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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Cyber Communication (email, IM’s, etc) (11/04/10)
Tell me how it's possible to fit an entire life into a single paragraph?
The impatient cursor blinked. I closed my eyes and groaned.

Ok, skip that field. Let's go onto something easier.
Height: 150cm.
Eyes: Hazel.
Weight: Guess I was 56kg once upon a time.
Age: Never you mind.

"Hey Mum, what's a word for something hard to deal with, starts with 'a', and contains seven letters?" said Katie, my crossword wiz.

"Awkward?"

"That's what I thought but there has to be an 's' in the middle."

"Really?" I said, a small smile crept across my face.

"Mum, have you been filling in my crossword again? You rat." Katie jumped up, ran to my small writing desk, wrapped her arms around me, and squeezed hard. I chuckled.

"Just helping you finish, darling."

It was a joke we shared. She'd start the crossword, I'd slip in a wrong word, and it would take her days to find it. Some might have considered it cruel. But oh the achievement and joy in her eyes made it worthwhile. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy. It's a lesson I had learned well.

"So, what's this?", she said glancing at the web page.

I grabbed the top and pulled down quickly.

"Not for you. Go away Katie," I said sternly.

"Oh Secrets. Now you have to tell," she said, trying to pry the screen out of my determined fingers.

"No!" I snapped just a little too loudly. Katie picked up on my darkening mood and returned to her crossword without a word.
I hated yelling. Never solved anything. Happened far less these days now that the black cloud over our house had started to lift. But it wasn't always easy raising a strong-willed ten-year-old alone.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to snap. Forgive me?" I said, hoping I hadn't hurt her.

Katie tilted her head up and peered at me through her bifocals. It always made me laugh.
"Why of course, Mother," she said in an unbelievable awful English accent.

I flipped the laptop open and returned to the page.

Interests: Walks along the beach. Reading. Lord, what on Earth am I doing?

My mobile rang. I closed the laptop and wandered outside into the warm sunshine.

" Amanda, had a feeling I'd hear from you."

"Have you done it yet?"

"Anyone ever tell you your a nag."

"Just my husband when he thinks I'm out of earshot. So, have you sent the application yet?"

"Doing it right now. Still not sure about this you know."

"You're kidding. It's been six years. Tim would want you to move on," she said.

I missed Tim. Every so often I think about him. What would our lives have been had a motorbike accident not tore him away from us. I missed his touch. His smile. His desire. He made me feel alive.

"What about Katie. Am I being selfish? I don't want to replace her father."

"Nor should you. But don't you think he'd want you to be happy?"

"You're right. It's just so hard. I don't want to hurt her."

"Listen girlfriend, I've got to go. I'll call back in an hour and If you have not sent that email application form thing, I'm going to come over there personally and kick your butt."

I shook my head and went back inside. Katie had gone.
I read the screen and fear smothered me.

Thank you for your application. A copy has been sent to your email.

Katie! Girl you are so dead.

I quickly opened my email. Two messages waited for me. One from Katie and one from the web dating site. I opened the email from the site and skipped down to where I had trouble completing the field. Katie had filled it out.

Tell the potential suitors about yourself:

My life is a book to be completed. I've travelled through some dark, cold valleys and witnessed some glorious peaks on which I've wanted to stay forever. If you're interested in sharing the next chapter and climbing the next peak, then I'm waiting for you, but only if you love crosswords.

Then I opened the one from my daughter.

Mum. Hope your not too upset. I was just helping you finish it. I knew you'd probably would talk yourself out of it. I think your dating is a fantastic idea. It's been too long. I want to see you laugh like you used to. I want to see the light shining in your eyes again.
Katie.
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This article has been read 1013 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Jenny Fulton 
11/12/10
Aww! This story made me smile! I love the personalities of the characters. I am curious now, about the nationalities of each. I immediately assumed the mother was British, but with the comment about the daughter's accent, am wondering what accent her daughter does speak. :)
Nancy Sullivan 
11/12/10
It was a good idea to have Katie finish the application. Besides showing her approval, she would not have the same inhibitions in filling in the final comment. Good job.
Mildred Sheldon
11/12/10
A tender loving story and the characters are priceless. I enjoyed this very much. I love reading all entries in my group. I learn so much. Thank you for sharing.
Gregory Kane
11/12/10
This was a delightful tale, one that developed gently and full of humour. I couldn't quite work out how old the daughter was. What she wrote on the form and in the email was lovely but too mature for a ten-year-old so I'm guessing that she was 10 at the time of the bereavement and therefore was now 16. Keep it up, you're doing well.
Brenda Rice
11/13/10
Your article has a creative take on the subject and portrays a good relationship between mother and daughter. I did notice that, your should have been you're in couple of places. I really enjoyed reading this.
Brenda Rice
11/13/10
Apology! I DON'T SEE ANY YOUR FOR YOU'RE. SORRY MUST HAVE HAD DOUBLE VISION.
Henry Clemmons
11/13/10
Great characterization and a story that kept me hopping right along. Mothers and daaughters have cool relationships. Great job.
Philippa Geaney
11/14/10
Excellent story. Couldn't stop reading. This could be a peak experience in your own journey.You are up there anyway!
Beth LaBuff
11/14/10
That Katie is intelligent and perceptive. I loved the crossword theme and the mother/daughter banter. This is a great story!
Caitlyn Meissner
11/15/10
Great job! I enjoyed your story, especially the ending. You made your characters come alive, not an easy thing to do in 750 words. :) I also liked how you worked the crossword puzzle into your story. It made it seem real.
Catrina Bradley
11/16/10
Great entry! I especially like the ending. Katie's message to her mom made me well up.
Caitlyn Meissner
11/18/10
Congratulations! :D You did great!
Philippa Geaney
11/18/10
Yes! Yes! Yes! Well done Colin. You are a really talanted writer. So delighted for you.