Hexit #thoughtpiece #shortstory

Posted on Jul 6, 2016 by TanGental

Sacha Black has asked us to write about hugs, here. I know there was a word limit but it didn’t happen. Sorry

Hug let out a sigh. It had been a tiring day, gripping for so long every part of its being felt tense and knotted. And now it had a meeting of the Greetings’ Representatives. God, how it hated politics.

On the one side, there was the Handshake contingent, still living in a world of stiff lipped men and simpering women. It longed for some mystical time when only hands touched hands, kisses were reserved for bedtime and foreigners and hugs belonged to bears. Of course the internal battles between the traditional finger wrap ‘n’ grip and the more fashionable variants of knuckle knocks, high fives and rap-esque choreography had simmered for years but in the light of the current threats in the Greetings’ Market even they had come together in a show of hand-holding unity.

On the other there was the Kissers, those libertine sharers of bodily fluids, lip and cheek brushers and mouth daubers. They had always avoided the factional infighting of the Handshakers but, in truth that was because they knew when to apply which kiss. Recently however Politicians kissed each other and strangers leapt in for a triple mwah without so much as a by your leave; it felt like the old order was breaking down.

And in the middle sat the comfortable hug. Close enough to be intimate and yet nothing so much as a moist palm to disturb anyone’s sensitivities. The variables had always been subtle from the light holding of the arms to the full round grip. Hug had tried to keep the peace, even going into collation with the handshake, creating the popular  half hug, half hand grip as a way to minimize the growing influence of the kiss; but the more esoteric wing of Handshakers felt excluded and in reality everyone knew it was about the increasing influence of the hug rather than a restoration of the primacy of the handshake.

Today both extremes were calling for a referendum. The Handshakers wanted traditional English values of reserve and distance to be restored while the Kissers were after more mixing, an ever closer union. Hug would be expected to come down on one side or the other but really it wanted everyone to live together in peace. After all if they pulled each other apart, the only greeting that would benefit was the small minded, out of touch Wave and everyone knew where that would lead. Hug rolled its round shoulders. Maybe it should offer free hugs?

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
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18 Responses to Hexit #thoughtpiece #shortstory

  1. gordon759 says:
    Jul 6, 2016 at 10:05 am

    As you might guess I am definitely voting for the handshake.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Al Lane says:
    Jul 6, 2016 at 11:03 am

    Loved this one… I’m slowly moving from the Handshake contingent to being a Hugger. I don’t understand Kissers at all!
    Wrote this one on handshakes last year 🙂 https://altheauthor.wordpress.com/2015/07/03/the-handshake-poem/

    Liked by 1 person

  3. pensitivity101 says:
    Jul 6, 2016 at 11:42 am

    Every Hug has it’s day ie. 21st January. 🙂 Loved this.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Ritu says:
    Jul 6, 2016 at 12:27 pm

    A Hugger all the way!!! But you know that Geoffles! Lovely story!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Erika Kind says:
    Jul 6, 2016 at 4:21 pm

    I love hugging. As you said, close but not too close and still it makes the other person feel loved!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Tara Sparling says:
    Jul 7, 2016 at 10:43 am

    Well, this has added another few issues to my already considerable list of social anxieties. Lovely.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Sacha Black says:
    Jul 8, 2016 at 7:20 pm

    God I hate it when you display genius.

    1. I loved this line SO much: And in the middle sat the comfortable hug. Close enough to be intimate and yet nothing so much as a moist palm to disturb anyone’s sensitivities

    2. LOVE the sentiment behind this. Deep. Powerful. Just plain right.

    3. You’re a genius.

    4. I hate that I said that.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Pingback: Writespiration #92 First and Last lines | Sacha Black

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