ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
I'm thirty nine, recently single again. I have two boys Cli' (pronounced clee) Real name Christopher and Mark. I'm a care in the community nurse and formerly (when I was married) an occupational Therapist working with the mentally ill on a secure unit. I love reading and writing and meeting people. I hate offal, seafood and intolerance. I keep dog, cat, polecats, rats and reptiles. And for seven years ran the second largest reptile sanctuary in Britain. Apart from having my lads, I think that's probably the most worthwhile thing I've ever done. Writing wise, I've been the main fiction writer for Legends magazine for three years.And have two books published 'Lizard's Leap' published by Quillusers, and 'Better the Devil You Know' soon to be released by Bestbooks.Um I drive a knackered old Astra, and ride a two litre trike. I live in the lake district of England, and am happy. :-) [January 2003]
AUTHOR'S OTHER TITLES (84) A Fork In The Road. (Short Stories) A paradox revolving round the lonely Holker Mosses in the dead of night. [2,835 words] [Mystery] A Twist In The Tail (Short Stories) - [963 words] Agony (Short Stories) The First in a series of Agony columns written by the unstoppable Aunt Nasty. (May be deemed offensive) [1,200 words] [Comedy] Agony 2 (Short Stories) Morew from the irrepresible Aunt Nasty (May be deemed offensive). [1,077 words] [Comedy] Angel Stew (Short Stories) The kitchens are in uproar. [826 words] [Comedy] Anne (Short Stories) - [707 words] Apple Of His Eye (Short Stories) Daddy's little girl, Daddy's little sweetheart. (May be deemed offensive). [1,742 words] [Drama] Attractions (Short Stories) People stared at the sisters and called them freaks. [678 words] [Drama] Bandit At Twelve-O-Clock (Short Stories) A sinister note drops through her letter box, but who is it from and what's it all about? [2,144 words] [Drama] Barriers (Short Stories) Everybody's frightened of the prisoner in the cell at the end of the block. [2,913 words] [Thriller] Breakfast In Bed (Short Stories) She loved her husband so much, and a sepcial man deserves a special breakfast. [1,633 words] [Horror] Car Trouble (Short Stories) Boys will be boys. [496 words] [Comedy] Cat's Chorus (Short Stories) - [1,332 words] Cherry Blossom (Short Stories) - [435 words] Cold, Cold Night.. (Short Stories) The night was beautiful but biting, she had to make her final farewells, a cigarette would help. [630 words] [Drama] Creeping Up From Behind. (Short Stories) You can't ever really know what someone else is thinking ... unless they choose to tell you. [925 words] [Drama] Dark Solitude. (Short Stories) A woman alone on the moors when a storm threatens, but this is no ordinanry storm and that is no ordinary lady. [1,434 words] [Drama] Dawn Rising (Short Stories) He looked at his own personal sunrise every morning, yet longed for the warmth of the sun. [1,069 words] [Drama] Deadly Persuit (Short Stories) Nature at its most cruel .. when it's interfered with by man. [1,541 words] [Drama] Deep Blue Eastern Light (Poetry) I've never been to Budapest, but I saw an image on a postcard, it was misty and had a sort of dreamy quality about it. I wondered about the spirit of Budapest. Hope I've done her justicce. [204 words] Different Road (Short Stories) Charlie is running scared. Will he find his way before his precious time runs out? [521 words] Empty House (Short Stories) This had been her domain, now it was only a shadow. [649 words] [Drama] Find Me A Place (Poetry) Everybody needs somewhere to run. [193 words] [Drama] Finding Fleur (Short Stories) Katy desperately wants to find Fleur, but does Fleur want to be found? [1,727 words] [Drama] Four Minute Warning (Short Stories) - [476 words] [Comedy] Freedom By Another Name (Short Stories) He's an imposter [557 words] [Drama] Furtive Glances (Short Stories) Always the last to know! [891 words] [Drama] Galaxy (Poetry) Let Venus bear witness and Mars be our guide. [139 words] Hickory, Dickory, Dock (Short Stories) - [991 words] [Drama] Is The Toilet Roll Half Full Or Half Empty (Short Stories) It's hard when you're at bursting point. [423 words] [Comedy] I've Always Wanted To Write... But! (Short Stories) There's always an excuse if you want to find one. [510 words] [Mind] Jasmine And Gardenia Love (Poetry) - [417 words] [Erotic] Jinny (Poetry) - [176 words] Just The Ticket (Short Stories) You pays your money and you takes your chances. [5,177 words] [Drama] Knockers (Short Stories) It's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it. [2,210 words] [Drama] Little Bird (Short Stories) He liked fragile things [1,406 words] [Drama] Lizards Leap (Novels) Four children buy an intricately carved frame from a school fair. A crazy old woman chases them desperately wanting the carving for herself. What is the mystery surrounding the strange frame? [5,753 words] [Adventure] Long Walk Back To Jurassica (Poetry) Evolution and progress or three million steps backwards? [323 words] [Drama] Lookingthrough The Window (Short Stories) - [401 words] Madness Becomes You (Short Stories) She used to be someone, now she's several people, or maybe she's nobody at all, it makes no difference. [394 words] [Drama] Making My Way Back To You. (Short Stories) She'd told them a thousand times to keep the front door closed, now tragedy had struck. [1,926 words] [Drama] Memberwhen (Poetry) Memberwhen that mystical word of long ago memories. [189 words] [Drama] Mortar Doesn't Breathe. (Short Stories) The house was inanimate, dead ... because her child was gone. [1,114 words] [Drama] Mourning Glory (Short Stories) One of my favourite pieces. Please note *This is not a children's story* It's the tale of a little girl trying to be a child. [1,786 words] [Drama] Mumbles From The Madhouse (Novels) It was her first day on the secure unit and somehow she had to see it through. [2,215 words] [Drama] My Friend The Tiger And Me (Poetry) I wrote this for my little boy when he was having trouble at school. [942 words] [Animal] Naughty Bunny Goes To Ibiza (Short Stories) - [552 words] One-Man Race (Short Stories) He had only his nerves to rely on. One slip and the race would be lost. [664 words] [Drama] Out Of Print (Short Stories) A man, a boy, a love of reading and echoes of the past. [2,007 words] [Drama] Outrun The River (Poetry) The snow was melting fast and he owed it to himself and his seld of dogs to make it to safety. [145 words] [Action] Pact Of Joy. (Short Stories) Don't we all just want to be happy? [2,497 words] [Drama] Play With Me Please. (Short Stories) - [322 words] Return Of The Hellcat (Erotica May Be Offensive) (Short Stories) Please do not read this one if easily offended. Or even not so easily offended. Continuing sexploits of Dark Solitude. [3,390 words] [Erotic] Room For One More (Short Stories) The dream was haunting and wouldn't leave Mike alone. [1,728 words] [Drama] Rush Hour (Short Stories) - [419 words] Sally (Short Stories) - [2,268 words] Sinister Music (Novels) She had no psychic ability, so why had fate chosen her to foretell of the spate of brutal murders? [6,114 words] [Drama] So This Is My Life Then (Short Stories) - [517 words] [Comedy] Space Walk (Short Stories) May Cause offense. [1,290 words] [Drama] Spirit Dancer (Poetry) - [514 words] Sweet Child Of Mine (Short Stories) The old lady had been brutally mugged, her son was sucjh a good boy, but would his thoughts now turn to revenge? [1,843 words] [Drama] The Band Played On (Short Stories) - [1,486 words] [Drama] The Big Picture (Short Stories) The little girl was a great artist, but her subject matter was giving cause for concern. [776 words] [Drama] The Comet. (Short Stories) Remember! [796 words] [Drama] The Dinosaur (Short Stories) - [1,523 words] The Half Empty Glass. (Short Stories) They had no idea of the horror they were walking into. [3,030 words] [Drama] The Hhmmm Efect (Poetry) - [783 words] The Iceberg (Short Stories) She had to break the hold they had on him... release him from his parents grip. [410 words] [Drama] The Joker (Short Stories) - [2,032 words] The Lovers (Poetry) - [124 words] The Mark Of Jack (Short Stories) The start of something maybe. [1,044 words] [Drama] The Old Enemy (Short Stories) I just hope I've got the names right. [253 words] [Drama] The Rosary (Short Stories) May cause offense. [422 words] The Spark (Short Stories) - [557 words] The Thirteenth Station (Short Stories) - [8,024 words] [Horror] The Village Green. (Short Stories) - [559 words] [Drama] Three Mile Gap (Poetry) So close and yet... [285 words] [Drama] Tomorrow Lies Beside Us (Poetry) - [239 words] [Drama] Tusk (Short Stories) - [1,012 words] [Drama] Under The Whether (Short Stories) - [1,626 words] Watching And Waiting (Short Stories) - [1,253 words] [Drama] White Icing (Short Stories) - [1,385 words] Worlds Biggest Loser (Short Stories) - [114 words] You Are My Sunshine (Short Stories) - [1,285 words]
Tangled Web Sue (Sooz) Simpson
Should she tell him?
