When Holding On Is All You Can Do

Posted on Oct 24, 2018 by TanGental

The clap on the shoulder felt sincere enough. ‘Captain.’ Jack Reynolds oiled his smile. ‘Like the old days, eh?’

Harrison eased back, not trusting a reply. Reynolds straightened his jacket, skipping into the lights, accepting the applause. Same slime-ball, Harrison thought and regretted it.

The band’s opening bars died away; Reynold’s arm swept the room. ‘We have some special people in tonight.’ He pointed out several groups, units like Harrison’s.

Harrison stopped listening, his mind skipping back 15 years, his eyes circling the self-same ballroom as he and Janice had those desperate days and nights. The stench of sweat, urine, fear as each couple fought to stay upright, one goal in mind. To be there at the end, to secure an unlikely future.

‘Captain, come on.’ Reynolds called him to stand. Stiffly, he faced the crowd, took in the dead eyes above the almost-believable smiles, saw their despair, the untellable horrors they’d shared in the hope of another unlikely future.

His eyes focused on the spot where they’d stopped him; when they told him Janice was dead in his arms. They’d taken her and disqualified him.  His men saw the tears and thought they understood; it was for the seventeen men who’d not returned with their unit. Everyone in the room had a similar story. A shared survivor’s guilt.

He caught Reynolds’ gaze. For one brief second they were back to that dance hall. He’d seen Harrison’s despair, understood it came not from her death so much as the loss of hope that went with it. He nodded, understanding that private, selfish grief; the pain, so much worse than that suffered by any group because it was his to bear alone.

The emcee turned to the crowd, ‘Here’s an old favourite…Maestro, take it away…’

This flash piece was written in response to Microcosms 145 prompt: to incorporate the following into your piece: Emcee, dance marathon, tragedy

PS. Seems I won this week; nice!

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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22 Responses to When Holding On Is All You Can Do

  1. pensitivity101 says:
    Oct 24, 2018 at 1:48 pm

    ‘They shoot horses don’t they’ comes to mind Geoff.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. Darlene says:
    Oct 24, 2018 at 1:51 pm

    Excellent piece of flash fiction. You deserved to win.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. willowdot21 says:
    Oct 24, 2018 at 4:23 pm

    Very good Geoff💜

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Ritu says:
    Oct 24, 2018 at 6:19 pm

    Great winning piece His Geoffleship 💜

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. thecontentedcrafter says:
    Oct 24, 2018 at 7:04 pm

    A gripping and ultimately tragic read Geoff. Well deserved win, congratulations.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Gary A Wilson says:
    Oct 24, 2018 at 7:41 pm

    excellent imagery Geoff – congrats – well deserved.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. Erika Kind says:
    Oct 24, 2018 at 7:43 pm

    Cool, congratulations, Geoff!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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