It was Valentine's day. The worst day of the year to have a break-up. Mayne wasn't sure how it all happened so fast, but Myrtle told him that she wanted to move on, that he'd become stuck in his ways -- an unromantic fuddy-duddy.
He was shocked, he never saw it coming. Just yesterday she'd said she loved him, but now here she was, packing her bags, telling him they were through.
He tried to think of something to say. He asked her to explain, to at least hear him out. She told him there was no point, that he had become boring, predictable.
"But I love you!" he said, his voice too high, too plaintive. He sounded like the desperate man he was, begging the only woman that he ever really loved to give him a second chance.
Her mind was made up. She knew him too well, he'd never change. She wanted romance, and not just a husband, but a lover, a guy that would surprise her. When he dared tell her that was him, she challenged,
"Here it is Valentine's day, Mayne, and what did you get me? A card, and not just a card but some stupid thing with monkeys on it! Where, exactly is the romance in that?"
And of course she was right. He had become lazy, and though he loved her very much, he'd taken Myrtle for granted, assumed she understood his feelings, knew the depth of his love.
He, understandably, tried to rationalize his callousness. He was busy, that he didn't think she liked a big fuss made over her, that Valentine's Day was just a corporate gimmick to rob money using people's emotions like a loaded gun. Myrtle of course, had heard it all before, she was done listening.
Not sure what else to do, he begged for hours, pleading his case until he realized he was unable to change her mind. Eventually, while he stood, trying to think of a new appeal, a taxi arrived, and she took her bags without even looking back, and left him there – alone. His head hurting and his spirits broken, he went into the bedroom and flopped onto the bed, and after a short while, fell asleep.
He wasn't sure how long he'd slept but it must have been through the night for when he awoke the sun's morning rays were peaking into the window, taunting him with their sunshine, that this was his first day without Myrtle.
Stiff from sleep Mayne stretched and turned slightly to his right where he noticed a a lump under the blanket next to him. He looked closely...could it be? And sure enough, it was her. He thought for a moment, trying to make sense of it, and then the truth started to clear...it had all been a dream –just a horrible nightmare.
His heart beat fast. She wasn't gone, she didn't hate him...it was still just Saturday morning and he had time to avert what could still happen. He had been given a reprieve and he would make the most of the opportunity.
He slowly crawled out of bed, and in a hurry, didn't bother to shower, or change into new clothing. Quietly tiptoeing down the hall and into the kitchen, he opened a sports magazine on the table, and took out a card with two monkeys on the cover. He frowned at the graphic of the two monkeys and read, the words beneath, "Lets Monkey Around!" and shook his head at his thoughtlessness and threw it in the garbage. Mayne then wrote a note to Myrtle, telling her that he had some early shopping and would be back soon.
Roses, chocolates, dinner at a nice restaurant, who knew what else he'd think of, but he wanted this to be the best Valentine's Day she'd ever had. As he pulled out of the driveway, humming, “Joy to the World,” he promised himself that this would be the first day in a lifetime of surprises for the woman he loved.
Author notes
To my beloved Myrtle. Happy Valentine's Day! 
In a list
I feel like singing. Any requests?
Comments
1 - 24 of 24
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Let's all sing ...
Today ... ready ...?
Today while the blossums still cling to the vine
I taste your strawberries, I'll drink your sweet wine
A million tomorrows shall all pass away,
ere I forget all the joy that is mine today.
I can't be contented with yesterday's glory
I can't live on promises winter to spring
Today is my moment and now is my story
I'll laugh and I'll cry and I'll sing ...
A great little moral story here and knowing full-well that you usually write those shocking tales of horror ... I thought that the lump in the bed would be your dog who had passed away during the night. I'm happy to see that 'all's well, that starts off well ... and that your road looks to be paved with some great intentions. Don't forget to buy your Mother a valentine too while you're out and about! Afterall ... if it wasn't for her would you even be?
Happy Day, j
y
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Ah yes, mom always get's chocolates. Bigger is better. She is like her son and prefers quantity over quality! lol
I like the poem!
Oh yes, if I meet a Myrtle I am all set, lol
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YES!
Oh, do sing along with this story, for it is a grand write and deserves a musical score. 
I am so glad it was a dream, but if it had been true, he could have found love again. 
Love is a reflection of one's self and if you cast it out, it will be gathered up and brought back to you, most tenderly and gratefully. 
Melodies who loved your story. 
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''Love is a reflection of one's self and if you cast it out, it will be gathered up and brought back to you, most tenderly and gratefully''
I like that. I'll try it.
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PHEWWWWWWWWW
Geez, when I got to this part: (and as he pulled out of the driveway, humming, “Joy to the World,” I thought,nooooooo don't let a car wipe him out! Don't do a "City of Angels" act! But, it didn't happen and I breathed a sigh of relief! Pheeeeeeeeewwwww what a relief.
Happy Valentine Yem!
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Nope, I left the Shocking Tales of Horror! for another day.
