tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58675630672191867782024-03-08T23:08:39.659+10:00You Can't Go Back - And Other ImpossibilitiesMozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.comBlogger257125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-83285486626486205262019-06-13T23:21:00.001+10:002019-06-13T23:21:13.538+10:00The Reading Room<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’ve been around longer than anyone in the
universe. In fact, I watched this place get created by the Big Man himself. I
didn’t help, I just stood by and watched as it exploded into its intensively
hot and magma-engorged sense of being. So many thing happened all at once and
suddenly, gas turned into solids, planets were formed and then?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, then, within what seemed as though a
blink of an eye, I watched you all evolve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You would think you did – but from what I’m
seeing, you haven’t really. You’re just better dressed, standing upright and
have less hair than your ancestors did. But really, you still think with that primitive
brain at the base of your skull an awful lot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes, I find you all very disappointing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I’m not here to judge. I’m not here to
tell you what to do. I’m here to watch. And I’ve been reading about your lives
in the most interesting ways. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You see, dear Humans, you all have a shelf
filled to the brim with a collection of notebooks when you’re born – and I mean
the shelves are so full I can’t get any of them out. But as the years pass by,
those notebooks lessen and increase in number.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It kinda depends on what you do in your
life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you catch that bus you’re running for
now? Or do you wait for the next one which will be in a fatal accident – and you
don’t know, but I do, because there’s that notebook where you die in a bus
crash on this day?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you have a good day where you stay home
in bed while you’re sick with a cold from work? Or do you push yourself to go
to work and make yourself so much worse that they have to send you to a
hospital where you end up in intensive care? And yes, your notebook on your
shelf says that too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then, there’s those lives where when they’re
born, their shelves are empty and there’s just one book on it. I don’t like it
when this happens. This means this life isn’t very long, or there’s only one
way they’ll live and die. And quite often I like to collect these people
personally, mainly because I don’t get to see shelves like these all the time –
and it’s not fair on the families. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But lately, my shelves have been looking
kinda bare. I’m not sure what’s been happening. A lot of people’s notebooks
have been disappearing from my reading room and they’ve been showing up in the
veil too soon. I’ve asked questions in the Time-Keeper’s Quarters, but they’re
not telling me anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today, I walked into my reading room and
found one book on each shelf. The room echoed emptily as I walked around to
each row and read each of them. At first, I thought it was a joke; as the first
few books said the same thing, ‘Mass extinction.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then, I went around to the next few and
found they all said the same thing! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looked up at the cavernous, darkened
ceiling, I called out, “I don’t understand! You come here and tell me what you’re
doing to your creation!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You’re demanding me to explain myself?” his
voice was soft as he stood in front of me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“So, you’re an old man?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He shrugged as he took a seat across from me
at my large desk, “Most people who know me call me Sheppard.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Holding up one of the books, I raised my
eyebrows, “A mass extinction? Really?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Smirking, he snorted, “I’ve done it before a
number of times. This time, it’ll be a clean slate again. And I’ll start over
completely; and you’ll be here to help me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No. As before, I stand by and that’s it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He rose from the seat, resting his
fingertips on the table, leaning forward, “You said no to me? I created you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No you didn’t. I came with the universe as
it was created. I stood by and watched it explode to life, then saw you show up
and take control. You don’t have any control over me. I can reap you – and will
– if you don’t stop this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Have you seen what they have done to
Paradise?” he shouted, his voice echoing around the chamber of my reading room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yes. And wasn’t it you who took off when
things became too hard?” I snapped, “Leaving me to clean up your messes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sheppard gave me a foul, baleful look before
he turned his back on me, “I didn’t take off. I was ashamed of my children. I
have been for a long time.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Tough luck, that’s what children do. But a
mass extinction isn’t the answer.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He looked at me, “You’re right.” A smile
crept upon his face, “I might just get rid of you and see what happens next.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“The next reaper who dies takes my place.” I
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I’ll fix it so that doesn’t happen, and
other reapers will get greedy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I frowned, wondering what happened to him.
Why was he doing this to the children he had created so long ago. Why was he
becoming so willing to destroy when there was hope still left in the world? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Why am I doing this?” he asked, “I’m doing
this because I’m tired. I’m tired of getting my hands dirty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You don’t have to.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“But to get involved with them is getting
them dirty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Then why did you create them to begin with?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He smiled, “It was just for fun – an experiment
if you will.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“And when it didn’t go to plan – your plan –
you’re going to destroy it with a mass extinction?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He nodded, “Why not? It’s my experiment.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“For somebody who created souls, you
certainly have no idea how to act like you have one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I don’t have one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I don’t either, but I have empathy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He groaned as he looked up at the ceiling, “Fine!
They’ll stay.” He swept his hand over the shelves and they filled with
notebooks again, “My, my, you’re annoying for something which takes souls.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I may be a Reaper – the big one with the scythe
– but it doesn’t mean I don’t feel for those I reap.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He rolled his eyes, “Yeah, yeah. I’m outa
here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just like that, he was gone from my reading
room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I thought he’d be more interesting. Still,
to be that annoyed at a creation, only a couple of billion years into the
experiment and to end it so soon? I’ve seen things go for much longer and end
messier. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But then, I’m Death... I’m eternal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-438904343010825842019-02-03T13:17:00.000+10:002019-02-03T13:25:56.134+10:00Heaven Can't Wait<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“We need your help, Haniel, we need it
badly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We sat under the cover of the bar-b-que area
as the rain poured around us watching the dull, wet day surround us. I gave her
a worried look, “How can I help you? I’m not an Archangel.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I know that. But you know where to find
one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Frowning, I sat back, offended she dared ask
me to search for... “No! He nearly killed me the last time we battled. And besides,
people were injured and he laughed at them – at their fragility – while I healed
some of them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You can track him. We need him to make new
Angels while Father isn’t there.” I stood and walked to the edge of the
shelter, watching the rain, not wanting anything to do with what she was proposing,
“Please, there’s not that many of us left; not after the Demonic War.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Have you tried finding Father?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yes. He’s not in Heaven or on Earth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You haven’t tried hard enough. Try
somewhere else because I’m not helping you. All of the other Archangels are
dead, and I’m not approaching Lucifer or Michael; besides, they hate each
other.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I told you, this wouldn’t be easy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I turned, “And I told you I wouldn’t be able
to do anything about Heaven.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She stood, walked around the table and
sighed, “Look, I took a great risk coming and talking to you, mainly because
you’re still looked down upon.” I rolled my eyes, “But! You know there’s areas
of Earth Lucifer would hide.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was losing patience with her, “Let me give
it to you straight: Lucifer doesn’t care! He doesn’t have the patience of
Father, never did and never will. You don’t understand it that he will destroy
everything if he’s let loose in Heaven...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“But we need new Angels to...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“To the detriment of Earth, I don’t think so.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I heard her sigh again and sit down on the
seat behind me as I turned I my back on her and stared at the lessening rain
around us, “Haniel, you have seen so much here on Earth. But I think you’ve
been around them too much – for too long – and it’s been not good for you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“That’s not it.” I regarded her and her
complete misunderstanding of what was going on, “Earth is under attack by the
very inhabitants Father placed here to look after her. Lucifer isn’t where he’s
supposed to be and he thinks he can go around turning Father’s children against
each other – and so he’s having fun. And where’s Father in all of this?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She shrugged, “We don’t know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, I think you better find out. It’s
time he came home and cleaned up his mess.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“But you know Earth better than we do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I sighed, “I’m not asking you to clean up Earth,
I’m asking you to find Father...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“And he’ll make us do it. But he won’t get
his hands dirty anymore.” She whispered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was at a loss at what to do next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The rain had stopped and left behind that
sweet after-rain scent a lot of Humans love; which was something I was
beginning to appreciate as well. I didn’t know what to say to her, an Angel who
was normally no one to stay an Earth-Walker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Haniel, we...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I know.... need my help.” Rubbing my
forehead with the tips of my fingers of my right hand, I felt the numbing
headache Humans felt from stress lessen. I looked up at her, “Okay, what do you
need me to do? And no, I’m not looking for Lucifer.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, we need an Angel which can make new
Angels.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I sat next to her as the rain started up
again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We were there for a moment before I looked
at her, “A Grigori. They taught the Humans first of their duties.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I’m not sure if they’re still walking the
Earth, but it’s worth a try.” She shrugged as she took flight, vanishing in a
flurry of wings and wind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’m left there wondering if my idea was
worth the ground work. Would a Grigori cooperate with us after all this time?
Are there any left walking the Earth?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Months pass by and I find myself in the
Time-Keeper’s Court. I haven’t been here in a long time. There’s a lot of
people waiting to be seen through to the waiting Osiris; and then there’s the
hall of the massive church within. I look up at the crystalline windows above
me and find it was raining. It always looks different here than it does on
Earth – it’s more beautiful I found.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Haniel, any news?” she asked me from the
door of the church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My thoughts are broken as I walked through
the door and into the near-silence of the church, and I lower my voice, “I’m
afraid not. Either they know I’m looking for them, or they’ve disappeared.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“They are – were – one of Father’s first
creations. They can’t vanish from Earth.” She was close to tears.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Or they’ve been corrupted and are working through
different ways.” I said, “I often get myself in trouble if I try ask too many questions
on Earth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Her tears dried up quickly, as she snapped
me a glare, “Well, I encourage you ask those questions.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I leaned down close to her, “And get myself
arrested, shot or killed? Then what will you do? Who will you send to get
killed next?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Slowly she looked up at me, “I’m sorry
Haniel. It’s not a good time here. We really need Angels.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I stood and turned from her, “I’m doing my
best.” I left her in the church, walked through the Time-Keeper’s Quarters and
out the door where I was greeted by a Soul-Keeper. These people normally kept
themselves closer to The Great Library, “Can I help you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Haniel? I have the right Angel?” he asked,
adjusting his horn-rimmed glasses, “I’m Briggs. I’m a...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Soul-Keeper. I know, I read you straight away.”
I walked towards the gates of Heaven, but he stopped me, “What do you need?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I need you to see something at The Great
Library. That Angel you were speaking to... she’s not telling the whole story.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Great Library was one of Father’s
greatest achievements. Everything he ever wrote was stored here from the
beginning of time to every single story every written by Humans and other
creations he made before them. It’s a fascinating place to venture through.
Soul-Keepers keep an account of Angel’s souls in Heaven for when they’re needed
in vessels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Now, we keep account of who is here and who
isn’t. I also keep a running number of who is in our prison – there’s not many
there; only two, but they can be a handful.” He chuckled as he pulled out a
large, aged book, “Here is the Book of Angels from the time Father created us.”
He opened it to the very page of today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What am I looking at?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“A ledger of how many Angels we actually
have in Heaven, in the Guff and on Earth.” Briggs said, “And really, we only
have about ten Angels on Earth, the rest are here. See...” he pointed out the
numbers to me, and Heaven had plenty of Angels. Then the lights dimmed and
flickered then restored again, “I’m not sure why it is that we are having
problems when we have so many Angels here to run the place.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I’ll find Father. He has to know about this
problem here at home.” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ironically, I found Father on Earth. He was
sipping Mai Tai’s in Vanuatu’s best resort. Security followed me across the
foyer of the hotel and through to the pool where I could feel his power coming.
And there he was sitting there reading a book and enjoying the tropical heat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A hand landed heavily on my shoulder. I
turned, “Let go of me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You know, Serg, I would if I was you.”
Father said, “Haniel here isn’t in the mood to be stuffed around.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I walked up to him, as he sipped the drink, “Would
you like one, it’s a Mai Tai. It’s delicious; and the best thing is that you
and I can’t get drunk on them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I sat on the sun bed next to his, “Sheppard,
please. All of Heaven is searching for you, and they claim it’s because they
need more Angels.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yes. I know.” He smiled, “I believe Briggs
brought you up to speed?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Then why am I being given the run around?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He looked at me, “I need Lucifer.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“He hates me. He tried to kill me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I’m on holidays. He can run the place.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Why is the place low on power?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Father snapped a stunned look at me as he
almost dropped his drink, “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yes, Heaven can’t wait for you to take a
holiday in every tropical island around Earth. So, are you in or out about
Heaven?” I stood, “And as for Lucifer, if you want him, you go and find him, I’m
not going to die because you can’t control his temper tantrums.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Fair enough. If you’re going to be this
way, you stay here on Earth.” He stood and smiled, “You don’t deserve to be in
Heaven, Haniel. You will become an Earth-Walker on a very permanent basis.” He turned
away as the waiter brought over Sheppard’s drink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Fine, I don’t like the politics up there
anyway.” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He smiled at me, “You don’t get it. You
still have to find Lucifer – but this time, you have to kill him to get your
passage back into Heaven. So, for you, Heaven can wait.”</span></div>
</div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-63733415222167636702019-01-27T12:49:00.002+10:002019-01-27T12:49:28.597+10:00End of Days<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This one was inspired by the horrible heatwave we've been experiencing here in Australia. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">enjoy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The skies are shotgun blue, without a cloud
in sight, and the heat is pressing and exhausting. No birds have sung in the
past few weeks and I haven’t heard any children run around the place lately
either.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is strange. But seeing how hot it’s
been, I’m not surprised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">People would have been worshipping at the
temple of the shopping complex, to get away from the heat and into the cool
air-conditioning. And with school starting soon, it’ll be something to look
forward to. However with the heat still pressing down on this country, it’s got
me thinking: is it really Summer? Or is it something else?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I mean, America is in the grips of one of
the worst Winters they’ve experienced in years. Coyotes are roaming into the
cities searching, hunting for food; and that’s because there’s none walking
around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And yet, there’s snakes and Dingoes doing
the same thing here in Australia because there’s nothing to eat for them here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This morning, I walked out to the papershop
and found that at around 7am, the normally busy main road outside my place was
empty and quiet. Now, I’m not a God-fearing person, nor will I ever be one.
But, I didn’t hear any birds singing either – just the cicadas ever-lasting
long note of ‘damn it’s hot! Damn it’s hot!’ And adding that to my tinnitus is
enough to send normal people off the edge – but then, I’m not normal. I’m used
to that mind-boggling ringing in my ears. It’s difficult to ignore it, but it’s
been there for years, constantly getting louder over time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I walked down the road in the blinding
sunlight, my footsteps echoing around the street, I felt as though I was in ‘The
Omega Man’... yep, I felt as though I was the last person on the planet
wandering around. Then, I spotted a few people, braving the heat to get the
paper and some milk from across the road. Okay, I now felt as though I was in ‘The
Day of the Triffids’, where the world was invaded by plants which ate humans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Creepy... but a great book and movie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It’s been hours since I ate breakfast and
decided to take off to photograph some landscape stuff to paint. But driving
around, I couldn’t find a place populated enough by people to paint. I tried
the local shopping centres, then drove further afield, taking the toll way and
found there was nobody on the roads – not even trucks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I pulled off the road, finding my way to a church,
where I thought I’d find people of faith hiding away there, to pray, in search
of guidance to their God. But that car park was empty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Exactly what was going on? I tried the doors
and found them locked... on a Sunday? This wasn’t right. I had a feeling there
was somebody behind me, and spun! There wasn’t anyone. I could see my camper
van in the lot and that was it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What the hell is going on?” I muttered
taking a few deep breaths, leaning against the cool glass doors of the church. Then,
I realised, to find my answer, I had to get inside. I picked dislodged a rock
from the garden and threw it through the large glass panel next to the main
doors. It shattered – but no alarm went off as I expected. As the glass fell to
the floor, I carefully stepped through and looked around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The air-con was on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Music was coming from the speakers in the
ceiling – but it was just the radio.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I went up to the doors of the church itself
and tried them. Locked! I went back outside and walked around the side of the
building to look in and found the main building was empty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Who are you looking for?” a voice asked to
my left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I turned to find the Pastor standing there, “Where
are the people?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He frowned, pulling at his collar, his eyes
wandering to glaring hot day, “It’s hot isn’t it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nodding, I agreed with him, “But where are
the people?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sighing, he sat in the pew put outside for
people to rest in, “I don’t know. I heard you break in before, and I couldn’t
get into the church either; not even with my key.” Tears brimmed his eyes as he
looked to the ground, “I do believe it’s the End of Times.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Hey, Pastor, we would have had warnings.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“We did!” he snapped a look at me, “Wars,
disease, famine, extinction... that joke of a President was another... they
were all warnings. And what did we do? We all sat on our phones, hypnotised by
them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I didn’t know what do to, “Have you been out
there today?” I looked out to the steaming heat of the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No. I came here in the hopes people would
come here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I shook my head, “Don’t. There’s nobody
around. The streets are empty, the highways... the internet isn’t .... um...
the radio is static. I thought it was a screw up until it was like that for an
hour.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He scrubbed his tears away with the flat of
his hands, “So, now what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking at him, stunned, I shrugged, “Well,
I came here to ask you that. You’re one of ... or are you? Seeing it’s the End
of Days, what do we do now?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Pray?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“For what redemption – a bit late.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He spotted my camper van out in the lot, “Do
you think there’s others?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“If there are, they’re hiding.” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Or dead</i> I thought but I didn’t want to
scare him more than he already was, “I don’t know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He stood, “Well, I’m going to get into the church
the same way you did... and I’ll stand by my post. It’s what I was taught to
do.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Need help?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No. God will show me the way. Where are you
going?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“On my road trip, I guess; better late than
never.” I walked out to the lot, unlocked my camper van and got into the driver’s
side. I knew what the pastor was going to do, but I didn’t want to be there
when he...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I pulled out of the driveway and onto the
street, I heard a gunshot echo from the church; causing me to slam on the
brakes and my stomach to lurch. I’ll be not only going on the road trip to
paint, but to also search out others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I did have a question though: was a left
here as a bad guy or a good guy? I guess I’ll never know. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-49452597934069340652019-01-14T14:33:00.000+10:002019-01-14T14:33:05.135+10:00My Curse<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You would think life would be fair – but it’s
not. And it’s strange how some things are covered so well on sci-fi and horror
television shows and yet, people think most of that stuff is all make-believe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, most of it is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My curse in this life is that I can see what
most other Humans can’t. I can see Angels, Demons and Reapers – but I mainly
see the latter. Angels aren’t that common, and they’re out to protect the
person they’re tethered to more than to show themselves in public. And besides,
when a Human knows they’ve got an Angel tethered to them, they’re not going to
tell everyone about it because ... well, would you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Demons are everywhere. I spotted one at a
party once years ago, and he spotted me. It was the most horrifying thing I had
ever come across. I found my friends and got them the outa there before
anything happened to them. But I remember what they said to me: ‘You’re nuts Dayna.
He was fine!’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Glancing up at the rear vision mirror, while
sitting at the set of lights, I spotted him in the car behind us, his red eyes
glowing through the rear window of my car ‘He’s anything but fine. Did either
of you talk to him? Kiss him, make fun of him?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Belle sat in the seat next to me,
hesitating, ‘Well, he said he could do anything for me. He promised.’ She went
quiet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">‘Then?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">‘Well, he said we had to kiss, not shake
hands.’ She blushed, ‘He’s a hell of a kisser.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I remember her funeral well, because it was
only three weeks later she died. The police still have no idea how she came to
be in an abandoned building in San Fran on the other side of the country on her
own; and yet she had only been with me the night before for dinner and a movie.
