Rebecca Detti

“She walks in beauty” by Rebecca Detti

Submitted to Contest #290

“When I ask myself why so many come to Italy to find a larger version of themselves, I wonder. Is it Italy, or is this where you come when you’re about to bloom?” – FRANCES MAYES, WOMEN IN SUNLIGHTIt was 6pm on Wednesday evening and I was feeling pleased with my small achievements so far. I had successfully completed my first lesson with eight five-year-olds and no one had cried or wet their pants including me. I had survived a whole four days of my new job as an English teacher. And my biggest highlight so far was that no members ...

4 likes 4 comments 4

Read story

“Rooms with a view” by Rebecca Detti

Submitted to Contest #289

The room is unfamiliar. I don’t know how I got here. And then it all comes rushing back. I had been lying on my bed reading A Room with a View as a short break from my dissertation planning. I had been thinking I wouldn’t be disappointed with a view of anything in Florence right at that moment when the phone in the corridor rang. As I assumed I was the only one in, I pulled myself up and slowly walked towards the phone expecting it to be someone’s boyfriend as it usually was. But no. It was my friend Fiona calling to ask me out. It star...

32 likes 15 comments 15

Read story

“Eat Teach Love” by Rebecca Detti

Submitted to Contest #288

‘Mummy I’m just going to take Fergie for a w-a-l-k-i-e-s’ looking at the bundle of energy that was out 4-year-old springer spaniel and hoping that she had forgotten how to spell. ‘Where are you off to?’ ‘Just down to Crooklets beach, over the cliffs and back home. Shouldn’t be more than about an hour. I want some fresh air before we consume our body weight in Turkey and Tiramisu.’‘You don’t need to worry about that love. You’re looking like a skinny bean. It’s all that Italian living agreeing with you.’Italian loving more like.I’m ...

34 likes 7 comments 7

Read story

“Jobsworth” by Rebecca Detti

Submitted to Contest #287

Ding dong.Ding dong the witch is dead. Which old witch? The wicked witch! I sing to myself. Who needs sleep? Sleep is for losers. I initially said that as a joke to my mum friends who also had a sleep depriving monster at home but it’s not funny now. I used to think I was quite smart but now I can’t string a sentence together and opt for singing. I can’t even remember the last time I picked up a book.Ding dong.Oh yes, back in the room… It’s my doorbell.Deep breath. At least this is the last time I will have to put up with her. That is unless...

27 likes 12 comments 12

Read story

“Bigger than the whole sky” by Rebecca Detti

Submitted to Contest #286

trigger warning: loss and grievingWe pulled up outside my parent’s farmhouse and grabbed George’s bag which was busting full of toys. You would think he was going for three days, not three hours. As we approached the front door, George suddenly had a barrage of questions.‘I cannot wait to play Lego Star Wars with Granny.’ ‘I know I’m sure you’ll have a lovely time.’‘Where is it you’re going again?’‘We’re going to a church service for Emmerson’s mum.’‘Will Emerson be there?’‘Yes I’m sure he will be and I’m sure his big sister will b...

22 likes 19 comments 19

Read story

“It's just the beginning it's not the end ” by Rebecca Detti

Submitted to Contest #285

It’s amazing, isn’t it? The power of music. It can take you back to an exact place, feeling, situation in a second. And that’s exactly what this song did:I thought that we would just be friends (Oh yeah)Things will never be the same againIt's just the beginning it's not the end (We've only just begun)Things will never be the same againThings will never be the same again, Melanie C, northern star album, 1999I remember sitting in the front of Dad’s burgundy volvo driving the 250 miles from North Cornwall to Gatwick Airport at a ridiculously ea...

26 likes 13 comments 13

Read story

“My messy place ” by Rebecca Detti

Submitted to Contest #285

I’d been in a relationship with Paul for two years and as it was going well, we really did like each other and we wanted to be in the same place most of the time. Living between two great cities has been exciting at first. It was that element of having the best bits of both worlds: enjoying our own space during the week but then the excitement of all the fun you would have together at the weekends in either city.But getting on a train from Oxford to London or vice versa late on a Sunday night only to have the train cancelled and a bus replac...

