The Kottage with
a Kay
by Ian Curtress
He pulled a
book from his bookcase, a thin one, had no time
for a long read.
Like most of us, there were books he had read in
the past but could not remember their content and
several he had never read. This was one he hadn’t
noticed before “The Kottage with a Kay”
very unusual title.
He knew a Kay once. Lovely memories came flooding
in. How long ago was it, must be twenty five
years at least. He recalled the one and only time
she visited. Bitter sweet.
An acceptance of the inevitable. He had hated
goodbyes ever since.
He had taken a cottage in a small Devonshire
hamlet in an attempt to write a novel. Like many
of us we think we have a book inside us. In most
cases it stays inside as in his case and just as
well.
His excuse was an unforeseen distraction. There
was a small cove very near the cottage and he had
taken a flask of coffee hoping the beautiful sea
and sky would give him inspiration. To his
surprise there was just a solitary figure sitting
on a large flat rock.
It was unavoidable that he should speak to her.
After the usual formalities, “I’m Bobby,
I’m Kay“ they were soon chatting like
old friends. She was a lovely young lady with a
most attractive lilt to her voice. He could hear
it now Their conversation covered where they
lived, why they were in Devon.
Her expression saddened when asked for her reason
and further details were avoided. It seemed
natural they should meet again the following day
and there followed a remarkable friendship which
very quickly became a remarkable love
His aspirations of a book dissolved and she
suggested he try poetry, write one for her every
morning.
To his surprise, and hers, he found words flowing
easily.
A routine developed, she came to his cottage and
he would write her a poem while she prepared
meals.
They had an idyllic month of friendship and love.
The memory has left scars.
She would never give a reason for being unable to
keep in touch when he returned home.
She agreed she would telephone him and visit just
once. She would spend the day with him and no
contact after that. And no questions to be asked.
That day had been a mixture of unbelievable joy
and an awful sadness knowing it would be their
last.
She would not give him any contact number or
address
He opened the book A Kottage with a Kay and was
puzzled as it was a pouch containing many folded
papers. On the pouch was written “Remember
me”
“I could not hand these to you today it
would have been too painful and too many
questions.
I am sure sometime in your life you will find
this “book” and understand. Opening
them up he gasped. They were his poems to Kay
Having read them all and relived that wonderful
period in his life he was lovingly replacing them
when he saw a page pasted inside the cover.
His eyed filled. A leaflet which Headed….
Understanding Huntingtons
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