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    Hysteria 1
    Hysteria 1
    Hysteria 1
    Ebook91 pages1 hour

    Hysteria 1

    By Linda Parkinson-Hardman

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Hysteria 1 is an anthology of the winning stories and poems submitted to the Hysteria 2012 Short Story and Poetry writing competition. Each of these entries reflects a different aspect of the things that are important to women and we share in the up’s and downs of events which span both time and female experience. We get an insight into what it must be like to lose a child, the reaction of a spurned lover, an insight into marriage and the rivalries of school friends that have never quite made it out of the playground.

    The poems are equally insightful, sharing the experiences of lost youth and looks; a sense of history in children’s homes and the call to action that asks us to live life to the full, waving our hands in the air.

    Hysteria is an annual competition for women only; it opens on the 1st April each year and closes at midnight on the 31st August. You can find out more about the next competition on the association website at: https://www.hysteriauk.co.uk

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLinda Parkinson-Hardman
    Release dateDec 31, 2017
    ISBN9781370610495
    Hysteria 1
    Author

    Linda Parkinson-Hardman

    I am the author of eight books and the editor of 8 anthologies for the Hysteria Writing Competition.

    Read more from Linda Parkinson Hardman

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      Book preview

      Hysteria 1 - Linda Parkinson-Hardman

      Hysteria 1

      Winning Stories and Poems from Hysteria 2012 Short Story and Poetry Writing Competition run by

      The Hysterectomy Association.

      Edited by Linda Parkinson-Hardman

      Copyright

      Copyright © 2012, The Hysterectomy Association

      All rights reserved. The right of the individual contributors to be identified as the author of their work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

      No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any license, permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 33 Alfred Place, London, WC1E 7DP.

      Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

      First edition published by: The Hysterectomy Association

      ISBN: 9781370610495

      Telephone: 0843 289 2142

      Website: http://www.hysteriauk.co.uk

      All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

      Cover Image: © Plsa|Dreamstime Stock Photos

      About the Hysteria Writing Competition

      Hysteria is an annual writing competition for women only; it opens on the 1st April each year and closes at midnight on the 31st August. You can find out more on the Hysterectomy Association website about the next competition at: www.hysteriauk.co.uk

      Acknowledgements

      The competition and this anthology wouldn’t have been possible without the support and help of all the following people. This book is dedicated to them and to the users of the Hysterectomy Association. Thank you. Linda Parkinson-Hardman (editor).

      Chief Judges

      Meaghan Delahunt - grantabooks.com/Meaghan-Delahunt

      Anne Orchard - anneorchardwriter.wordpress.com/

      Readers

      Anna Derham

      Carina Barnett

      Claire Boggs

      Janice Gibson

      Jennie Bennett

      Marian Folan

      Vanessa de Elera

      You can find out more about all our Readers and Judges here: www.hysteriauk.co.uk

      Foreword

      I was in the very privileged position of being the first recipient of all the stories and poems that were submitted to the first Hysteria writing competition. The overall standard was incredible and the submissions that all the women shared spoke of a huge variety of experience and knowledge.

      The winners were chosen by a small group of Hysterectomy Association users who read each and every entry and it was surprising how consistent the responses and marking was. The stories and poetry that are shared in this book is just the tip of an exceptional iceberg and it would have been great to have included all submissions simply because the standard was so high; this is though a competition and the winners were the best of an excellent bunch.

      The following pages will give you an insight into the things that women value, the live experiences they share and the uniquely feminine approach to those episodes that challenge us.

      Each author and poet gives you a little of themselves every time they write and those contained within this volume are no different. I do hope you will enjoy them as much I and the judges did.

      Linda Parkinson-Hardman (Editor)

      A Treat in Store by Moya Poole

      ‘Get a move on you stupid woman!’ he fumed, fingers drumming the steering wheel as the harassed looking driver struggled to manoeuvre her four-by-four into the parking slot. He turned a petulant face towards his wife. ‘Why on earth do they want to drive those things?’ He snickered. ‘You don’t get much mountainous country in Croydon.’

      She shrugged wearily, her body rigid from tension. As usual the tirade against other drivers and traffic lights had lasted all the way from home to ‘Wisebuys’ supermarket. He was becoming less tolerant by the day.

      ‘He’s there again. I swear he haunts me. He’s always here. He must never take a day off!’

      She jumped, scattering bananas over the floor, ‘for goodness’ sake, Brian, who?’

      ‘That flaming assistant, he must have nothing better to do than follow me round.’

      She sighed, ‘Well, perhaps you should stop opening the bags.’

      ‘What? It’s not my fault if they don’t sell decent loose potatoes. Oh no, they’re too crafty…think they can shove piddling little ones in with the proper…’

      She sped off to the next aisle….

      ‘And don’t get those apples you got me last week, you know I only like Cox’s.’

      Why was every Saturday the same? She wondered whilst selecting clementine’s - they had to have super-smooth paper-thin skin – it was like an endurance test and she didn’t think she could endure it much longer. Only one thing made it worthwhile.

      ‘I’m just going to the deli,’ she informed him as he strode towards her, ‘do you want anything?’

      ‘Deli? He sneered, ‘I’ve told you before, Linda, it’s always been called cooked meats. Don’t you start using poncey foreign words. Anyway, I’ll come with you. I’d like to see if they’ve got anything decent for a change.’

      Her heart sank.

      He was there! Her stomach somersaulted at the sight of his face, a light golden tan making it even more attractive than usual. Relief flooded her body. So that was why he’d been missing for two weeks, she’d been worried sick in case he’d left. He was weighing tongue for an elderly lady and as the happy couple approached he looked up, briefly locking eyes with Linda. Something flashed between them. She felt a deep thrill; she hadn’t imagined it!

      ‘Oh I’m not standing here all day. It’s time they put more staff on this counter!’

      The two people in front of Linda swivelled their heads round, and Linda’s face grew hot. He glanced at her sympathetically.

      ‘There’s nothing I want here anyway.’ Brian marched off towards the fresh meat section and she breathed a sigh of relief.

      Then it was her turn; ‘Can I help you?’ he asked in a deep sexy voice, those incredible grey eyes boring into hers. Her insides melted.

      ‘Er, erm, three hundred grams of Wiltshire ham please.’ Her voice came out as a croak and the hot flush stained her face again.

      As he handed the packet of meat over his fingers brushed hers. Electricity flared up her arm. He smiled, revealing gleaming white teeth. She smiled back.

      Wrapped in a warm bubble she

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