The question buzzed around her head as she pondered one of the great mysteries of life.
Would it be better for him not to know? After all he had no control over the outcome. The end result is always the same regardless of whether he knows or not, its not as if he can change what IS, what always has been, what always will be.
Maybe she should have told him before they made love, given the poor sod a fighting chance, but it all seems so clinical. There you are getting it together, all moody and seductive and then you have to stop the proceedings and say “Oh by the way you do realize…” No on reflection best not tell him eh, he’ll know soon enough..
She continued cleaning herself before going out to meet her lover. Still she mused over the unfairness of life. She had worked her way through quite a few of the men around and about lately. People were beginning to talk. The men that she met were becoming uncomfortable around her, and yet still they came, still they made their macho advances. It seemed testosterone won out over common sense every time. Her mother had lectured her at length in her calm soothing ‘mother knows best’ voice
“Marilynn darling. You really must stop this running around you know, there’s talk. Folk are saying some things about you that aren’t very nice. How do you think that makes me feel. I really do wish you’d find yourself a nice man and settle down. Then … afterwards you raise your children. You are supposed to take one man Marilynn. One”
“Oh mother” she had answered “It’s the nineties everyone’s doing it. Relax will you, just be thankful you had a daughter”
Her mother had shaken her head sadly. She didn’t like confrontation and had swiftly changed the subject.
“It’s Tony Webster’s funeral at two o’clock this afternoon, are you going? His mum’s bought a lovely new black dress”
“Huh I don’t think I’ll be very welcome do you?. Don’t forget Tony and I had a fling. That woman buys a new black dress every other week”
“hmmm it must be lovely to have so many sons”
Marilynn finished tidying herself after their lovemaking and moved towards her lover.
He was waiting just a few feet away outside. He knew of course. He had always known.
All this time he’d resisted, what made her so different? It was those legs, never had he seen such a beautiful set of legs. Had to be the legs. He trembled slightly in anticipation all the hairs down his back erect and quivering. He was scared of course but he had drunk of the sweet wine, and now he must face the consequences.
He saw her elegant foot feeling its way out of the woven entrance. The leg that followed it took his breath away. Then another, and another, and another. He was transfixed. Rooted to the spot. Her beautiful fat swollen body moved towards him, so graceful so elegant, He felt he would explode with love for her. Her red eyes bore into his, holding him captive, she was easily twice his size. What a woman. What an experience it had been. His knees trembled with the memory. If only…
She rose on her back legs, four of her fore legs cutting the air in the graceful dance of death. He saw her fangs situated somewhere in the centre of her mass.
The black widow Spider moved over her mate covering him with her mammoth body. With a sigh of sad resignation she began to dine.
READER'S REVIEWS (4) DISCLAIMER: STORYMANIA DOES NOT PROVIDE AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWS. ALL REVIEWS ARE PROVIDED BY NON-ASSOCIATED VISITORS, REGARDLESS OF THE WAY THEY CALL THEMSELVES.
"Sooz !!!!! Loved it, absolutely brilliant!!!" -- Judith.
"Hiya Judith, thanks :-) This isn't one of my favourites it's a bit contrived and daft, but as girl power goes, this one could be a lesson to us all :-) " -- Sooz, Dalton, England, Cumbria.