I have a friend here, a excellent story writer but hse has this thing about nearly rescuing people and then sending them to their deaths, like the scenario you mentioned in your comment, lol
It's her thing, her method to her madness, lol.
Happy Valentines day to you...oh it must be there already! Or very soon.
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It may be a simple Valentine's story, but a Valentine is never simple, is it? I read a card in the grocery store today. It had Charly Brown on it trying to write his love for the little red-haired girl. He said, "I tried and tried to make you the perfect Valentine.......and then I realized, You ALREADY ARE the perfect VALENTINE." (Charles Schultz, Peanuts)
I decided I'm like Charly Brown, sorta-- he'll never get the little red-haired girl, and he always ends up in the pumpkin patch waiting for the Great Pumpkin. However, I make a mean pumpkin pie, so even the Great Pumpkin makes himself scarce! I end up with a fractured fairy tale, and my husband ends up with heartburn.
..... "joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea!
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Wonderful comment! I think I'll change my name Charly Brown because I never get the little red-haired girl either. lol
I'll have to steal that line from Chuck!...if I ever meet that little red-haired girl. My luck she'll be a shrew, lol
Poor hubby with the heartburn tummy...at least it's an affair of the heart.
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I held my breath,
not daring to look downward,
to preview the last paragraph,
lest the week of happy endings
had disappeared and the lump
in the bed, would be Myrtle, dead.
Thanking the stars and all the Valemtine hearts
for Mayne enjoying a happy conclusion!!!!
M-C
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Ooh I'll have to work that graphic into my page, thanks!
I'll be glad when Valentine's day is over so I can go back to being cynical.
Thanks! -
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No, No! Keep a little of Yemish sweetness!!!!!
Poetry Aisle, four posted!
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SEQUEL TO YEM's STORY.
Mayne promised her anything she desired. "I'd like to be 16 again" she said. So he took her to the theme park where they rode on the 'Chair-o-Plane' until she was giddy and sick.
Then he took her on the 'Ride of Death, the 'Juggernaut'', the 'Jitterbug' and the 'Jet train.'
Then he took her round the coconut shies and proudly won a teddy bear and a Barbie Doll for her (he had always been a deft hand with a coconut). He bought her candy floss and a triple-header choco-mint ice-cream and a giant toffee-apple and three hot-dogs. After she had finished throwing up, he bought her an all-day raspberry sucker to settle her stomach.
In the evening, in spite of her exhaustion, he took her to McDonald's for a Mammoth McEggBurger and buffalo chips with double coke on the side.
Again, she was violently sick and had to be rushed to A & E in an ambulance. There, when he tried to explain that he had only wanted to gratify her dearest wish, she told him: "I meant SIZE 16 you stupid prick!"
When he awoke next morning, Myrtle had gone. There was no lump in the bed or anywhere else..her XXXXOS nightie lay crumpled where she had thrown it. He never saw her again.
Applause for a great introduction to this shocking tale of horror.
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HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Oh, a fine story, good Sir!
Your comment made me smile broadly and that is a very good thing. lol 
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Wicked funny. And I agree with you, it is sappy, but I was hoping the women folk here would like it, lol
I love the "rest of the story." Thanks Hugh.
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Very nice story. I'm glad Myrtle is happy now. Your writing is good.
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Thank you Nicole. I'm sure if Myrtle actually existed she would be very happy, lol
Thanks again.
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Nice to see things worked out for Mayne. I was waiting for him to get to the store and find everything half off, be delighted, only to find out that it was Sunday, and that lump in his bed was yet unidentified!!!!!! Whew, Joy to the World, that was a close one!
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All happy endings until after Valentine's Day.
This Valentine's season I am a kinder, gentler Yemassee. On the 15th I turn back into cynical Yem again.
Just call me Cinderella.
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Zippity Doo Dah
I'm so happy no one fell down the well or was attacked by sharks in your Yemish Valentine tale.
The key to making the monkey card successful is having a sweet one in the other hand along with the rest of the goodies.
Nice to see a happy ending.
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Oh, I'll add another line..."and then they burst into flames."
Try making Ginger into a devil dog again.
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What if I don't want to?
Where's my song? I put in my request.
Just throw them down the well with rest of 'em...
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Phew! That was just a dream, a sign to make him buy a proper card.
Tom said that Valentine's day must have been created by a woman, for it seems only the men must give gifts, and not receiving any lol
I don't remember really celebrating Valentines, except for one time I got food from my very favourite chinese restaurant delivered home, duck in 3 ways...
Anyway, Myrtle is a lucky lady
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Ah, I've learned. I shall do Valentines in a big way. i have been listening to all you ladies here and elsewhere and I think maybe I finally get the gist. Thus the story (which was flat without the last paragraph I forgot, which went:
''Roses, chocolates, dinner at a nice restaurant, who knew what else he'd think of, but he wanted this to be the best Valentine's Day she'd ever had, and as he pulled out of the driveway, humming, “Joy to the World,” he promised himself that this would be the first day in a lifetime of surprises for the woman he loved.''
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Oops, I forgot the ending, lol
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