Love Bites - Anti-Valentine's Blog Hop 2014

Hosted and Judged by Judged by Ruth Long, Lisa Shambrook, Lizzie Koch and Laura James, the idea behind this blog hop is to write a piece that is the opposite of what Valentine's Day represents. As one of the hosts and judges Laura James says: "This is your chance for revenge on Cupid. Your chance to stick it to St Valentine." I took part in this last year and it was so much fun, I was looking forward to taking part this year too. Here is my entry.

Scented Roses

Anthea smiled at the young guy as she handed him the single red rose. He gave her a shy smile back as he paid, and said ‘Thanks’ when she handed him his change. She didn’t say a word she just enjoyed the manic laugh that let loose in the back of her mind as he went on his way. She rubbed her hands together as she stood by her stall on the station concourse. Those watching would simple think she was cold, they couldn’t hear the laughter inside.

The same laugh was triggered when she handed out a bunch of ten to another business type. And she had to really restrain herself when another bought two separate bunches. The glint in his eye and smile dancing on his own lips indicated that he thought she was smiling at his duplicitous nature - especially when he asked for two separate message cards. But she knew better, and wished she could be there to see him get his comeuppance.

During a lull between trains Anthea took a break. It was going to be busy soon with rush hour about to start, and on Valentine’s day it was longer than usual with everyone in a hurry to start their lovey dovey plans. She sneered at the thought as she went out back, the sight of the huge stock of red roses not helping her any. She grabbed the bottle and gave them a quick spray, bringing a twitch back to the corners of her mouth, then raised her scarf round her face against the unrelenting wind as she stepped outside for a smoke.

It was particularly bitter today and that suited her just fine as her mind relived the details of their last conversation for the umpteenth time.

“Why did you give it to her, Shaun? I thought you bought it for me, it’s what I wear! How could you?”

“What do you mean, ‘how could I?’ She’s my wife Anthea, get real.”

“But I thought we had something special?”

He’d shrugged. “It’s okay, but I wouldn’t say special.”

Anthea had physically retracted at his words.

“Oh come on now, it’s not like I’ve led you to believe any different.”

“But the roses last year on Valentine’s, in the card it said…”

He’d rolled his eyes. “I didn’t write that card Anthea, I told you that, the woman in the shop did. Don’t be so silly.”

He’d grabbed his coat from the hook in the hallway and went to the door. She’d put her hand on his arm, and he’d looked at it.

“Anthea, please don’t make a scene, I have enough of those at home. It’s why I bought the perfume in the first place. I’ve got to go now and you know it. I’ll see you next week.”

He’d turned to peck her cheek and she’d refused, causing him to sigh as he went out the door. She’d also refused to take any of his calls since then too.

She stubbed out her cigarette and went back out to the stall. A queue of customers had formed while she’d been gone, so she served them quickly, thrusting bunch after bunch of red roses into their arms, knowing they were in a hurry to catch their trains and arrive home fully equipped for this special evening.

She thought about what she had waiting at home for her: a hungry cat, and a ready made meal. There’d be no flowers for her, or perfume.

This last brought back her smile and the man she was serving responded to it, thinking it was for him.

None of these men had bought perfume, so she had added it for them, spraying each bunch before selling it. The only thing was her bottle labelled Poison wasn’t a brand name; the hydrogen cyanide it contained was a genuine killer.

Anthea chuckled to herself as she watched the last customer rush off to his platform. One sharp sniff might not bring death, but it certainly would dampen a night of romance.

673 Words

Read the other entries here.