Sweet Marigold

Marigold Chivers sat on her window seat in her new house. Recently widowed, she was not through with life yet. A copy of the local newspaper, 'The Western Mail', lay on her coffee table. She thumbed through it until she got to the small ads: People seeking friends. Marigold longed to be loved again; eighteen months was a long time without a man in her life.

This looked interesting 'Forty-five year old man seeks loving woman with a view to marriage.' That doesn't sound shallow, she thought to herself. It went on 'GSOH, own house own car.' At least he sounds solvent, not some old rip-off. Marigold noted down the box number and crafted her reply. I must be truthful, she thought to herself. I am sixty so it's no good lying about my age, he would know on the first meeting if I said I was forty-five. 

I'll say Blonde hair because I can get a rinse prior to meeting. Truth was it was grey and silver, but a rinse would do it. GSOH to sound similar, even if that wasn't quite the truth. Marigold wanted to be serious about these things I have my own house and car just like him, so I'll say that, and seeking a serious relationship with a compatible partner.

The fee of fifteen pounds seemed such a trifle for such an important matter, I just hope it won't be wasted. Truth is Marigold was affluent ; she'd received an insurance payout on her husband's  death. It was ninety-five thousand and burnning a hole in her pocket. She'd considered a mobile home or maybe some exotic holidays. If she found the right man the world could be their oyster.