THE REVIEW

THE GREEN TEAM


The meeting on the 17th saw six of us sporting some green and spinning yarns. Unfortunately, Bob wasn’t present that night. Said he didn’t have any green clothes to wear, only a green emerald.

Margaret read first, as usual. Dye and Coffin were lamenting their loss of Lord Mossity’s business of eradicating ghosts at Mossity Manor. However, the Rolls had been repaired and was ready to be picked up. Dye then informed Coffin their next job would be to expunge the four spirits haunting the back of the Rolls, whom he thought were expired Highland soldiers from the Battle of Culloden. But Coffin had only invented them to explain why the Rolls had been damaged.

I read my short story “Fine Print” which will be published in the April issue (also the final issue) of Eclectica Magazine. This story was my response to “The Stepford Wives” and has a modern woman seeking a refund on the malfunctioning male homemaking machine she had bought for her home. Strange, but the story always has a more favourable reaction from a female audience. Now why is that? Recently, I was asked for a bio/blurb to go with this story, so it’s a good idea to have something ready in case you are asked for one. This is the 4th or 5th time I have had one requested.

Danny read from his autobiography, recounting the 30 day assessment he endured in a psychiatric hospital. He learned that a severe manic episode at 40 is not unusual. Staying in the Forensic Assessment Unit was a big step up from the jail he had been in. He spent a lot of time doing tests, true or false, and then more detailed ones. He was finally diagnosed with a bipolar disorder. Danny listed all the nuanced references to his condition, but I didn’t record them. After that Unit, one could progress to the Forensic Treatment Unit, and then to the Forensic Rehabilitation Unit, each on a lower floor, closer to the exit. Danny felt he was housed with a bunch of ‘mixed nuts’ and thought the nursing staff were the only ones he could communicate with.

Jason read Ch. 7 of his novel. Greg is still at school, watching Jodie, and sensing the power she has over their classmates, especially all the boys who turn to watch her. He recalls how she suffered without her parents, and he’s afraid she will turn to Sean for comfort instead of to him. Unable to stay in the cafeteria with Jodie ignoring him, he goes outside in the rain. His brother, Dave, joins him, all gaga over a girl he has met. The two of them hear screams coming from the nearby forest.

Gemma reads further from a story of hers where the gigolo, Bob, arises in the morning and goes to the deli to bring back breakfast for Barbara. She wants him to move in with her, but he only wants her money. He kisses her and makes an excuse, then leaves for the day.

Congo, a dog belonging to Gemma’s friend Ariane, died recently and Gemma had written two letters on the topic. One was from the deceased Congo to Ariane, and the other was from Gemma to Congo. Both expressed the love and devotion between animal and human.

Jim read Ch. 3 of “Coventry Ghost”. Olivia asks of Tammy what she knows about the ghost and feels that Tammy might have been the ‘pretty girl’ who tried to help her sister. Meanwhile, Patty decides her husband needs to learn that his daughter’s ghost haunts the coffee shop and conspires with Olivia to have him come down there one night while they are cleaning. He arrives, and is greeted by his dead daughter’s specter. He faints, twice.

Marilyn has a short piece published online at Writing Raw. It is “ForePlay” by Mike Malone, her pseudonym.

Next Meeting will be Wednesday, April 7th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then, and Happy Easter in the meantime.

Lisa