"Gabriele Roeder’s Review: Should she tell him? The question buzzed around her head as she pondered one of the great mysteries of life. Would it be better for him not to know? After all he had no control over the outcome. The end result is always the same regardless ***[of] delete*** whether he knows or not, its ***it's*** not as if he can change what IS, what always has been, what always will be. Maybe she should have told him before they made love, given the poor sod a fighting chance, but it all seems so clinical. There you are getting it together, all moody and seductive and then you have to stop the proceedings and say “Oh by the way you do realize…” No ***comma*** on reflection best not tell him ***comma***, or*** full stop*** eh, he’ll know soon enough.. She continued cleaning herself before going out to meet her lover. Still she mused over the unfairness of life. She had worked her way through quite a few of the men around and about lately. People were beginning to talk. The men that she met were becoming uncomfortable around her, and yet still they came, still they made their macho advances. It seemed testosterone won out over common sense every time. Her mother had lectured her at length in her calm soothing ‘mother knows best’ voice “Marilynn darling. You really must stop this running around ***comma, or full stop*** you know, there’s talk. Folk are saying some things about you that aren’t very nice. How do you think that makes me feel. I really do wish you’d find yourself a nice man and settle down. Then … afterwards you raise your children. You are supposed to take one man Marilynn. One” “Oh mother” she had answered “It’s the nineties ***comma*** everyone’s doing it. Relax comma will you, just be thankful you had a daughter” Her mother had shaken her head sadly. She didn’t like confrontation and had swiftly changed the subject. “It’s Tony Webster’s funeral at two o’clock this afternoon, are you going? His mum’s bought a lovely new black dress” “Huh I don’t think I’ll be very welcome ***comma*** do you?. Don’t forget ***comma*** Tony and I had a fling. That woman buys a new black dress every other week” “hHmmm it must be lovely to have so many sons” Marilynn finished tidying herself after their lovemaking and moved towards her lover. He was waiting just a few feet away outside. He knew of course. He had always known. All this time he’d resisted, what made her so different? ***something is wrong with this sentence*** It was those legs, never had he seen ***he had never seen*** such a beautiful set of legs. Had to be the legs. He trembled slightly in anticipation ***comma*** all the hairs down his back erect and quivering. He was scared of course ***comma*** but he had drunk of the sweet wine, and now he must face the consequences. He saw her elegant foot feeling its way out of the woven entrance. The leg that followed it took his breath away. Then another, and another, and another. He was transfixed. Rooted to the spot. Her beautiful fat swollen body moved towards him, so graceful so elegant, He felt he would explode with love for her. Her red eyes bore into his, holding him captive, ***better: full stop*** she was easily twice his size. What a woman. What an experience it had been. His knees trembled with the memory. If only… She rose on her back legs, four of her fore legs cutting the air in the graceful dance of death. He saw her fangs situated somewhere in the centre of her mass. The black widow Spider moved over her mate covering him with her mammoth body. With a sigh of sad resignation she began to dine. ***I KNEW there was a reason for my arachnophobia LOL. It is an interesting story. Makes the spider sort of human, or is there a bit of a spider in every woman? At first reading I was a bit struck by the change between past tense and present tense, but when I reread the story I thought to detect a pattern in this. Yes, you definitely have to read it twice, to fully understand it. Not wrong with a short story, I'd say. I like it. (But still I'm not going to allow spiders in my flat, GRIN) Corrections in italics. There are some commas missing, but better check whether my corrections are OK. After some of the dialogue lines the full stop is missing, too. I didn't indicate that.*** --------- Snickers’ Review: As always, Ms. Simpson writes beautifully. As for the twist at the end, I was taken off guard (as I'm sure was intended). I found it odd to be in the mind of a black widow spider ... but very interesting piece of characterization. And nicely tied together with the death of one of her beaus. I didn't get the big about the black dress though. after all, spiders don't wear dresses ..... Nicely written ------------- Wolfa’s Review: All I saw wrong were technical things; commas, etc... My favourite part was definitely: "He saw her elegant foot feeling its way out of the woven entrance. The leg that followed it took his breath away. Then another, and another, and another." Funny and creepy. Well done!:) " -- Cam Davis.
"Thanks both .. thanks cam." -- Sooz, Dalton-in-Furness, England, Cumbria.
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