Copyright C Hase
I knew it wasn’t Eric, the moment we sat down to breakfast.
Oh, it looked like him all right, same wide forehead, broad shoulders, stubby nose … but it wasn’t him… in his eyes, I mean.
This person was thoughtfully appraising me, and when he spoke, he chose his words deliberately, hesitantly, as though exploring them, for both impact and meaning.
Fascinated, I said nothing; pretended I hadn’t noticed … for fourteen amazing days and thirteen unfettered nights.
But now Eric is back.
And for the present my spirit remains anchored in mundanity.
All things are possible though… I see that now.
After crashing my computer whilst performing a simple Windows update, it appeared I’d lost all files and photos. As we cruised, my husband worked tirelessly to retrieve the missing files and although there’s still lots of housekeeping to do on the retrieved system, I am at least connectable again. Deep joy! I missed Friday Fictioneers last week, and I’m still on limited internet connection this week, but everything should be back to normal in a week or so when we’re back in the UK. Thanks again to Rochelle for all her efforts for this little group.
castelsarrasin 
Dear Sandra,
I wonder who took Eric and why they brought him back. Or did Eric have some kind of epiphany for fourteen days? I think I prefer the former. Well written, but that’s no surprise. I’m happy to see you back and hope that you get all the problems ironed out soon.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think Eric just had fourteen nights in the void. I don’t think he realises what he missed. And yes, the scale of the work I have to do on my system is daunting. 😦
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I think Eric must be multiple personality. I wonder what his alter’ s name really is.
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Ernie? (You won’t get that unless you’re English) 😉
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Hmm. It would be fun to hear you explain it to us.
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Sandra, a story with intriguing implications and possibilities. Evidently the new Eric was preferable (and unfettered!) Now how to get back to that…
janet
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Shape shifters, though, at least in Navajo tradition, aren’t something to be desired in any way.
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I suppose it depends on how bored you are… 😉 Thanks for commenting Janet, hope all is well with you.
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🙂 All’s well. Going off the grid a bit this weekend but back next week. Still posting, though.
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Wow….Can’t wait for the movie!
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Good write…Perhaps he’s bipolar…. Anyways, hope you get your computer problems sorted!
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Thanks Sue. I’ve so much to do I’m finding it difficult to get started. 🙂
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So bizarre, Sandra. It sounds as though she had a great fourteen days and nights though. 😀 Good luck to your hubby in retrieving all your files and photos. 🙂
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He’s a star, I don’t know what I’d do without him. All I had was the blue screen of death and no way into it, until he got stuck in. Bless him!
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Does Eric know about Eric? Poor Eric.
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Eric might find himself slightly… revitalised…
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A most intriguing story, Sandra. I want to know more about why Eric went missing and who was in his place. Another version of Eric? Great take. Love it!
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Sounds like she had a welcome break for a while … 🙂 Thanks Amy.
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How often do people hide and then reveal themselves in our interactions with them? And where, in heaven’s name do they go? Wonderful contribution!
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Thank you Lorna. 🙂
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Well I hope Eric II visits again in a few months when she will be more than ready for some unfettered nights.
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She’ll be practically gagging for them, I shouldn’t wonder … Thanks Dawn. 🙂
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Great abstract interpretation. Wish I could do that.
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I’m sure you can and do. 🙂 Thanks for reading Patrick.
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Anchored in mundanity is a bad place to be.
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It certainly would be. 🙂
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The weeks or days or moments that take us out of our mundane lives, make life worth living. I never question why.
Tracey
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I think she enjoyed her trip. Thanks for reading Tracey.
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Intriguing plot.
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Thank you!
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Good to have you back sailing this virtual sea with us, Sandra. You served up an interesting mystery this week.
All my best,
MG
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Thanks Marie Gail. Normal service should be resumed shortly.
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This is intriguing. I wonder if she could have kept Eric 2 if she had said something, some kind of acknowledgement…
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I expect that’s something she’ll be wondering for some time. Thanks for dropping by
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Dear Sandra,
I cannot imagine her allowing herself to be anchored for long. Once she’s felt the wind in her sails and felt eh slap and tug of the waves, the urge to get out over the bar and run would be too strong for me. Wonderful story and welcome back to the fold. Sorry to hear about your trials and tribulations. Three cheers for Neville no matter what the outcome. That is often an brutal and thankless task.
Aloha,
Doug
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Thanks for reading Doug. I think she’s an unfettered soul. 🙂 And I’m only just beginning to realise the enormity of the task ahead. The entire system has been affected. B*****y Windows! Glad to see you back though.
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Oh I like this a lot. Great job as always.
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Thank you Mr Binks. 🙂
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He could be gone for such a lot of reasons– an affair, dementia, depressed. At least she enjoys the amazing days and unfettered nights. Sounds like she would be happy to stick with the version of Eric that watches what he says and the impact of it on her.
