Epistolary Short Story Competition - Runner Up

09:00 Plan to write diary this lockdown, including daily NaNoWriMo words, steps walked, amount drunk, etc. But today off out with Dave and Pete for pre-lockdown pub crawl.
22.30 Just back. Hull like war zone - people staggering about amid explosions and police sirens. Words today 0, total words 8010, alcohol units 16, steps 13425.
Mental state: Happy, but drunk.
Thursday November 5th
10:00 Feeling ill. Last 2 pints mistakes.
11:00 Showered. Lay on bed watching US election news.
12:00 Woke up sweating. Throat hurting. Possible covid, but breathing OK so probably hangover. 12:15 Made coffee and started writing.
13:00 Only twenty actual words done, but reformatted story outline to look more professional. 13:30 Will go for standard 10,000 step walk developed with Kris last lockdown.
15:00 Walk boring. Last lockdown Kris made me read her set books and explained them to me while we walked. Then we'd argue about what to have for tea. Today only excitement was seeing Flick. She and Fikk used to run past us each day. Kris called them that because he looked like a caveman and grunted as he ran, and her hair flicked back and forth. No Fikk, but her hair still flicks. Smiled at her, but she just looked puzzled.
20:30 Went out to get takeaway before getting an early night.
Words today 20, total words 8030, alcohol units 3, steps 10115
Mental state: hungover.
21:00 Woke up in panic when neighbours simultaneously fired mortar barrages.
23:00 Kris called me to tell me she was doing Waiting for Godot, which she said is about two sad old men like me and Dave. 55 is prime middle age, I told her.
Friday November 6th
07:00 Woke early and read W4G entry on Wikipedia. Made no sense to me.
10:00 Finally out of bath where finished reading old Thorndyke mystery. Bought W4G for Kindle. 13:00 Play makes no sense. Stole one of Wikipedia interpretations and messaged Kris to say is brave attempt to show gay couple struggling in an unaccepting age. She messaged back that no, it ‘so not’, and actually about sad old men struggling with impotence, redundancy and general uselessness. Given last night's comment won't answer this. Must write now.
14:00 Only fifty words so far. Will go for walk to clear mind.
16:00 Rained. No one out but Flick, who ran past looking depressed. Smiled at her.
17:30 Have reorganised outline again so makes more sense. Tomorrow will be a Big Day.
18:30 Wasted hour reading Trump's tweets. Am anxious he will destroy world as retaliation, so getting another takeaway and four for three beer offer in case is my last.
21:00 Watched Chasing Amy as supposedly based on W4G. Texted Kris to tell her that it didn't seem like it to me.
Words today 50, total words 8080, alcohol units 9, steps 10352.
Mental state: confused by Beckett. Also wondering where Fikk is.
23:00 Kris called me to say to tell Dave about lesbian films I watch, not her. I said that Wikipedia categorised as romcom. She told me to read Just William next.
Saturday November 7th
09:30 Am updated on Trump. Now must work.
13:30 2500 words done.
15:30 Walked. Rained again, but less. Flick said hi when smiled. I said horrible weather isn't it? She

said yes. Bought stuff for chilli plus red wine to celebrate today's accomplishments.
19:00 Meant to do more writing, but instead finishing wine in bed and reading Just William.
21:30 Just William more adult and funnier than I remember. Messaged Kris to say it showed contemporary values and mores in humorous way.
Words today 2500, total words 10580, alcohol units 9, steps 10252.
Mental state: pleased by progress.
23:30 Woken by message from Kris that said to read Just William as Wikipedia page does not give me any excuse to watch dirty films. Feel this is not how daughters should treat their father, so don't reply.
Sunday November 8th
08:30 Have woken late, due to Kris.
10:00 Trump not losing well.
12:00 2000 words done – catching up!
16:30 Initially Flickless walk. Nice autumn day – blue sky, etc., so turned at shops and walked back same way. Then saw Flick just coming out of her house, but going other direction compared to usual and walking, not running. Hello, I said. She stopped and said what a nice day it was, and I said yes, it is. Went home and then to shops for stuff for spaghetti bolognaise plus wine. Just leaving shop when Flick came in. We meet again! I said. She looked startled, but smiled.
19:30 Messaged Kris to tell me what to read.
20:30 Kris did not message back, so have instead invested 50p and bought entire Thorndyke works of R Austin Freeman for Kindle.
Words today 2000, total words 12580, alcohol units 9, total steps 22354.
Mental state: Why has Flick changed exercise?
23:00 Kris phoned to tell me that at my age I should be choosing my own reading, especially as her set books are mostly written by mad people and so might affect what remains of my sanity. I said