From what I know, I’m still a suspect two years later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reapers are a different deal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I see them all the time. They’re normally
around car accidents, hospitals, funerals ... basically anywhere where there’s
been a death and they have to collect a soul. I even see them when the news is
on and they show a volcano blowing its top – and I see them all standing around
the townships it’s going to destroy. This is why I don’t watch the news. They’re
just too creepy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And yep, I saw a couple of them at Belle’s
funeral, when I should have only seen one. That caused me to wonder why there
were more than one to collect her; but I didn’t want to ask too many questions about
it all – after all the police were looking at me as a suspect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And you know it’s strange, I’ve never had a
Reaper looking at me or in my direction. They’re normally looking at the person
who is going to die, or they’re standing outside the place where a death is
going to occur. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But the other day, I stepped outside a movie
theatre and saw a crowd of them looking up at the building. There had to be
about thirty of them standing, staring. I turned and looked up, shading my eyes
against the sun just in time to watch the windows on the top floor of the Cineplex
explode and smoke billow out from it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh my God!” I muttered, unable to pull out
my phone, knowing that whatever I did next was useless. If I pulled out my
phone, the emergency crews wouldn’t make it in time... but if I didn’t? I turned
to the security guard nearest to me, “We need to evacuate the whole centre now!”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Why, it could be just the Cineplex...” he
muttered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I looked over near the doors of the main
shopping complex, and spotted more Reapers standing by the door and inside the
place, watching, “No! The whole place will go up if you don’t evacuate now!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The alarms howled and rang, as people
spilled out on the streets surrounding the massive centre. I stood across the
road with the people watching and waiting to be told what to do next, when a
hand landed on my shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I turned to find a Reaper was there, “Why
didn’t you leave it well enough alone? Their time was up.” I turned away,
feeling a chill where his hand had been. When I turned back, he was gone. As I
looked around at the people standing around me, I realised I had screwed with
how these people’s lives were going to turn out. At some point in the near
future, each of them were going to die. As I watched on, Reapers showed up next
to each survivor I had gotten evacuated from the centre. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Within the next month, each of these people
died. Their time was up at the Cineplex and I stopped it – when I shouldn’t
have.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I needed to be on my own for a while, so I
sought out my local church, where I saw they were preparing for a funeral service.
I didn’t want to bother them, so I sat in the very back near the door. People
filed in. People I knew... but they didn’t come to see me as I stood and
approached them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Dayna.” A voice at my shoulder said, and I
turned to see a man in a suit, “I knew you’d make it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Make it?” I asked, “What are you talking
about?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You still don’t know? You’re dead. You died
at the Cineplex. When you looked up as the place exploded a wall fell on you.” An
expression of worry crossed his face, “Oh, you don’t remember, you died so
fast.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“And I see Reapers all the time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He nodded, “Yes. That man who patted you on
the shoulder, he was your Reaper. And you should have left things alone –
Natural Order and all of that.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Where am I?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He looked around as all the people sat down
in the lovely church I used to attend, “You are at your funeral.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-70325455853758862162018-12-15T15:27:00.003+10:002018-12-15T15:27:52.182+10:00The Wish<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He came into the hospital in a bright red
suit, covered in soot, dirt and missing a big black boot. I didn’t know what to
say... he looked like Santa Claus, with the long white beard, the blue eyes and
the red cheeks, but he looked like had been in an accident.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Nurse! Let’s go!” Doctor Carter shouted at
me for a third time to get my ass into gear, “He’s a shopping centre Santa who’s
been in a car accident... and he’s touch and go. We have children in this ER,
and we don’t want them thinking we let them down!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was a week from Christmas Eve and I was
pulling a double-shift while my family was at home in a crappy house, with a
crappy fern for a tree and I had to op-shop my kids’ presents – again – this year.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yeah, being a single Mum wasn’t what people
thought it looked like in the movies. It was hard, it was constant and my kids
were never well from one week to the next – they were always bringing home some
bug, cold or flu from school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We worked hard on Santa and finally got him
stablised and I walked with the bed upstairs to the ward he was going to be
settled into for the night – and the area where I was heading to anyway for the
rest of my shift. I felt I needed to watch over him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I made sure his cannula was okay, and his
fluids were perfect, I noted onto the chart that he had no initial blood type.
At first, it was Universal, then it changed to suit the blood they gave him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking up at the sleeping man in the bed, I
frowned, “Who are you?” it was then I looked outside and watched at the
Christmas Tree across town – which had its lights on from December 1<sup>st</sup>
until New Years Eve – flicker and the lights went out. I put it to a short in the
wiring and I shrugged as I signed the chart and put it into the slot at the end
of his bed to leave his room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Please, it wasn’t my fault. Blitzen and
Comet... are they all okay?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I turned from the door, walked to his
bedside, “Who?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“My boys, they were pulling the sleigh and we
hit an updraft and lost control. Are they all okay?” His twinkling blue eyes
stared at me, “Please, Clara, I need to know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“How did you know my name?” I asked, “What’s
your name?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He frowned as he struggled to remember, “I,
um... wish I could tell you. I must have hit my head.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You did... but sleep tonight.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I can’t. It’s Christmas Eve, what will
happen to the children? Who will deliver their presents?” tears glistened in
eyes, and overflowed onto his cheeks, wetting his beard, “Oh my, this is quite
a pickle, isn’t it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“We saw initials on your underwear.” I said,
“S.C... does that mean anything to you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Santa Claus?” he raised his bushy eyebrows,
“No, that’s silly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, S.C, you get yourself some sleep.
Things will look better and clearer in the morning.” I smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I finished my shift a few hours later and
went home. My kids were off to friends’ houses and I tried to make their
presents look and feel brand new – and my kids knew they weren’t. I felt awful
that I couldn’t afford new things around the crappy house we were living in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As my children arrived home, the eldest saw
I was thinking on something as they helped set the table, “Mum, are you okay?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yeah, I just wish I could afford more for
you kids. I’m a nurse and when your Dad died, well, there should have been more
for you.” I felt the onset of the mourning from my partner’s death weigh on me
suddenly and tears came quickly to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My son stopped what he was doing and hugged
me, “It’s okay, Mum, we’ll deal with Christmas. It’s only been a few years, and
we will find a way to celebrate – like we always do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I’m pulling double-shifts all this week.
Are you sure you can care for all the kids?” I asked sniffing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Sure, I’m studying from home, and I’m sure
I can do this to help you.” He smiled. But I could see through it to his pain
he was hiding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Two days later, I was at work again. As I
walked across the staff car park, I spotted seven reindeer hiding just beyond
the treeline of it. Walking up to them, I saw them with broken harnesses and
read a couple of names: ‘Comet’ and ‘Donner’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh, man.” Taking a few steps back onto the
roadway, I heard a car horn blare and spun to be just missed by a red car. As I
turned back to the tree line, I found the reindeer gone. Thinking I was seeing
things, I walked back across the car park towards the hospital, now late for my
shift.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I did my rounds on the floor where Mr. S.C
was to find he was gone. When I looked him up, he had been moved to another
part of the hospital. So, I went for a walk to see him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I walked past the canteen, I found all
the Christmas Lights had been switched off, and I stopped and looked at them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Doctor Carter stopped on his way out the
door, “Hi. Oh, the lights. They stopped working all of a sudden. Nobody knows
why.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh... I see. Have you noticed the big
Christmas Tree in the town centre has stopped working too?” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yeah... that happened a few days ago. The same
night as our Santa Claus guy came in.” He said, “Makes you wonder what he was
doing out there... and he’s talking more now; he’s been talking about his reindeer.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“More names?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“He’s been asking if they’re okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Doc, I know where they are.” I smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You’ve seen them too?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Across the car park in the bushes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He groaned, “Oh man, I think we have
somebody special in our hospital... but who’s gonna believe us?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Smirking, I whispered, “Our youngest kids?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“We have to find him.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We rushed to the ward Mr. S.C. was in to
find he had a visitor of an elderly lady. She was in a lovely green dress, with
a red overcoat and she turned when we walked into the room, “Well, hello there,
Clara and Andrew.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Doctor Carter took a step back, “How does
she know our names?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I grabbed his arm, “He knew mine too.” Then I
turned to her, “You’re a friend of our patient’s?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Smiling kindly she nodded, “You could say
that. I’m Elenore Claus.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Claus?” I asked, “As in Mrs. Santa Claus.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“The one and only.” She cast a worried look
at the bearded man in the bed, “We have a big problem, and it is that if we don’t
get Santa out of here and back to his reindeers – and soon – Christmas will
take on a totally different meaning.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“How?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Have you ever heard of Krampus?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My eyes widened, “Oh no, not him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“He will take over and make Christmas a
thing of the past.” She sniffed, “This means: Santa must not die.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I looked over at Santa and noticed his beard
was no longer white, but grey, “He’s not well. How do we fix this?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She looked over at me, “That is the easy
part. You make a wish; but not just any wish. It has to be a wish of purity and
honour and love from your heart and soul. I can’t make one, and Doctor Carter
here can’t either.” She looked at the doctor, “I’m sorry, but you have
everything you could ever wish for.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I looked down at the man, and knew there
were things I wished for every day. From more money, to better clothes for my
children, to my eldest going to a better university; but the one thing I wished
for was something I couldn’t give my children – not really, “How do I do this? Do
I just say it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No.” She said, “You must whisper it in his
ear.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I bent down and whispered my wish to Santa,
first introducing myself and telling him my wish – the one thing I really
wished for but couldn’t do – and then stepped back and watched him. Turning, I
looked at Andrew and found he had closed the door and locked it, “Good idea.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First, Santa’s beard turned snow white, his
clothing changed from the hospital gown we had dressed him in into his bright
red suit and his hat materialised onto his head. His big black, shiny boots
showed up next to the bed and he opened his eyes, looked at me and smiled, “I
am so happy you told me your wish, Clara Edwards, because you have been in need
of such a wish for so very long.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What do you mean?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You had that wish inside you and I could
heard it calling out, but you had to actually tell me to make it happen. And
happen it will!” he grinned, “Now, I’m hungry. Could you please fetch me some
food?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Andrew was the first out the door to grab
some food from the tea lady – who was making her rounds – and as I turned to
watch him and turned back, I found the bed empty, Mrs Claus was gone and Andrew
had returned with the tray, “Hey where’d he go?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I don’t know.” I looked at him, then
glanced out the window to find the Christmas Tree in the middle of town was lit
up again. My phone rang and I pulled from my pocket, not my old Nokia, but a
beautiful, big smart phone with my son’s number on it, “Woah!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Andrew looked at the phone, stunned, “What
did you wish for?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I can’t tell you.” I smiled, “It won’t
stick if I tell you. But can you cover for me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He nodded, “Sure. Let me guess, you have to
go home?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I grabbed my purse from my locker and found
keys which didn’t look like mine in it. As I walked out to the car park, I
found a bright red car parked in the spot where I parked my car. I pressed the
keys and it unlocked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh my God!” Getting in, I started to drive
home and found the street I pulled down didn’t look like the street I had left
a few hours before. I had a different address in my head. And the house I
pulled into the driveway of was lovely... and I had feeling I wasn’t renting
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My son opened the front door, “Mum, what are
you doing home?” he walked out to the car, “And could you tell me what’s going
on? I went to school, came home and found this house where our house used to
be. The street name is different. Your car is different... what’s happened?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I smiled, “I made a wish.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-75479705401749050692018-10-13T13:39:00.002+10:002018-10-13T13:39:56.060+10:00Secret Lives<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've always wondered about actors and writers who become recluses - and thought Greta Garbo was one of the greats who did this; and I wondered why. This is one idea of why.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">enjoy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Who are you?” her lilting voice asked over
the intercom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Good afternoon, Ms Garbo, I’m from ‘Life’
Magazine. We talked yesterday morning regarding an interview.” I answered as
the rain hammered onto the roof of my car.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Aaah yes! Please come in.” There was a
buzzing sound and the gates swung open from the middle and I eased the car
between them and up the gravel drive, wound past the huge mansion and around
the back where there was a line of garages all locked up except one – where there
was a man waiting for me to show up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He stood in front of my car as I pulled it
into the garage, out of the dreadful weather, and he opened the car door for
me, “Good afternoon, Miss Leary, the lady of the house is waiting for you in
her studio.” He put out his hand for my keys, “I’ll take care of your car.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“How?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I’ll clean it off, check the oil and vacuum
the inside, of course.” He smiled, “And your keys will be returned to you
promptly.” He turned and there was a house-keeper, “Mrs Ackers will take you to
the lady of the house.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I grabbed my bag and stepped to one side,
allowing the man into my car and walked over to Mrs Ackers, “Good afternoon, I’m...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Miss Leary, I know.” She smiled thinly and
led me through a back door and along a hallway into the back of the house,
where there were coats, hats and scarves hung up, “Leave your things here. You
won’t need them in the house.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hung up my coat and scarf on a spare hook,
wiped my shoes on the large mat and took up my bag again, “Okay, lead on.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mrs Ackers lead me through another door and
into another hallway, filled with old photographs on the walls of Mrs. Garbo.
They were amazing, and in black and white. I paused at one but Mrs Ackers
turned at the stairs, “No stopping, you’ll see all of that soon enough.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Sorry.” I quickly caught up with her and
followed her up two flights of stairs, along long, carpeted hallways and silent
rooms with closed doors, until she came to a door at the end of the third hall,
and rested her hand on the door knob, “She paints at this time of day. But she
has allowed you to interview her, just this once. Ms Garbo doesn’t give
interviews very often.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I understand this. But I’ve Googled and it
says she’s dead.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, she expected you to do that.” She smiled
thinly again, then knocked twice on the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yes, Mrs Ackers, do come in.” Her thickly
accented voice called through the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She opened the door, “Ms Leary is here to
see you, Ma’am.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The woman turned from the easel, pallet in
one hand, brush in the other, dressed in a paint-spattered white smock over
some old black clothing, “Of course! Welcome, Ms Leary! Do make yourself at
home.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I walked over to the fainting couch and sat
near the fire, “It’s cold outside.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She watched me as she put down her art
things and removed her smock and handing it to her house-keeper, “Indeed.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I shall return with tea and afternoon tea.”
Mrs Ackers said hanging up the smock nearby.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yes, you do that.” Ms Garbo muttered as she
sat next to gracefully and a silence engulfed us like none other. She watched
me become more and more uncomfortable under her stare as we waited for her
house keeper to return, and I feared she never would, “Why are you so nervous?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I Googled you and it says you died in 1990.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She smirked, “It does.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“But you’re here very much alive... and you
can’t be one of your children, because you never had any.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pulling her feet up under her long dress,
she smiled, “Oh you have done your research, my dear. And there is a good
reason why I have hidden from life better than Elvis Presley ever has.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The door opened and Mrs Ackers returned with
a tea trolley filled with a silver tea service. The coffee table in front of us
was moved closer and cleared off, and the tea was served up there, then she
left the trolley and Mrs Garbo poured the tea for me and handed me my cup. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Elvis is alive?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, yes, of course he is. But he does a
dreadful job of hiding himself. He’s become – how does one say it – restless,
in his old age.” She giggled, “Me on the other hand, I am quite accustomed to
being alone. I didn’t give many interviews and almost no autographs. I hated
being photographed with anyone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yes, I research says this too... but I’m here
to find out why.” I said, looking down at my notebook. As I looked up, her eyes
were fixed on mine, “And my last colleague didn’t return from here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh yes he did, he got himself killed.” She took
a sip from her cup, licked her lips and placed it back down on the tray on the
coffee table, before leaning back and smiling at me, “Is your tea hot enough?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wrapped my hands around the cup, “Yes,
thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You haven’t drunk any.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking down into it, I smiled, “I like the
smell of tea, but not the taste. And I like the warmth it gives off... it’s a
strange thing I’ve done since I was in my teens.” I glanced up to find her
expression had faltered, “Is there something wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I was hoping you’d drink the tea.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, William was good at one thing...
communication. It was before you found the wire on him that he said something
was in his tea.” I put the cup back on the tray, “And you did something to him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ms Garbo suddenly stood, “The interview is
over.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I stood as quickly as she did, “We haven’t
even started... you haven’t told me anything I don’t already know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She turned and was startled to see me on my
feet, took a few steps back before muttering, “What do you want to know?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, for one thing, why don’t you look
like somebody who is well over a century old and still look as though you’re in
your forties? And exactly what was in that cup of tea?” I didn’t take my eyes
off her as I pointed to the tray behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ms Garbo smiled knowingly, “Your dear friend
William did teach you one or two things about me. Never take your eyes off me
and don’t drink my tea.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Tell me about your secret life... and I’ll
turn it into your true biography.” I offered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Nobody would ever believe it!” she sneered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Nobody has to but you and me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She sniffed, “When I was around forty or so,
I was doing a film and in my off-time, I met a lovely man. He was so
old-fashioned, and sweet and he... had a side to him I did not realise. He was
a vampire, and he turned me.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh shit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She cast a sideways glance in my direction, “Well,
yes, indeed. I was just taking off into the movies – the talkies – and I was
turned into something which never ages me. I couldn’t have children and it
forced me to live alone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“And so, you couldn’t do interviews because
of the silver in the development in the photographs.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Indeed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Okay, you’ve covered the things of why you
have had no children, why you live alone and how you stayed so young and away
from the public.” I said softly, “But what was in my tea?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Belladonna... but only enough to make you
sleepy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Where is your sire now?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking down at her hands, she fiddled with
her nails, “He lost his head a few years ago.” She looked over at me, “But,
that doesn’t mean I can’t carry on his legacy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I have to leave.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“That’s what your William said, and he never
did.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“He’s been reported dead.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She turned toward the back of the room, “Oh,
William!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">From the shadows came my old colleague,
lover and flatmate. I hadn’t seen him in over a year. He hadn’t changed at all –
but there was something not right about him, “Sharon... what are you doing
here?” he took my hands and kissed them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I had to take over your role at work.” I
said, “And find another border at home.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh Sharon, what was the one thing I told
you not to do while you were here?” he whispered into my face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I looked at him, “Take my eyes off her.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The sun streamed through the windows when I
woke on the floor a day later of that old mansion. The police had busted into
the place and found me, their voices were muffled and wanted to move but they
told me to not get up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I have to find them.” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Find who?” the ambulance woman asked, “This
place has been abandoned for decades.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Who’s house is this?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Greta Garbo’s.” She replied, “It’s
September 19<sup>th</sup>. Yesterday was her birthday. There’s a legend that
she haunts this house one day a year and lures somebody in each year. Most of
them don’t survive... looks like you will.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Where’s William? I saw him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The ambulance woman looked up at the cop
standing nearby, “You didn’t. You’ve got Belladonna in your system. It’d make
you see all kinds of things.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I knew I saw Greta Garbo... and I saw my
William... I just have to find them. Looking out the barred window of my secure
room of the psych hospital, I can’t do it from in here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have a year to get out of here before she
does this again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-3393520089156651902018-10-07T12:19:00.001+10:002018-10-07T12:19:02.739+10:00War of the Worlds<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I just obtained my parents' copy of 'War of the Worlds' on vinyl for my birthday... and I love it! It also gave me the best idea for a story.</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">enjoy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">‘Blat!’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The stylus landed softly on the vinyl as the
turntable spun silently, the shine of the metal reflected off my overhead living
room light and the start of <i>‘War of the Worlds’</i> vibrated out of my stereo
speakers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I lowered the tinted lid over the spinning
vinyl gentle, soft, sweet... let go of it and stepped backwards, felt for my
armchair and sank back into it, listening to the old-fashioned sounds of the
1970’s fill my senses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was how it this album was supposed to heard!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had always loved this vinyl – right from
the time my Dad had recorded it onto a couple of TDK cassette tapes and took
them to the coast to play when it was late at night and there was nothing to do
but down a few beers and stare at the stars overheard... and wonder if H.G.
