lost his teeth.” I start reading...

Finlay was a proud shark.

Finlay was a proud shark.He was the fastest shark in the Pacific Ocean.

He was the fastest shark in the Pacific Ocean.Finlay had a tall fin and beady black eyes and BIG teeth.

Finlay had a tall fin and beady black eyes and BIG teeth.Finlay was super fast.

Finlay was super fast.He whizzed through the water growling and snapping his HUGE jaws and swishing

He whizzed through the water growling and snapping his HUGE jaws and swishinghis powerful tail.

his powerful tail.He loved being scary.

He loved being scary.All the other creatures in the ocean darted out of the way when Finlay was around.

All the other creatures in the ocean darted out of the way when Finlay was around.Even Billy the MASSIVE blue whale was frightened of Finlay.

Even Billy the MASSIVE blue whale was frightened of Finlay.

“I’m the King of the Sea,” roared Finlay.

“I’m the King of the Sea,” roared Finlay.One day Finlay was feeling bored.

One day Finlay was feeling bored.His belly was full and he had nothing to do.

His belly was full and he had nothing to do.He could see the sun shining on the waves and he could hear noises coming from

He could see the sun shining on the waves and he could hear noises coming fromup above.

up above.Finlay sniffed the water.

Finlay sniffed the water.He could smell more delicious food.

He could smell more delicious food.He decided to leave the safety of the sea bed and go up to the surface.

He decided to leave the safety of the sea bed and go up to the surface.Finlay rose UP, UP, UP, following the lights and the noise.

Finlay rose UP, UP, UP, following the lights and the noise.“I’M COMING TO GET YOU,” shouted mean Finlay.

“I’M COMING TO GET YOU,” shouted mean Finlay.He poked his head up above the waves.

He poked his head up above the waves.In the distance he could see a fisherman’s boat.

In the distance he could see a fisherman’s boat.“CAW CAW,” flapped a seagull, “go back down Finlay. It’s not safe up here.”

“CAW CAW,” flapped a seagull, “go back down Finlay. It’s not safe up here.”“Go away silly bird,” growled Finlay, “I’M NOT SCARED OF ANYTHING.”

“Go away silly bird,” growled Finlay, “I’M NOT SCARED OF ANYTHING.”He swam quickly to the boat.

He swam quickly to the boat.The fisherman shouted “SHARK! Get the nets.”

The fisherman shouted “SHARK! Get the nets.”Finlay laughed, “you silly people are no match for me!”

Finlay laughed, “you silly people are no match for me!”He swished his tail and created a large wave that rocked the boat up and down.

He swished his tail and created a large wave that rocked the boat up and down.The fishermen gasped and Finlay jumped high into the air.

The fishermen gasped and Finlay jumped high into the air.But as he was diving back down he felt something heavy fall on top of him.

But as he was diving back down he felt something heavy fall on top of him.It was a net.

It was a net.The fishermen were clapping and Finlay was trapped!

The fishermen were clapping and Finlay was trapped!Then they started pulling and dragging Finlay towards the boat.

Then they started pulling and dragging Finlay towards the boat.Finlay flapped his tail and roared with anger. But he was still TRAPPED.

Finlay flapped his tail and roared with anger. But he was still TRAPPED.Finlay blew on the net with all his might, but he was still TRAPPED.

Finlay blew on the net with all his might, but he was still TRAPPED.Finlay decided to use his SHARP teeth.

Finlay decided to use his SHARP teeth.Chomp, chomp, chomp. He bit the net and slowly made a hole.

Chomp, chomp, chomp. He bit the net and slowly made a hole.Finlay was free! He swam through the hole and back down to the safety of the sea

Finlay was free! He swam through the hole and back down to the safety of the seabed.

bed.Then the fishermen went chugging away in their boat and all was quiet again in the

Then the fishermen went chugging away in their boat and all was quiet again in theocean.

ocean.Finlay was tired and decided to have a sleep.

Finlay was tired and decided to have a sleep.When he woke up his mouth was sore.

When he woke up his mouth was sore.Sabrina the pretty Angel Fish was looking at him.

Sabrina the pretty Angel Fish was looking at him.“Go away!” Mean Finlay was in a bad mood and his gums felt cold.

“Go away!” Mean Finlay was in a bad mood and his gums felt cold.“Your teeth Finlay,” Sabrina said, “they’re all gone!”

“Your teeth Finlay,” Sabrina said, “they’re all gone!”Finlay used his slippery tongue to feel his mouth. Sabrina was right – his teeth had

Finlay used his slippery tongue to feel his mouth. Sabrina was right – his teeth hadall fell out!

all fell out!“OH NO,” he cried, “what shall I do without my teeth?”

“OH NO,” he cried, “what shall I do without my teeth?”“Help!” He shouted. “Help!”

“Help!” He shouted. “Help!”But all of the other fish swam away.

But all of the other fish swam away.“Why won’t anyone help me?” He cried fat salty tears.

“Why won’t anyone help me?” He cried fat salty tears.“It’s because you’re so scary Finlay,” Sabrina the Angel Fish said gently. “You have

“It’s because you’re so scary Finlay,” Sabrina the Angel Fish said gently. “You haveto be kind. You have to be nice.”

to be kind. You have to be nice.”“I don’t know how too,” Finlay sobbed and buried his nose in the sand.

“I don’t know how too,” Finlay sobbed and buried his nose in the sand.“I’ll be your friend Finlay,” Sabrina smiled and swam around him, “come home with

“I’ll be your friend Finlay,” Sabrina smiled and swam around him, “come home withme.”

me.”Finlay followed Sabrina through the whirlpools and the sea grass.

Finlay followed Sabrina through the whirlpools and the sea grass.“I’m hungry,” complained Finlay, “but how can I eat without my teeth?”

“I’m hungry,” complained Finlay, “but how can I eat without my teeth?”“You must eat plants instead.” Sabrina showed him some waving green stalks which

“You must eat plants instead.” Sabrina showed him some waving green stalks whichwere stuck to a rock.

were stuck to a rock.Finlay swallowed them whole, “they’re quite tasty,” he licked his lips.

Finlay swallowed them whole, “they’re quite tasty,” he licked his lips.The other fish were eating them too. Finlay growled at them “get away.”