The Past Is Always Present
‘I went to that reunion…’
‘Told you not to.’
‘Yeah, well you were right.’
‘Morgan, that’s the first time you’ve ever acknowledged that I might be right. It’s good to move on.’
‘True, but that’s not the reason…’
‘No? I’ve always found looking back is pointless.’
‘Painful too.’
‘Those awful memories…’
‘And the pain in my neck. I get this crick… You know, I was reversing the other day…’
‘Why was the reunion so bad?
‘Too many ghosts.’
‘All those missed opportunities come to haunt you?’
‘No. It was ghost-themed. Everyone wore a mask. I couldn’t recognise anyone.’
This was written in response to the latest prompt from the carrot ranch
January 3, 2019, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a character who looks back. It can be a metaphorical reflection or a glance in the rear-view mirror. Who is looking back, and why? Go where the prompt leads.
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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.
TanGental 
A homophonic metonymic paronomasia, for sure!
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Gulp! Have I got that? Might explain the rash…
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Love how Morgan keeps going back to the literal. You made me laugh!
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Jolly glad I managed to crease your new year cheeks. Ironing faces is the new service I will be introducing alongside a loyalty card scheme.
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Oh, dear God. I hope your loyalty card doesn’t have points that accumulate and have to be redeemed using a system that is decipherable by only by someone with a PhD. 🤪
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Sounds about right
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I went to a reunion of people I had managed 30 years before. It’s a good thing they all wore name tags
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I know. I had a woman come up to me recently at a retired partners lunch thanking me for my support in her battles. I still have no idea who she is and what she battled let alone what I did. I can only assume it was one of those ‘she should have gone to Specsavers’ moments…
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🙂
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A strange theme for a reunion! Ha ha. Nice take on the prompt, Geoff.
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Was he certain they were wearing masks…? These two crane their necks every which way!
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They are omniflexible
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I mightn’t mind a reunion if everyone wore masks. 🙂
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I know What You mean.
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