Wells was right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Closing my eyes, I heard the narrative fill
my world, my head and the outside world vanish into the ether. Now was the time
this vinyl was happening... now was the time... yes... it... was...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I
woke to silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I woke to darkness in my living room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Did I fall asleep?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Did the power fail?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Had there been a short in my house? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I started to rise from my seat and froze
when I spotted two bright red eyes staring at me from across the room, “Who’s
there?” my voice sounded loud in the dead silence of the darkness surrounding
me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In a high pitched whine, from across the
room, a voice replied, “Who’s there?” and the red eyes blinked momentarily and
shifted as though it was hearing itself for the very first time. It was then I
understood that it could see me, but it knew I couldn’t see it and it had
gotten into my house somehow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Leaning forward, I strained my eyes to see
how big this thing was but couldn’t see anything, “What are you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It didn’t answer me, instead the intense red
eyes move closer to me, looking me over closely – as though to inspect every
part of me – and a clicking, wiring sound came from it, “What are you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I am a Human Being.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It stopped the inspection for a moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I am a Homosapien – also known as a Human
Being.” I said quiet, sitting still, “What’s with the lights?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Silence, Human.” It’s voice snapped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You’re in my house, so I ask the questions.”
I retorted, “So what’s with the lights?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You called us.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No. I played ‘War of the Worlds’ on vinyl.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You called us.” The voice hissed in its
high pitch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I didn’t understand how I called them, so I
sat there in silence trying to figure out how in the Hell I called them, “Can I
make a phone call?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You may.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I felt for my mobile and called Dad, who
picked up immediately, “Dad, you know your vinyl of ‘War of the Worlds’, is it
a signalling device?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Did you play it?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, yeah, what else would I do with it? I’m
sitting in the dark over here with some weird alien thing inspecting me with
red eyes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh man... that vinyl was an original
pressing from the UK.” He sighed over the phone, “I got it from Woking.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“So, this is a vinyl with extra shit on it
that none of the others have?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, you know I worked in that studio when
they recorded that in the 70’s, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yeah. Oh shit.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, extra sounds went into it – stuff we
can’t hear but they can.” He said, “The reason why I never played it here at
home, but I did when we went camping was because they’d show up at the camp
site. You just don’t remember it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“But, Dad...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“But they remember you.” He said, “You were
their favourite.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I’m the youngest in the family.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“That’s the reason why they liked you so
much.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“How do I ... get them to leave?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“That’s the thing, son... you’re not at home
anymore.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I looked over at the red set of eyes, “Where
am I?” The eyes blinked slow and moved backwards away from me. Then, I asked
into the phone, “Dad, where am I?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, we’re in your living room... and you’re
not here. So, you’re on the ship.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“How do I get home?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I heard Mum crying in the background as he
sniffed, “This time you may not be able to.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Why not?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“They destroyed the vinyl.” </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-72398300283660703562018-09-08T15:06:00.001+10:002018-09-08T15:06:06.112+10:00Lots of Lands...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've built a literary-themed garden in recent months; and thought to base a story in the confines of this garden with some of the character in this garden. I thought 'Alice In Wonderland' and 'Hansel & Gretel' would go well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">enjoy. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I think we’re lost.” She said looking
around at the tall, dark columns surrounding them in the darkness, “We haven’t
seen the path for a while.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Her brother turned on her, “I don’t think
so. Look!” he pointed and they both saw a house sitting in its own little
space, “I think this is a great place. Doesn’t it look ... like home?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She shrugged and her hair fell over her
face, “I’m not sure. But my feet hurt and I’m hungry.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He put his around his sister’s shoulders, “Well,
come on, let’s knock on the door and see who lives there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You do it... I’m not going near it. The
last place was huge and hissed at us.” She cringed away from him and he sighed.
She watched him as her brother walked over to the door and knocked on it. It opened
and a kindly old woman stepped out with her knobbly old walking cane by her
side and a raven on her shoulder. She didn’t look too bad; and she walked over
to the house when her brother signalled her over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“This is my sister. We’re kind of lost... we’re
wondering if you could help us please?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, well... such a day to have such
polite visitors as yourselves.” She smiled, bent over with age, “Please do come
in and we will eat a meal together.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Psst!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She turned from the door, just before her
brother led her inside, “Did you hear something?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“It’s getting dark, let’s go. This is
shelter and food.” He pointed, “And you’re hearing things?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She glared at him, as she turned from the
house, peering into the darkness, “I’m not hearing things. Somebody ‘psst’ed at
me.” She backed away from the door, “And I really don’t feel safe about this
place. I mean, who makes a house out of gingerbread – or what looks like it –
anyway? What about cockroaches and ants? And doesn’t it get wet and soggy when
it rains?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Sis, get inside!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Psst!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She turned from the house again, “There is
goes again! I’m not going inside that house!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The bent over old woman’s grin widened as
she threw away the cane and grabbed her brother, “Fine, I’ll make do with just
one of you!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She picked up the cane, which landed next to
her, and started beating the woman hard, “Let him go! He’s my brother!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The woman reached for the cane, and as
though it had a mind of its own, it flew over to the old woman and into her
bony hand. She spun it around and whacked him over the head once with it and he
collapsed. The old woman picked up the boy as though he weight almost nothing
and dragged him inside where the door slammed shut; leaving the girl outside in
the dark.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It began to rain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She stood there, pulling her coat around her
knowing she wanted to get her brother out of that house, but not having the
slightest idea how. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, if only you had turned around and
taken two more steps into the darkness, you would have run into me.” A voice
said to her right; and emerging from the darkness, was a lovely white rabbit in
a dark blue waistcoat. He checked his fob watch and slid it back into the
pocket on his waistcoat, “You don’t have much time to get him out of there. She
eats children.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, how do I do this?” she asked, “And I’m
talking to a rabbit...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">His ears twitched slightly, “Just think of
it, I’m talking to a girl, both our worlds have collided and we have to work
around them. But if we don’t work together, we’re going to be too late... like
I am. I’m late for a very important date as it is; but do you see me panicking?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, not yet.” She smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Exactly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“So, what do we do?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He woke up tied to a chair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“It’s about time you woke up. I didn’t want
to run the risk of cooking you with your clothes on... have done that before. I
was picking buttons out of my teeth for days afterwards.” She grumbled as she
stood at the stove, tasted something and then turned from it, “Now, you’re not
fat enough. I want you to eat something.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">His eyes widened: “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Eat. Now.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The rabbit pulled a bottle from one of his
pockets and it had a label on it: <i>“Drink me.” </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh thank you, I’m so thirsty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“This is not for you.” He pulled the bottle
away from her, “This is for your brother.” He pointed to the house, “Now you
have to get inside there and feed it to him, and he’ll get big – really big! –
and then when he gets big enough, there’ll be food for him to eat on top of
that seat over there which will shrink him down to his normal size again.” He gave
her the bottle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Only for him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Why can’t you do it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I’m a rabbit... she’s eats everything! And
she’s been trying to catch me for a very long time.” He snorted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Okay.” She took the bottle and sneaked over
to the house, walked down the side where her brother was sitting at a table
eating a meal. Oh! It looked so good! But in the time she had stood outside
talking to the rabbit, he had put on a lot of weight! Her eyes widened as he
gorged himself on the food there. Then, she spotted the glass he had been
drinking from; it was almost empty! She reached in through the window, grabbed
it, filled it with the <i>“Drink me”</i> bottle contents and put it back, then waited
for him to drink from the glass. The moment her brother did, she watched him
stop eating, looked inside the empty glass and look out the window as he
started to grow, and grow and grow!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, the moment his left foot smashed through
the wall of the house, she was running out towards the rabbit who was hopping
about whispering for her to hurry up! She made it out to him just in time to
see her brother grow to the size of a giant!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh my! You never told me he was going to
get this big!” she slapped the rabbit on the shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, you never asked.” He slapped her
shoulder, “And stop slapping me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The house was destroyed completely and the
old woman ran screaming away as her raven flew off into the night. It was then,
the boy looked around and spotted the cake on the seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was on a plate with a note next to it: <i>“Eat
Me.” </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh yummy.” His voice thundered from above
them, “Cake!” he picked it up and took a huge bite from it; boulder-sized
crumbs fell from above, tumbling to ground, nearly landing on his sister and
the rabbit. Almost as soon as he had begun to eat the cake, he put it back
down, as he started to feel strange – as though he was going to be sick and
turned inside out at the same time. His whole body shrank right down to the
size he was before, and he found himself standing next to the wreckage of the
house he had been a prisoner of for a few hours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Hansel!” his sister’s voice called out from
the night, “Oh you’re okay!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He turned, “Gretel!” they embraced, “I’m so
glad you didn’t go inside that house. The food was okay, but it was her... she
was an awful witch.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I got you out – with the help of the
strangest fellow.” She said turning only to find that the white rabbit had
vanished, “He was a white rabbit. He got me to get that liquid to you; I have
no idea how that cake got there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I’m not going to worry. We better be going,
though, that house will be noticed in the daylight.” He said, “I did notice something
when I was bigger. We will find it better in the daylight though. So, let’s
stay near here for now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Morning broke and the two siblings started
off through the Green Forest to the white castle in the corner of the realm.
Hansel assured his sister they’d be safe there for a long time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next to the house a huge door opened and a
giant stepped outside to great the day. They looked down at the house they had
put there only a week before to decorate their garden, “What the hell?” the
whole little house had been destroyed by something – smashed up into pieces!
She grabbed a nearby bucket, “Damned possums!”</span></div>
</div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-53948543492668159872018-09-04T13:59:00.000+10:002018-09-04T13:59:05.985+10:00The Experiment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I love writing vampire stories - have done since I was in my teens. And I'm a huge 'Buffy' fan too. So, why not revisit my fun-times with a high school vampire theme? Why not indeed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">enjoy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My phone chimed again as I stood at my
locker and the bell rang for class. It was Mum reminding me to not ‘dally on
the way home from school.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yeah, I know.” I muttered grabbing the
books I needed and pushing my phone into my bag as I slammed the door and ran
to my next class.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There weren’t that many kids in Mr. Clien’s
English class today – less than last week – and he was starting look worried as
I walked in, “Sorry I’m late.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No, it’s okay, sit anywhere, but closer to
the front if you can.” He said offered up the empty seats there with his open
arms but I hesitated as I noticed nobody else had taken them. He looked over at
me, fear oozed from him; and for an adult to show it was bad, “I was told
another four aren’t here today.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Crap.” I said without thinking, “Sorry... I
didn’t mean to...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No... it was my reaction too. But come on,
sit and we’ll get on with the class.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I sat near Lisbeth – a chick who normally
hated my guts – and she glanced over at me with a scared expression in her
eyes, “Missy, are you okay?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She asked me, “Have you seen Ben?” Ben
Fencer was her boyfriend and the quarterback on the football team, “I haven’t
seen him all morning.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Shaking my head, “Normally I see him in home
room, but he wasn’t in today.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Crap. I didn’t hear from him last night; we
talk until late over homework on skype.” She said, “I have a bad feeling about
him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking towards the front of the near-empty
class, I sighed, “Same here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The bus lurched and I woke from sleeping. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The last thing I remember was walking
outside to the car park where my car was to find it wasn’t there anymore. I
pulled out my phone and headed back to the building to go inside... then...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Dammit... what then?” I whispered looking
down at my hands to find I was cuffed to the back of the seat in front of me. It
was dark outside, and looking out the window, I had no idea where we were
going. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Missy?” a voice hissed from behind me; and
I recognised it as Lisbeth’s hoarse voice, “Where are we?” I almost turned
around, “Don’t turn around, they’ll notice and you’ll get beaten.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Swallowing the lump in my throat, I looked
out the window again, “I wish I knew. How’d they get you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I was at cheerleader practice... they got
the whole team.” She sniffed, “You?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I walked out to my car to find it gone. I
was going to call my Mum from inside the building.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A man in black walked up the aisle from the
front of the bus, his voice deep and dark reached our ears, “No talking!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yessir.” I mumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We arrived to a large building in the middle
of nowhere just as dawn was breaking and colouring the skies. I gazed toward
the eastern horizon and wondered if my Mum knew where I was. Did she know what
was going on? Was she freaking out? Did she call the police, or where they in
on this whole thing?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’d never know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lisbeth stood next to me in her shackles, “Makes
me wonder if this will be our last sunrise.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yeah, I was thinking the exact same thing.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once the busload of us were all lined up in
twos, we were led off through the security fence and down a long path towards
the building, where we were put into cells with the person next to us and left
there for a day – or was a week? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We never saw sunlight again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lisbeth sat on her bed across from mine
crying one ‘day’ when the locks on our door clanged open and the guard stood
outside, “Lisbeth Henry and Missy Torrents?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lisbeth just sat there looking at the floor,
so I answered, “Yep, that’s us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Stand up. Time to move out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Can I ask where we are or what is going on?”
I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The guard looked up from his clipboard and
stepped inside the cell as I was fitted with shackles, but Lisbeth still sat
there crying, “Well, your school was picked for a little experiment Missy.
Goodlord who picked your name?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“My full name is Missouri – Missy is a
nickname.” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Nice. You’re parents were dumb enough to
name you after a state.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“It’s a family name.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He blinked, blushing a little, “Oh, I see.
And well, the grade point average isn’t great, neither is the football team...
and well, nobody’s going to miss you all.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, the population of your school are
undergoing a few little government experiments. If it works out, well, we’ll
move onto the next crappy school and do it too.” He smirked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I didn’t know what to say, and Lisbeth cried
harder as they moved onto her, but she didn’t move to get to her feet, “She’s
been like this since we arrived... I tried talking to her, but Lisbeth isn’t
like most kids.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The guard nodded, “Okay... spoiled.” He pulled
out his service pistol, checked the clip and readied it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No. She lost her boyfriend.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yeah, to us.” He pointed his gun at her
head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Lisbeth, get up or they’re going to kill
you.” I snapped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Her puffy eyes moved to me, and slowly she
stood, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I turned away, thinking he was going to
shoot her, but when I didn’t hear anything, I turned back to find he had put
his gun back in its holster, and she was next to me, “Don’t do that again.” The
moment we stepped out the door, we were given injections into our arms and
darkness engulfed us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I woke in another cell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This one was bigger and there was a camera
watching me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking across the cell was another person –
it was Lisbeth, but not her. It’s safe to say that this thing wasn’t human and
I had every intention to get away as fast as I could. Lunging toward the glass
screen, I felt a high voltage run through me and I was thrown across the room
and hit the wall. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The creature just watched with fascination
at my reaction towards it. Then it rose from its sitting position and moved
towards me, lifted one of its long fingernailed hands towards me and looked
into my face with such care I wondered if I was really in danger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was then I really looked into the
creature’s eyes to find I was looking at ... “Lisbeth?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh my god, I’m not dreaming am I?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What happened? Did you come over all
demon-y when you woke up?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She snapped me a glare, “Well, in actual
fact I did.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh shit. And what happens now? I’m your
first meal?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No, I’m supposed to turn you into what I
am.” She looked down at her hands, “They’re normal – kind of. But I saw a
mirror when I was drowsy and waking up from whatever they did to me... and...”
she began to cry again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh jeez, you have to stop crying like this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Missouri, you don’t understand.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I cast no reflection.” She looked me up and
down, “And you smell so good right now.”</span></div>
</div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-34033561242130345502018-08-25T13:22:00.000+10:002018-08-25T13:22:15.943+10:00First Prize<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been thinking of Men In Black - the last viewing of when the Earth turns in to a marble and gets tossed into a sack filled with other marbles... well, I've thought to turn that idea into something similar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">enjoy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I couldn’t sleep, so I stepped outside into
the crisp night air to look up at the huge scattering of diamonds of the Milky
Way Constellation – and what a great display Mother Nature had put on this
night!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was then I noticed something really weird.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Off in the distance, I saw a bright light
glowing on the horizon I hadn’t noticed before. It wasn’t there when I headed
in for the night, but it was there now. Checking my watch, I saw it was around
1am and so dawn wasn’t near.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What the hell is that?” I mumbled, my
breathing turning white as I spoke. Thinking it was my imagination, I shook my
head and went back inside my caravan and tried to sleep again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The morning was brilliant and bright, and I
had almost forgotten about the glowing weird light on the horizon. But I looked
over there again as I sipped my coffee and found it wasn’t there – well of
course it wasn’t there. How could it be? I was out in the middle of Central
Queensland on a photo shoot for the next three weeks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tossing out the remains of the coffee, I
kick dirt over my camp fire and start packing up. It’s time to move onto my
next port of call to photograph.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Detle Pffed watched his experiment
carefully. The Human looked like he was throwing out the brown liquid he had
been drinking and packing up his travelling machine. He frowned, “Why doesn’t
he fly? Doesn’t he know how to?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Detle! It’s time to go!” His mother’s voice
screeched from the screen on the wall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Of course!” he put down his computerised
clipboard, switching it off as it touched the table and picked up his satchel
for school. As he opened the door, his father stood there, “Sorry I’m late, my experiment
for the Science Fair had me up all night.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Aaah of course, how is it going?” he put a
suckered arm around his son’s shoulders as they walked out of the room and door
closed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, the Human was up last night... he
couldn’t sleep. He was looking at the Milky Way Constellation I had installed
on the ceiling of my bedroom.” He smiled, “Thanks for suggesting that, I think
that’s what happened to the last one – he freaked out and lost his mind.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“It’s just as well we got a moving one so
this one doesn’t know the difference.” His father’s eyes swung up on their
stalks as his gills flared, “Oh we’re running late!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Detle didn’t mention what his science fair
project was about to anyone at school. He entered into the Science Fair, paid
the ten scroners – which was a month’s pocket money – and promised his teachers
a good project.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When he arrived home, he found his project
hadn’t travelled as far as he first thought he would. But he figured it was the
machine he was using that held the Human back. He sat down and started his
homework as his mother walked into the room, gazed disdainfully at the project
sitting at the window and frowned, “I really don’t like it that you have a
Human in your bedroom.” He put down a tray of afternoon snacks for her son
nearby.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“He won’t be here for long, Mother.” Detle
said glancing over at the large tank holding the Human, “I’ll take him back to
Earth. He thinks he’s on a photographic holiday for three weeks. I’ll get
graded and then return him home – he won’t know the difference.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Peering into the tank, she swung her stalked
eyes toward her son, “Does he know we’re here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I don’t think so. He saw my night light on
last night, but he didn’t look into it. I won’t make that mistake again.” He mumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Night light? You’re still using that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I did for the time being to be able to find
my way around the room to watch him at night. I forgot to turn it off after
watching him for a while. I think I woke him up.” He sighed, “That could have
gone really wrong, but I think he’s okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She stood and smiled, “Okay, well I hope you
go well at the Science Fair. There’s your snack.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A week passed by and Detle worked hard on
his project – day and night. He gave up his weekend and watched his Human doing
what he did for that week. Then, came the day the Human was to be taken to Detle’s
school for the Science Fair; and Mr Pffed offered to take both his son and the
experiment there for the whole day. Mr Pffed was a scientist and he believed
that his son was onto something with the Humans from Earth – that they had
changed in some way. It had been over fifty years since Mr Pffed had been to
Earth with his father to conduct this very same experiment on a Human and he
had offered up his notes to his son to compare the times fifty years ago
compared to now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But had they changed really?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There had been a gas leak somewhere. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I woke and found myself being peered in on
by some of the most butt-ugliest things I’ve ever laid eyes on! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Where was I?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Was I hallucinating? Did something happen to
me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Detle! The switch, you bumped it, he can
see us!” Mr Pffed pointed to the tank.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh no!” he turned a little red lever and
the walls of the tank ghosted over again, “I hope he’s okay.” He peered inside
the tank.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The landscape returned to the parched desert
of the sunset I’d been photographing just outside Alice Springs. I stayed on
the ground for a few more moments before getting up and picking up my camera
and checking it to see if I’d taken any photos of what I had seen, “Oh crap,
what in the hell is that?” I stared at the screen to find I had taken a photo
of some huge stalked eyed creatures which were peering across the horizon at
me. After three shots, the blue sky took over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I put this down to ... well, I dunno. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Packing up my shit and cameras, I returned
to my caravan for the day and chilled out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What does this lever do?” Mr Eealie asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“That keeps my experiment in a state of
calm. He can’t see us right now, as the tank is ghosted. If he does, he’ll
freak out and well, my last Human died.” He blushed, “He saw me and... it didn’t
end well.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mr Pffed nodded, “I was there, Mr Eealie, we
really did try to calm him down, but our speech isn’t the same as theirs; and
we had to return him home to Earth... which is what we will do with this one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Good. We don’t wish to be cruel to Humans,
just study them.” He looked at Detle’s notes, compared to his father’s notes
and smiled, “Very impressive that you both studied a Human and that you, Detle,
has impressed me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today was cooler than yesterday – thank god!
