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This
delightful and enchanting story was chosen to appear in
Bright Light Multimedia's latest anthology,
“Speaking of Love”.
For your pleasure and perusal, we present an extract
from ...
Oh Carol, I Am But A Fool
(Based on a True Story)
"Oh Carol … I am But a Fool." I still hear Neil Sedaka occasionally singing that
song on the radio, a chord that never fails to delve deep into my memory,
reminding me of a story about love and courage, but mostly about human endurance
in a society which seeks self righteousness from its benevolence.
It all began many years ago when Brisbane was still struggling with its image of
a being just a big country town. My sister, Barbara, and I left our home in
Brisbane, seeking the excitement of big city Sydney. With suitcases in hand and a
head full of dreams, we headed straight from Sydney Central Railway Station to
the Salvation Army Hostel for Women in Paddington, a place we knew would provide
us with the cheapest accommodation in Sydney.
It was a large, antiquated building, even in those days. A flight of well-trodden,
stone steps led up to the large, archaic, wooden doors which we would soon learn
were locked every night at precisely 10 pm, except on Sundays when they were
locked at 8 pm … whether you were inside or out.
On arrival at the reception desk, which resembled an old railway ticket office,
a straight-faced, grey-haired woman gave each of us a form to fill in and a list
of Rules and Regulations. She then directed us towards a rickety, old lift where
a girl, wearing a beehive hairdo, was commandeered to show us to our rooms. Our
rooms turned out to be actually one room partitioned down the middle, leaving
half a window on each side with an extra door added on one side.
The girl introduced herself as Colleen and, after showing us our rooms, she
invited us to meet some other residents. Eager to make new friends, we readily
followed her down a rather dim, narrow passage to one of the rooms which was
overflowing with girls in their late teens and early twenties, all engaged in
boisterous laughter.
Each introduction was accompanied by a farcical anecdote, followed by peals of
laughter.
“And this is Val,” Colleen continued, addressing a tall, gangly, blonde girl
aged about nineteen. “Whatever you do, don’t ever get on the wrong side of her
or she’ll beat you with her callipers.”
Seeing the heavy metal chattels, I laughed uncomfortably with the chorus.
As the laugher faded, Colleen pressed on, “And this," she announced
majestically, "is Carol."
The
complete story can now be found in Bright Light
Multimedia’s latest publication
Speaking of
Love
-
positive and uplifting short stories and poems about
romance, marriage and true love -
Click here for more information
Editor: "Oh Carol, I
Am But A Fool" is a wonderful story – in fact, we like it so
much, we chose it to go into our book about the joys and
wonder of love – “Speaking of Love”. If you know someone
who enjoys feeling good all over, then this is the
perfect present for them. Remember you deserve to feel
happy too. Why not give yourself the gift that keeps on
giving – “Speaking of Love”.
Happy Marriage Recipe
Art Print
Grant
Buy at AllPosters.com
Reviews
(applause received) 
Be
the first to review this story - click here.
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