Well hello there, It's been awhile hasn't it? While there has been a great deal of...Inactivity on this page, it doesn't mean this intrepid writer has been lazy. Quite the contrary, being busy is the reason I've been away from my site, writing for magazines. online zines, working on not one but two full length novels and actually trying to earn some money have limited my time here. But I would like to change that, hence this post. I thought I'd share a little piece of writing I did not so long ago titled "The Unconditional Henry and Claire." It is intended to be a snapshot of a loving, realistic couple. I have plans with this, and it will go places you won't expect. But for now, I'd like for you, the reader to speculate where this little charming tale will go. Feel free to post comments and ideas below if you feel so obliged. But enough of me, let's get to reading, I present to you all, "The Unconditional Henry and Claire." The Unconditional Henry and Claire By Elliott Thomas The old man sat down next to the old woman. He winced as his knees popped and crackled with arthritis; the woman raised an eyebrow and smirked. "I think you're getting old." She cracked. "Yeah, yeah," The man replied, "Take a look in the mirror first before you start picking on me." He adjusted his shirt collar and let out a deep sigh. "I'm beautiful." The woman said in mock exasperation and patted down her thin gray hair, "Don't you try and say otherwise Henry." "Oh I wouldn't dare Claire." Henry said, his sarcasm betrayed by a ghost of a smile, "I was just....Advising you that it's unbecoming of a lady of your standards to stoop so low as to point out other people's ages." Henry's Eyebrows rose as he looked over at Claire. She laughed quietly, "How astute, I'll take that into consideration." Claire slid over to Henry and he instinctively raised his arm to cradle her thin shoulders, they had done this a million times before and he hoped it would be a million times more, it never got old. "Do you want some wine?" Claire asked, Henry looked down at her, focused on her green eyes that stripped him bare as always. "It's currently Nine Thirty Eight....." Henry answered looking up at the clock on the wall, "A.M. By the way." He added as he looked back at Claire, who was now wearing an impish grin, "Oh let me guess what your gonna say honey." Claire bowed her head, "Ok, I'm waiting." Henry lifted his arm from her shoulders and clasped his hands together, "Let's see....It's always five pm somewhere?" Claire looked up and glared at him, "You know me oh so well." "We have spent a lot of time together honey. ALOT of time together." Henry intoned. "Oh, so you regret all our time together?" Claire spoke sweetly as she titled her head to the side. "Every damn day." Henry grinned, he leaned back in the seat and crossed his arms, "I mean, I'm actually not that fussed, I've had plenty of women on the side, it's not that bad." "Oh Henry, you are such a fool, what have I told you all this time?" Claire grunted, her smile reaching her eyes, "You can have any woman you like, as long as you let me watch or participate!" "Must have slipped my mind." Henry quipped, arms still crossed. "See, you ARE getting old." Claire laughed. "Maybe." Henry conceded playfully, a lopsided grin on his face, which turned into a full faced smile as Claire reached out to take his hand in hers. "Oh I love that so much." She murmured. "What?" "Those creases at the corners of your eyes, it just makes me so-" She stopped talking for a second to lay a few kisses on Henry's cheek, "Happy." She finished. Henry had heard it all before, and like the act of putting his arms around Claire, he never ever grew tired of it. "Ok ok," Henry slightly reddened, trying not to have his smile reach his eyes, "Let's go get that wine." He stood up slowly to avoid agitating his knees again. "I knew it." Claire said quietly as she rose gracefully, "You're a god damned alcoholic." "Bah, It's five PM somewhere." Henry shot back. They walked silently together to the kitchen, without realizing it, Claire had held her hand out and Henry took hers in his and their walk slowed slightly to enjoy and bask in their shared perfect moment. Henry grinned, he wasn't happy he was drinking wine in the morning, he was happy he was drinking it with Claire. At that moment he felt so thankful they were never a couple who didn't share their feelings with each other. "Honey?" Claire said quietly as she rested her head on his shoulder and their slow walk decreased in speed even further. "Yes my darling?" Henry answered. "I love this." Claire let go of his hand and wrapped it around his waist, once again, Henry had anticipated it and as soon as she had let go, he raised his arm and again wrapped it around her shoulders. "So do I." He smiled down at her, "I don't which one of us loves it more." "There's no answer to that one." Claire chuckled, "Don't bother mulling over it, I've tried." Henry gripped her tighter as they finally entered the kitchen, "Sounds good to me." Claire gently disentangled herself from Henry and went to the fridge and bent slightly to open it up and inspect its contents. "Well hello there woman." Henry whistled. "Shut it." Claire replied not turning around, but she wiggled her hips slightly. "It's wine time." Henry laughed and went to the cupboard to grab some glasses. Henry looked back at Claire who had just picked up the bottle of red, "Should we have some cheese and crack-" "Yes." "Well ok then." Henry nodded and turned back around to grab some Crackers. He turned around and Claire was placing cheese on a plate and the wine was open already. "I'm surprised you didn't just drink it all without me already." "The thought crossed my mind my dear." Claire spoke gravely, "But even I have to concede that drinking alone is just not as fun as drinking with another person." "Very wise honey, very wise." Said Henry as he brought the glasses and crackers over to the table. The two of them eased themselves slowly into chairs and Claire got to pouring the wine. She filled each glass to the brim. "Party time." Henry giggled. "It's wine time." Claire raised her shoulders and looked over to Henry like a confused child. "I don't understand the problem?" "No problem Queenie." Henry laughed. Claire moved a glass slowly over to Henry, careful not to spill any, it touched the tips of Henry's fingers and her mission was over. "There now." Claire smiled warmly, "Ready for your wine darling?" "Always." Henry smiled back, leant over and kissed Claire on the mouth, Claire searched for Henry's hand and found it, they held onto each other tightly as they both drank deeply. Their thoughts were mirrored. They had done this so many times over the years they had been together, through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, they had never wavered, they had never faltered. They would continue to be entwined as they had before, it would never stop until one of them left this world, and the other would continue to wake up every morning at Nine A.M. to drink red wine and eat crackers until they too would also leave this world, in search of the other. Because nothing would keep these two apart for very long; worlds and dimensions and universes wouldn't stand a chance against these two. "I love you Henry." Said Claire. "I love you Claire." Said Henry. Claire raised her glass and smiled, "Now shut up and drink." Henry obeyed Claire's order and drank, reveling in the light the emanated between them.
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About Elliott
Elliott Thomas is a native Sydney dweller who loves to write. No genre is off limits. That's all you need to know, carry on. Archive
March 2018
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