– and so I thought it would be good to photograph things. But after seeing ...
those things... I’m not so sure anymore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I tossed another chunk of wood on the fire
and waited for it to heat up more. Rabbit stew was on the menu tonight. Sitting
back in my chair, I looked out at the wavering horizon, “Yeah, this is the life
– without those creepy things I saw – I could live like this forever.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Hey Detle, your project is on fire. There’s
smoke coming out of it.” One of his friends said, “Is this okay? Is that
supposed to happen?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He turned and saw that smoke was filtering
from the top corner of the tank, “Yes. I’m studying a Human out in the field.
He doesn’t know he’s being studied. The smoke from his camp fire has to go
somewhere.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mr Eealie came back from looking at all the
other projects and handed Detle the large blue ribbon, “First prize, Detle. But
on one condition.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I return the Human back to Earth unharmed.”
He nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Night fell and the rabbit stew was
delicious! I drank a few cans of redi-mixed bourbon and cola and crashed early.
When I woke to the songs of the kookaburras nearby, I realised I hadn’t heard
one in a long time – over two weeks actually. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Walking out into the early morning, I saw
the trees moving, heard the sound of a flock of cockatoos screeching and flying
nearby. I felt as though I had been in a vacuum for the past few weeks... but I
knew it was time to go home. After taking photos of some really weird things
lately, I had to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Detle and his Dad arrived home from the long
intergalactic round flight late. They ordered in some food and went through the
photographs the Human had taken and found that he had also taken some of them.
His Dad was good enough to delete those off the Human’s camera before they left
him on Earth, just outside Alice Springs, where they found him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Besides, who would believe him? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-36828784471251823572018-08-18T11:23:00.001+10:002018-08-18T11:25:00.776+10:00The Door To...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been gardening in the past few months; as it's Winter here in Australia. And I'm at the last bit of it where I want to add artwork to it. Well, being a writer, I thought it would be fun to make my garden a book-themed garden. Right now, I'm looking for doors... this triggered a cool story about the magical doors writers use in their works. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">enjoy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had phoned her place for the past few
days and left messages on her mobile and home phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She hadn’t returned our phone calls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She hadn’t been on Facebook – like she is
every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even her friends had been looking around for
her on there and messaging her there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But it seemed as though Therese had simply
vanished from the face of the earth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, here we were at her place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had asked her neighbours if they’d seen
her lately and most of them hadn’t. The lady across the street said that she
hadn’t seen the lights come on in the house for almost a week and was about to
call the police, and then we showed up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Jeez, Mum, should we call the cops in and
see what’s going on?” Eli asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yeah, good idea.” I pulled out my phone and
called Policelink and chatted with them. Before long, a cruiser showed up and
the police were door-knocking around taking statements and asking around about
the last anyone saw my sister.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Do you have a house key?” one of the cops
asked me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I rummaged around in my bag and pulled out a
spare set of keys, “She gave them to me in case I really needed to get into her
house.” glancing over to her overgrown garden and house, I mumbled, “I never
thought I’d need them now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Here, show me which key will open the door
and I’ll do it – in case there’s something in there you may not want to see.” He
offered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I pulled out a blue tinted key, “This one opens
the screen, deadbolt and front door.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Easy for her and you to remember.” He nodded
and he walked up to the house and opened the doors, looked inside as he turned
on the lights and called out her name, but he came out only moments later, “The
house is empty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I rushed up to the door with my son, Eli by
my side, looking into the house, and sure enough, her all her things were
there, but she wasn’t, “Where could she be?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Is there something weird about her leaving?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I turned, “She’s got a medical condition.
She must take her medication every day. It’s been almost a week!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Mum, what about the garden... we could
check in the garden. She could have had an episode.” Eli touched my shoulder,
and my gut turned cool with panic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh crap.” I turned, rushing towards the
back door, opened it and found the garden in its lovely and complete order –
just the way she had finished it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You see, my sister was an artist and loved
having artworks in her garden every few years. And every few years, she changed
them up. She didn’t throw out the last ones, she stored them away for her
famous parties every now and then. But this year, she turned her garden into a
book-themed one – one with all the old classics you’d have read in your youth.
From Narnia to The Secret Garden, it was all there. She even had ‘The Storm Boy’
and ‘Old MacDonald’s Farm’ as well as ‘The Folk of the Faraway Tree’ ... it was
all there in the garden; and it took her over a year to get it all pulled
together, as some of the items were hand-made and others were difficult to
find.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I turned and looked at the cop who was
giving the garden a strange look, “She’s an artist and loves doing this to her
garden.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Hey, I’ve seen worse.” He smiled, “It could
have been a crappy garden filled with car bodies... now, that’d be something
bad. But this? This is fantastic.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Eli whispered in my ear, “Mum, the garden is
overgrown, it doesn’t look like it’s been cared for.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I know.” I walked down the steps into the
garden and a strange feeling overcame me – that I wasn’t alone; that I... I
looked over at the side gate where Therese had installed her ‘Narnia’ gate.
Looking up at the cop and Eli, I smiled, “We’ve come through the wrong door.” Before
they could say anything, I rushed up the back steps, through the house and
around the side of the house and found the tall dark timber of the Narnia
wardrobe door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had no idea where she got this wardrobe
door – but it took her years to find it. This piece was the last piece to be
installed in this garden; and she told me it was an ‘original piece of the
wardrobe from the book!’ I turned to find Eli and cop behind me, “I know what
happened. But I need to get into her garage first.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They let me past and I unlocked her garage,
pulled opened the door and looked to the back, beyond the Kombi she owned and
found it: the tall, dark ornate wardrobe she had bought online.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh my god. That’s it.” I walked up to the
enormous piece and looked at the replacement door on the front. It looked the
same, but it wasn’t. Opening it with a new key, I looked inside to find it was
empty – no fur coats hanging up, no mothball smell tickling my nose. Leaning
forwards, I felt to the back and found the back of the wardrobe – good and
solid – and knocked on it. Stepping back, I turned and Eli was next to me,
frowning, as I said, “She did it. She’s used something magical to turn her
garden into something really... magical.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The cop snorted, “Magic doesn’t exist.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Closing the door and relocking it, I turned,
“You don’t understand what the mind of the writer does to items like this. Once
they’ve been turned into something of magicks, and generations of readers
believe in them, they turn into something of legend. This wardrobe is legendary.
And Therese used its magicks to make a gateway into another universe in her garden.”
I walked past the cop and my son out to the side of the house again and pulled
out from the mass of key an old key to the original lock of the wardrobe, “If
this works, we are going to see some wonderful shit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The cop started giggling nervously, “And if
it doesn’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, we’ll still be looking for her.” I
pushed key into the lock, turned it and pushed the gate open to reveal the most
gorgeously made up garden I had ever seen in my life! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">All the statues we had seen from the house
steps before came to life and greeted us. Birds flew and the sun shone through
the trees. The grass was a lush green as the sky was a vivid blue. I stepped through
the gate with Eli and the cop close behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Mum, what’s going on?” my son grabbed my
arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“C.S Lewis created a wondrous universe
called Narnia; it took place when the children went through a wardrobe into
that universe. However it wasn’t the wardrobe that did that – it was the door.”
I looked around at my sister’s brilliant work, “Doors are brilliant things to
writers.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The cop watched as an elf raced out the gate
and within feet of it, he became a statue again, “So, anything which ventures
outside of this garden becomes what it was before?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yes.” I looked at him, smiling, “So many
writers have used doors to enter and get out of their universes... I mean, Oz
is a place which had a huge variety of ways to get through to it and out of.
<i>The Secret Garden</i> is another universe too, which uses a door to get into and
out of.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The cop walked past me as he pointed to the
back fence, spotting something of interest, “Say, there’s another door – a blue
gate – it’s been left ajar.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No! Stay close by! That...” I shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He turned and smiled, “Your sister could be
in there.” As he touched it, the door opened wider and a hand grabbed his,
pulling him through and slamming shut.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“... could be a door to anywhere.” I mumbled
turning to Eli, “Let’s get out of here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“But Aunt Therese, we have to find her.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Where? There’s the blue door to The Secret
Garden. And then, there’s a mirror over there to Oz, and then there’s any
number of gateways which she’s created simply because she put up that wardrobe
door.” I turned and walked back to the side gate, “I’m going home, Eli, and if
you know what’s good for you, you’d follow me.” I turned, hoping to see him
right by my side. But as I looked around, I found my son had vanished – to
where? I’m not sure, “Oh jeez, Therese, why did you do this?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I locked the gate and pocketed the keys. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Turning around, there was another cop, “Where’s
my partner?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What was I supposed to say?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-61462065796346347432018-08-10T13:46:00.001+10:002018-08-10T13:50:21.396+10:00Inhertance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">I've had this storyline bumping around in my head for about 3 weeks; unable to work it out, until today. I just sat down and wrote it! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">enjoy.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I woke to a heart monitor in a hospital bed,
wondering how in the hell I came to be here – how did I survive the car
accident, as atrocious as it was – and where were my parents?</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The nurse looked up from her desk and stood,
“Oh good, you’re awake. Do you know where you are?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What happened?” a whisper came from my
throat, “My throat...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You’ve been sleeping for some time, Evan.” She
said, “I’ll get a doctor.” She checked my vitals and scribbled something on my
chart then left me alone for what seemed like an age, but it was only about a
minute or so and she returned with a doctor – a kindly man whose smile warmed
his face, and yet his eyes avoided mine completely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Evan Murdock Williams, am I right?” he
pulled up a stool from the other side of the room and perched himself on it as
he looked over my chart. Looking up, he saw me nod, and he smiled a little, “I’m
afraid to say that you’re the sole survivor of the accident; and I’m wondering
how you did.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My eyes moved from the doctor to the nurse
and back, my voice straining “What do you mean?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Placing the plastic chart on the bed next to
me, he sighed moving uncomfortably on his seat, “The car was a fireball when
the emergency services arrived; and you were found in a nearby ditch with huge
head injuries – so bad we thought you’d never make it. And yet, here you are.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I blinked, “A miracle?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He shook his head, “I don’t believe in God
or those kinds of things, son. Whatever happened to pull you through and have
you sitting here talking to me, well, I’d like to know what or who helped you.”
He gave the nurse the chart, as he turned from me, “We’ll keep you in for
another week and you can return home.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What about my parents?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The doctor gave me a sideways look in such a
way, he didn’t need to tell me that they were dead, “I’m sorry. Like I said you
are the sole survivor of this. Not even the truck driver survived.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What truck driver? The road was clear.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The nurse rushed from the room, “I’ll get
the police in here to talk to him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After talking to the police and telling them
that there wasn’t anything which looked like a truck on the road that night,
they told me the horrible news: “... but there was an eighteen-wheeler coming
from the other direction, Mr. Williams, surely you saw the headlights.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I would remember if there was whopping big
truck on that road because I was sitting in the front seat next to my Dad. And
I didn’t see any truck on that road; Mom was in the back seat sleeping.” I
snapped, “So you tell me, how did a big truck like that suddenly cream the car
I was in, and yet I have survived this accident?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The two cops couldn’t tell me anything than
what the doctor had – and I was at a loss as well – and they turned the left
the room; leaving me to my loss and on my own. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was permitted home after a week in the
hospital. The doctors told me that since I could walk up and down the hallways
and up and down stairs without fall over and was eating well, it was time for
me to go home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The cab dropped me off in front of my family
home and I stood outside of it with my overnight bag collecting the mail, which
had accumulated over the last two weeks. Looking over at the driveway, I
expected to see the large green Four Wheel Drive my folks owned, but instead I
saw my little blue sedan hiding in under the car port, covered in dust and
waiting for me to drive it. It looked kinda sad that it was sitting there
without the other one as its partner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unlatching the gate, I picked up my bag and
walked up the path to the house, which looked as empty as it really was now.
Stepping over the dozen or so newspapers in front of the door, I unlocked the
front door and walked inside to the deathly silence of my parents’ house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There’s a real drawback to living on the
same property as your parents’. When you lose them, you have to deal with their
house, their things, and their legal shit a lot sooner than everyone else does
in your family because you’re their next door neighbour in more ways than one.
Okay, you’ve saved yourself a lot of dosh over the long run, but really, it’s
heartbreaking to walk into their house and not hear their voices, see their
faces or know they’re going to be there ever again! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tears blurred my vision. I dropped my bag
and the mail, “Oh shit!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Evan?” A woman’s voice asked from behind
me, and I turned to find Aunty Susan standing there, “Oh, Evan, I knew you were
coming home today. I wanted to be here before you got here to open the house up.
To get out their Wills and have the lawyer here.” She held me as I sobbed onto
her shoulder, “I really didn’t want you living here; and this is the reason
why. But we have to talk to the lawyer.” She pulled me off her, “There’s something
you need to know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I looked at her and found she wasn’t crying.
She didn’t look upset, “How can you not be sad?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Because your parents did something in the
1970’s I really didn’t like.” She said picking up my bag and the mail, “Let’s
have some coffee and talk before the lawyer gets here – because we’re going to
get a visitor you don’t know.” Aunt Susan walked through to the kitchen and
started opening the house up and turning on the lights, “I did some shopping,
so the delivery guy will be here soon.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">An hour or so later, I had gone to my place
out the back and had a shower and changed my clothes. While I was out there,
Aunt Susan had pulled together coffee, some cake and other things to ready the
place for company.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She was serious about this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I looked at her and frowned as she fixed my
collar, “Now, you have to be understanding about this, okay?” Looking beyond
her shoulder, I saw a man walking up to the door of the house and heard the
doorbell ring. She turned, answering it and letting in a small, spritely man
who had a briefcase and dressed in an Armani suit with short oiled hair, “Evan,
this is Mr. Beechen. He’s from one of the world’s oldest law firms.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He looked up, offering his hand to me, but I
didn’t it, “I don’t know you, so please understand if I don’t shake your hand.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Smiling he nodded, “Of course, Evan. We are
one short, but can proceed in this matter.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We all sat at the kitchen table, and he
pulled out a folder which had enclosed my parents’ Wills and he read from them.
There was money, furniture, the house and other things bequeathed to family
members and to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“And now, comes to the person who we’re one
short of...” he said, as a knock at the door sounded, “Aaah, here he is
finally. I never doubted his arrival, just when he would arrive.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Aunt Susan opened the door and there stood a
man who was a stranger to me, and yet I felt as though I had met him before in
a past life or two. He held his hand out and smiled, “Evan. Such a pleasure to
make your acquaintance.” I couldn’t stop myself, as my hand shot out and took
his, “You don’t know me and yet you shake my hand, interesting.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Snatching my hand back, “How do you know I’m
like that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“All in the details, my boy.” He walked past
me and into the kitchen as I looked over at Aunt Susan and found her looking at
her feet, fear emanating from her in waves, “And don’t worry about your dear
Aunt, she’s got a right to be scared of me.” Mr. Beechen pulled out a chair for
the man and he sat as the lawyer poured him a fresh cup of coffee and offered
him some of the food to eat, “So, where are we up to in this?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mr. Beechen sat next to him and smiled, “Right
where you’re expected to be, sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, proceed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Very well.” He looked over the papers and
found where he was up to, “Oh, here we are: ‘As in the original agreement from
the year of nineteen hundred and seventy-seven, in the grounds of if – and when
both Mary and Robert Williams both die at some point in their lives – their eldest
of their offspring will be Evan, the King of Hell’s son, as he impregnated Mary
on that year of the agreement on the eve of their marriage in nineteen hundred
and eighty.’” He looked up and across the table at me, “Well, that means that
you’re a Prince.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What?” I looked over at the man, “Who in
the hell are you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh, I’m the King of Hell. You can call me
Dad.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I had a Dad, he’d died three weeks ago.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No. I caused that truck to be on the road
because your parents made a deal and lost their souls to me personally during a
swingers party in 1977.” He grinned, “You’re Mom didn’t know what she said to
me was real, and they were too stoned to realise they also signed your life
away too.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“But all those miss-carriages?” Aunt Susan
sputtered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, I only wanted heir, so...” he
shrugged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking at the table, I suddenly felt sick, “Oh
god.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Nope, he’s not going to help you now.” He looked
over at me, “Okay, Evan, your folks shitted away their souls and yours in the
process without thinking. That was their fault... now you have a place to come
to, a Kingdom to rule over – with me – isn’t that great?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I glared at him, “No. I like my life. I have
a job here and nice car and my house; which is on a quiet street.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I can get you anything you want, why would
you want to live in squalor for when you could be living in the lap of luxury?”
