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Highs and Lows by Mike Rymarz

8/4/2021

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“Oooohhh,” the crowd groaned as one.

“What a numpty,” a voice could be heard, shouting over the noise.

“That’s gotta hurt!” laughed another.

The pride was damaged a lot more than any physical pain. I could feel the blood rising in my face, the shame surely evident for the world to see. It had been my one chance to impress her, to make her really proud of me. We’d only been together a short time and I had been waiting for this chance to prove my worth and to get her to love me.

“Make sure you don’t make any mistakes,” she had sagely advised me, or, thinking back, was it more menacing than advice? “We’ve got a chance to win this and to finally rub his face in the dirt.” I mean, I didn’t really want to rub anyone’s nose in the dirt but hey, who was I to argue if it made her happy?

I had been looking forward to the treat she had promised me afterwards, the delectable dinner no doubt, just the two of us without the usual crowd. I normally don’t get a look in with her when the others are around, so perhaps tonight was going to be the night, I had naively thought.

All that disappeared the moment my face hit the floor. The ridiculous thing was that it was the easiest section – maybe I had just been too casual, too relaxed. I’d completed the slalom and hurdled, I don’t know how many obstacles, and this see-saw was normally a doddle, but this time my mind had been elsewhere.

I’d let her down at this one, but there must be another dog show for me to prove my worth soon. I just hope I can do it without falling off!
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    Issue 12

    April 2021


    Buy a Copy
    Booklet #12
    Booklet #12

    The Stories

    All
    A Family Visit By Sven Camrath
    A Rock And A Hard Place By Rachel Smith
    Evie By Graham Crisp
    Fifty Shades By Liz Berg
    Hell In Your Hand By Graham Crisp
    Highs And Lows By Mike Rymarz
    Just A Small Portion For Me By Deb Hollywood
    Ladies’ Day By R.T. Hardwick
    Losing Streak By Mike Rymarz
    Mavis & Mary By Darren Arthurs
    Peace
    Perfect Peace By R.T. Hardwick
    Playing By Ear By Susmita Ramani
    Rare By Cindy Pereira
    Relax By John Quinn
    Seedcake Or Eccles Cake By Graham Crisp
    Shaking A Leg By Susmita Ramani
    Survival Of The Fattest By Annie Wills
    The Driving Lesson By Steve Goodlad
    The House On The Hill By Susan Wicks
    The Improbable Win For Walsh’s Women By Steve Goodlad
    The Message On The Banner By Susmita Ramani
    The Winner Takes It All By Liz Breen
    Unheard By Elaine Peters
    Wedding Planner By Liz Berg
    Winners By Elaine Peters


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Secret Attic - Founded March 2020