Stand Up the Real

Description

Carrie Maynard has always been so confident, energetic, in her early 40s her outlook and behaviour still youthful, a bit of a social magnet, even for the young.

Until one day her only son, Charlie, comes home with a friend in tow, Fred, so quiet but with such clear blue eyes. There is unquestionably a mutual attraction. But she is a respectable woman, not far from middle age. There is a certain decorum she must maintain. She has to hold him at arm’s length. It’s only proper. After all, she is exactly twice his age.

She hears two voices inside, two quite different ones. That is what is wrecking her. Like any woman of her generation she has suffered the usual “conditioning”, what is expected of her gender in terms of social acceptability. But the other voice is urging her—”Free yourself from all that. Be yourself!”

But which is her true self? She does not yet know. She is still torn both ways. But one day she will have to decide—whether to play safe or seize life. One day the real Carrie Maynard will have to stand up.