he glanced around, “This is so... tiny.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“This is my life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He sighed, “I noticed you didn’t say
anything about having a girl in your life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I have problems keeping a relationship
going.” I mumbled, “What’s it to you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The man sat back, glanced at his lawyer and
then smiled at me, “Well, in Hell, you can have as many women as you want.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I want one woman, but I can’t have her. She’s
married.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I’ll break up the marriage, and you can
have her.” He snorted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Why not? You get what you want, when you
want. That’s what it’s like being the son of mine – but you’ve had a life where
people fear you. It’s been like that since you were born; or haven’t you
noticed?” he grinned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I thought back over my life, how the bullies
avoided me at school – even though I was the shortest kid there. I never had a
problem at night clubs from anyone; and when a fight broke out and my friends
were pulled in, I’d step up and people would look at me – with that look
of...fear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He was right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">People feared me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I don’t like it. Why do people fear me?” I
looked at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Because when I took your parents’ souls in
1977, and then came back on their wedding night and told your Dad to ‘take a
walk’, I took yours as well when your Mom and I bumped boots.” His eyes
sparkled at the memory of doing my Mom, “And your Mom... oh she was...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh shut up!” I shouted standing, pushing
the chair back hard enough for it to fall over, “That’s my Mother you’re
talking about!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“And I have your soul in a little jar in
Hell if you want it.” He grinned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Screw you... Dad.... I’m staying here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He pulled a black clay talisman from his
pocket and put it on the table, “If you change your mind, Evan, here’s my
calling card. Mr. Beechen, let’s go.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After they left, I picked up the talisman
and looked at it. How was a person like me going to use the information I had
just been given to my advantage? Like anyone does: I just found out I have an
inheritance from the most powerful being around – besides God – and he thinks I’m
not interested. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’ll bide my time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-75444521253603900402018-08-04T13:55:00.002+10:002018-08-04T13:55:37.997+10:00The Game<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've picked up another one from Chuck's Flash Fiction from 2013... I've chosen the same 5 words as I did in 'The Right Hand Man' but I've turned it around and made a different story out of it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">enjoy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was a labyrinth, as I turned the corner
of yet another long, vanishing isle of books. I have no idea how I got to be
inside this library, but it was a huge place I had gotten lost in within
minutes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I knew I was looking for something –
something to get me out of here – but I wasn’t quite sure what it was. As I
walked along this isle, I had to make sure I didn’t touch the books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don’t ask me why, it’s the rules of the
game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What game? I don’t know that either... I
just know whatever this is, is a big horrible game of getting me lost; and all
I want is to get the fuck outa here!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Panic welled in my guts for a moment. I take
a breath, and calm down... then I keep moving for another few metres. Hey! An
envelope! It’s sticking out between the darkened, spines of two books! Pulling
on it, I find it hasn’t been here for long – it feels fresh and cool, not
mouldy and wet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking around I wonder who else has been
around here long enough to plant this here and for me not to see them. If I don’t
open this soon, my mind will begin to play tricks on me; so I pull it open and
find it doesn’t tear and a skeleton key slides out and a slip of paper. Written
on the paper is one word: Undertaker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh great... I have to get out of here
and...” a grumble of thunder overhead signals the beginnings of a storm and –
as the rain hammers down on the large glass dome overhead – my surroundings
become darker, causing the tall shelves around me to look more like cliff faces
than bookcases, “I have to get the fuck outa here.” I shove the key in my
pocket with the envelope and run back up the isle the way I came in, finding my
way back to the front counter where I started.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But once there, I found it was empty and the
counter itself was covered the dust of never being used for over a decade – the
type of dust which carves into timber and damages it when it’s not brushed
away. Cobwebs infiltrated the bookshelves behind it, hiding the books on
reserve to the point I couldn’t read the titles on the spines – not that they
had any at the point they were published. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Turning to my left, I walked to the door,
but found it locked from the outside; chains were wrapped around the handles
like large rusty vines and the padlocks had rusted shut. Yes, there wasn’t any
way for me to escape.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lightning and thunder began to play a game
of chase around the skies as the winds picked up, howling around the building,
and the rain became heavier still.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Walking through to the study out the back
behind the counter, I decided to wait until the storm was finished. I knew I
had to go to the cemetery and find out where to go next. I made myself
comfortable on the lounge and rested; it might be the last time I get any sleep
for a while.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wasn’t going anywhere until the storm was
over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The sunshine woke me as I lay under the
broad branches of a sprawling Oak Tree outside. Sitting up, I wondered how I
got to be outside and where the storm vanished to. A squirrel scampered near
the tree, tail twitching nervously as it eyed me, wondering if I was a danger
to it or not. It came closer, picking up an acorn and inspecting it closely –
tail twitched as we watched each other. Shoving it in his mouth, he took off up
the tree where I lost track of him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking around, I slowly stood to hear the
distant grumbles of the remains of the storm on the horizon where it was
destroying another town (or was it the town I was just in?). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had to find the cemetery, so I began to
walk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was starving, but I’d get food on the way
if I found any. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The nearest cemetery wasn’t far; strangely
enough, only at the bottom of the hill I had been resting on. So, I looked
through the locked gates, looked along its stone walls and thought of a way to
get in, when I remembered the skeleton key, and dug it out of my pocket.
Slotting it into the lock, I didn’t need to turn it as it clanged and the gates
swung inward, crashing against the back of the walls. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I stepped through, a man in old-fashioned
Undertaker’s clothes stepped up to me, “You’ve won.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Won?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He held out a cube, “Take this and all will
be revealed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Like what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A lop-sided smile crawled up his face, “Don’t
you get it? You’re part of a game and you’ve outplayed the others. You’ve won.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What have I won?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Take the cube and find out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I reached out for the cube and a bright
light filled my vision. With my other hand, I shielded my eyes for a moment. When
the light abated, I found I was in a dank, crap-smelling prison cell. There was
a rattling at the door, as the bolt slammed across and iron door creaked open.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well... aren’t you a smart-ass.” He stood
there in a suit glaring at me, clearly not pleased with me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yeah, shithead, I put you into a game with
a few of the other prisoners here and the prize was your soul back and trip up
to the hot-shot place in the sky... guess who won?” he snorted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Oh. Thank you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He stepped to one side, “Come on. Your Angel
is here to take you home.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I looked beyond him into the hallway to find
a person I’d never seen before, but I knew deep down inside I could trust, “You’re
taking me home?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She smiled, “Yes I am.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“One question.” She looked at me as she took
my hand, “Where is home?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tears filled her eyes, “You really have been
here too long; and the horrible thing is that you don’t recognise me, do you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Should I?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I’ll take you home.”</span></div>
</div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-72666727223486670872018-07-27T16:36:00.000+10:002018-07-27T16:36:02.938+10:00My Own Worst Enemy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I haven't seen any Flash Fiction Fridays lately, so I thought to dig through the ones from years back and start over again. This was the first one I did in 2013 - pick one from 5 tables... it turned out more interesting this time than it did first time around.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">enjoy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The best way to see an art museum is after
the crowds have left the building and the doors are shut for the night. Yes,
the after-hours tours are always fun and more personal – more intense – than the
daytime ones where you’re forever trying to hear what the tour guide is saying
over the hubbub of the other people milling around the place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It just doesn’t do the art and other work
justice either when you’re sharing personal space with them either... when you’re
breathing the same stale air as another person and want to reach a certain feeling
with a statue or painting and some stranger is mumbling some crap about it that
they’re ‘really not into it, because the artist wasn’t my first choice to study
at uni’. Or they’re on the phone talking, talking, talking.. or texting,
tweeting or commenting on Facebook, looking down instead of up and around for
five fucking minutes of their mundane lives!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes, the after-hours tour is well worth it –
even if it costs twice as much!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It takes you places you’d never thought
possible – like the basement of the place where there’s real art there sitting
amongst corridors of other art which will most probably never see the light of
day with massive sponges to pull up the moisture which would usually destroy
the work sitting in the darkness where the red-eyed mice live and the spiders
cringe in the corners of the corridors as you pass by with your torches
clutched in your hand, terrified that you might step on something in the dark.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, then I saw it... the piece I had been
waiting for... the painting which I had only seen photos of in books – and owned
a huge print of in my bedroom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It’s a painting by an obscure artist nobody
had heard of from the 1500’s who worked for Michelangelo for three weeks in
Florence before being fired for doing something minor and stupid and was sent
on his way. This artist did only one major painting in his life and this was
it: ‘The Love Triangle’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In it is a gorgeous woman, who sits behind a
window of a house, dressed in something only a person of wealth would own.
However, as I stared at it, I found she wore a locket around her neck – her fingers
were touching the chain tentatively as she stared out at the artist from within
her – I don’t want to say prison – home, where if you looked hard enough, there
was everything in there a house of that time had. There was a large, stoic
fireplace, a bed, and a table where sat vegetables, a bowl of fruit and an urn
filled with what could only be ale or larger. Bunches of dried herbs lined the
walls and I spotted a man sitting at the table with a meal in front of him –
but he hadn’t touched it, he was looking over at her instead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Sir, I said don’t look at it too long. This
painting has pulled people into its hold before.” The guide told me firmly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I have a print of it at home... I’ll be
okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No. You don’t understand, we have lost
people on this tour because of how this painting affects them.” He took my arm
gently, “This way please, sir, I can’t stay here long. There is more to see.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Okay, sure... no probs.” I turned for a
last moment and took a last peek at her to see she was smiling at me through
the window,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>her hand on the glass of the
pane; when it wasn’t like that before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My drive home was a blur, and I unlocked my
front door, flicked on the lights and found the print above my bed wasn’t
there. My guts hit the floor, as I wondered where it vanished to! Dropping my
backpack on the lounge I raced over to my bedroom and found it on my bed,
facing the ceiling, and I stopped a few feet away. How could it be positioned
like this when – if it had fallen off the wall – it would have been face down
on the bed. I climbed onto the bed, carefully picking it up to find she was
looking at me again... her hand on the pane of the glass, smiling at me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“But, that’s the painting.” A whisper choked
from my throat before I dropped it back onto the bed and turned to break eye
contact with her to find her sitting at the window, her long dark lochs of hair
cascading down her back and the gown that eye-catching green velvet was so much
better up close than... but wait, what was she doing in my bedroom when I...? I
turned to see the man at the table looking over at her, then his eyes shifted
to me and I jumped, “Who? What’s going on?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, you’ve been pulled into this place
too.” His voice was edging on angry, “And she won’t let us go.” He stood and
walked around the table glaring at her back, “What was it for you? Her eyes?
Her hair? Or was it the locket?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I’ve always loved her as the person in the picture.”
I admitted, “But the locket has also been a mystery.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking back at me, he snorted, “I’m sure
you have your ideas of trying to get out of here, and believe me, I’ve tried
everything to get out – and everything you do fails.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“But we’re in the print of this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He shook his head, “No, we’re not. You came
back to the art museum and stole the painting and hung it up on your wall last
week; they don’t know you have it yet – or they won’t, not until you don’t show
up for work tomorrow.” The man smiled, “I have figured out one thing though.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“And that is?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I have forgotten who I am. But I know I am
you... and you are me; because we both love her for the same thing.” He smiled,
“And at long last, I’ve figured out how to get out of this.” He pulled a brass
dagger from his belt, “And believe me, it’s not going to be pretty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I woke in the local hospital after
undergoing emergency surgery. My next door neighbour had heard my screams of
pain and called the police and ambulance and they found me next to the painting
with a knife sticking out of my guts and blood everywhere. The painting was
back up on the wall and when they rushed me out the door, I spotted her. She
wasn’t at the window anymore; no, she was sitting on the bed with her face in
her hands weeping.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It took me while to figure out what happened
to me, but I didn’t want to tell anyone about it – I mean, who in the hell
would believe me? So, I healed and went home to find the painting was still on
the wall of my bedroom and she was sitting on her bed still weeping.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wondered if she thought I was dead or if
the other man escaping had broken her heart; in truth, I wasn’t sure. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I did have to do was call the art museum
and tell them what I had done – but really how could I tell them that I had
done it when I don’t remember doing it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The curator came into my house with a few
other people and walked over to the painting. They did some tests on it and
confirmed that it was the original as she had returned to the window, looking
out with her hand on the chain of her locket.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“But how did you do this?” the curator
asked, “We have so much security around the basement and the art museum, I’m
still not sure how it works out that you did this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Neither do I.” I shook my head, “If you don’t
take it away from here, I’ll do it again; and I’ll...” I looked at the painting
and motioned the curator away from it, outside into the hall outside my place, “...I’ll
get trapped in it again. And I’m worried she won’t let me go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At first I thought he didn’t believe me by
the look he gave me, then he nodded, “So the rumours are true. People are
getting pulled into her dimension through the window.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I’m not the first?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No, and the man in the picture who isn’t
there now is somebody who was trapped in there last time. He really didn’t like
her doing that as it destroyed a family.” He smiled, “Now, we have proof!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“How?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You survived it!” he gripped my shoulder
smiling like an idiot, “We’ll take the painting away and you won’t be bothered
by it anymore.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The security system was improved in Chicago
as I raced through the darkened galleries of sculptures and paintings and found
the doors to the basement, nearly fell down the stairs to where I could smell
the dankness of the sponges sucking up the moisture down here... where she’d be
always placed so she couldn’t pull in anymore people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I turned a corner, hearing her siren song,
knowing it was time for us, for me to free her. I knew what to do this time. As
I approached ‘The Love Triangle’, I spotted more than just her in the painting.
There were other men, other women, in this piece. They all sat around the table
waiting to be released. I pulled out a replica of the dagger the first guy had
used on me, and sliced my hand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As my blood oozed from my wound, dripping to
the floor and onto my shoes, I smeared it across the painting and onto the
locket – which became real in my bloodied hand as I swept across it! Closing my
hand around it, I ripped it off the painting and turned to find five people
standing around me who had been in the painting only moments before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“It’s mine, the locket is mine!” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Actually you are mistaken.” A woman’s voice
said next to me, “It’s mine and you are the proof of how your envy makes you
into your own worst enemy.” Holding out her hand, she smiled, “Now, that’s
mine, along with your soul, because envy is a sin.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I sat at the table looking at the food she
had prepared for me. She sat at the window looking out at the people looking
around the corridor. They were looking for me, but would never find me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now I was the man in the painting sitting at
the table wondering if I’d ever get out. But I knew how to get out. There was
one tiny problem...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-50018479514249958282018-07-22T09:52:00.002+10:002018-07-22T10:09:21.809+10:00The Invasion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">I noticed there was no Flash Fiction Fridays for a while. So, I've thought to write my own. Well, really, I've had ideas popping into my head like crazy lately and thought to keep mine going... </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">enjoy.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1st, May, 2018</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I thought having Netflix would be a great
idea; so did my parents and friends. But we had problems from the very start
with the installation of it. The damned thing just wouldn't work!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every time I wanted to watch something, the
television couldn't connect to my wi-fi or Netflix itself would have signed me
out for some reason or another; and the very idea that it was doing this all
the time during the trial period was really pissing me off.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And my folks had given Netflix and wi-fi to
me for my birthday; so it should have worked straight up. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">However, no matter what happened, it was so
temperamental and weird that I didn't know what to do. One minute it was
working and I could watch anything I wanted, but then it would have its
glitches like you wouldn't believe! I'd stop an episode of something I'd be
watching and go out out Netflix and watch free-to-air television only to come
back hours later to find it was still running the shows I had stopped – it
hadn't stopped at all, or even paused it. So, I'd have to turn off my phone,
the television, the wi-fi and modem and it would sign me out of Netflix and I'd
have to sign back into it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><o:p><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><o:p><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>15th, May, 2018</u></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After two weeks of this happening three
times a day, this was driving me nuts – so much so I just didn't want the
fuckin' thing anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">However, I got a lot of things done around
my house. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">All my laundry got done, the carpets were
cleaned, the house cleaned out and dusted. The floors were washed and window
sills were scrubbed as well. I spent time renovating my garden and washing the
car too... all of this in just a little over two weeks; and still I was trying
to get my Netflix to work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I did notice that while I was driving
around my neighbourhood, I didn't see much of my neighbours. They had stopped
having parties, stopped being seen outside and had stopped being very friendly
to anyone around them. When one of them had their power disconnected, he
completely freaked out and the police took him away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That house stands vacant now... nobody has
seen him since.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, okay, I haven't seen him for two
weeks – seeing I can't ask any of my neighbours if they've seen him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, last Sunday, I went for a walk
around the streets and found there wasn't a single car around. Sure they were
parked in the driveways and in the streets, but nobody was driving anywhere.
But as I walked past the houses, I saw the people inside their houses staring
at their television screens, watching Netflix movies and television programs. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of all the times I had to have problems
with my Netflix; and I had to figure out that it was designed to brainwash us
into being the biggest, laziest mammals around! Stepping back from the window
of the people's house – where they didn't even notice me peaking through the
window – I walked back out onto the street, pulled my hood up, shoved my hands
in my jeans pockets and started to walk home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was scared to death that what I just saw
was going to me one day; that is if we fixed up my reception on my Netflix.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gawd, I hope we didn't. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><o:p><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>29th, May, 2018</u></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's been another two weeks and my property
is the best-looking one on the street. Nobody is leaving their houses anymore.
The police have been sending out drones to check up on us all; and every time
they do, I hide from them. I pull the curtains, turn on the television up loud
and sit on the lounge and make out that I'm watching a Netflix movie or a
series of theirs. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I don't think they're convinced about
me anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My front yard is too tidy and I'm the only
one who goes out to do my shopping in my car in my neighbourhood anymore. The
rest of my neighbours get their groceries home-delivered now; it's as though I
live in a retirement village – or an alien village somewhere like on Mars,
where the air is unbreathable. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Everyone's houses are now horrible-looking
and I wish I knew what to do... except suffer in silence, as I don't know
anyone else whose Netflix doesn't work properly. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You may be asking why I don't contact my
parents or my brother about this, I have. I've been trying to phone them, but
they don't answer any of my messages on the home phone or their mobiles. And
I've checked their Facebook pages and they don't have accounts anymore. It's as
though they no longer exist; and I'm too scared to go to their houses in case I
get picked up for not being where I'm supposed to be... oh crap.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The computer has begun to do a scan.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's never done that before... I knew I
shouldn't have written this on here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But how else am I going to get the word out
that something in Netflix is …<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">hey, my Netflix account is working now.
I'll be back soon... there's a movie I want to see. I'll be back in a day or
so. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><o:p><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><o:p><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>15th, July, 2018</u></span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am sorry to have been away for so long.
