copyright Al Forbes
Ralph Owl and Eleanor “Pussy-cat” McGrint set sail in a beautiful pea-green 80-foot yacht. They left from Dover because that’s where Ralph’s investment firm was based and he needed to catch up on emails before they left.
“Hey El, where’s the honey?” Ralph called from the yacht’s kitchen. It was an 80-foot yacht so of course Eleanor didn’t hear him. He found her on deck. “Where’s the honey, El?”
“Who cares about honey?”
“We’re on this stupid boat for a year and a day,” Ralph said. “You really want to spend the whole trip with no honey?”
“Why are we starting off arguing about bleeding honey?” Eleanor shouted. She threw a fiver at him. “Get some flown in.”
That night in the Channel, the stars were out in a beautiful panoply of natural wonder, the universe on display above them. Ralph got out his guitar and started to play.
“I’ve got a headache. I’m going to bed,” Eleanor said. Ralph punched the railing in frustration and threw the guitar overboard.
After a while, Ralph went to the intercom and entered in the code for the bedroom. “Why are you so unhappy? I’ve bought you everything you could ever want?”
There was no answer.
“I’m sorry,” he said after a while. “I’m not trying to be a jerk. I love you. Really.”
A minute later, Eleanor stepped out on deck. She was wearing a white dress that glowed in the moonlight. “I’m sorry too,” she said. “Start again?”
He went to her and they danced.
They danced by the light of the moon.
The Green-Walled Tower 
February 7th, 2016 at 12:58 am
I like the part where he throws his guitar overboard, that was fun. Also appreciated the link to the original. Long unfired neurons began to fire when I read it — and by that I mean I think I’d come across that one once before but I never would have remembered it, much less made the connection, had my neurons not been lined up and fired at. Nice riff on it.
February 7th, 2016 at 5:35 pm
Thanks Walt. It just came out of nowhere when I saw the picture. I haven’t thought of that poem in years.
February 7th, 2016 at 5:28 am
Good to see you back David.
I love how you took an old story and gave it a modern angle. I like the use of the Owl’s name, turning it into two things from the original. Owl and Fowl.
February 7th, 2016 at 5:34 pm
Thanks! I’m glad to be back after a long time. I was trying to fit in as many references from the poem, although I didn’t want to force them in. Glad it worked.
February 7th, 2016 at 7:01 am
Coincidentally, I had an argument with my boyfriend about honey the other day, so good to think it happens to poor students and the 1% alike.
I was surprised by the ending, I wasn’t expecting to like them so much.
February 7th, 2016 at 5:32 pm
I think everyone argues about honey at some point (I could be wrong), although I’ve never done it on a yacht before. I found that I was writing them as really terrible people, so I wanted to redeem them in the end. Even rich, materialistic, stressed out people don’t have to be all bad. 🙂
February 7th, 2016 at 7:22 am
Dear David,
I love this updated version of the Owl and the Pussycat. Very clever and a honey of a story. I’m glad it had a happy ending. Bummer about the guitar though. Good ones cost a lot.
Shalom,
Rochelle
February 7th, 2016 at 5:31 pm
Thank you, Rochelle. Hopefully it was a cheap one, although if he can afford a yacht, I guess he can pick up another one somewhere. Glad you liked the story.
-David
February 7th, 2016 at 9:48 am
You paint a compelling portrait of two very stressed out people whose marriage is suffering. It sounds like they could really use a vacation. The pacing is great, where just when I thought something awful would happen, they chose to give it a chance instead. Love a happy ending.
February 7th, 2016 at 5:27 pm
Thank you, Joy. That was the idea. Hopefully they can enjoy the rest of their vacation, and maybe pick up some honey somewhere. 🙂
February 7th, 2016 at 10:01 am
Funny story. I love the way you updated the old story.
February 7th, 2016 at 5:27 pm
Thanks! When I saw this picture, that was what came into my head for some reason.
February 7th, 2016 at 10:47 am
A good story with a happy ending 🙂 I agree with Joy, it paints a great picture of two stressed-out people.
February 7th, 2016 at 5:26 pm
Thanks. That was the idea of it.
February 7th, 2016 at 11:24 am
I like the line..”start again?” Sometimes that is all that is needed. …..added with “I’m sorry”
February 7th, 2016 at 5:22 pm
Sometimes that’s all that’s needed, especially if both people think it’s the other person’s fault.
February 7th, 2016 at 11:44 am
Beautiful little love story. Happy Valentine’s Day, David.
February 7th, 2016 at 5:21 pm
Thanks Joyce. You too.
February 7th, 2016 at 2:28 pm
Lovely story. It’s nice they ended dancing after fighting. Sometimes fights start over the silliest thing but I don’t think that’s what they’re about. Great writing.
February 7th, 2016 at 5:21 pm
Thanks. I wanted to end it on a nice note. The idea wasn’t to caricature rich people as bad or anything.
February 7th, 2016 at 5:23 pm
Was great.
February 7th, 2016 at 3:20 pm
Hahaha. Sassy. And profound.
February 7th, 2016 at 5:20 pm
Thanks. 🙂
February 8th, 2016 at 2:28 am
What a beautiful ending. Perhaps, it is never too late to start again. A well-written piece. Thank you.
February 11th, 2016 at 8:40 pm
Thanks Matthew. Glad you liked it.
February 8th, 2016 at 10:02 am
Nice touch with the”no honey” and her bad mood.. I appreciate the link as well.
February 11th, 2016 at 8:39 pm
Thanks. It was fun to write.
February 9th, 2016 at 7:44 am
A lovely retelling!
February 11th, 2016 at 8:39 pm
Thank you. 🙂
February 12th, 2016 at 6:32 am
You’re welcome!
February 13th, 2016 at 2:41 pm
I am glad things seem to be ending better than they had originally started in the story… but come on guys… leaving for more than a year… how about an agreed upon list of groceries! Love resides very close to the stomach!!!
February 13th, 2016 at 10:17 pm
Hey, I’m with you on that. 🙂 Maybe they made the list but the crew forgot to deliver it.
February 16th, 2016 at 7:15 am
Nice! I am almost disappointed by the happy ending 🙂
February 17th, 2016 at 6:56 pm
Was it a little too trite? 🙂 It had the potential to really blow up into something, but I felt like that might be caricaturing them too much as rich idiots.
April 2nd, 2016 at 11:12 am
good one!