by Pat Ritter
relationship, the only direction for each of them to consider is: which way is up?
Word count: 445
Who Was Paul Buser?
Paul married my cousin Susan in 1970. Why I remember this period so well because I lived with Susan and her parents during my teenage years.
We shared many secrets between one another. At twenty-two years old at the time and a probationary Constable with Queensland Police Force waiting to be sworn into the service.
Susan’s mother, my aunt, a quick tempered woman who loved to control each situation; I remember the day of the wedding so clearly. My role to pick up the bride’s mother and drive her to the church – I was late.
Soon as I pulled into the driveway, my aunt shouted obscene words at me which if I was a sworn-in police officer would have justified arresting her. Imagine my aunt domiciled in the Sandgate Police Watch-house whilst her daughter being married only a short distance away, the thought past through my mind – shocking language.
We arrived at the church on time so all was forgiven. Whilst the bride and groom repeated their vows, I wondered how long this marriage would last. Perhaps a couple of years at the best, my concern justified because my cousin possessed a similar out-spoken word to compare with her mother.
I’d only known Paul a short time before the wedding because I’d been away from the family training for the police force.
Before joining training he and another cousin arrived at my workplace to spend time with me. After a brief visit they left. This time didn’t allow me sufficient time to ‘get to know him’.
Also, I don’t know if my police training clicked into place, but they’d only known one another a short time. Was it a shot-gun wedding? This didn’t matter for my cousin appeared happy and content with the selection of her husband.
True to my thinking, a baby boy was born short of nine months after their wedding. A beautiful boy who became the apple of my aunt’s eye; she’d boast at every opportunity how beautiful and wonderful her grandchild.
Another baby followed. A couple of years afterward the couple separated and went their own ways. Paul continued to support his family until buser by name and buser by nature took over his life.
Two decades later Paul called his two sons to his hospital bedside. On his death bed he didn’t have long to live. With a last gasp he told them he loved each one as a father should. In his last will and testament he left both boys his home at Scarborough.
I knew Paul Buser for more than twenty years. May he rest in peace?
Word count: 441
Why Oh Why
Driving away from Tuesday Writer’s Group Meeting I pushed the radio button on my car for the latest news headlines. Much to my dismay words spoke of two bombs exploding at the finish line of Boston Marathon. Two people dead, one an eight year old boy, over one hundred and thirty people injured.
Why of why should this happen in our world? No Australian injured. My heart went out to those persons who’d suffered or lost their life.
By the time I arrived home to the midday news, television cameras flashed across the screen showing the devastation. One member of the public told a reporter when the noise of the bomb exploded he saw human limbs pass him detached from bodies.
A seventy year old participant male near the finish line, when one of the bombs exploded on the sidewalk near him, the blast so severe the force landed him on the ground.
Why of why would someone want to blow up other people at an annual marathon event? Wasn’t it enough September eleven 2001 when two aeroplanes devastated New York by smashing into their Twin Towers causing destruction beyond belief?
From that moment onwards Governments across the world have attacked Terrorism in an attempt to try and stop the murders of innocent people.
Until this week I thought the authorities were on top of this unnecessary destruction. Now ‘Boston Marathon’ will be forever entrenched into our history.
At time of writing this story no group have admitted responsibility to the bombing. Authorities investigating the type of bomb used; how it was manufactured; any evidence to show who planted the bombs.
Preliminary investigations show the bombs were home made; more likely downloaded from the internet to show what to use to assemble a bomb. Steel ball bearing, nails and gunpowder used to build the bomb to cause most damage when ignited.
Why of why should any human being ever think of constructing and delivering such destruction on the people of the world I’ll never know.
Word count: 341
Why Santa Got The Sack!
Twas the night before Christmas Santa and his elves busily worked through the night to deliver presents to all children on earth depending if they were naughty or nice.
Since time began Santa delivered presents to all children on earth leaving his home at the North Pole guided by his trusted reindeers in time so each child would receive a present on Christmas Day.
This Christmas Eve was no different to any other since he’d began his duty as Santa Claus to deliver presents by midnight. On this particular Christmas Eve he became shocked to hear he no longer could use the words ‘Ho Ho Ho’.
Whose idea to think Santa Claus, a giant among all children on earth, couldn’t again use the words ‘Ho Ho Ho and instead lower his voice to say Ha Ha Ha. This is a disgrace. Complaints made from Australia thought the deep Ho Ho Ho scared the children. He told his reindeer, ‘what should I do? I’ve been Ho Ho Hoing since I can remember.’
Rudolph with his red nose, his lead reindeer called back, ‘does this mean we shouldn’t visit the children in Australia?’
‘No no.’ cried Santa, ‘we visit all children across the globe. They expect us to deliver their present Christmas Eve.’
‘I say we go against Australian tradition and deliver the presents and call out louder Ho Ho Ho.’ Rudolph remarked turning his head in Santa’s direction.
‘What is the world coming to when I can’t call out Ho Ho Ho to my children?’ Santa remarked. ‘Rudolph, go to Australia first and we’ll deliver their presents so I can get this over and done with.’
Rudolph sped through the evening sky heading directly for Australia. After delivering presents to the first home Santa left and called in his loudest voice, ‘Ho Ho Ho’. He wasn’t going to change for anyone and he knew from the time he’d delivered presents each Christmas Eve he always left the home calling a greeting of Ho Ho Ho and not Ha Ha Ha.
Word count: 347