Dear, Dear, Dear by Vivien Teasdale

2 January 2021

Dear Chrissy

Welcome to the new on-line support for Mexley’s beginners’ writing course. Just make sure you write something every day. This will build up your confidence.

3 January 2021

Dear Ray

That’s all very well but some days it’s difficult to think of anything.

4 January 2021

Dear Chrissy

Try writing a journal. Just write down everything that happens and bring it to the next on-line meeting. If you feel a bit shy, try sending it to me first.

5 January 2021

Dear Ray

Ok, here goes.

Started off really well, lots of time to write this. Then Sophie came to help. It’s not easy to write

a journal

with a cat sitting on the key

board. Especially

when she catches the mouse for you as well. But as a writer you have

to overcome these

things.

What else? Went to work. Came home, watched TV. And so to bed.

6 Januay 2021

Dear Chrissy

Actually, Chrissy, we do expect our students to write a little more. Expand your ideas. Most of my students write reams in their journals.

6 January 2021

Dear Ray

Most of them probably lie in their journals.

6 January 2021

Dear Chrissy

Try it, dear Chrissy; dear Chrissy, try it.

6 January 2021

Dear Ray

Got up. Got out of bed.

Actually, that’s not strictly true. I woke up with a great weight on my chest. The fishy breath identified it as the cat. Reluctantly, I got out of bed, then looked at the clock. Three a.m. I got back in again. At half past three, I developed pins and needles in my toes and wriggled them to improve the circulation. Sophie joined in as only a cat can. I yelled and leapt out of bed. Hobbled to the bathroom for the antiseptic, wondering about my anti-tet jabs. The dogs kept out of the way under the bed. Closed the door. Got into bed. Got out of bed. Opened the door to let the cat in. Trapped her head in the door. Flung it open again, cat shot into the bedroom, scrabbled up the dressing table and leapt to the top of the wardrobe. Got back into bed. Quiet night until five a.m. Cat sitting on the bed. Not moving. Just sitting. Staring. Got up.

7 January 2021

Dear Chrissy

Much better. Just needs more description. How did you feel about the cat staring at you. Express your innermost thoughts.

10 January 2021

Dear Chrissy

I did not mean quite such expressive thoughts, especially read out loud at the meeting. Some of the older students were quite shocked. I really wanted you to explain why you think the cat behaved as it did. Show the setting: describe the room, the light streaming in through the sparkling window.

11 January 2021

Dear Ray

At that time in the morning, it was pitch black. Can’t you read?

19 January 2021

Dear Chrissy

We have not heard from you for a few days and you missed the last meeting. Do not give up on this course. We feel you do have potential. You must not miss your daily writing session.

20 January 2021

Dear Ray

Yes, I know I missed a few days but there’s a rush on at work. And I missed some sleep too. I wanted a lie-in. The dogs wanted a lie-in. At least they did if they could lie-in on my bed and that was the only way I was going to get my lie-in. But Sophie wanted feeding. Sophie mewed plaintively at the door. I should have listened. Next thing we knew she charged across the room, up onto the bed, over the dogs, startling them awake. Gemma immediately decided to pursue so badly behaved a cat. Sam, never quite sure what’s going on, but willing, joined in. Thud, Sophie hit the floor and raced for the stairs. Thud, Gemma pounded after her. Thud, trip, crash Sam followed. Six pairs of feet thundered down the stairs. Six pairs of feet thundered back again. Up on to the bed - all of them - twice over the obstacle (ie me) – and off again. It was easier to get up.

24 January 2021

Dear Chrissy

I do feel that you need to consider your phraseology more. Preferably before you speak. After I read out the description of your morning lie-in and commented to the group that I almost felt I’d been there, the ladies were rather shaken when you replied “You’d be covered in bruises if you’d been in bed with me”. As tutor, I must maintain the right sort of distance from my students.

24 January 2021

Dear Ray

Don’t be so conceited. That wasn’t what I meant, I just meant that if you’d been there … forget it. It was your fault anyway for going such a shade of pink they couldn’t help but think the wrong thing.