24 likes 9 comments 9

Read story

“A child is born” by Rebecca Detti

Submitted to Contest #284

A child is born'Morning bun. Happy New Year.''Mawniiing. Happy New Year.''Is someone in pain?''Why are you smiling when you say that? No, actually, yes, I'm in a great deal of pain.''Do you think it was the ‘just one for the road’ glass of Glenfiddich or the 'just one for the road' ten pints you’d had before that?''Stoooopppp!' Eddie managed a pained chuckle.'Cuppa and Nurofen my darling?''Yes please, Matron.'I wasn’t feeling my best but managed to channel my inner trooper, find my knickers and my nightgown to throw on before heading down th...

27 likes 17 comments 17

Read story

“Weasel face” by Rebecca Detti

My husband is upstairs enjoying a lie in, and my son is in his bedroom playing happily with one of the many boxes of Star Wars Lego he received for his birthday and Christmas, only three days apart. My nine-month-old labrador retriever, Jonathan, the apple of my eye, is lying down across my feet clearly relieved that we’re once again united under one roof. I have to admit I am relieved to be finally home. I make my second cup of PG tips and look out the living room windows down past the wee- stained garden (thanks Jonathan) and towards ...

9 likes 8 comments 8

Read story

“History repeating” by Rebecca Detti

Submitted to Contest #277

There is something so hypnotic about stirring a huge pot of beef chilli. I always love to add a secret ingredient a work colleague shared with me years ago. 'My boyfriend Alex adds a chunky cube of dark chocolate for flavour and it's a game changer.' Not sure its a game changer but there is a richness it certainly adds, and I love serving with fresh coriander, rice and a huge dollop of sour cream. Mwah!I find it so satisfying after a day of work sat at a desk at home to cook for my family. I enjoy everything about the process from visiting t...

23 likes 5 comments 5

Read story

“chewing the fat” by Rebecca Detti

Submitted to Contest #276

‘Morning honey’ ‘Oh, Morning boys’ I said to my gym buddies, Richard, Mark and Alan. All three chaps were retired and the fittest looking septuagenarians I had ever seen. Seriously athletic.After the school run, I love nothing more than going to my local council-run gym, the 'Better gym'. What a great name. It definitely does what it says on the tin as my dad likes to say. It felt like such a release getting back into the gym after years of disjointed exercise that comes with having a baby and not putting yourself first, but I was ...

22 likes 10 comments 10

Read story

“Mum friend” by Rebecca Detti

Submitted to Contest #276

I clearly remember the first time I met Helen.I'd been completely out of breath, tongue almost hanging out like a Labrador Retriever trying to sweat, while walking up the three flights of stairs to the room of doom. Who puts an antenatal class on the third floor? Tell me who? And also get your lift fixed!! Even my seven-month-old bump looked like he wanted to make an early exit. I'd picked up my husband, Kieron at Stonegate train station near our home in Ticehurst and we had driven the fifteen miles to Tunbridge Wells for an evening of chat ...

25 likes 13 comments 13

Read story

“Always look on the bright side of life ” by Rebecca Detti

28 December, 1991Burscott Farm, CornwallDear Aunty Pat (Or should I say ‘Fat Pat’ as Dad refers to you, but I didn’t say that.)Mum said I had three choices: Pick up the phone and say thank you for my Christmas present;Go and see you and say thank you for my Christmas present;Write a note to say thank you for my Christmas present.I clearly chose the latter as I’m not picking up the phone as it’ll be just so awkward. I’m not being funny, but I don’t know anything about you, and you don’t know anything about me which is clear from the...

14 likes 15 comments 15

Read story

“Familiar interruptions” by Rebecca Detti

Feeling like a bomb disposal expert attempting to avert a loud explosion, I walked slowly into our living room and shut the door. My fear wasn’t that a bomb would explode, rather that our 7-year-old son would rise from his slumber being the light sleeper that he was. Since Oscar was a baby, I had asked friends and family to do the most revolting things like not flushing the toilet if he was asleep in the neighbouring room. I lived in fear that the slightest noise would trigger an eruption not dissimilar to that seen on many a volcanic island...

8 likes 5 comments 5

Read story

“Letting go” by Rebecca Detti

‘Morning mum’ I said creeping around the door of my parent’s bedroom.‘Morning darling. Would you like a cup of tea?’‘Ooh yes please. How many have you had so far this morning?’‘Ooh I think number three. I drink too much tea. It's hard when your fathers alarm goes off at 530am so he can lycra up and go for a cycle before heading to work.’Mum and Dad ran a book wholesaling business which dad had started on breaking away from his father's business and make it on its own. He'd creating quite a niche for himself in the trade, and I hadn't known a...

17 likes 7 comments 7

Read story