It's been around three months and I found this on my computer when I jumped on
here today. I meant to come back and finish the article about Netflix and how
it's brainwashing our population; making us lazy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But really, I don't think it is.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's a great thing to have added to your
life. There's so many movies and documentaries and wonderful things to follow
on there; and yet it's endless what you can watch. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I love Netflix and the movies I can access
through it....</span></span><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes... </span></span><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Netflix is good... </span><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Good is Netflix.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hey there's a light outside – many lights
pouring from the skies above! Wow, look at that! I've never seen a meteor
shower like this before! I have to get my camera to record this!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">'</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">… an uncontrolled Human has been detected.'<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>'Invade as per commanded. </i></span></span><i style="color: #76a5af;">Overtake this planet immediately; it must
be conquered. Kill the Human.'</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-12556684775443695572018-07-14T11:14:00.002+10:002018-07-14T11:14:24.621+10:00The Secret Garden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Flash Fictions aren't happening right now, so I thought to keep mine going - besides, I've had a few good ideas. I've been doing up my backyard and thought to add in this one about mental illness and how it can affect a person too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I pulled out my bunch of keys from my pocket
and sorted through them as I kept a careful eye over my shoulder. It’s unsafe
to be alone here. It’s unsafe to be looking down right now. I had leaned the
two bags of potting mix against the wall and the two plants were waiting next
to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I found the key, slotted it into the
padlock, turned it and it unlocked easily. But the slid-lock was stuck, so
using all my weight I yanked on it and gave the gate a good hard kick and... it
swung open easily. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes, it had caught against the building.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But getting into this place was well worth
it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My garden – my secret garden to be exact –
was worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I walked into it, leaving the potting mix
and plants in their spots to hide my padlock and keys in a good place so I wasn’t
locked in, then I went back and picked up the bags of potting mix and the
plants and brought them through. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I dropped the bags onto the old red
picnic chairs, and the plants onto the ground next to well-established plants,
I turned around and looked at what I had already done here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was beautiful!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had blocked out the neighbours, grown a
lovely hedge along the side fence, and introduced a large greenhouse to grow my
own food and herbs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes the garden was going very well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Picking up the keys and padlock in one
handful, I walked out the gate, pulled it hard shut and locked it again – which
is just as difficult to lock as it is to unlock – before walking away to the
house and letting myself in there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The weekend came and I had bought more
potting mix and a few more plants before that arrived. I walked out the back
door of my house and out into the garden where I felt so much more at home and
more secreted away from the world than ever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Scanning the yard, I spotted empty pots I
had picked up from garage sales and off the side of the road, at charity stores
and at cheap stores as well – all waiting for me to organise them around the
garden and put the plants waiting around the edges in them. Yes, the garden
looked like an unmade bed, a disorganised bedroom waiting to be fixed up by me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I sighed, looking around at the plants and
pulled out the phone and took a ‘before’ shot of the mess, then put it away,
then went to work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pots were set around the garden first to see
what they’d look like. That was fun, and I took my time. Then the plants were
looked into and read. I picked and chose which ones were going where... and
then changed my mind three times! I filled all the pots with mix after putting
in a square of shade mesh in the bottom to cover the hole (so the mix wouldn’t
disappear through there and into the soil). I placed the pots of plants on the
top of the soil and looked at them... they looked really great!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One by one, with the plants in their places,
I bumped them out, and opened a hole in the middle of the potting mix-filled
large pots and inserted them into their new homes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My hands turned black. The rich aroma of the
potting mix filled the morning air as the sun filtered through the clouds
overhead and the coolness of Winter here in Brisbane kept me from sweating it
out. I love this time of year. It’s a time of year to clean up, fix up and
organise my garden without damaging it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With blackened hands, I picked up my phone
again and took an ‘after’ shot, where it looked great. I had cleaned away all
the empty bags of potting mix and stacked the little pots from the plants. I
had watered them into their new homes with Seasol (a liquid fertiliser) and
collected together their labels and poked them into the sides of their pots,
photographing them with them in – so I knew which one was which. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I looked around my garden as I walked out of
the gate, past the car and stopped at the entrance of my townhouse, where
Paradise ceased to exist and the horrors of the world started. My feet were
just inside the boundary of the last place around where nothing could harm me
or my world – well according to me – and that’s all that matters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking to my right, I saw them walking towards
me – the police – and they stopped just shy of the boundary looking at me;
pitying me. I looked at them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Have you finished your garden?” one asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yes.” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“We beg of you, please, you must leave.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“But this is my home.” Tears welled in my
eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“The trucks are here to pack it all up and
move you to your new location.” He said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking down, I sniffed, “It just wouldn’t
be the same.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I know. But they’re going to destroy your
place whether you’re here or not.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I looked over my shoulder, then back at
them. I had my house all packed up anyway, knowing they were going to do this
on the day I finished the garden, “Bring in the trucks. I knew my garden wasn’t
really a secret to you guys anyway.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He turned and walked towards some people and
they talked to him, “She really does think her garden is a secret; and she
thinks it’s the end of the world.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Do you think she knows we’re her family?” a
voice asked the policeman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No. She thinks this place is at the end of
the universe. And that I’m a cop and not her Dad.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-42290333672578941112018-06-23T14:41:00.000+10:002018-06-23T14:41:21.673+10:00The Dreams<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chuck has us working on an X & Y kinda stories. We pick something from table X and one from table why and smoosh them together and - hey! - we get a cracker of a story! I chose Stephen King's The Stand and Indiana Jones (And the Lost Arc)... well... it was okay I guess. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">enjoy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No... no, please...run, Stu, run!” her eyes
snapped open to find him staring at her in the darkness of their bedroom. Tears
brimmed and poured down her cheeks as she held him close, sobbing, “Oh, I
dreamt you were ...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Franny, was it the same dream?” he turned
on the bedside lamp on his side before looking back at her. She nodded and he lay
against the pillows sighing, wondering what it all meant, “I haven’t had any
dreams like that – not since Mother Abigail.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sniffing, she snuggled against him, wanting
to be near him, “I don’t know what it means – I wish to god I did – but I don’t.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stu kissed the top of her head, knowing she
was scared about what these dreams might mean. Could there be another Randall
Flagg out there? Could there be another plague – much like the one they just
survived – doing the rounds to kill off the rest of them? He just didn’t know;
and he didn’t like seeing his wife in this much pain about not wanting to sleep,
“We will find out what this is about, Fran, I’ll ask around and see if anyone
else is having similar dreams.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I don’t like losing sleep, Stu, it’s
starting to affect my health.” She said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yours and mine alike.” He reached over and
turned off the lamp, but didn’t let her go; instead pulling up the covers and
holding her as close as he could to protect her as much as he could from what
was going on inside her head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Teddy sat on the front porch with Stu
sinking a nice hot cup of coffee. It wasn’t quite as good as they used to be,
but he was getting used to the taste.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I’m sorry about the quality, but drying out
the beans is something of an art form.” Stu smiled, “I’ll get it soon enough.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Nah, it’s okay, not everything is going to
be perfect in the first few years. Remember Glen Bateman told us that.” He peered
into the bottom of the cup for a moment before setting onto the table in
between Stu and himself, “So you didn’t invite me here to discuss the quality
of your beans, Stu. What’s going on?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He ran a hand over his head of short curly
hair, “I’m not sure. Franny’s been having nightmares about me; tellin’ me to
run. It’s woken her up in the middle of the night for the past week.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Teddy sighed, “Geez Louis man, I dunno what
to say. I’m no doc.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I don’t want to talk to no doctor, they’ll
just fill her fulla pills.” He leaned back in the porch chair, “I want to know
if your wife has had any bad dreams like my Franny?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The long-hair man adjusted his glasses, then
pushed his hair back, “Nope, not that I can think of, or remember.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Shit. It looks like I’m taking her to the
hospital then.” He shook his head, “I hate hospitals.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She stood at the door, just out of sight
knowing what was happening to her in her sleep was probably going to be
something bad... it probably meant it they had to go away from Boulder for
something important. Looking over at her lovely little baby girl, Abigail,
Franny realised she’d probably had to leave her behind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The doctor at the hospital sat in his chair
with a worried expression on his face as they sat down across from him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Tell us what’s going on.” Stu said taking
her hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Franny, you’re fine. There’s nothing wrong
with you. I don’t know why you’re going through these dreams; and if they’re
like the ones we all experienced last year, I’d say you’re both in for an adventure.”
He put his pen on the open file, “But you have to know something. You’re
pregnant; and being pregnant can cause all kinds of weird things to happen...
like nightmares.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I’m pregnant?” she smiled, “You could have
opened with that, you know.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“But this running dream, and you being in
danger, Stu, it’s probably something I wouldn’t worry about too much.” The doctor
smiled, “Besides, it may well be your hormones.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once inside the door, Stu watched his Franny
opened up the rest of the house. He was going to be a Daddy... wow! Smiling, he
saw her grab the kettle off the stove, fill it with water, return it to the
stove and turn it on for a pot of tea. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Do you think we should pick up Abbie
from... what are you looking at?” she asked standing in the middle of the
kitchen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He walked over to her, took her hand, “You.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Stu! Franny! Are you both home?” Teddy’s
voice called down the hall, “Where are you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stu turned off the stove and walked out to
where he saw Teddy was standing there with his rifle at the ready, “What’s
going on, man?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Pack your shit, we have to bug out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Aaw crap!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What’s bug out?” Franny asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Teddy looked at her, “Evacuate. Somebody has
shown up from out west near Vegas, some stragglers who were the last to get hit
by radiation... we gotta leave before they spread it to us.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As they packed the last of their things into
the back of the SUV, Franny tied their little sweetheart into her car seat, “Where
are we going to go?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Rapid City.” Stu said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“That’s a long way, and the petrol might not
work in the cars anymore.” She said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“That’s a risk worth taking. Get in and we’ll
take turns driving.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rapid City looked pretty nice after the long
hours on the road; but it was far from empty. Stu slowed the SUV to first gear
and could feel they were being watched.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“We’re not alone, Fran.” He said, “They saw
us coming from miles away and they think we’re nasty.” As the words passed his
lips, a man stood out in front of their vehicle, levelling a twelve-gauge at
the windscreen and Stu stopped without panic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Out!” the man shouted, “We’re not happy for
new people to show up out of the blue sky here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unbuckling his seat belt, Stu got out of the
vehicle and Franny moved over to his seat. He looked over at her as he smiled
and put his hands up, “I’m friendly, we all are, friend.” He said, “We were
evacuated from Boulder.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He lowered his firearm slowly, “Are you Stu
Redman?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Are you going to fill me fulla holes if I
say yes?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Hell dang it man. We ran out of vehicles to
get to Boulder. You and your woman, you’re famous. Everyone knows you!” the man
slung the rifle over his shoulder and put forward his hand, “Welcome to Rapid
City. Sorry about the rude welcome, but we’ve had our fair share of Flagg’s
people show up here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, I’m glad to say we’re not in any way
related to him.” He shook hands with the man, “Well, you know me, what’s your
name?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Bill – everyone calls me Billster; it’s a
mix of my first and last names.” He smiled, “Bring your people through, there’s
plenty of houses and the power’s on too!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Great!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Their new house was fully furnished and the
garden needed work done to it – but Stu loved getting in and getting his hands
dirty in that sense. Franny was quickly making the house a home as she started
looking around the stores which were selling new and old items from the other
houses not currently being used. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But she still suffered the nightmares; which
bothered Stu to no end. This time, though she started writing them down, and
seeing more in them the longer they stayed in Rapid City. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stu soon found himself a job with a
landscaping crew to help around the city to make it look like it did before
Captain Trips came to kill off the population. The committee running this place
was hoping to have this city up and running like it did before, to make it feel
as though nothing had happened. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He came home one day to find Franny had
gotten a map of the city and pinned it to one of the bedroom walls upstairs.
She was looking through her dream journal and pushing pins into the map, making
notes, pinning them off to one side, then taking string and playing connect the
dots with it all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It gave him the creeps to see her doing
this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Honey, what are you doing?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She turned, “I’ve been seeing more in my
dreams, Stu; and it’s this city I’ve been dreaming of.” Closing her journal,
she took a step back and looked up at the map on the wall, “It looks messy, but
it really is what my brain is showing me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“And that is?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I have to ... we have to... go into the
hills and find this.” She showed him a brass idol, “It’s there, and we must get
it to protect the city.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Or you’re needing to work.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You don’t believe me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He put the book down and took her hands, “Honey,
I love you and really hope your dreams stop, but really you need help.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“We got help, and the doctor didn’t find
anything wrong.” She said, “Can you please trust me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Taking a deep breath, he smiled, “Okay, what
do we do?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“We leave tonight.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What about Abigail?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“She will be okay, we will be gone for only
a little while.” She grinned, “I got a babysitter!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the dark, the hills looked like mountains
looming over them with haunting, deep holes for caves. Stu had flashbacks to
the nightmares he had last year in the cornfields for a moment and those dead,
red eyes of... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Come on, let’s go.” She took his hand and
turned on her flashlight as they started climbing the well-worn tourist path up
the hillside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Franny, it’s a tourist spot.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yeah, for the first few miles, but there’s
an area where we’ll go off on our own.” She smiled. It didn’t take long for her
to prove to him how well she knew this hillside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Soon, they came to a fork in the path, and
the trees lined it upwards towards the top of the hills to a lookout; but where
they were going was the other, unwalked, path. This was something Stu wasn’t
too happy about, but Franny asked him to trust her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She turned on her flashlight and he followed
suit and they climbed up and into a huge, blackened hole of a cave which seemed
to swallow them up whole. He turned back to take one last look at the city
lights twinkling below and was surprised at how high up they really were; and
wondered if they were going to come back from this or was going to be a big
joke?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Stu, come on.” Her voice echoed from the
darkness within the cave. He turned and shone his flashlight into it and felt
as though the light was taken up by the ink blackness for a moment; but it wasn’t,
“Franny, this is creepy, honey.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I know. I need you near.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">They walked along a narrow pathway inside
the hillside and came to a huge cavern inside the place. Looking down, they
found they no longer needed their flashlights and so, turning them off, looked
around from their vantage point.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She pointed down at a dais in the middle of
the place, “Do you see it?” she whispered, “That’s what we need. We have to
take it off the dais without altering the weight on it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Or else?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Something bad happens.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He regarded her, “Hon, that’s just something
for the house isn’t it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No. It’s to help us all.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Okay. I’ll see what I can do.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The two of them found their way down to the
staging area where the dais was and the idol sat in a pool of glimmering light.
Stu pulled out of his pocket a plastic bag he normally had on him in case he found
a tree in full fruit, and he started filling it with sand from around the area.
He found a few rocks and pushed them into the bag, wrapped it up, felt the
weight and thought it was about right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He walked up to it, the bag of rocks and
sand in one hand, the other hand ready to take the idol. In one swift movement,
he swapped them over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Franny grinned when it was the right weight
and walked to him, “Oh you did it! Thank you, sweetheart!” As they looked it
over, the bag on the dais moved and two stones fell out onto the floor, A
grumbling started up and they stood, looking up towards the back of the cavern
where a massive rolling sound thundered around the cavern, “Oh no! The weight
shifted!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What the ...” Stu looked up to find a huge
white ball catapulting towards them, “Holy crap! Franny! Run!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No... no, please...run, Stu, run!” she
screamed as they turned and ran away from the huge ball, along the only way out
– a huge tunnel – with the ball coming after them, destroying anything in its
path. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Side by side they ran with the idol in their
possession; and when Stu spotted a clearing to their left, he grabbed her arm
and pulled on it, she knew exactly what he was saying. They both jumped the
side wall and made it into the nature reserve alive just as the moon rose over
Rapid City and that massive ball rushed past them leaving a cloud of dust in
its wake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next morning, Stu and Franny sat at the
breakfast table with the idol between them. She still didn’t understand what it
was or what it meant; but when she went to bed the night before, she didn’t
have any nightmares.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“So, Fran, what does this thing mean?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She smiled, “It’s a bigger mystery than I
thought... I’m not sure. But wasn’t that fun?”</span></div>
</div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-34458326184564203712018-06-09T13:22:00.000+10:002018-06-10T12:17:20.454+10:00The Food Connection Network<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chuck wants us to write about food and its connections in a tribute to Anthony Bourdain today... so here's my connection to food. I hope you all enjoy it. I've used my real memories and real names. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">enjoy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">From when I was a little girl, I remember my
Granmother’s house being a place where there was always something to eat,
something of grand smells emanating from the kitchen, of learning how to cook,
stir, taste and enjoy the end result of at the very gentle and experienced
hands of a dear, plump, and sweet old lady in a blue house dress and an apron.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes, my Grandma’s house was the place to go
when you wanted to be fed to the very brim, the pussy-bow, to the state of
almost being sick, because my Grandma Killips was one of the best cooks in my
family ever! From the moment the door opened, you inhaled that delicious scent
of her baking – yes, she had been baking all morning just for us grandkids with
Grandpa in the front parlor reading the paper (well, making out he was) and
hoping he’d get a good feed of the freshly turned out Date Roll or at least one
or two of the Sticky Cornflake Biscuits (which he loved but they stuck to his
dentures and he had to go and run them under hot water to get the honey off
them). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And it was those Sticky Cornflake Biscuits
which were always made for me – especially for me – as they were nice and soft,
filled with peanuts and chewy, warm sultanas and sticky all over with honey and
treacle, binding the cornflakes to each other, and to the tray; as well as to
anything that came in contact with them... oh yes, they were so yummy as they
came off the tray and were laid out one by one on the grease paper-covered wire
trays lining the counter along the wall, where Grandma kept her old Tupperware
containers of tea and coffee and drinking chocolate. In the above cabinet were
cups, saucers and the dinnerware as well, all nice and old and hard-wearing,
with an old-style carriage on the plate itself being pulled by four grand
horses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It wasn’t just her sweet foods which made
the visits to Grandma’s house all the more fun. She used to make a roast lunch to
die for; I mean, the roast vegetables alone were a meal within themselves! The
potatoes were gorgeous and crunchy on the outside and lovely, light and fluffy
on the inside – all the way through! – and even more delectable when you added
butter! And the pumpkin was cooked so well, you could eat the skin; which was
so sweet, nobody left that on the plate; and if you did, Grandpa gave you a horrified
look and took it off you! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The one thing I didn’t like eating there was
Brussel Sprouts. No matter how Grandma cooked them I would gag on them; and
they smelled horrible. My brother and I were not allowed to have dessert or
leave the table until we ate our brussel sprouts. So, Grandma would tell
Grandpa that she’s stick around and make sure we ate them; and the minute he was
in the living room down the hall, she’d scoop them off our plates and eat them
and plop down our bowls of triple-layer jelly with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream
in front of us and whisper: “A secret between us three, okay?” and then she
start clearing the table. I think deep down inside, Grandpa knew all about our ‘secret’,
but didn’t let on, but really, I never liked those little cabbages – even now
in my forties – they just smell and taste horrid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cooking has been a big thing in our lives
because of our Grandmothers. Oh, yes, I also had a Nanna who was alive when I
was younger. But she wasn’t as liberal when it came to us kids with food as
Grandma Killips was. Nan Parker was always one who kept the sweets hidden high
and out of reach, told us to not eat the plums in the fridge (and yet they
vanished without us touching them) and wouldn’t let us eat so much as a Milky
Way before dinner. She forced us to wait the whole six hours between lunch and
dinner, thinking us kids – who lived most of our lives on pure sugar and junk
food when we were at school and at home in between meals – could survive the
afternoons in the back yard, when really we wanted to be running around half of
Moorooka and Annerley with the other kids. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was nice to be around Nan Parker, but she
had her ways when it came to food. If you didn’t eat your carrots one meal,
when you were 16 years old, you never got them again for the rest of your life –
ever! It happened to me. I love my honeyed carrots – especially Nan Parker’s
honeyed carrots (I still don’t know how she did them to make them ooze honey on
the plate, and wish to hell I did) – and one night, I didn’t eat the honeyed
carrots, some potato and beans because I was full. Well, the next meal, I didn’t
get any carrots... I thought she didn’t have enough. But nope, I never saw
another carrot grace my plate for the next decade. When I asked her about that,
she said, “Oh! I thought you hated them! So, I took the hint and didn’t give
you any.” I was stunned! I shook my head, “Oh your honeyed carrots, really??? I
love carrots! I was full and couldn’t fit in another bite that night; that’s
all.” After that, Dad said to his Mum to ask people about why they left things,
or if they’re full, not just assume they hate things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cooking in Nan’s kitchen was another thing
too. I asked if she’d like me to bake a batch of scones in her kitchen; and Pop
Parker jumped at the chance that somebody else was going to ‘have a go’ at
making something in the place! He was all for it and sat at the kitchen table
watching me eagerly as I pulled out my cookbook I had brought with me (I had
gotten it for my birthday that year) and Nan followed me around like a bad
smell, double guessing my measurements, turning down the oven when I turned it
to the correct heat (then Pop went and turned it back up for me when her back
was turned and put on some tea). Well, as I was washing up and cleaning the
counter, with the egg timer going, Nan just wouldn’t leave the oven door alone!