31 January 2021

Dear Chrissy

Did you have to insult me quite so pointedly at last night’s meeting? Now the ladies are asking me if we’ve fallen out. I told Mrs Brigg that I had no idea what she meant, but then she winked and said it was no wonder you’d got such good marks for your last piece of writing and she was free on Thursday. I told her pointedly that I never meet students socially and anyway I have to go to London on Thursday for a staff meeting.

2 February 2021

Dear Ray

Why on earth didn’t you tell me you’d be on that particular train? I told you I was off to London too. It should have been obvious.

3 February 2021

Dear Chrissy

No you didn’t. I have had no email about your journeys. However, when I got back I did find that I had one that appeared to be from you to Mrs Brigg. I appreciate your support in ensuring ‘the right sort of distance’ but did you have to do so in quite that manner. I’ve always been thought to have a distinguished profile. And I might tell you my eyes are considered grey, not dingy blue.

3 February 2021

Dear Ray

Oh, Ray, I’m sorry. I got the addresses wrong. I was trying to help. I know how difficult it can be when a student makes accusations. Actually Mrs Brigg doesn’t believe me at all now. I didn’t know her daughter works in London and was on the Thursday train.

A rather nice grey, actually.

5 February 2021

Dear Chrissy

I think Mrs Briggs is stalking me. I came out of the Majestic Arcade yesterday and there she was. Watching for me. She smiled in that knowing way she has. Do you think I ought to give her better marks on her latest story?

5 February 2021

Dear Ray

I think Mrs Briggs is stalking me. I came out of the Majestic Arcade yesterday and there she was. Watching for me. She smiled in that knowing way she has. Could you show her a bit more favouritism by giving her a few more marks next time?

5 February 2021

Dear Ray

What were you doing in the Majestic Arcade?

5 February 2021

Dear Chrissy

What were you doing in the Majestic Arcade? I went to that new bookshop, the one that opened last week.

5 February 2021

Dear Ray

I went to the chemist. What do you think Mrs Briggs was doing there if she wasn’t spying on us? Is the bookshop any good?

7 February 2021

Dear Chrissy

I’m glad you liked the bookshop. The coffee there is excellent, isn’t it? Though I must say I’m not too keen on it on my trousers. Especially not when you’d just bought it. It was hot.

7 February 2021

Dear Ray

Oh, Ray I’m so sorry. I can’t think how I came to trip over that child, but at least it wasn’t hurt. And I did take them home and wash them. Your trousers I mean not the kiddie. Well, you as well. Not that I washed you, of course. Just your trousers. And you did look fetching in my pink tracksuit. Can I have it back now please?

8 February 2021

Dear Chrissy

Did you notice Mrs Briggs at the end of the street when you came to collect your trackie? She certainly saw you leave, I could tell by the look on her face. Why didn’t she say anything at the meeting last night? Not even a smirk.

9 February 2021

Dear Ray

I’ve found out why. Mrs Briggs and that awful Colonel Blimp (Stanley Hutchins but you must admit that moustache does make him look ridiculous). They’re having a bit of a fling. I’m sure they are. I saw them going into Dunelm Mills together and heading off up to the kitchen department. That must mean something. No wonder she’s not bothering us anymore.

12 February 2021

Dear Chrissy

I don’t know how I’d have managed these last few days if you hadn’t let me use your computer. I’m back on-line now.

By the way, your place is a lot more comfortable than mine. I could do to move in there.

12 February 2021

Dear Ray

What?!

12 February 2021

Dear Chrissy

Don’t be so conceited. I need an office and there are other flats available in that block, surely? I mean, they do have them with more than one bedroom, don’t they?

13 February 2021

Dear Chrissy

I was glad you won that little writing competition. At least I wasn’t adjudicating it and the rest of the group were so proud of you. It didn’t seem inappropriate to join in the congratulatory waves and smiley hearts, did it? I don’t suppose anyone else noticed. Did they?

13 February 2021

Dear Ray

Well, I did!

14 February 2021

Dear Chrissy

Ah, dear Chrissy.

14 February 2021

Darling Ray

Yes, there are one or two flats available. And they do have more bedrooms. And they have Broadband too. But I don’t think we need that anymore, do we?