Copyright Dale Rogerson
I abhor her ingratiating manner, the sly puss.
“Your husband’s busy right now Mrs Adams, can I help?”
(Yes dear, you can tell him I found your hotel receipt.)
“Well it is rather important… and urgent …”
Her eyes gleam with interest. I pretend to consider.
“Perhaps I’ll leave a note. See he gets it, will you…?”
I scribble a note, and fold it over.
Later, the phone rings.
“Did I write Herpes, dear? Sorry, I meant to say I’d got Hermes, your mother’s cat. She’s gone on holiday. What? Of course I’ll help out in the office for a while…”
For one week only, at this time of the year, those of us in the UK receive the photo prompt at 7.30am. Early birds rule, OK. Rochelle, our fearless (or fearsome) leader seems to be awake at all hours of the day, however. Incidentally, I agree with her comment about Blogspot, and indeed any site where I have to fill in paperwork in order to ‘like’ or comment. Life is too short…
castelsarrasin 
Really funny story, Sandra. Looks like the note in your story caused a secretarial problem. 😀 — Suzanne
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Just one in a long line of secretarial problems I guess, Suzanne. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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Dear Sandra,
I confess, I’m a drastically early riser and not much fun after 7 pm. But I’ll also confess to posting my story the day before and scheduling it for 2:30 am, my time. It helps to preserve the small measure of sanity I have left.
Hermes? Oh this wife is one sharp cookie as is the author. I like her and I liked your story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle. 🙂 I’m impressed with your timetable. 🙂
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They say confession is good for the soul. Drink a gallon of pond water and say 3 Hail Perry’s and all shall be forgiven.
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Perfectly scripted example of how Karma sometimes needs a helping hand.
Love it.
And re Blogspot, am I the only one who is forced to leave a Google, rather than WP, id?
It does irritate.
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Thanks CE. Yes, everything about Blogspot irritates me. But at least we don’t see so much of the ‘captcha’ thing these days. Now that was an irritation.
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Agreed.
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Touche! Very funny: I’m still giggling.
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Thank you Mick. 🙂
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Ha. Funny. I recall a joke about a man who spoke English poorly talking about how he had gotten Hairpiece and all the women running away.
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Good one! 🙂
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Mrs.Adams is smart, but shortsighted. I bet there will be more secretarial problems in future.
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I don’t think even long-sightedness would help with this particular husband. 🙂
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Made me smile, Sandra!
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Thanks Sue.
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Sandra, a sharp, sly story from you, one I very much enjoyed, (but you know how I love puns, so…) One small punctuation item: just one comma before, as well as the one after, “Mrs. Adams”, (“now, Mrs. Adams,” 🙂
janet
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Thanks for pointing that out Janet. Ooops! Thanks for pointing that out, Janet. 😉
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Love it! Smart cookie, indeed!
Though I agree, once a skirt-chaser, always a skirt chaser. The Misus can apparantly handle it! 😉
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It’s likely to be a lifetime job. Thanks Dale, great photo!
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Thanks, Sandra! Happy you liked it!
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Hermes and puss is so different.. but it does give the result.. it’s good you can trust the trustless to read a secret note.
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Thanks for sharing that Bjorn. 🙂
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What a delightful story to wake up to! Thanks, Sandra, for the early morning smile.
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If I can help somebody…. 🙂
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Hehehe, what a clever wife, I love it.
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Thanks Gah. 🙂
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Ha! Loved this one, Sandra. I once knew a couple like Mr and Mrs Adams. The word ‘herpes” crept into a dinner conversation once. He looked very embarrassed. 😉
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As well he might… 😦 Thanks for reading.
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Miaow…seems appropriate 🙂
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Wow! That was absolutely brilliant — clever and subtle, all in one stroke. Substitute a word for another word, get rid of the gleaming-eyed secretary, exact sweet vengeance, and get (worthless) husband back all in one fell swoop! WELL-DONE! 🙂
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RESULT! as they say. Thanks for reading. 🙂
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The pleasure was mine! 🙂
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How many times do we say one thing, but mean something completely different? Nice story gave me a great afternoon chuckle!
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My pleasure 🙂
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Hermes is a wonderful name for a cat, and yet it sounds like the daughter-in-law was even more inspired in her use of it! Fantastic story, as ever, you are to be commended, Sandra.
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Thanks Jen. Yes, I like the name Hermes, but it’s less attractive with the proper pronunciation. Er-may. 😦
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Bah, let’s just keep saying it wrong then!
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I’m sure I’d use a ruder term than “Sly puss”!
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Probably. 🙂
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Hard not to smile. Hard not to get even. 🙂
Lily
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Yes, I’m always keen on evening the score. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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The secretary isn’t the only one that’s sly here. A great story of cunning, it hits all the right notes.
-David
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Thanks David. 🙂
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I love this one! Of course it struck a familiar cord with me. Perhaps that’s why I laughed out loud!
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Glad it made you laugh Corina. 🙂
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Har! Har! That’s gold that one.
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Thanks Subroto 🙂
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LOL. That is a great way of dealing with the minx. Sly puss – both of them.
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Thanks for reading Irene.
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Ha. Revenge can be so sweet. Love the way she did it, kept her marriage together, gained the upper hand. No more wildcatting for him.
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Well let’s hope so, but…
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Really funny. Doubt he’ll be quitting the habit though.
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Depends whether the secretary puts the word around… Thanks for reading.
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Oh dear! A most excellent “typo” on her part.
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Indeed. 🙂
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Ha, that’s a cunning way to solve a little secretarial problem 🙂
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Thanks for reading! 🙂
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Do men still mess around with their secretaries? Talk about the obvious suspect.
Still, I’d be saving her for ‘secondary revenge’, the oaf needs to be your primary target.
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Do bears still s**t in the woods? Thanks for reading Dave. 🙂
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I couldn’t help but smile, nicely done 🙂
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Thanks for reading Helen. 🙂
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very funny. of course, the note was meant for his eyes only and not meant to be read by a third party. 🙂
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Well, call it collateral damage then…
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Ha! That showed her. Very cunning, Sandra. I’ll never be an early bird Friday Fictioneer. I admire your promptness and posting such an excellent story so quickly! Cheers!
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Thanks for reading Amy. If I don’t get my inspiration pretty quickly after seeing the photo, there’s a good chance I won’t get it at all. But yours are always worth waiting for.
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Aww, thanks so much for saying mine are worth it. 🙂
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Stylish revenge there.
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Color me tickled. Great piece of humor, Sandra. Your talent knows no bounds.
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From the King of Comedy, a compliment indeed! 🙂
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Ha! “I got Hermes”! That’s a great line. Well written Sandra. You captured a lot in 100 words.
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Are you sure that the cat has herpes?
And why does Mrs. Adams have to help out at the office/
is it a vet’s office?
Is this the Adams Family?
😉 Randy
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ha ha….Good one! I’m sure Mrs. Adams can think of a long-term solution now that the short-term fix is in place 🙂
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Well done. Made me laugh with the herpes slip or so she wanted him to think. 🙂
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Oh there’s a lot of making up for that cad to do.
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Such a clever wife.
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Clever and funny! Looks like it’s time for a male secretary.
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There’s a sneaky way to deal with adultery. 🙂 Nicely written.
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Great story. I like this wife’s tactics. It sounds like she’s dealt with this kind of situation more than once – she’s very cool.
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Ha! Payback^s a bitch. ;D Love your sense of humor, Sandra, and how Ive missed reading your posts!
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