The sad tale of the girl who didn’t read the Daily Mail
For no other reason than for my own amusement, I’ve turned 20 Daily Mail stories into a narrative about somebody who recklessly ignored all the warnings:
Karen smiled as she logged into Facebook, a glass of red wine in her hand. Damn this cold, she thought. I’m so bunged up I’ve no idea whether I’ve put on the right amount of deodorant. She had always been prone to colds, ever since she was little. It was a pain.
Still, Facebook was funny. Bob had been in touch. They’d been close ever since the primary school days when they’d share a bag of chips every lunchtime. They became lovers in secondary school. Karen thought about the time they’d been caught by a teacher in the book cupboard, Bob’s trousers at half-mast and Karen on her knees. She’d been mortified, but of course it was thrilling too.
Tonight, though, Bob was on the other side of the world. Karen cobbled together something to eat – a fry-up and a bowl of soup – and as always, made sure she took her vitamins afterwards. She went back to the computer and absent-mindedly tugged at her bottle blonde hair, browsing the online shops for swimsuits and sun tan lotion. She’d be flying out to meet Bob in two weeks. She couldn’t wait.
Bored with the computer, Karen decided to run a bath. She had a long, luxurious soak, grudgingly getting out when her skin started to wrinkle. A dash of talc and a daub of moisturiser before shrugging on her favourite dressing gown.
She was hungry again. No wonder. She hadn’t eaten much of dinner, and hours had passed since then. Karen munched her way through the remaining Pringles, wolfed down a packet of Hula-Hoops and some organic crisps, and ate some chocolate. You greedy cow, she admonished herself, making a note to go back to the gym tomorrow. More often than not she didn’t go. The hospital was understaffed, and X-ray technicians were in particular demand. She decided to pack her gym kit anyway and hope she’d finish work at a reasonable time.
Karen checked her mobile phone for messages, and saw that Bob had sent her a text. “Love you XXX”, it said. She smiled. Not long now.
Karen went through the usual routine, remembering to give the tooth whitener the full ten minutes. She rinsed with mouthwash, took a book to bed, and was asleep within half an hour.
Karen died of mouththroatbrainbreastlungstomachbladderskinovarianbowel cancer that very night.
[All links via The Daily Dust]
13 Responses to “The sad tale of the girl who didn’t read the Daily Mail”
Leave a Reply
Lis on February 25th, 2009
I thought I was bored! Brilliant masterpiece though, and thanks for saving lives with this one.
rutty on February 25th, 2009
It’d be quicker to list what The Mail thinks doesn’t cause cancer.
Ronnie on February 25th, 2009
I was wondering where that was going until the very last line. At which point I nearly spat a mouthful of coke over my monitor.
Funny.
Heather on February 27th, 2009
This isn’t a Daily Mail story, but it should be:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/radioactive-paedophile-on-the-run-1633851.html
Squander Two on February 27th, 2009
That is the best story ever. As long as, you know, it only happens to other people.
Gary on February 27th, 2009
Brass Eye would have rejected that idea for being too stupid :)
Squander Two on February 27th, 2009
Did you see the details of how he escaped? A Special Branch officer stopped him as he was boarding the ferry (i.e. leaving the country), but he explained to the officer that, no, no, really, it’s OK, I’m allowed to, they said. And off he went.
That’s Special Branch as in special bus, then.
Squander Two on February 27th, 2009
Oh, and he’s off to look after his sick mother. By giving her cancer when he gets too close to her.
Heather on February 27th, 2009
I can just see tonight’s ITV news:
“Parents in Ulster tonight are being urged to make sure their children are not glowing in the dark.”
hel on March 2nd, 2009
glowing in the dark: it’s the new smelling like hammers.
Gary on March 4th, 2009
Hammers, heh. Some news stories can’t be read without hearing Chris Morris’s voice.
Heather on March 26th, 2009
The postie just delivered your web snobbery piece in .net. :-)
Gary on March 26th, 2009
Heh, that’s one of my favourites :)