How to write Flash Fiction (Wagner)
He had only known her a week, but admitted to himself that there was nothing he could do to keep his feelings for her under check. He thought of her first thing in the morning, in the bus going to work, at work, on the bus going home in the afternoon, and then at night, instead of falling asleep he kept thinking of her. He knew of people who had proposed to a new-found love in a couple of days. He had at least read about them. He kept telling himself that once married you had to live a lifetime with the other person. He imagined that there would be obstacles, that all would not be sweetness and light all the time. He tried reasoning with himself. Give himself enough time to ensure that there was broad compatibility. Just having feelings for a person doesn’t mean that you can spend a happy lifetime together.
If I don’t take the plunge now, I’m going to lose my kind, he said! He gave up struggling.
So, he went and bought a diamond ring for rather more than he earned in six months. He booked a good restaurant, but best of all, he paid an arm and a leg for two seats at Covent Garden. Götterdämmerung. If he ever went on Desert Island Discs (Ha! Ha!), he’d ask for Siegfried’s Funeral March as one of his ten discs!
He called her from work. I’m taking you to Fognini’s for an Italian tomorrow night, howzat? She was delighted. Then I’ve got a surprise for you. Don’t like surprises, she said. OK then, don’t ask me how I did it, but I managed to get a couple of tickets to the opera! Goodie, she screamed, I love opera. Great then. Which opera, she asked as an afterthought? Götterdämmerung. Not Wagner? He could only splutter out, but — but-. She had not finished. I’d rather pull out all my teeth myself than endure five minutes of fucking Wagner!
