jml297

When Ned left town, no-one was surprised. He’d turned up at the pub the night before and settled in for a session. The usual barflies were in attendance, and they tried to include Ned in their conversation, no doubt hoping he’d shout them a round or two. But Ned merely grunted and sat there, sinking schooners with grim determination.

After a while, they’d forgotten Ned was within earshot. They were spinning yarns, then the conversation turned to the new principal who’d moved to town. His name was Ben Dover — wouldn’t the kids have fun with that! They’d roared with laughter.

Barry said that his missus had seen Trudy in the street with the new principal. Then Tony, who as the local newsagent seemed to know all the news that wasn’t fit to print, said that he’d seen also Trudy heading along the old lane way behind the council chambers early that morning. He’d had to deliver the papers himself as his son had the flu and was coughing up his lungs. Trudy had been wearing her yoga outfit — a collective sigh of appreciation rose from the bar — and everyone knew that the yoga classes didn’t start until 10 am. Tony winked lewdly at his mates, and they all chuckled at the thought of Trudy and Councillor Steve Knight, the town’s worse-kept secret.

It was then that Ned changed from beer to rum, the barflies recalled later.

*****

Sally, Mandy, and Allie rolled up their yoga mats and eased the kinks out of their bodies.

‘Time for coffee and cake?’ Sally asked the others.

‘Absolutely,’ Allie nodded.

‘That’s why I keep coming,’ Mandy added.

They headed out of the old bank building, now set up as the town’s wellness centre, and walked up the street to the café. It was a cool autumn morning, and they all sighed with satisfaction upon entering the café, which was warmly scented with bakery treats and coffee aromas.

‘Trudy looked a bit worn out today,’ Allie said as she spooned the chocolate powder off the top of her cappuccino.

‘Is it any wonder?’ Sally paused, a forkful of lamington held aloft. ‘You heard that Ned left town?’

Mandy nodded. ‘Could you blame him, though? I mean, everyone but him seemed to know what was going on.’

‘Poor Ned.’ Allie agreed. ‘Everyone else knew Trudy had three lovers. No wonder she’s so flexible in class.’ Allie snorted, and the others joined in.

‘I don’t know how she found the time or the energy. And Ned must have known, don’t you reckon? I mean, he worked away but even so. She was seen all over town at odd times, even when he was here.’ Mandy poured more tea into her cup, and glanced at Sally and Allie.

‘Three lovers,’ they sighed in unison, looking dreamily at the street outside.

This was written to a prompt at my writing group. The challenge was to write from two different points of view.

Photo: love heart