A Message From The Universe

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

I grit my teeth. I'd been wavering long enough, now it was time to get down to it.

I was going to write that letter.

I was going to tell Anne and Amy exactly what I thought. I never could express myself to them in person or on phone, because each of them interrupted me so much they didn't wait for me to make my point.

But make my point, I was going to. The Universe was sending signals. This had got to be done. The Universe had to let Anne and Amy know that it does not pay to interfere with someone else's business. That the way someone else wanted to behave with her friends was her problem, not theirs.

So here's what had happened. Anne and Amy, being sisters and being very close, had both been invited to Anne's college-mate's wedding. There, they had happened to sit at the same table as Henrietta and Helen. Henrietta and Helen weren't on speaking terms and each hadn't realised that the other was heading for the same table ... and then both had sat and each had refused to be the one to leave. How do I know all this? I was the other one at the table.

So, it was Anne, Amy, Henrietta, IHelen and yours truly at the table and the atmosphere was icy cold, to say the least. Henrietta had at last stood up saying she saw someone she knew in the distance, and Helen had left the table five minutes later, apparently to get something more to drink.

Immediately, Anne and Amy had begun to plot about bringing H & H together again. I'd tried to say 'don't interfere' but they hadn't listened. They'd been hatching an elaborate plan till it was time to leave and go home.

This had put me in a dilemma. I thought their plan would bring about more trouble than it would solve. I didn't want them to do it. Why did they want to interfere, anyway? Let H & H handle their own differences! I tried phoning. Amy drowned out my voice. I even tried going over to Anne's place and pleading with her, but she politely gave me a cup of tea and talked over me.

Now, it had to be in a letter, in my own handwriting, in big bold capitals. I could feel the Universe vibrate inside me - the Universe was telling me to be the voice of reason.

I sat at my writing desk, my six sharpened 2B pencils in the pen-holder at my elbow. I took out my best ruled stationery and began. Get straight to the point, no 'dear' or anything.

"Please do not interfere" I wrote, in big bold letters, and went on to explain, in detail, the need for letting people do as they thought fit in situations one knew very little about. The Universe guided my every word, I could feel the message quiver in me.

Finally, I had the letter finished. I wiped my brow. I sealed and stamped it and wrote Amy's address on the front and mine on the back. I had to post it immediately. Putting on my coat and shoes, I walked to the post office and mailed it off.

I felt good. I had done the work of the Universe.

At noon two days later, the doorbell rang. I answered, to find Eddie the mailman grinning at me, holding out a letter. I love getting letters. I grinned back, snatched it from him with a 'thanks' and tore it open without looking at the envelope.

"Please do not interfere" I read, in big bold letters.

I stared.

The envelope was still in my hand, between two fingers. I turned it over. In my haste, I'd written my address up front and Amy's at the back. Yes, the Universe had given its message. To me. I sighed. Then I smiled to myself.

“Well, I didn’t see that coming!”



Prompt: ▼

A story with the theme “Well, I didn’t see that coming!”
Words: 655 // For "The Writer's Cramp - Poetry Week"