Good luck with your internet problems.
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She sounds like she had something of a holiday. And thanks for your good wishes Irene.
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Reminds me, time to back up yon hard drive!
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More importantly, Dave, check afterwards that it has worked. That was the start of the problem, and I’ve been dragging together files from all over the place since then. But most important, understand your system set up. I’ve lost hundreds of photos because I didn’t think they were on the drive that they were. 😦
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Do I feel sorry for Eric, or happy that she discovered passion before a big mistake?
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Call an enjoyable break from reality. Which might reoccur, if she’s lucky… 🙂
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Oh, once you taste the real thing, it is hard to go back. Nicely written, per usual.
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Thank you! 🙂
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Bring back fake Eric! I wonder how real Eric will fare now she’s had a taste of “the good life”?
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Maybe she can bring something new to the relationship? 😉
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Perhaps a potent or elixir came into play (or needs to). You know, Love Potent #9. Sounds like the old Eric is as boring as a drone.
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Doesn’t it just! 🙂
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Nice mysterious story — reminds me of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I wonder who had a better time, Eric or the narrator. I like the phase “unfettered nights.” Sends my mind in several directions.
Good luck with the computer! Sounds like your husband can work miracles!
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Yes, my own imagination lingers over ‘unfettered nights’. and yes, I think he has worked miracles, being able to retrieve files from a laptop that wouldn’t even come to life!
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That is good news re the files. I think some people are born with special computer talents, so they can do miracles.
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It’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers in a good way. Sometimes we know a person and we think “if only they could be a little more like this, they’d be super.” And we think we can pull that extra quality out of them, but of course it’s just not there. Here’s the fantasy where it suddenly IS there. 14 days is better than nothing.
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That’s what I like to hear… someone who can look on the bright side. Thanks for dropping by Perry.
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That’s an intriguing story. I love your portrayal of the new Eric – no wonder the narrator was happy. It’s such a shame she’s ‘anchored in mundanity’ now, after her wild fortnight.
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Better to have loved and lost than never … or something like that. 🙂
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It’s like Spaceman Bert from Soap. Folk always assume that aliens replacing someone is a bad thing. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions. I can think of many who would be better replaced (well, better for us, at any rate).
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🙂 I’m with you on that one.
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Imaginative story! Too bad the real Eric came back. Maybe she can convince him to go away again….
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She may well have to, for her own sanity. Thanks Jan.
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I hope he comes back again!
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I think she does too!
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I wonder if it’s all Eric… “Somebody” would blame it on her hormones. Two more weeks will tell the tale. 😉 Entertaining read. Congrats/sympathies on the techie woes. Hope all is sorted soon.
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I’m getting there slowly Kimberly, thank you.
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It sounds like she rather liked not-Eric! I wonder where Eric was for those 14 days and whether he’ll ever realise what happened?
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It might be kinder if he doesn’t. 🙂
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a new pair of glasses or change of perspective does work wonders.
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A change is as good as a rest. But I don’t think she got much rest anyway…
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🙂
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ooooh, so interesting. Where did Eric go? How did he come back?
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Magic!
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Enjoyed your story. Sounds like Eric has a cognition problem. 🙂
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I think the Eric that came visiting will never return. Maybe time too leave instead of hoping for his return.
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Wow! What an amazing story – and the last phrase says ther’s still hope.
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Hee, hee, hee 🙂 I think that the shape-shifted Eric might have proved a bit exhausting on a long-term basis. Perhaps he could manage to be dynamic just sometimes. A fun bit of dark comedy there, Sandra.
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As always, your story delivers such a punch, and I love all the possibilities it offers. Beyond sci-fi, I’ve always found it “interesting” that people can try on new personalities for days, weeks, etc, and yet fall right back into their general mode. Very well done!
SO very sorry about the computer. Been there, and it is one of the most helpless, and disturbing places to be! Really drives home, just how much we rely on these little bits of tech. All the work and time we put in, and poof! I so hope it is all retrievable and as painless as possible. Safe travels, Sandra!
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Intriguing story and many possibilities. Split personality/lookalike they all work. A great stor as always.
I’d recommend taking a backup before an update. That way you always have a baseline version to revert too.
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Dear Sandra,
Does Eric has multiple personalities?
Tina from The Sunny Side of Life
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That first line is fantastic Sandra. It allows you so many different avenues. All I can do is applaud!!
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Good story, Sandra. It seems a little change in genre from your usual, but still well written. I’m sorry you had computer problems. I think mine were probably partly due to my own fault. Before I add any program to my computer in future, I’m going to check with the man who did my repairs. Some, I found the hard way, are not compatible with my little laptop. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Just takes a moment perhaps to realize that anything can happen 🙂 The ones we know the most might have a side or a quirk we may not know.
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