Obsession

"How do you stay so young looking?" Monica asked her neighbour, Charlie.

"That's my secret," the lady replied, "See ya!" Monica retreated to her house to ponder Charlie's answer. Their front gardens were separated by a low wall, but their rear gardens were enclosed by high fences. Could Charlie's secret be held within?

"What do you think it might be?" Monica asked her husband, Phil.

"I don't know. You women. You'll still look beautiful to me even when you're old and wrinkly."

"Flattery will get you everywhere. But this isn't about you, it's about me, how I feel about myself. I've gotta find her secret." With that she went to the rear garden. "Gotta ...look ... over ... the fence." Bouncing didn't work. Monica fetched the step ladder from the shed. One step, two, three, duck. She's out there. What is she doing? Gathering leaves from a strange looking plant. Is that her secret?

"I'll have to wait until dark."

"Oh, now what are you up to?"

"Looking for the secret." Phil had heard enough. He looked at his lovely wife and tried to understand her obsession. For now, though, the sports page was calling.

As night fell Monica once again stepped up. "Gotta get those leaves." Swinging over the fence she gave no thought to getting back with her treasure. She picked a bunch of the leaves and her hands tingled. Looking up at the fence reallity dawned. "Phil," she whispered, "Phil." She clawed at the fence, trying to get a grip. "Phil," her voice increased in volume.

A familiar face appeared over the fence. Two hands hauled Monica back to her own side, still clutching the leaves which were now causing her hands to burn. As blisters formed Monica threw the leaves in the bin. "There's no way I'm putting this stuff on my face. Her secret must be something else."

Over the fence Monica could hear water splashing. Up the steps for another peep.
"It's the fountain," she screamed as she rushed indoors.

"The fountain of youth is a myth," Phil declared, fed up with the whole thing.

"I saw her filling a bottle with the stuff."

"Whatever ..."

"Tonight ..."

"Em?"

Phil woke up to find he was alone in the bed. "Mon?" She was nowhere to be seen. "Police? My wife's gone missing."

Charlie was also on the phone to the police. "I've found a baby drowned in my garden fountain."

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