I am talking to Tricia. This is when we first met. It must be 25 years ago. How time does fly past.
She has just moved to this area from London. She is very attractive. I fancy her a lot. I try, in as casual a way as I can, to find out more about her. She is pleasant and easy to talk to.
It turns out that she and I have something in common. We have both spent some of our childhood in the same London district, Tulse Hill.
I tell her I went to the comprehensive school there.
She tells me she lived in one of the houses that back onto the school playground.
What a coincidence we say.
I tell her about the time a little girl, of about nine or ten, who lived in one of those houses, came into my school to collect a tortoise which I had found wandering in the playground.
Tricia is amazed by this fact. She was the little girl!
She tells me she remembers her mum telling her to go to the school and ask if anyone had found a tortoise.
Tricia and I laugh about this even more remarkable coincidence. Well you know what they say. If a man can make a woman laugh.....
We become an item, her and I. Truth to tell she never stood a chance.
The rest, as they say, is history, and 34 years after I first met that pretty little girl in my school, our extremely handsome son George was born.
I am tempted here to make a silly joke like: My goodness, what a long gestation time. But I won't. It would be far too corny and obvious.
Naturally I messed up eventually. I always screw up relationships with women. I never believe a woman can really love me. But we spent happy years together, and as you may recall me mentioning before, we remain the best of friends.
What about the tortoise I hear you ask? Sadly he never woke up one summer after his hibernation. But I remember him with great fondness. I owe that tortoise, big time.
He really brought me out of my shell!
PS. I was going to insert a picture of a tortoise, then I thought, you probably already know what a tortoise looks like anyway.
You see why I love non-fiction better than fiction? If you had written this for a story, no one would believe it!
ReplyDeleteGreat story, I have a feeling your readership is about to explode!
ReplyDeleteAaaah!Jane x
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet story! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAh ! That is a delightful story John. It really is a small world.
ReplyDeleteWe had a tortoise called Micky, I recall he always used to wee on me every time I picked him up.
ReplyDeleteThank goodnes the practice of having them as pets is no longer.
Briony
x
You were featured on Rhonda's down to earth blog so that is why you have had an explosion in readership. The same happened when she featured one of my blogs a few months ago. Thanks for dropping by and checking out my photographs.
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ReplyDeleteInteresting. Must be fated to meet her (Chinese believes) Guess every time you look at a tortoise, it will remind you of her. And i thought things like this only happen in fairy tale books, keh keh keh looks like it could happen to anyone.
ReplyDeleteAs they say... slow and steady wins the race. Nice story.
ReplyDeleteWhat a coincidence the tortoise story. Shame it didn't last but at least you have a handsome son and still friends with his mother.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I agree with Birdman in that slow and steady wins the race. Thank you for this heartfelt post.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great coincidence, and a nice story.
ReplyDeleteIt's so long since I saw a tortoise I have in fact almost forgotten what they look like. But you don't need to post one, I can always google one!
It was a pleasure to meet Tricia! It is wonderful that you have remained best friends and of course you have your extremely handsome son, George as a result of your love for each other.
ReplyDeleteIf you will now take a look at the facts you shared you will see that I have been right about a suspicion I have had for a long time. You and Tricia still care so much for each other. Perhaps you need to live slightly apart for your relationship to work well but there it is. Sharing an extremely handsome son is not the glue... your feelings for each other are.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely story and I think it's wonderful that you are still good friends.
ReplyDeleteI always thought the story was the tortoise and the hare not the tortoise and Trisha. Oh well I like yours better any way
ReplyDeleteThat is a truly sweet story. And yours is still a special relationship.I have a question? Does she know you blog and/or has she ever read it?
ReplyDeleteMy husband knows I do but doesn't know how to find it so hasn't seen it in a long time.
Very cute! Actually, what you call a tortoise, we call a turtle, I think. And zoologically there is a difference, so your picture would have been enlightening.
ReplyDeleteGreat story, and I have to believe it was faith! Wish you two happy years to come.
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