My contribution to the deadlinesforwriters short story challenge November 2025. The prompt was „whispiered“ and the required word count was 1200.
Running Commentary
The voice was obviously his, yet at the same time very clearly not. It had no volume but lots of gravity.
Paul checked his appearance in the mirror, tilting his head from side to side. No matter which direction he turned, his shirt looked as if a herd of elephants had trampled it over.
Well done! Waiting until the last moment so you don’t have time to iron your clothes was such a smooth move! Now it’s too late, and you are going to look a right muppet!
He pulled at the sleeves and viewed the other shirts in his wardrobe. Which were just as rumpled, so there was no point changing again. He sighed.
Weird that Helen asked you out for dinner in the first place, isn’t it? Makes you wonder. It’s not like women have been queuing up for dates with you.
Paul checked the bus timetable on his phone. He swore under his breath because he had forgotten that on Sundays they ran less frequently. He would have to hurry, else he was going to have to sprint to the restaurant on foot.
Maybe you should have jogged a bit more often recently. Would have done wonders with the general flabbiness. Again, too late!
Paul put on his coat, stuffed the phone into his pocket and smoothed his hair back. A last glance into the mirror, a shake of the head, then he rushed out the door.
A few minutes later he returned, out of breath and swearing. He rummaged around for his wallet, ran out again and slammed the door shut.
Oh, would you look at those lovely red rear lights! Time to start jogging if you want to be at least somewhat on time. Helen is going to be so impressed if you turn up with a face like a sweaty tomato!
Paul tilted his head backwards, his hands covering his face. Then he ran off. Actually, he had enjoyed jogging before this new job. It was just that he didn’t have the time anymore. His old friend Greg had helped convince his team leader that Paul was the best choice.
Yeah, and they are going to find out what a giant mistake they have made any day.
Paul shook his head, getting into his stride now. He thought back to how he had met Helen for the first time. She worked in another department of the same company, and he had been admiring her for a while now, mostly from afar. Then there had been the meeting last month where the two of them had ended up sitting next to each other. To his surprise, she had actually started a conversation with him.
I wonder why. What’s more, I wonder why she kept talking to you. Remember how you stumbled over your words? That was classic Paul!
They had kept bumping into each other at the cafeteria. Sometimes Greg had also been there, but he had never seemed interested in chatting with Helen, no matter how hard she tried to include him. Eventually, last week she had asked Paul if he wanted to meet for dinner and what kind of restaurant he liked.
And we both know there has to be some kind of ulterior motive behind this date, don’t we?
Paul turned a corner only to smash into one of those bloody tourists with a paper cup in their hands. It was sheer luck that nothing worse happened than a bit of coffee being spilt. When he jogged on, he felt something warm running down his leg.
Brilliant! Now your trousers match the shirt. You never learn, do you? When are you going to only wear dark colours, so those stains are less visible?
He risked a look downward while at the same time keeping up the pace. And of course, a brown blotch had appeared on his favourite light blue jeans. But he was late as it was, so he would just have to face meeting Helen looking the weirdo that he was.
And there she stood, waiting in front of the restaurant. He could see her looking at her phone with her thumb ready to touch the screen.
“Hey! I’m here! Sorry!” he shouted, out of breath.
Helen’s face lit up. “Oh, I was beginning to worry! Are you alright?”
Ha! She doesn’t know the half of it.
“Yeah,” he said. “I missed my bus and then somehow collided with a stranger, but now I’m here I’m fine. How are you?”
Helen grinned. “Looking forward to trying out Ethiopian food. I have never had it, so hopefully I like it as much as you do.”
And this, Ladies and Gentlemen, is how you set yourself up for an awkward date. What are the odds that she is going to enjoy injera?
They went inside, and surprisingly, were shown to a great table, quiet but with a good view of the room. He had never been to this particular place, but it was full of other patrons chewing happily. Paul suggested they both go for the buffet, and Helen agreed, choosing lots of small portions of the dishes he recommended.
Back at the table, she asked, “So, you and Greg, have you known each other long?”
“We’ve been to school together, why?”
Helen shrugged. “Oh, no reason! He seems quiet, though. So different from you.”
So that’s what this is about! You should have known you’re only really here so she can figure out how to make Greg interested in her. Good thing you didn’t make too much of an effort at looking presentable. Would have been a bit of a waste.
“Yes, people keep telling us how we don’t seem to make sense as friends, him being so successful and mysterious, and me, well—”
Helen chuckled. “Mysterious? That’s the first time I have heard anyone call him that. I think we both joined the company at the same time. And okay, the others on my team have talked about how he has improved your department’s performance, but…”
The voice drowned her out after that.
How you ever thought you could compete with him is beyond me. Remember when he…
And on and on it went, until he shouted, “Shut up!”
The entire restaurant fell silent. For what seemed like an endless minute, all the other guests seemed to wait and see if there was more entertainment forthcoming.
Paul looked at Helen and, for the first time this evening, really saw her. Her black hair and blue eyes. The lovely light blue dress she had chosen to wear. Her face even paler now. How she looked ready to push her chair back and leave.
The woman at the neighbouring table placed her cup onto the saucer very quietly.
“I am sorry,” he said quietly. “This wasn’t about you. It’s just, I have this voice in my head talking to me constantly, and—”
Helen leaned forward again with a serious expression. “You too? Tell me about it.”
And he did. For the first time in his life, he shared about the whispering, and he wondered why he never had before.
This might turn out to be a brilliant evening after all.
Like my contribution to the story challenge November 2025? On my blog you can find and read more of my stories!
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