She kept opening it and checking on them, letting the heat out! Pop ended up
leading her out of the kitchen and telling her that I was baking, not her. The
kitchen wasn’t going to catch fire and they were scones, not a huge experiment
going awry. She was so flustered that somebody was using the kitchen and not
her that I ended up just letting the scones be the way they were – not adding
on any time as I should have – and when they came out of the oven, they were
undercooked and Nan blamed me for it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I never cooked in her kitchen again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That’s not to say I never cooked again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">At high school, we had a great catering
course which my brother took up... but I was just as good at Home Economics. We
had to make an apron before we were allowed in the kitchen though. And once we
all did – or most of us did – we were asked to cook our first meal; and for a lot
of us, it was the first time we had ever been in a kitchen. I learned a lot
from my Home Economics teachers; and since then, I have learned a lot from my
brother and my Mum as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My brother went in and started out as an apprentice
chef at some of the big and snooty restaurants around Brisbane, like Two Rooms
(both locations) and there’s a nice little place in West End he worked at as
well. And, he may not have finished his apprenticeship, but he learned a lot
about cooking and how a kitchen runs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, when I moved out home, I started out
with the crappy powdered food and eating take-away food, all of which made me
very sick. But over the years, I’ve learned how to cook through recipes in great
books. I started buying recipe books I wanted to learn from, writing my own recipe
journal and relishing in the moment when I have adjusted a recipe enough to
call it my very own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have learned a lot through
experimentation, looking at herbs, and working on my own recipes and what food
goes with what herbs and seeing how far I can push the culinary envelope. My
Cold-Buster Soup is one my family has tasted often; and I have made for them
when they’ve really needed it. It wards off the harshest cold, and busts the
flu out of their system. My vegetable soup is a great stodgy soup filled with
everything I can get my hands on along with pasta - and occasionally chillies
for a great kick, or some curry powder as well. My favourite foods to make are
Italian foods; as they’re the most delicious and rich. My Pumpkin, Spinach and Mozzarella
Cannelloni is the best one I’ve experimented with – even when I’ve changed it
to eggplant, tomatoes and zucchini. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My brother has often phoned me just as I’ve
put something into the oven and asked me, “Hey, sis, what are you creating for
dinner?” I’ve told him and he’s written it down and made it; then called me
later on asking where in the hell I got that recipe. I’ve told him, “Aaaw,
well, I made it up last week, and wanted to see if it was the same this week;
and it was.” Yep, gotta say, experimenting with your cooking with great, fresh
food is always a fun thing to do! But you have to have the previous knowledge
of what food goes with which herb beforehand, or it’ll all taste like dirt. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Food connects us all – from the youngest of
our memories to the time we have had with each of our family gatherings – it will
always be there to pull us together in one way or another. It’s a connection no
matter where you are in the world, what language is spoken, what culture you’re
emerging yourself into – food is the connection to everyone and everything
everywhere. I have learned that the best food in your life takes more than an
hour to prepare; and only minutes to eat. Prepare with the best ingredients,
and use the best utensils on hand. Your kitchen need not be a massive one, but
it must be a useful one; and that’s all which matters; as I’ve made the best
vegetarian stews, pizzas, soups and tofu burgers in my very own kitchen; and
yet it’s not the best place in the world to cook, it’s not very impressive, and
it’s not filled with character, or the most expensive equipment around... but
it’s got me as it’s cook with my cookbooks – and really that’s all my kitchen
needs, that’s all I need in my life as a writer. So long I know how to cook
good food, I’m going to be okay; and considering my Grandma, my Nanna, my Mum and
my brother are all great cooks, I think I’m going to be okay. It’s the connection
to these people which I can pass onto my niece and onto my friends as well –
the food connection network. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-33537720739678770912018-06-02T12:59:00.002+10:002018-06-02T21:17:43.244+10:00The Dreamers Door<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chuck gave us 10 different titles this week to pick from. I picked this one and wondered what would happen if I took us on a journey of where we went before we hit the REM status of sleep? Well, it was weird... strange really. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">enjoy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The duvet was nice and warm as my mind
relaxed, the chill of the night was kept out and the humming of the neighbour’s
air-conditioner started up. My last momentary thought was: ‘How in the hell
would somebody need an air-conditioner on a freezing night like this?’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then, I was walking along a forest pathway,
with the tallest trees vanishing into the mists above, the moonlight pushing
through the grey mist overhead and greenness of the surroundings seeping into
the pores of my soul. The pathway crunched under my feet, a cool wetness
pushing up through the souls of my feet making me shiver as I took each step
towards a sound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It wasn’t as though I knew where I was
going, but I didn’t feel in danger of being eaten by anything. I knew nothing
was hiding in the fern surrounding me and spreading around to my left,
downwards into the darkness where I couldn’t see too far.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Water was gurgling off in the distance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Turning away from it, I kept walking along
the path. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My feet were no longer cold and I looked down to find I had my
favourite shoes on – how did they get there? I didn’t put them on. Shrugging, I
didn’t worry too much about this too much – I wanted to find the sound I was
walking towards. It seemed to be moving further away from me as I moved towards
it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Was this a dream? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Was I actually in a forest? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Was I still in bed under the safety of my
duvet on the freezing cold Winters’ night? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wasn’t sure, but I was really beginning to
wonder where I was as there were no sounds coming from the forest: no birds, no
night creatures – nothing. This was putting me on edge as I picked up my
walking pace and looked behind me to find there was darkness in my wake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I took a step forward, the forest and its
path, the moonlit mists above and everything surrounding me vanished into a
pitch darkness of nothingness which seemed to vanish off the face of the
planet....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Was I still on planet Earth?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Was this a dream?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Was I still in bed under the safety of my
duvet on the freezing cold Winters’ night? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Was I...? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I stopped walking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was dreaming, but this dream wouldn’t end
or begin unless I... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking around to my right, I saw a door
carved into the darkened shadow of a tree trunk. Exactly how long it had been
there, I didn’t know, but – I broke from the path, stepped through the greenery
on the side of the path and started towards it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My jeans were soaked by the heavy dew all
over the plants, twigs snapped under my shoes and I pushed branches out of my
which fell down in front of me to block my view. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I didn’t take my eyes off the tree trunk
or its shadow-filled doorway; and I knew if I even so much as blinked, it would
vanish and I’d be lost forever in this pre-dreamers landscape of nothingness,
darkness and surrealism forever – well, until I was awoken by my alarm in the
Real World. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I stepped into the shadow of the doorway and
found I was right! There was indeed a door carved into this tree! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But ... was it the right door to the right
dream for this night?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Was this Dreamers Door mine or another’s to
use? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, I’d never know until I tried it out,
right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I grabbed the carved wooden handle and gave
it a good, hard shove.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-45352780716524934862018-05-20T12:21:00.002+10:002018-05-20T12:29:06.452+10:00Best Served Cold<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Revenge is the name of the game here - and Chuck has told us to play it any way we want to. Thought my story was going to be plain and simple... well, that's how it started out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">enjoy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was going to plan... everything was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was where I was supposed to be – on the
roof waiting for back-up – and the rest of the group were going to ‘put to
sleep’ the guards at the main gates and surrounding building.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was until it all went wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The plan? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nah, you’ll think I’m being (jealous,
childish, horrible...) ....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Revenge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yep, that’s it... it’s revenge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My life was going well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had the house, the wife, the two children,
the car... I was what my Mum and Dad wanted – and expected – of me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I worked my arse off and got where I wanted
to be – needed to be – in life to make a good life for us. I put my children
into the right schools, lived in the right suburb, knew the right people,
socialised in the right circles, attended a wine club, went to squash once a
fortnight at my local gym, joined the country club and got into the right back
pockets of all the right people to get a foothold into the job I wanted where I
was... besides, my boss had made sure I got into the country club.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">How was I to know that country club was
owned by criminals? It looked like it was on the up-and-up – it really did, but
then, most places which look like they’re legal, aren’t. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is how revenge came into play.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I arrived home one evening to find my front
door kicked in, my wife sitting at the kitchen table and my kids were gone. She
looked as though the men who were standing around her had smacked her around. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Honey?” I put down my bag in a nearby
chair, which normally she’d yell at me about, but this time, she just cried, “What’s
going on.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You’re the new one, right?” one of the
beefier men asked from the fridge, poking around in it for something to eat or
drink, “Dontcha have any beer?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“We don’t drink alcohol.” I said, “What’s
going on here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He turned from the fridge, slammed the door
and opened a small bottle of Mountain Dew, and guzzled it down in one
or two gulps, belched and left it on the counter, “Well, aren’t you demanding?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You’re in my house, beat up my wife, and
... where are the kids?” I looked around, straining to hear for the laughter
from upstairs of my two children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Her hand touched my arm, “They took them...
sweetheart... oh god, they...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I almost stopped breathing as I watched my
beautiful wife crumble, tears streaking her face as she shook in the dining
room chair. Touching her hand gently, she jumped and I knew they had done
something horrible to her, and cast all three men a baleful look: “Tell me what
you have done to my children. I have a fair idea what you’ve done to my wife.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“One thing at a time, sport-o.” The beef-cake
smirked, “Now, you’re kids are fine, so long you follow the rules.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Which are?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“We make them and you’ll follow them as they
happen.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, the rules changed from day to day. My
wife disappeared and the cops didn’t want to know about what was happening. So,
I had to do the rescuing myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I quit my job, disappeared from the area I
lived in, cashed everything I owned and joined a vigilante group and trained up
to the point where I could get in and out of a building without attracting
attention to myself. The guys were ready to help me after a few jobs were
successful with me in the team – and they knew I was there for a reason.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We were all there for our own personal
reasons – and each of us were mainly there to either rescue somebody, avenge a
death, or needed a cause to make our dark lives meaningful. When they heard
mine, they knew they had to help me get my wife and my children back – and if
my family was gone? Well, at least I’d know and not be left in the dark.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gunshots popped and people shouted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A siren slowly started going off as lights
swung around the compound.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I stayed put on the ruin of the building on
the outskirts of the place, waiting for the signal – so far, this was not it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then I saw it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The hot pink streak of a flare shot high and
bright into the night and exploded into a single fireworks display! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don’t remember exactly my movements – I normally
don’t – as I fought my way towards the compound to find a vehicle, the guys I
was in with and – finally – my family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But this isn’t how it worked out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Your lawyer’s here.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I turned around from the small window
overlooking the grey day outside, “Okay.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Are you going to behave yourself or do we
have to cuff you?” the screw asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I’ll be okay.” I nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The door unlocked, slid opened loudly and he
let me out of my holding cell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wasn’t in prison, I was the compound’s
holding cell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He led me to a room where I saw my wife
standing behind the lawyer without a scratch on her. The bruises she had on her
a few months back would have left scars, but she didn’t have any.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I tried not to show that I noticed this, but
it was hard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Sit.” The screw pushed me into a metal
chair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The lawyer who sat across from me was my
boss, “What happened to you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Everything went sideways. I had the perfect
life, worked for you and joined that damned country club, and then suddenly
everything screwed up and now you’re asking me what happened to me?” I glared
at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He sat back smiling, “You don’t understand.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Where are my children?” I looked up at my
wife, “And she was so beaten up, it would have left scars.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“This is all a game. And the rules are
complex, jack... so the sooner you catch on, the better.” He snapped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“And the name of this game is?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Revenge... now, this is your wife... trust
me, she’s been in hiding. But now, there’s a completely different lot of rules
to finding your kids.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I leaned across the table, “And the next lot
of revenge?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A grin spread across his face slowly, “...
is best served ice bloody cold, my friend.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“They took my family too.”</span></div>
</div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-39566763465837577402018-05-12T13:55:00.001+10:002018-05-12T13:56:11.605+10:00Soul Real Estate<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chuck has us talking about Real Estate - but there's different types of that isn't there? So, I did some soul searching; and after I recently found out that one of my friends committed suicide last week... this really does make you wonder what happens to our souls.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">enjoy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“So, which one do you have in mind?” her
voice interrupted my thoughts as I looked through the book open on the table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Um... will it make a difference once I’ve
chosen?” I looked up at her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What do you mean? Once you’ve picked one,
we’ll sort through them all, find it and install it – and you’ll be home and
hosed.” She shrugged, “Nobody’s ever asked me this kinda question before.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I sat in the cramped quarters of the visitors
room where my lawyer was permitted to talk to me while my parole hearing was
being looked into next door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They were taking their time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This made me nervous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But there was real estate to look at – and if
my lawyer was offering this up, I guess it meant it was going well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There was a knock at the door and she
turned, stood and walked to answer. The guard whispered something to her and I
looked back down at the book of choices I had in front of me again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The door closed and she sat across from me
again, putting another book next to me. She’s never done this before – and I
wondered how that came to be, cocking my eyebrows in question.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“They’re taking longer, which means you have
more time to look; and I can offer you more options. This is good.” She smiled
warmly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I could almost see the knife in her hand.
She was going to smile and grin and get me on her side then stab me in the
back, telling me had no options and they were going to throw me back in – no real
estate options, no job, no nothing! “Right... more options.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You see, I was sent to prison for something
I didn’t do. And I’ve been sitting here rotting away for the past decade –
being up for parole every two years – and they’ve yet to let me out. However,
it’s the future, and in this day and age, they can take your soul away from you
and make it so you don’t care about what happens to you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, I’m not exactly Human. I never
had a soul to begin with, and what they took from me wasn’t my soul – it was my
Grace. Yep, I’m an Angel, and it recharged over the years I’ve been here. They
took away from me what they thought was a ‘dangerous weapon’ – it was my Angel
Blade – and I couldn’t show what I was in case I was spotted by the demons in
the prison (yes, I can see them and they can spot me as well). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">However, now, they want to put a soul into
my vessel and it won’t work on a being such as myself; and how am I to explain
this to my lawyer? I looked up at her as she rubbed at her wrist painfully,
wincing at it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Are you all right?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She looked up at me, “My last client broke
my wrist – I think. He was being an asshole.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I used to be a medic, let me have a look.”
I put my hand out and she allowed me to touch her arm gently, and I could feel
it wasn’t broken, “It’s badly sprained.” I really wanted to fix it for her, but
I couldn’t, not with a camera in the room; and I sighed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She looked at me, “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You want to give me a soul; when I really
don’t need one.” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“They took a soul out of you when you were
brought in.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Slowly I shook my head, “No, they didn’t. I
never had a soul. My vessel’s soul has already gone home.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The look of disbelief crossed her face
before she pulled her arm back, she leaned back in her seat, “What are you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I can fix your arm... but,” I glanced up at
the all-seeing camera in the corner of the room and back at her, “...I don’t
want it shown to everyone on the news.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Her eyes widened, a whisper fell from her
lips: “You’re not Human, are you?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I didn’t know what to say which would scare
her, so I looked to my hands, then back to her, “I can fix your arm.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“How did you get incarcerated?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Wrong place, wrong time.” I half-smiled, “And
I didn’t want to freak out the cops, then before I knew it, I was inside for
all this time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Standing, she walked over to the camera and
unplugged it from the wall, the red light blinking off. Then, she sat across
from me again, sliding her sore arm over to me, “Show me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What are you going to do for me?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I’ll get you out of here, get back what
they took from you.” She whispered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Don’t worry about the Grace, I’ve
recharged... it’s not like a soul, I just have to stop using my powers and it’ll
come back.” A smile touched my lips, “I’ll be okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“But the Grace they have of yours, is it
dangerous?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I nodded, “I will need it. But a phone call
to the Soul Keeper will suffice.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Soul Keeper?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I looked up at her, “Yes. If a Grace or soul
needs protecting, a Soul Keeper of God’s Garrison is called upon to care for
it.” When she didn’t reply, I continued, “You didn’t seriously think all those
souls your government have in cold storage back there were hidden, did you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You know where they are?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Of course. But first things first, you must
get me out of here, then I’ll fix your arm.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“But a soul...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I closed the book, pushing it away from me, “I
have no interest in a soul I no long need. I need my Grace and you are going to
help me get it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There was knock at the door and the lawyer
jumped at the noise, “Yes, I will.” She stood and answered the door. The guard
handed her a piece of paper and closed the door. She read it, looked at me and
smiled, “You’re parole has been granted.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I know. Who do you think was on the board?
Now, give me your arm as you’ll need to be in better shape than you’re in.” I
stood and walked to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking at the door, I didn’t want to tell
her, but I did: “Because the guard out there is possessed by a demon and his
main job is to kill you. Mine is to protect you.” I touched her arm, and felt
it fix and mend as I spoke, then looking up at her, and her shocked expression,
I smiled a little, “Are you ready?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“For what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I put my hand on the door knob: “To save
some souls – but really to save yours in particular.”</span></div>
</div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-13940622972311046982018-05-05T12:47:00.002+10:002018-05-05T12:47:54.700+10:00Life On Mars<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Space Opera... hmmm... Well, I hope this isn't too serious for us on this theme for May the Fourth Be With You - and you see, Chuck set the theme, and I've never really understood space operas. I hope this one is okay. And, yeah, I channeled a bit of David Bowie here too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">enjoy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, what do you think?” my little brother
asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Do you think there’s life on Mars?” he
laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Dunno, little bro.” I linked my hands
behind my head as we laid out on the back lawn looking up at the stars in our pyjamas,
“I guess we’ll have to just imagine it for now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He looked over at me, “But it’d be fun to
get up there in space ships, to zoom around like in ‘Star Wars’, right? Like
Luke Skywalker and Han Solo?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Laughing, I sat up looking at him, my back
wet from the dew on the grass, “Yeah, I guess. But it’s late now, and we better
get in. Mum and Dad would hate it if they come and check on us and find us gone
from out beds.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Aaw, do we have to?” he groaned thumping
his feet on the ground, “I wanna stay for longer.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“The last time we did that, we both caught a
cold.” I held out my hand to him, “And Mum cracked it at us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Brian sat up and grabbed my hand, “I guess
so.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I walked him back to his bedroom, sneaking
past our parents’ room, and tucked him back into bed, “Now, don’t worry, we’ll
do that again when there’s a lunar eclipse – won’t that be fun?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He rolled onto his side away from me, “I s’pose.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The moment I stepped out into the hall,
closing his door quietly, I found Dad standing there, “And what were you two
doing out of bed?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was going to lie, but knew Dad had a
built-in bullshit detector nobody could get past, “Well, Brian wanted to see
the meteor shower.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He smiled, “Of course he did. You’re a good
big sister, but I have to talk to you. Come downstairs and we’ll chat.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I sat there at the dining room table where
Mum had set down a cup of tea in front of me, but I didn’t touch it as Dad told
me that they had been offered a transfer to another company.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I don’t expect you to leave the home, but I’m
going and you can see me – your mother is going to stay here to look after you
and Brian.” He reached across the table and touched my arm, “I’ll be a Captain –
it’s a great thing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“But Dad, how long will you be gone?” I
asked, moving my now cold cup of tea out of the way, “I don’t understand how
you can just leave.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He exchanged puzzled looks with Mum, “I’m
don’t understand why you wouldn’t be thrilled with this news, Lana. You’re at
the academy, you know how hard it is there; the expectations.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“But Brian is only seven years old, will he
remember you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You see, honey, she understands completely
how this works.” Mum soothed, “Lana knows you might be away for a long time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dad ran a hand over his stubbled face, his
fatigue showing from not sleeping all that well, “I was hoping to do this for
the family. We need the money.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“How long are you going to be gone for?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“My contract is for a year, but I can see if
the family can come along.” He said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mum crumbled into tears, “And then we lose
the house?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He smiled, “Not necessarily. We could get
the house moved to the final destination.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I stared at him: “Which is?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Mars.” He smiled, “Look over the past
thirty years, they’ve improved the atmosphere, made sure it grows everything we
need and people are moving their houses there all the time. So, why not us?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mum stood, walking to the window, “Will it
look the same as here? I mean out there.” She pointed out into the darkness of
the night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He walked over to his wife, rubbing her
shoulders: “There’s suburbs where they’re taking houses – with proper blocks of
land with them, plants and all – to Mars. I’ve been assured it’s safe.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She looked from him to me, then back, “Okay,
then let’s do it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dad looked around at me, “You okay with
this?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What about the academy?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“They’ve got one there too. You won’t miss a
single class.” He picked up the phone and called a number, “Hank, we have
better news than expected. Yep... the whole house and land to Mars. When can we
have a transporter?” he grinned: “Before dawn? Great! So, we’ll be there by
sunrise. This is wonderful.” Dad walked around to the front door and opened it
as a group of people walked through to the kitchen and waited until Dad finished
the phone call.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of them, an older man, said looking
around, “Thought you had a son.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yeah, Brian’s upstairs in bed.” I said, “Best
you leave him there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He nodded, “We’ll cover his bed over with a
hyper-sleep cover-all – as we will all do with your beds. And then, it’ll
begin.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, I’ll get to bed and you guys can
begin on me first. My folks have papers to sign.” I smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I woke to my alarm and pushed back the
covers. Looking outside, I saw there was something different about where I was
compared to where I went to sleep last night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Lana! Lana!” Brian’s voice screamed from
the room next door, “Look outside, there’s a dust storm!” he came racing into
my room, forgetting to knock (but I could forgive him this once), “Look! Look!”
