The Secret Scribbler

Over the past eighteen months or so, I noticed a change was coming. Not in me, but with my wife. It first started with those little paper notebooks, hidden in her handbag. Now and then, I’d catch her, the secret scribbler, scribbling away, but she would hide it from my view.

She Seemed Very Coy

At first, I didn’t know how to approach her about it. She seemed very coy and I didn’t want to appear to be snooping. You could tell she didn’t want me to know either. Then, there were the moments she wanted to go walking, but alone. No matter what the weather, rain, snow, sleet, she would still go. I was confused and worried. “Is she having secret rendezvous’ with someone?” I thought to myself. Was she getting fed up with me after being together for over 30 years? The negative thoughts kept coming.

What The Hell Is Going On?

One time, I caught her in the kitchen, smiling happily as she typed on her iPhone. I felt rejected, sad and suddenly very lonely. It was obvious there was something going on and I had reached the point where I needed to confront her. However, I’m not the sort to just blurt out, “what the hell is going on!?” A plan was hatched where I would wait until we were sat together over dinner. Then, I’d ask her very calmly if she was seeing someone else.

Hidden Notes On Bits Of Paper

Sometime around the middle of February, she had made a delicious pork chop with a gravy evening meal. It hit all the right spots and I felt good. After all, her cooking was one of her many talents. I poured us both a mug of hot tea, thanked her for the meal and……..! It had to be done, I asked her if she was seeing someone. She looked at me, confused and bewildered. “Why on earth would you ask me such a question?” came her reply. Her face was full of disappointment. I explained my concern about her hidden notes on bits of paper as well as her iPhone antics. How I was sure that she was hiding something from me, something that might be another man!!!

I Had Gone From Despair

There followed a few brief seconds of silence, apart from a cow that was mooing in the field opposite. Then it all came out! “I’ve been writing poetry!! Ever since we’ve moved here, I’ve been writing poems on a daily basis. Here, this is what I have.” Out came all the scraps of paper, the little post-it notes and the notebooks. Sure enough, there were pages of delightful poems. In a split second, I had gone from the despair of feeling dumped to one of elation at the words she had created. She had hidden them as she wasn’t sure if they were any good, were part finished and wasn’t sure what to do with them. Well, I think they’re excellent and I’m not alone.

You Can See For Yourself

Her poems are now on the internet, together with some of her photographs. She has set up a WordPress website going under the name of Gloria Smud. To see them for yourself, I know she’ll be more than happy if you visit at Gloria Smud. Thank you, from a very proud husband.