A Little Help From A Friend

So You’re Still Working on That Book? Flash Fiction

A Little Help From A Friend

Daily writing promptWhat is the last thing you learned?

“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart”
― Eleanor Roosevelt

Today has been a strange day. Yesterday, I felt lost, disheartened and about to throw the towel in as far as writing was concerned. I suddenly felt as though I was kidding myself that I had something important to say when it came to my writing. I wanted to hide away, keep my head down and forget all about it. There are millions of far better writers in this world, so no one will miss me.

On a Thursday morning in our local library, the village Walking Group meets. I joined the group because my walking friend has been abroad for the last five months. This morning, I was in two minds about whether to go, because I was feeling out of sorts. After seeing and hearing on the news and Facebook that it is World Book Day, and that school children were to dress up as a character from a book, I decided to dress up as Granny Wenlock, a character from my book The Funeral Birds. I thought it would be fun and would put a smile on my new friends’ faces.

When I arrived at the library, there was laughter when they said they hadn’t received the new dress code. I laughed and said I’ve joined the children for this World Book Day and dressed as my favourite book character. Then Hazel, who runs the group, introduced us to two new members. One was a young man. He sat nervously at the end of the sofa, looking more lost than I felt. Judith explained to him that I was a writer and I was dressed up as my character. I handed him one of my cards and explained that my books were available through the library.

‘Please can you explain how the library works,’ he said. Between myself and the librarian we explained how once he brought in some identification, they would issue him with a card. He would be able to borrow books from the library. I said, if the books he wanted weren’t in the library, they would order a copy for him. The librarian explained he could borrow books from any of the Essex libraries and when he finished reading them he could bring them into our library and they would return them for him.

As we set off for our walk, the young lad walked along with me. He explained that he was autistic and wasn’t coping well with life. I explained that I was autistic and was my mother, too. We chatted as we walked. He shared some of the area of his life with me, things he was worried about and how he had found Christianity. I smiled and said, that was good. If he found comfort in it.

As we all sat in the library after our walk, he began to tell me he was afraid of witchcraft and black magic, that he reads the bible and has started to go to Church. I explained to him that there are no such things as witches or the black arts. Witches were persecuted elderly women and men. People like Mathew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General were paid money to find so-called witches. In the time when witches were supposed to exist, people didn’t understand the science of how things worked in the way, we do today. There were such people as wise women who understood the power of healing plants, etc.

He then asked the four of us whether we thought it was okay for him to pray to God as he believed in him. We all said of course if you wish to pray, then pray.

I’m a non-believer, but if others find strength and comfort in praying to a divine being then I’m all for it. For me, I find my peace walking with Mother Nature, and enjoying the gifts she gives us. The birds and the butterflies, the sunrise and sunsets.

The young man seemed to find some peace, and was a lot happier and less lost when it was time to leave. ‘Thank you for listening to me,’ he said, ‘My mum is always too busy, she gets very stressed.’

I laughed. ‘My son used to say the same about me when he was young. I’m just glad that I’ve been of some help to you.’

We all told him we hoped he would join us next week and Judith said she would see him in church on Sunday. She hoped he would join Joan and her in prayers to save my soul.