NEW LEAF, OLD STALK • by Sarah Hilary

You told me you loved me, very matter-of-fact. “Pass the bread? And by the way…”

You said you knew it was unrequited, which it was. You said it didn’t matter, but it did. The first move was always mine.

After the disaster that was Irene, I’d resolved to stop; no more broken hearts. I’m proud of my abstinence, a reformed heart-breaker. But you’ve made a resolution, too. Haven’t you?

Here you sit, devouring bread, a contented smile on your face.

I ordered oysters to be witty, but you’ve killed my appetite.

“I love you.”

Three little words and I’m impotent.

Sarah Hilary’s stories have been published in The Beat, Neon, SHINE, Bewildering Stories, Every Day Fiction, Velvet Mafia, MYTHOLOG, Heavy Glow, Twisted Tongue, Static Movement, Kaleidotrope and the Boston Literary Magazine. Her short story, On the line, was published in the Daunt Books 2006 anthology. She won the Litopia “Winter Kills” Contest in 2007. Sarah lives in the Cotswolds with her husband and young daughter.

Posted on January 7, 2008 in Humour/Satire, Literary, Stories
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26 Responses to “NEW LEAF, OLD STALK • by Sarah Hilary”


  1. Anne-Elisabeth Moutet Says:
    January 7th, 2008 at 5:47 am

    Ah, the perennial excuse of the picky seducer! And they probably believe it themselves, too!

    The wit of oyster, he has. Nicely done!

  2. Sarah Hilary Says:
    January 7th, 2008 at 6:11 am

    Thank you!

  3. Tania Hershman Says:
    January 7th, 2008 at 6:52 am

    Lovely, short sharp and so so true!

  4. gay degani Says:
    January 7th, 2008 at 7:00 am

    Sharp,witty, both apply. Good.

  5. Oonah V Joslin Says:
    January 7th, 2008 at 7:36 am

    As always, Sarah…masterful. Oonah :)

  6. Sarah Hilary Says:
    January 7th, 2008 at 8:00 am

    Thanks, Tania!

  7. Sarah Hilary Says:
    January 7th, 2008 at 8:00 am

    Thanks, Gay, you’re very kind.

  8. Sarah Hilary Says:
    January 7th, 2008 at 8:01 am

    Oonah, what can I say? Thank you!

  9. Avis Hickman-Gibb Says:
    January 7th, 2008 at 10:48 am

    Beautifully put Sarah! Lets hope the beggar stays that way!

  10. Barry Says:
    January 7th, 2008 at 11:15 am

    Sarah: I loved it!

  11. dj barber Says:
    January 7th, 2008 at 1:07 pm

    Touche’–ah, love…

  12. mark dalligan Says:
    January 7th, 2008 at 1:34 pm

    Lovely take on an unwillingly jaded suburban roué.

    Cheers

    Mark

  13. Freddy Bob Says:
    January 7th, 2008 at 4:12 pm

    I don’t get it…

  14. Sarah Hilary Says:
    January 8th, 2008 at 1:04 am

    Cheers, Avis, yes I certainly hope so!

  15. Sarah Hilary Says:
    January 8th, 2008 at 1:04 am

    Thanks, Barry!

  16. Sarah Hilary Says:
    January 8th, 2008 at 1:04 am

    Cheers, DJ!

  17. Sarah Hilary Says:
    January 8th, 2008 at 1:05 am

    Many thanks, Mark, and what a perfect summing up!

  18. Sarah Hilary Says:
    January 8th, 2008 at 1:06 am

    Sorry about that, Freddy Bob, 100 words can be restrictive. Basically, the narrator prides himself on being a heart-breaker and the one who makes the first move. He is trumped by the woman’s declaration of love, which steals his thunder rather completely. Hope that helps.

  19. Bill West Says:
    January 8th, 2008 at 9:07 am

    Excellent flash, Sarah.

  20. Sarah Hilary Says:
    January 8th, 2008 at 10:28 am

    Many thanks, Bill.

  21. Gerard Demayne Says:
    January 9th, 2008 at 3:17 am

    Kudos for explaining that because it went right over my head too. When you explain it it becomes so obvious, and I can see how very subtle and clever you were being. Kinda annoying in a way because it’s like having one eye and having to have someone explain 3D vision to you.

    Note to J&C - more stories with car chases and guns. Those I understand.

  22. Sarah Hilary Says:
    January 9th, 2008 at 3:18 am

    Thanks for that, Gerard. I like stories with car chases and guns, too!

  23. Hasmita Says:
    January 10th, 2008 at 12:29 am

    Thanks, Sarah, I hadn’t got it either. Mainly, the gender confused me. I assumed it was a woman’s perspective but then Irene threw me off, and I wondered if she was gay by chance, and then got further confused. Post explanation, it makes sense.

  24. Sarah Hilary Says:
    January 10th, 2008 at 12:36 am

    Thanks for reading, Hasmita. In fact I don’t think the gender matters. The heart-breaker could be male or female. It’s their undoing at the hands of the other woman that makes the story, I think.

  25. Jordan Lapp Says:
    January 10th, 2008 at 11:17 am

    I find that Sarah’s work frequently contains subtleties that only become apparent on a second read-through.

    I felt the same way as you, but because this story was so short, I didn’t mind reading it over again. When you “get” it, the story becomes delicious.

  26. Sarah Hilary Says:
    January 11th, 2008 at 12:26 am

    Thanks, Jordan. What a very nice way of putting it!

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