Vistalite
28th February 2014, 08:11 PM
"Forgive me Father for I have sinned. It has been some time since I saw you last, and there is much to tell, much to be ashamed of."
Father: "It has indeed been a long time since your last confession - well over a year."
"Yes, and unfortunately I have little time, so where to start? I had another yearning just before Christmas, it was the same yearning I had this time the year before last, you remember, when I met up with another? Back then, I started looking for one completely different from before but they were too out of reach, out of my league."
Father: "but I thought you had overcome this . . this obsession?"
"So did I. When I finally settled on one last year, she was a red stunner, a t-bar with leather a plenty, it was the best thing, words cannot describe. The seats and the engine, oh the engine! She was a Gloucester gal who needed a little affection, but she wasn't greedy, she needed care and a fine bit of fettling, to bring the smile back. I serviced her good and proper too, loved it she did!"
Father: "steady my child. Do you have evidence?"
A crumpled photograph passed across the booth.
1372
"I took her out I did, many times, but only in the dry you see, she never got her arches wet, but then I . . . I got side tracked - work, social occasions, other commitments, you must know how it is, but she was never neglected, that wouldn't do. She wasn't my first, but . . . anyway, I . . . I had naughty thoughts, thinking of another behind her back, lusting after the one above all others, THE ONE."
"So out I went again, searching, wanting, then by chance I went on one of these chat rooms, I know, I know, I couldn't help myself, I was hungry, I had to feed!"
A stifled cry could be heard behind the curtain.
"The squire's name was John, or Clarky as he's known on the chat room. He said she was a fine filly, that she was, an overstatement by a long way. Some say, a tribute to her previous owner, who paid a King's ransom to have her restored."
"Together we arranged a midday liaison and the deed was done, much to the squire's regret. I tempted her to come home with me this very new year, and she's been in a dry barn ever since, waiting for the sun to warm her back, and the Silverstone Classic of course."
Father: "Not another Super Red?"
A second photograph passes across, and another desperate cry could be heard.
1373
"Is everything okay Father, have you heard enough already?"
Father: "no, no, go on my child."
"It's the only colour, for lovers, for all the best sports cars - the colour of emotions. Ever since the late eighties when I was bold enough to own a mark one, you remember? The black overtones on the bumpers, the rear rubber covered triangular sill mouldings and those red and black velour seats. Heaven! She was a B plate, but she deserved a better one and she got it."
1374
"We went everywhere we did, Edinburgh, London, Brighton, the Lakes, the Cotswolds you name it. We even went surfing at Newquay and three up into Padstow, one astride the centre console, head out the sunroof! Not to mention the three up day trip to Wales. The pins and needles lasted for weeks! Those were the days, long since gone."
Father: "But what of the other, from last year?"
"She is still here, but is soon for pastures new, come the spring'. She needs a little loving, but has a good and solid heart."
1375
There were rapid echoing footsteps and then a loud bang, as the large oak door flew open with a crash, and the eerie sound of the lighting chains swaying as the wind blew through the church and down the aisle.
"Father. Father?" I pulled the curtain back, and Father O'Brien had fled.
Father: "It has indeed been a long time since your last confession - well over a year."
"Yes, and unfortunately I have little time, so where to start? I had another yearning just before Christmas, it was the same yearning I had this time the year before last, you remember, when I met up with another? Back then, I started looking for one completely different from before but they were too out of reach, out of my league."
Father: "but I thought you had overcome this . . this obsession?"
"So did I. When I finally settled on one last year, she was a red stunner, a t-bar with leather a plenty, it was the best thing, words cannot describe. The seats and the engine, oh the engine! She was a Gloucester gal who needed a little affection, but she wasn't greedy, she needed care and a fine bit of fettling, to bring the smile back. I serviced her good and proper too, loved it she did!"
Father: "steady my child. Do you have evidence?"
A crumpled photograph passed across the booth.
1372
"I took her out I did, many times, but only in the dry you see, she never got her arches wet, but then I . . . I got side tracked - work, social occasions, other commitments, you must know how it is, but she was never neglected, that wouldn't do. She wasn't my first, but . . . anyway, I . . . I had naughty thoughts, thinking of another behind her back, lusting after the one above all others, THE ONE."
"So out I went again, searching, wanting, then by chance I went on one of these chat rooms, I know, I know, I couldn't help myself, I was hungry, I had to feed!"
A stifled cry could be heard behind the curtain.
"The squire's name was John, or Clarky as he's known on the chat room. He said she was a fine filly, that she was, an overstatement by a long way. Some say, a tribute to her previous owner, who paid a King's ransom to have her restored."
"Together we arranged a midday liaison and the deed was done, much to the squire's regret. I tempted her to come home with me this very new year, and she's been in a dry barn ever since, waiting for the sun to warm her back, and the Silverstone Classic of course."
Father: "Not another Super Red?"
A second photograph passes across, and another desperate cry could be heard.
1373
"Is everything okay Father, have you heard enough already?"
Father: "no, no, go on my child."
"It's the only colour, for lovers, for all the best sports cars - the colour of emotions. Ever since the late eighties when I was bold enough to own a mark one, you remember? The black overtones on the bumpers, the rear rubber covered triangular sill mouldings and those red and black velour seats. Heaven! She was a B plate, but she deserved a better one and she got it."
1374
"We went everywhere we did, Edinburgh, London, Brighton, the Lakes, the Cotswolds you name it. We even went surfing at Newquay and three up into Padstow, one astride the centre console, head out the sunroof! Not to mention the three up day trip to Wales. The pins and needles lasted for weeks! Those were the days, long since gone."
Father: "But what of the other, from last year?"
"She is still here, but is soon for pastures new, come the spring'. She needs a little loving, but has a good and solid heart."
1375
There were rapid echoing footsteps and then a loud bang, as the large oak door flew open with a crash, and the eerie sound of the lighting chains swaying as the wind blew through the church and down the aisle.
"Father. Father?" I pulled the curtain back, and Father O'Brien had fled.