he pointed out my window.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Brian, hey stop.” I walked over to him, “That’s
not a dust storm. That’s the sunrise.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sat
in my big over-stuffed reading chair next to my window, staring out there at
the dawning day, “What do you mean?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sitting in the bay window, I glanced
outside, then back at him, “Do you remember when you asked about whether there’d
be life on Mars?”</span></div>
</div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-63301097407829068352018-04-28T10:19:00.001+10:002018-04-28T10:32:01.079+10:00Notes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chuck asked us to write about the complexities about being a super hero. I thought this would be a good back door way of looking at it... or would it? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">enjoy</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Super
Heroes Anonymous – Group One<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Second Session<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Members:
<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Superman<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ironman<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wonder
Woman<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The
Thing<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Spiderman<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Batman<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today’s
Session:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For
the first half hour, none of them wanted to talk about how their status in life
had affect their personal lives. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I stayed quiet, but then, Spiderman started
talking about how it all it took was being bitten by a radioactive spider and
the effects from that which took him down a path he felt he couldn’t return –
he gave me a concerned look saying: ‘I could have gone in a completely different
direction! I could have killed people instead of being a good guy. But I think
being on the side of good is harder than the public think.’ His mask hid his
tears, but I could hear his sadness.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Batman
groaned, ‘Grow up. My parents were killed when I was a child. I swore to be on
the side of good and to bring justice to the suffering of all in the city! The
Mayor is on my side.’ He stood up and folded his arms (he does this in every
session; we all tend to ignore him now until he sits down and says something
useful – unfortunately, he never does). He sat down and started brooding.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wonder
Woman looks around, ‘Why am I the only woman here?’</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I look
at the list on my clipboard, ‘Because you don’t get along with the other female
superheroes in the second group.’ <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">‘Oh. I
see.’ She nodded, ‘I don’t pick the fights.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I
smiled, ‘I know. Is there anything you’d like to add?’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">‘I do
wish I wasn’t always stronger than the men I’m attracted to.’ She sighed, ‘It’s
a real turn-off. And why is it I’m always fighting greasy warlords or ... my
alter-ego is being kidnapped?’ she looked up at me, ‘It’s a sexist thing, isn’t
it? Kidnap the woman and think that she won’t do anything... stupid.’ <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I stop typing and sit back in the dim light
of my office. These people have been part of their own two split-identity lives
for so long, that they know it’s going to screw them up at some point... and
Wonder Woman said something that... well, I didn’t like right now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The
Thing sat on the floor – he preferred it because he broke the last chair and I had to pay for
it. He looked around at Wonder Woman, ‘I know what you mean when it comes to
your other life.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">‘How
so?’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">His
blue eyes stared at her from the hardened, brick-like surrounds of his ‘skin’, ‘I
have a second life – just like the rest of you – but I’m in love with a lovely
woman, but she has no idea about who I am because she can’t see me.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Superman
had been observing him, ‘But she sees the real you, right? The man underneath
all that brick?’ <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The
Thing nodded, ‘Yep, that’s right... well, she does when he’s around physically.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ironman
hadn’t sat down with the group today. Last week, he sat with us for a few
minutes, heard us talking and wandered over towards the window and stayed there
for the whole two hours, not saying anything to us. Today, he walked in and took
his place at the window again; but this time, he leaned on the window sill and
watched us.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I
turned, ‘Ironman, would you like to join us today?’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">‘Why
would I join you?’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">‘We’re
just talking.’ I said.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">‘I’m a
super hero and you want me to tell these ones about my weaknesses?’ he looked
around the group, ‘No.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wonder
Woman stood and walked to him, ‘It’s got to be grinding on you – you know,
being as open to the public as you are.’ <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">‘I can
tell them to leave me alone.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Superman
scoffed, ‘No super hero can do what Greta Gabo did. It’s just not possible. We’re
needed too much. They call for us, and we run to their rescue – believe me, I’ve
tried to ignore the cries for help; and it’s torture.’ He frowned, ‘Oh no... I’m
sorry to cut this short, doc, I have to go.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I
looked up at him, ‘A call for help?’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He
stood smiling, ‘You know how it is...’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He
made it through most of the session – that was good.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Batman
grizzled in his seat, his arms folded, ‘Him and his super hearing.’ He looked
out the window to the sky, ‘I have to wait for...’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The
phone on my desk rang and I picked it up, ‘Hello? Oh, yes sir, he’s here.’ I
turned to Batman, ‘It’s the Mayor, he needs you.’ And right there, I lost my
second one from the group as he raced from the group.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Spiderman
stood, ‘My spidey senses are tingling...’ he sprung onto the wall, ‘I have
to...’ and before I could say anything he aimed one arm out the window and
webbed his way out across the city.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wonder
Woman, Ironman and The Thing all looked at me and I shrugged, ‘Well, you all
may as well go. It’s a trio now, not a group.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wonder
Woman smiled, ‘Thanks for understanding, doc. We’ll be back next week for our
next session – right guys?’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ironman
shrugged, ‘I guess. And next week, I might say something useful – or at all.’ <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I sat back from my typewriter. These guys
were going to be tough to work out; given it was my second session – but they
were beginning to open up. I think it’s the secrets that are going to be the
tough things. I won’t push though, that’s the thing with super heroes: the
secrets they hold close; the ones they can’t tell anyone, not even a shrink.</span></div>
</div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-24003519521710794162018-04-26T13:58:00.003+10:002018-04-26T14:08:14.089+10:00Amaranthine Diary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last week, Chuck didn't put up a challenge - so I dug around my old emails and found an old challenge from a few years back from 2014 - would you believe it??? Yep. Two tables of words.. we pick one from each and used the title to write a story. Mine went from bad to worse... as usual.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">enjoy</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There’s a point in your life when your whole
perspective on everything changes – it turns on a pin – and you’re never the
same. Mine changed from the moment I was
handed the box by the delivery guy. He didn’t bother waiting for a signature,
he just ran back to his van and took off, wheels screeching from the curb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Turning, I walked inside my house and placed
the box on the table, grabbed the crowbar nearby and levered open the top. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was a hug box for such a small item.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was – after all a diary – not anything
huge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pulling back the packing paper and beans, I
looked down at the large book within and stepped back, my gut turning cold as I
caught a quick view of what had been delivered to me, “No way.” Checking the
calendar, then my books, I realised I had overlooked this date entirely – and had
no idea how I could overlook it. Picking up the phone, I pressed four on my
speed-dial, not taking my eyes off the box as I stood by my front door, “Tommy,
I think your delivery arrived.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He found me still standing at my front door
waiting; and I didn’t know how long I had been there for, “It’s on the table.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“When did it arrive?” he walked over to the
box and looked inside it at the book, then turned back at me, “Helen!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I, um, don’t remember, um... it was just on
sunset. The dude was a courier and didn’t bother to wait for a signature.” I muttered
looking at my hands, “Want a drink?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yeah... um, no. I’ll be okay, I’ve eaten.” He
took the box onto another table near the window where I potted up my plants for
the garden, and carefully pulled the book out, turned the box onto its side and
rested the book on it, “You eat something.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I turned to my fridge, opened it and looked
at all the food I had prepared the night before, and didn’t feel a twinge of
hunger, but I was thirsty. Grabbing a beer, I popped the top off, tossed the
lid into the sink and guzzled down half of it as the door slammed shut. Then I
realised that I haven’t touched beer in over a decade; knowing it turned me
into a not-so-nice person, “Oh crap.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tommy sniffed the air, “Why are you drinking
booze?” he turned frowning, “And it’s not even 8pm and you’ve down... oh man,
you’re scared.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Putting the beer on the counter, I walked
over to him, “Look you’ve been searching for that diary for a long time; and
now it’s in my home, it’s making me feel weird.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I’ll take it home.” He turned, picked it up
and left me alone to my weird feelings and soon-to-be hangover. I don’t
remember buying beer; or having beer in the house that day... or how that beer
got there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Days passed by and I didn’t hear from Tommy.
He’d vanished with the diary and I tossed out the beer from my fridge. I copped
a hangover like nobody’s business and was in a crappy mood all day because I
drank; so I stayed away from the public for a few days until it was out of my
system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I did hear about some murders around the
place – like always – seeing we lived in the city, it wasn’t out of the
ordinary to hear of bad things happening around the place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was curious though: why did Tommy take
such an interest in what he was? He’d been a vampire for over a decade;
actually I was there when he was turned and staked the bastard who turned him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In truth, Tommy and I were to be married –
he had just proposed and that damned vampire had screwed up everything in our
lives. So, I still loved him and everything; but we couldn’t be together
because of what Tommy had been turned into. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tommy wanted to see if he could control
himself around me enough to be in love with me – as a Human – and still have
what might pass as a normal life. This was why he had been hunting around for
that diary... the oldest vampire diary of all; the one Vlad kept way back when.
It was something he had to try.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And yes, Tommy had tried everything – my dear
sweet Thomas – but nothing had worked out, he was still a blood-sucker who I
was dearly in love with and who loved me. We didn’t want to lose our friends
and we didn’t to change our lives completely because of what he was turned
into.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But ... well... if this diary didn’t work
out? I had two choices, I had to stake him or join him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Man, that sounds like a line right out of a
blood-sucking Mills & Boone Romance novel doesn’t it? But I don’t want to
do either... I want him to be in my life, but I don’t want to kill him either.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The sun was almost down when I knocked on
his door. The curtains being drawn wasn’t anything new; and something I
understood would be something he did all day if he was going to study the book –
that is if he did as he promised he would.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The locks sounded and the door moved opened,
“Come in, Helen.” He voice was across the room and at his desk again before I
closed the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Everything okay?” I asked putting the esky
down in a kitchen chair, “I’ve brought some 0 Neg and 0 Pos for you... you know
to mix it up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gazing up from the pages of the large book,
he smiled, almost looking like his old self again: “Thank you. I appreciate
that.” Sitting back from the book, he pushed it away from him, “Did you know
that Vlad added some of his own blood into the ink in this diary?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You can smell it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tommy nodded, “Yep. No matter how old blood
is, I can smell the stuff.” He closed the large volume, “But there’s nothing he’s
told us here that we don’t already know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Damn.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He stood and walked to the esky, “Has anyone
called you lately – you know our friends?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I fiddled with my fingernails nervously, “No.
They began to pull away from us when you were turned; and I wouldn’t leave you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He nodded as he placed the blood bags into
the fridge carefully in date order, then stood back and closed the door, “You
take care of me really well... as though we’re already married.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tears came easily, “I can’t help it. I love
you, Thomas. And if I was to go off with somebody else, you’d become jealous.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He looked to his feet for a moment, “Yeah, I
would. I love you still as well.” His hand was in mine as I sat down at the
counter, “Oh honey. I wish things were different.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wiped my tears away with my free hand, “Me
too. But the only way we can stay together is ...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No!” he stood and walked to the other side
of the room, “I’m not doing that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Do you have any idea how long it’s been
since Jean and Stuart have been by the house? Or your parents? They think you’re
dead.” I snapped, “Tommy, it’s this way or no way... you and I can be together.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He turned from the thick drapes, “I don’t want
you to live a life of this!” he waved his arm at the closed off world he was
missing out on, “You don’t need to hide from it all... I do!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“If you loved me, you’d turn me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Don’t say that! Don’t you say that to me!”
he shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Then let me go.” I removed the engagement
ring from my finger, “Let me live... please.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">His eyes watched me remove the ring and he
shook his head, “I can’t. I love you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I know... and if you love me so much, you’d
let me go.” I grabbed my esky and walked out towards the door, opened it and
started out into the cool night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A cold hand grabbed my arm, yanked me back
inside, “Where are you going?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Home!” I threw the esky at him and he
deflected it against the wall and it bounced near the stairs, “Let me out!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A freezing cold hand grabbed my neck, shoved
me against the wall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I tried to fight – really I did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I punched. I kicked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">His hold was like a vice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He bit into my carotid artery and I felt
fear take a hold of my soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That bastard!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“No... please...you’re hurting me...Tommy...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He pulled away, “Oh my god! What?...” he
watched as I dropped to the floor, knowing it was far too late to say sorry, to
save me through normal Human means, “Oh shit, Helen. I’m sorry... no.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I woke up on his bed upstairs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tommy was across the room sitting in his
large chair reading a book in the dark. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sitting up, I felt my neck, but it was
healed. Did I dream that nightmare which just happened? Was I dreaming now?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I looked over at him, “Did you bite me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He hadn’t been really reading... he had been
just staring at the same page for the last hour, “Yes. I got pissed off you
were going to leave me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Over that diary – or over what I told you
that was the truth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He dropped the book on the floor, “Both.” He
rose from the seat, “I tried to burn the book, but it won’t burn. It can’t be destroyed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Well, exactly what did you do to me?”</span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rising from his chair, he walked over and
sat on the bed, “I drank too much of you and didn’t have a choice... you asked
me to and I should have handled it better – but I didn’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Tommy, we have other, bigger problems if
that Amaranthine Diary can’t be destroyed.”</span></div>
</div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5867563067219186778.post-3344674462148167592018-04-14T15:54:00.003+10:002018-04-14T15:54:33.947+10:00The Lottery<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chuck has us writing about Luck... you know how Friday 13th is unlucky? Well, he's thought a good twist to this would be fun. It is - kinda.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">enjoy</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You’d think winning a lifetime’s worth of
money would be a great thing – right? I could pay off all my credit cards, buy
the car and house I’ve always wanted, go on that huge overseas trip which would
last years. I could give money here, there and everywhere and do whatever the
fuck I wanted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, yeah I guess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Um, no, not really.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The house and car were a no-brainer. I mean,
why in the hell would I live in a complete dump of a neighbourhood and drive a
shitty little crap-shooter car when I could have my dream motor at my
fingertips – yeah the one I’ve been walking past at the Chrysler dealership in
the city for the past six months on the way to work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then again, why would I ever go back to
work again? I mean, let’s weigh it up: $400,000 per year to live on and do what
I want with – tax free on one hand. And then there’s that pokey little fucking
cubicle on the fourteenth floor at the insurance company I worked for the past
fifteen years where I don’t get to see the daylight unless I stand up and look
to my right or to my left. And even then, my supervisor walks around and asks
me: ‘Exactly what in the hell are you thinking of doing? Sit down and take that
call.’ I’d look down and that phone would have all the lights all lit up with
the unending maggots on the other end of the phone asking for their insurance
to be changed, cancelled or they would be asking me stupid questions about this
or that on their policy and failed to read the book that came in the mail with
all their bits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh yeah, I’d really want to go back to a
place where I arrive in the dark and go home in the dark. Sounds like a solid
plan!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And my win took just me going out shopping
one afternoon. I didn’t even need to pick up anything really – it was just
dumb, stupid luck that I happen to walk into the newsagents and pick out my
Golden Circle card from my wallet and ask for the ‘Set For Life Lottery Game’
for that week. It had been advertised for about a month before and I thought to
just get in it like everyone else; and there was only going to be one winner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The guy printed out the ticket for me (I had
preset numbers picked) and swiped my card and then I paid the $60 for the game,
pocketed it all and pushed my shopping trolley out to the car went home – not even
thinking about it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I mean, I don’t buy lottery tickets. They’re
just not in my budget!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The big night came up and I was working
overtime – so I didn’t even seen the numbers get called. So, it took me around
a week to find the lottery ticket they were calling out for. The news kept
saying: ‘Golden Casket has yet to find the lucky winner of the ‘Set For Life’
winner of their ‘Lucky Little Bastard’ Game; which, if it’s you? Well, you will
be a lucky little bastard, won’t you?’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, I looked through my pockets of all my
jackets and slacks and found it in the bottom of my recycling – forgetting that
ticket almost cost me! I mean, it cost me $60 to buy and I almost threw it out!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was almost midnight when I went out to
the all-night grocer down the road and he ran it through his machine not once
but three times... then he looked up at me, with disbelief written all over his
face, picked up the phone and called the after-hours number on the back of the
wrinkled ticket.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yes, we found him. The lucky bastard. He’s
here.” He whispered into the phone looking around the store quickly making sure
nobody else was around to hear it, “What? You’re sending a car? Okay.” He hung
up the phone and turned to me, handing me that ticket, “Have you got picture
I.D on ya?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Sure.” I nodded, “Always do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“They’re sending a car for ya.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I took my ticket, turned around and found a
limo was outside the door with the door open, “Well, fuck, that was quick.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And quick indeed did my life change from me working
my guts out at a place which didn’t appreciate me one iota to me being a rich
bastard with every single asshole after me asking for money for this and money
for that... they claimed their invention needed ‘a quick little boost of cash
to get off the ground.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another guy showed up on my doorstep
claiming his ‘daughter is on the brink of death... please I need your help.’ There
wasn’t a lie you couldn’t say that I hadn’t heard – and if you told me a new
one, well, it wasn’t going to be believed anyway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I now live a life of seclusion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A lot of my ‘friends’ aren’t friends
anymore. They were always out for money in one way or another and I got to hate
them in some way. I can’t have a Facebook account, my phone calls are screened
(so if you call me, and I don’t have your phone number already, I’m not talking
to ya), and I’ve been married three times – divorced three times just as
quickly after finding out they were all gold-diggers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, all I wish for is to be left alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If I had the chance again to do this over, I’d
have not looked for that fucking ticket! Was I lucky? Are you kidding? No
fucking way! I’m not lucky... why would I be lucky to have won that much money
for the rest of my days only to have every shithead out there hound me for
their own pound of flesh – and I don’t know any of them!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Luck! Ha!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I sit here and write this, the phone
rings again and my machine picks up – again. It’s another person who wants to
ask me to back their great dealings – again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gotta ask: when in the hell will they leave
me alone? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mozettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16267731815392625679noreply@blogger.com0