now had Thorndyke. She said I should be walking like last time. I triumphantly said I was and told her about seeing Flick, but not Fikk. She accused me of patrolling the route watching for Flick, and I said no, mostly I was writing a novel for NaNoWriMo. She laughed, asked about my plot and laughed more. For record, am not stalking Flick, just wondering what's happened to Fikk. Possibly she has murdered him, perhaps with an arsenic-impregnated candle. Thorndyke would know, and know also that it was justified and let her off.
Monday November 9th
10:00 Bad start. Woke up early, finished current Thorndyke, then fell asleep again.
11:00 Work commencing.
12:30 Enough – 1500 words done and blue sky outside, though cold.
14:00 Realised after walk went out far too early. Will go again later. Worried that Flick possibly being slowly poisoned. Would explain listlessness (walking instead of running) and the dark shadows beneath her eyes.
15:30 Happened to be passing Flick's house when she came out. I wanted to say don't eat anything that anyone else has touched but then everyone saying that nowadays so she wouldn't know what I meant. Instead just said hello. She asked how I was getting along and started walking next to me. I said OKish. Then I asked how she was doing. She said badly and life was hell, or words to that effect. I said last lockdown was better as my daughter was there and it was spring. She said yes, I often saw you two walking. You looked happier then. I told her I had just got voluntary redundancy so didn't have to sit in the middle of the North Sea and destroy the world any more (Kris's words). She asked what I do instead and so told her about NaNoWriMo, and amazingly she is writing a play. She is an actress and so has not worked since March. That probably explains her general prettiness, even though she's almost my age. Then messed up when asked why she wasn't running with her friend any more. She looked upset and and turned back.
21:30 Went to supermarket for beer offer and got takeaway. I feel sad for Flick. And me as she will

probably never speak to me again.
23:30 Woke up to find Kris has not called. Have been abandoned.
Tuesday November 10th
10:00 Will go for walk early today to avoid making Flick unhappy again.
20:00 Zero words but very good day. Happened to glance at Flick's house as passed and she was looking out, so waved. She came out and said we were going for a walk. Being used to Kris bossing me I just nodded. Apparently Fikk said he could not stand another lockdown with her and moved out. I said oh no. She said no, she was mostly glad now and it was her house so no real problem. I said why would he, you seem OK, and she said well, thanks. I told her Kris called him Fikk, and why. She laughed but then asked what Kris called her. Tried to change subject but she made me say. Luckily she liked it and we're meeting up tomorrow.
23:00 Kris phoned but did not wake up in time. Will call tomorrow.
Wednesday November 11th
21:00 Even better day. Now Lockdown Companions as no one cares about either of us. We're going to work on our writing together and take turns cooking meals to save time. And to do seaside walk Friday though not over East Yorkshire border as that would be changing Zones. We have agreed simulated public displays of affection (such as hand-holding) might stop us getting in trouble, with occasional rows to show long-term partnership.
23:30 Woken by heavy banging on door. Opened it and found two police officers. Started explaining about Flick, but they said no, it isn't that, and that they'd come because Kris could not contact me. Embarrassingly phone was dead. Put on charge. Before police left they said companions allowed this lockdown, but that usually you should be in same house.
Called Kris who was angry about phone charging and being woken up, so did not mention had officially-sanctioned Lockdown Companion. Then called Flick and said that police had come and

said we should stay in same place, and she said she had a spare room. I said I did too, so will take turns being the guest.
Sunday 29th November
11:00 Have failed miserably to do this diary as have been busy, but can report that yesterday finished NaNoWriMo, two days early, and that Flick has almost finished her play,which is better than my novel. More importantly, have decided to be Zone 3 Companions once Lockdown 2 is over. Have still not told Kris about Flick as know will be interrogated,, so might wait until she comes back for Christmas. Hoping she will Disapprove of me being Entangled with an Actress, but Flick is all right so she probably won't.