WRITER ON THE BEACH

AUGUST SHORT STORY: Spreading Rumors

My name is Talia Robinson. I am the resident reporter for our community newsletter. It’s my job to spread good news and update our neighbors on current events. It’s not meant to be a gossip column. But sometimes the rumors that spread around here buzz around like annoying flies.

“Talia,” I’ve been looking for you. I’ve heard something…it’s really upset me.” Gladys Hooper was breathless, her dark eyes piercing mine like little darts

I wanted to escape, but I couldn’t see a polite way of disengaging myself. I stood beside her, frozen; I knew what was coming and I didn’t want to deal with it. She had to be stopped, but no one had ever stood up to her, including me. Someone needed to teach her a lesson. Oh, how I wish it could be me, I thought wistfully.

I live in a great subdivision, but I have had to put up with Gladys since the day she moved in. She has something negative to say about everybody in our community. She sends me emails detailing private information about a neighbor or complains about one thing or another. “You need to put this in our paper. It’s something our community should know. We could be living next door to a criminal. I’ve spoken to our HOA and they have done nothing.”

She had befriended residents just long enough to collect information to use against them. Sometimes the rumors were true and more often than not they were lies with just enough truth to make it believable.

Whether it was at the pool, playing cards, or at a community function Gladys loved to gossip.

Kathy Maitland is her latest victim. She accused her of being flirtatious with all the men, including her husband, under the ruse of being friendly and outgoing. “No man is safe around her. She’s always showing off, especially when she wears her tiny bikini at the pool. She leaves nothing to the imagination.There should be a rule about wearing proper bathing suits.”

Kathy is one of our younger residents and she has a beautiful and voluptuous figure. But I’ve never heard one complaint against an obese woman wearing a two-piece bathing suit at our pool. And we see plenty of them.

I am divorced and single. My figure is round and plump. If I show cleavage, unfortunately, it’s wrinkled and not a pretty sight. My legs have dimples, but no one is talking about those. I suppose I’m not considered a threat, especially at sixty-eight years old.

Gladys touched my arm, “”I ‘ve heard rumors about my husband and Kathy Maitland. I know it’s ridiculous. Gary and I are happily married. I know for a fact he isn’t giving her private golf lessons. And even if he were I trust him completely. She’s the one I don’t trust. I think Kathy should be reprimanded in our newsletter. Shame on her for spreading these lies. She just wants to cause trouble.”

I remined silent for a moment. and thought about what to say. Gary is a good-looking young man in his middle forties. He is a golf pro and kind enough to give me private golf lessons when his schedule permits. “It’s never too late in life to learn something new.” He encouraged.

And Kathy is an exceptional golfer, and doesn’t need any lessons, so I knew there was no truth to the rumors.

I smiled as a light bulb went off in my muddled brain. “If you promise me you’ll keep this a secret between us, I think there’s something you should know.”

Her eyes lit up, “A secret?”

“You have to promise.” I put my fingers against my lips.

“I won’t breathe a word.”

“I can assure you, Kathy isn’t the woman you have to worry about. The woman he’s meeting once a week is… ME!”