Delph Writers

..meet in Edna's cafe in Saddleworth Craft Co-operative, on Monday evenings.

A short story by
Glenys Hargreaves of Delph Writers.

Tanning the Torso
Albert slumbered peacefully in his beautiful garden beside the canal. It was summertime, when the long boats would putter past in tranquil smoothness and he enjoyed the murmur of voices as they glided along while he was gardening. Intriguing snippets of conversation would tantalise and leave him wondering…who they were, where had they travelled from, where bound?

Today was his first opportunity to relax behind the concealing bushes. Wearing only a pair of briefs and hoping to tan his white torso, he was at one with Nature.

Hearing the water lap in movement, he opened his eyes and peered through the leaves, just in time to see a tanned man lift an axe aloft and bring it down onto a recumbent figure, decapitating it with one blow. He then removed the head and dropped it in the water.

Albert froze in shock and was grateful because he didn’t wish to be seen. The boat glided on, leaving a trail of blood in its wake as the man chopped off each limb and dropped it into the water.“Albert” screeched the voice of his wife Martha, “want a cup of tea?”
When there was no reply, she screeched again. “What are you up to?”
“Nothing much” he replied. “Just dead heading, pruning a few branches and tanning my torso”.
He looked affectionately at his arms and legs, stroking his head thoughtfully.