A dark humorous tale of greed, selfishness and latent curses.
A dark tale of greed, selfishness and latent curses laced with black humour.
Miriam is never satisfied and poor Peter can do no right... unbeknowingly to them both latent curses hold real power, yet the outcome is nothing you should wish for.
Twisted, funny, happy and sad... oh, just read it!
An Electric Eclectic Novelette.
Excerpt
Peter looked as his reflection in the bathroom mirror. He was quite pleased with what he saw. Not bad for a man that was pushing forty five. Peter had an angular face, a square jaw and plenty of wavy brown hair; a little grey at the temples he admitted, but Peter thought that made him look distinguished.
Peter’s eyes were deep pools of brown, ‘Come to bed eyes’ Julie had called them. Julie had been Peter’s school sweetheart. Peter recalled the day he had fondled Julie’s breasts behind the biology classroom; on reflection that seemed to be a most appropriate place to feel breasts.
Peter wondered who would be feeling Julie’s breasts this morning? Quickly Peter put the thought of Julie, breasts and biology from his mind. He lathered his face with an old fashioned style shaving brush, it was pure badger hair and had come in a set with a strop and a bone handled cut throat razor. Peter was proud to shave in such a traditional way. He thought it a lost art. Peter gave his reflection a quick wink in the mirror and proceeded to shave.
In the kitchen Miriam busied herself with breakfast. Peter, when all was said and done, did have a good position with Lazerbright and they did pay him a good salary. A salary that allowed Miriam to fill the house and kitchen with all the latest gadgets. Miriam’s favourite was the garbage disposal unit that lived under the sink. There was something obscene about the sucking, gargling sound it made, it was really squelchy and disgusting. Miriam loved it!
Miriam started the coffee, she was to have a latte and Peter would guzzle down a piping hot cappuccino, both made from the bean to cup coffee machine she had brought a few months ago. Miriam decided that she would also rustle up some bacon and eggs for Peter, as she was now feeling slightly guilty for starting on Peter so early this morning, especially as it was mostly her perception that he had no ambition. ‘Oh well, that’s what Monday’s are for, airing the weeks laundry’, at least that is what Miriam’s mother would have said.
The smell of coffee wafted up the staircase and drifted into the bathroom causing Peters stomach to rumble in anticipation. Slightly distracted by the aroma Peter caught his neck with the razor, the sharply honed steel blade leaving a long cut across Peter’s neck. ‘Shit’ muttered Peter as he watched the blood run down his chest and drip into the basin staining the water a deep red.
Professional Reviews
Solid Gold 4
That Miriam is some kind of nightmare.
I felt like shouting "RUN" at the poor guy, more than once, but that's life after all. How often do we let our tongues slip, and harsh words roll free, to injure the one's we should love the most.
I like this, its a story that made me think about how we treat each other, and the things we take for granted, and the things we say which are never meant to hurt.
A very solid four gold stars for a solid gold short story.
Darkly Humorous Tale of a Greedy Wife
Within the first few paragraphs of Paul White’s novelette, Miriam’s Hex, I hated Miriam Chapman. She was the epitome of every nagging wife I’d ever read about.
Her husband, Peter, plagued by Miriam’s demands, is a weary hard-working fellow who can’t seem to catch a break.
Obviously under-appreciated at work, besieged by his wife’s demands at home, Peter elicits sympathy.
What follows is a delightfully twisted tale of a woman who gets exactly what she asks for, though not always in the way she hopes.
Miriam wants it all and she wants it now; a country house, expensive women’s accessories, the latest electronic gadgets, and more.
Peter does his best to keep her happy and fulfill all her demands even as he bemoans some of her purchases. Somehow, he manages to remain calm and pacifying when she rails about his lack of success in his profession.
It seems even Miriam’s most casual retorts, “I hope you cut your bloody throat”, take hold and become reality.
Is this coincidence or has the shrew got some magical ability?
It’s apparent she has some soft feelings for her harangued spouse, but it doesn’t prevent her from pressing him to seek recognition and a higher salary at work. Part of her resents the fact he is overlooked by his employer, feeling as though he is not receiving the credit he deserves.
She encourages him to be more aggressive in demanding appreciation for his contributions to the company. But, Peter is not a pushy guy. He is willing to wait for the big payoff.
I had to feel sorry for the poor guy. Nagged at home to be more successful, underappreciated at work, he somehow can remain even-tempered.
Even strangers strike out at poor Peter. When he accidentally knocks a young girl off her feet, he is physically attacked by the group she is with, resulting in his own embarrassment.
Humiliation is a way of life for Peter.
Throughout the story, Miriam tosses out casual, if furious, remarks like “I hope you choke”. People do this sort of thing every day. But when Miriam does it, things seem to happen.
Is she deliberately causing her husband to have accidents or are these occurrences simply coincidence?
This is a darkly amusing tale with a conclusion that is unexpected.
White has done an excellent job of developing his characters.
In a story that is typical of the irritating wife and a harassed husband, he has tossed a cautionary tale; be careful what you wish for.
I highly recommend this book as a quick read. It will make husbands glad they aren’t married to a “Miriam” and, hopefully, wives will think twice before they speak.
I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by Paul White.
A cautionary tale wrapped within a short story
Miriam's Hex by Paul White is a short story that pull's the reader into the lives of two people, a couple, struggling to cope with disappointment and failure.
One of the two will infuriate you, and the other will eventually make you realize that your life isn't that bad at all.
Will justice prevail in this short story?
Are life and the circumstances that come with a relationship this futile?
Is it possible to satisfy one of the two?
These questions will be answered but maybe, not as you might imagine.
This story had an old feel to it, but it is one that could occur today or 100 years ago.
If there was one thing missing in it for me. it would be that one of the two would get their just desserts.
Life's a beast and sometimes you work for one and/or a married to it.
A page-turning novel about a relationship between best friends that is interrupted because of betrayal , deceit, sexual promiscuity and pregnancy happens!
Suspenseful and close to home, Rain of Deception 2 will leave you in Tears. Much like Part 1, this will shocking sequel will keep you on the edge of your fingertips.
A poignant story about letting go of a narcissist in your life. Have you ever been attacked FULL force by a narcissist? It's the closest thing to being stabbed over and over in the back.
