Agree with Andrew, that final stanza is a beauty, Max. Can't help wondering
whether the daughter's demise was due to aerial stuff-up. If so, the annual
leap is even more amazing but hardly fun. Or maybe fun is just fun no
matter the circumstance. Takes all kinds.
Bill
On Wednesday, 20 April 2016, Max Richards <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
> Fun Facts
>
> ‘As we go round the room
> with our self-introductions,
> make the last thing you mention
> some sort of "fun fact" if you can.’
>
> The introductions began,
> the sort of ice-breaking you expect.
> She mentioned where she was from -
> her two Labradors were the fun fact.
>
> Last came the woman who told them
> today’s class meant she had to miss
> her family's annual sky-jump.
> They do it to commemorate
>
> her daughter who died just five years back.
> The others in the room smiled
> acceptingly at this fun fact,
> asked no questions. Perhaps
>
> each pictured privately a hovering
> plane disgorging a family in mourning,
> their parachutes opening
> towards a shared soft landing.
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