Read Online Cruel Minds by Malcolm Richards - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Malcolm Richards
Tags: Murder mysteries, murder mystery series, Mystery & Thrillers, female detectives, womens mystery, gay mysteries, british crime fiction, British crime series, British mystery authors, british mystery series, British mystery writers, noir crime novels, psychological crime thrillers, women's psychological thrillers, LGBT mysteries
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on technology we now are, feeding from it like babies at their mothers’ breasts. It’s on this first day that we feel the sting of withdrawal. Tomorrow, however, we realise the illusion—that the milk is sour and empty of nutrients.”
Jerome leaned back in his chair, catching Emily’s eye. He bit down on his lip to suppress a smile.
“Tomorrow we open our minds. We acknowledge our worries and fears, the anxieties that nibble at us every day, and then we release ourselves from them so that we may instead reconnect with the self.”
Pamela paused, allowing a moment for her words to absorb into the minds of her guests. A clack of shoes on floorboards disturbed the quiet. Melody hurried into the room and dropped into the seat next to Emily.
“Sorry I’m late,” she mumbled.
Something was wrong. The friendly, happy woman Emily had met earlier that day was now sullen and nervy, her eyes bloodshot, the skin around them red and irritated.
“Are you all right?” Emily mouthed.
Melody nodded and stared at the table.
“Let me briefly go over why we practise silent eating at Meadow Pines,” Pamela said, refocusing her guests’ attention. “In today’s busy world, dinnertime is one of the few opportunities we have to communicate with family and friends, so it may seem at odds to encourage silent eating. But there are many benefits. Free from the distraction of talk or technology, silent eating allows us to have greater focus, to better enjoy the eating experience. It allows us to chew for longer, to eat slower, thereby improving digestion and boosting our energy levels, while making us more aware of when our hunger has been satisfied. By eating in silence, we become more mindful of what is before us, strengthening our awareness throughout the day, increasing our enjoyment in all of life’s pleasures. And finally, silent eating helps us to develop greater connections with the people around us. We notice their facial expressions and their body language—elements that we often miss when distracted by conversation.”
Around the table, backs straightened and arms uncrossed.
“Let’s use this time to enjoy and reflect,” she said. “And let us give thanks to Sam for cooking this wonderful feast of vegetables harvested from our very own garden!”
Murmured thankyous went around the table as Sam set down the final dish and sat in the empty seat beside Pamela.
Eating in silence was a strange experience. Emily found the food appetising, but did not feel her senses heightened like Pamela had promised. Perhaps like all things it took practise. As she ate, she observed the other guests. Ben and Sylvia ran forks through their meals as if they’d been laced with poison. Melody picked at her food, pushing it around her plate without attempting to eat. The drastic change in her worried Emily. Jerome, however, was distinctly unworried about anything. He shovelled food into his mouth as if dinner was a competitive sport.
Emily was not the only one watching the room. Across the table, Helen’s eyes moved from face to face. As she worked her way around, Emily quickly dropped her gaze to her plate. By the time she looked up again, Helen had finished observing her fellow guests and was now busying herself with eating. But now Emily felt someone else’s eyes upon her. She turned her head and saw Oscar staring directly at her. Something changed in his expression. Was it recognition? Surely she was being paranoid.
Emily looked away. When she looked back again, Oscar was still staring.
***
T he table emptied as soon as everyone finished eating. Daniel and Helen volunteered to wash the dishes. Ben and Sylvia returned upstairs. As they left the room, Emily heard them complain about the bland food and the ridiculous philosophy of silent eating. While Janelle moved up a few seats to talk to Pamela and Marcia, Melody stood up and wandered out into the hall, shuffling in zigzags like a lost child.
“How are you feeling?”
Jerome leaned back in his chair, catching Emily’s eye. He bit down on his lip to suppress a smile.
“Tomorrow we open our minds. We acknowledge our worries and fears, the anxieties that nibble at us every day, and then we release ourselves from them so that we may instead reconnect with the self.”
Pamela paused, allowing a moment for her words to absorb into the minds of her guests. A clack of shoes on floorboards disturbed the quiet. Melody hurried into the room and dropped into the seat next to Emily.
“Sorry I’m late,” she mumbled.
Something was wrong. The friendly, happy woman Emily had met earlier that day was now sullen and nervy, her eyes bloodshot, the skin around them red and irritated.
“Are you all right?” Emily mouthed.
Melody nodded and stared at the table.
“Let me briefly go over why we practise silent eating at Meadow Pines,” Pamela said, refocusing her guests’ attention. “In today’s busy world, dinnertime is one of the few opportunities we have to communicate with family and friends, so it may seem at odds to encourage silent eating. But there are many benefits. Free from the distraction of talk or technology, silent eating allows us to have greater focus, to better enjoy the eating experience. It allows us to chew for longer, to eat slower, thereby improving digestion and boosting our energy levels, while making us more aware of when our hunger has been satisfied. By eating in silence, we become more mindful of what is before us, strengthening our awareness throughout the day, increasing our enjoyment in all of life’s pleasures. And finally, silent eating helps us to develop greater connections with the people around us. We notice their facial expressions and their body language—elements that we often miss when distracted by conversation.”
Around the table, backs straightened and arms uncrossed.
“Let’s use this time to enjoy and reflect,” she said. “And let us give thanks to Sam for cooking this wonderful feast of vegetables harvested from our very own garden!”
Murmured thankyous went around the table as Sam set down the final dish and sat in the empty seat beside Pamela.
Eating in silence was a strange experience. Emily found the food appetising, but did not feel her senses heightened like Pamela had promised. Perhaps like all things it took practise. As she ate, she observed the other guests. Ben and Sylvia ran forks through their meals as if they’d been laced with poison. Melody picked at her food, pushing it around her plate without attempting to eat. The drastic change in her worried Emily. Jerome, however, was distinctly unworried about anything. He shovelled food into his mouth as if dinner was a competitive sport.
Emily was not the only one watching the room. Across the table, Helen’s eyes moved from face to face. As she worked her way around, Emily quickly dropped her gaze to her plate. By the time she looked up again, Helen had finished observing her fellow guests and was now busying herself with eating. But now Emily felt someone else’s eyes upon her. She turned her head and saw Oscar staring directly at her. Something changed in his expression. Was it recognition? Surely she was being paranoid.
Emily looked away. When she looked back again, Oscar was still staring.
***
T he table emptied as soon as everyone finished eating. Daniel and Helen volunteered to wash the dishes. Ben and Sylvia returned upstairs. As they left the room, Emily heard them complain about the bland food and the ridiculous philosophy of silent eating. While Janelle moved up a few seats to talk to Pamela and Marcia, Melody stood up and wandered out into the hall, shuffling in zigzags like a lost child.
“How are you feeling?”
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