Sea and dunes inspire our third lockdown writing competition winner

Susan Wilson says she normally writes poetry, but says she had been inspired by a comment from an autistic friend, who said that they were finding lockdown easier as they didn't have to face the social aspects of the world.

Delighted to be one of our winners, Susan said: "The sea and the dunes are a big inspiration of mine. I

"I wrote the short story after a friend who is Autistic remarked that he loked Lockdown as he didn't have to deal with the social aspects of the world. I thought it might be a way of explaining to people what Autism is like.

"I belong to Louth writers; group, who have been brilliant."

As well as having her story published in the Skegness Standard, Susan receives a paperback written by one of our judges - bestselling author Margaret Dickenson.

Margaret said: “It has been a joy to judge the Skegness Standard’s Lockdown Short Story Competition and to work again with my fellow judge, John Cowpe.

"Several years ago now John and I were judges for an annual short story competition.

"We were always on the same wavelength then and it seems we still are! We came to an agreement on the three winners for this competition very quickly, but it was also a pleasure to read all the entries.

"I hope everyone interested in writing will continue to create their stories. My new book has been accepted and will hopefully be published next May. So, once the editing is done, it’s on to the next… Stay safe and well, everyone."

DEAR WORLD by Susan Wilson

I can' t say that I miss you, in fact it is a blessed relief to be here on my own. Oh, I've learned to say the right things, the things people want to hear. I have a list of twenty statements that I can trot out when needed.

I pick up new ones if I hear people talking. I'm okay, I'm coping seems to be the most popular and meets most people's needs, especially Mum.

I should say a big thank you to Mum, here, and all my teachers. Years and years of patient teaching and unconditional love, even when I drove them all mad, hit them or even bit them has all paid off.

They couldn't understand, at first, why I c't dress myself and would put my clothes on in the wrong order but, they knew how to help.

I still follow my schedules to make sure that I am washed clean and look presentable.

I have always hated the shower but, I can cope with sound and the hot water on my face even a different brand of shower gel. Shopping on line, brilliant and they deliver, knock on the door and stand back.

You don't even have to speak to them but I try to say thank you.

The greatest thing I have learned is that sometimes things change and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. It doesn't mean you are going to die or that the thumping in your chest is a heart attack.

It is just your body's reaction to stress. My teacher taught me meditation so when panic sets in I do my breathing and know that it will pass.

I count myself as lucky; I have a job that I am good at and can now do from home. In fact I work better here so I am going to try and do more of this when this is over.

My company doesn't understand the stress of getting on a bus. It is a complete sensory overload, people talking, bells ringing and worse of all

the food.

People eating fast food and filling my world with disgusting smells and their greasy hands touching the handrail and seat covers.

In work, I have anchored myself to one desk. It is the only place I can keep order, sort out stationery and line up post it notes.

We are supposed to have a hot desk system but my work mates soon realised that this wasn't going to be an option for me.

My desk faces a blank wall, with a blank wall to my right and a screen to my left, just like home.

I don't cover these with pictures or have fluffy toys, they would be too much of a distraction. Sometimes I wear my headphones as they don't realise that I can hear every word, the hum of the water cooler and heels clicking across the floor.

At home, it is almost perfect. I have my Coco Pops every morning, letting the milk go brown. I have even learned to eat a generic when the on-line shopping substituted. I put it in the old box, which helped a lot.

I have the same sandwich every day ; a cheese sandwich made with Cathedral City. I cut the crusts off and throw them away. There is no one around to stop me or ask difficult questions like, ‘did your girlfriend make that for you?’

Oh World, girlfriends, well that is another even shorter story.

As an analyst I can spot patterns. They appear in colours even though I know they are in black and white on the screen. If something is wrong it jumps out in a shower of purple fire works and I know to put it right.

It is so much quicker at home and I can often get a whole days work done in a morning. This leaves me plenty of time for things that I am really interested in, once I know the bills are paid.

I still like Minecraft, though it could be said that I am too old for it, Candy Crush and Fortnite. I wish they could come up with a new way to catch Pokemon, that did make it worth going out for.

My friends live here too, people just like me and we can chat. Animal Crossings is my latest craze; buying and selling turnips is the nearest I will ever get to eating them.

Yes, yes, I know World, that I am never to meet them in person, but I do like to hear what their strategies are for new games.

They take no offence when I just leave the site unlike people in the real world who think I am being rude.

Years ago I heard that there was a remedy for my problem. I waited for a tablet or some other treatment, but it turns out that a safe place and being on your own takes away 95% of my anxieties.

So, thank you, Lockdown, I think you cured me.

Yours faithfully,

A.S.D. Order