Author: Chris Hall

Novelist, story writer, writer of just about anything for anyone!

Can I do this? (a bit of nonsense)

Chris Hall63 Comments

I was never good at numbers, unfortunately. However, I have written so many things. When I was little I would write poems and small stories, and then in high school I went up to an essay each week. I am happy with all writing things – either pen or pencil with paper, and even better on my laptop now… but numbers? Really not good – apart from playing Scrabble, of course.

a pen or pencil
is mightier than a number:
wouldn’t you say, eh?

right, okay
strike it out, that’s it;
now, try it again

a pen or pencil
is mightier than a sword:
better isn’t it?

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Image credit: Karla Hernandez @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a hand holding a Rubik’s cube which has words written in some of the squares, that can be read from left to right or top to bottom that says; “ Figure it out”

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #255 photo prompt.
Di’s Pensitivity101 – Monday’s Three Things Challenge: WRITTEN, PAPER, ESSAY

What do you see # 255- September 23, 2024
Three Things Challenge #M826

What’s inside?

Chris Hall54 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

Everyone was out. The father, the mother and the two children were busy going to the shops.

Meanwhile, there was something moving slowly inside. It slithered down and writhed around the house. People craned outside, looking at the house.

A little later the father, mother and the two children came home, wondering who was looking in their window. ‘Please go away,’ said the father.

But what had happened?

They heard a noise as they opened the door, but none of them were worried.

‘Oh, there he is. Look!’
‘He managed to get out.’
The two children carefully picked him up.

‘Come, Henry, back in the tank.’
It was only the huge and lovely snake. He’s a beautiful boa.

~~~~~~~~

The Unicorn Challenge-20/09/24
Three Things Challenge #M825

Getting Restless (Tales from the SSC&B)

Chris Hall50 Comments

Cesar Done on Unsplash

previously

On the ground floor, where the Six-Sentence-Café-and-Bistro were busy getting things done, the red-headed writer, aka the Raconteuse, had been up in the flat roof were she was sitting writing – it was going pretty well, although she could do better; she needed more inspiration…

She had been really pleased with her new hairstyle, it had been cut and coloured again, not just the usual bright red, but also three foils on the front of her hair, which were almost white; she had another look in her tiny mirror, as she smiled happily, then she settled down to write again.

But then she heard something wonderful – she had raised her head and then stood up, and looked down, and then she laughed out loud; it was the Gatekeeper who was crouching next to Hūnga as they both howled together.

She picked up everything as she descended quickly, running down the fire exit to the bottom; she almost bumped into the tall, thin man, ‘gosh, sorry about that,’ she said, ‘well, it looks like almost all of us are here,’ – ‘shall we go together?’

They were back in the bar, sitting around the long table and chatting, it was lovely to see them, but now she needed something else and suddenly she thought; she had her big bag and and things stowed into it.

The Raconteuse decided to get into a taxi, then she will alight and then descend to find a train, but where she will go she’s not certain… yet.

next episode

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: ALIGHT, DESCENT, RAISE (almost DESCEND)

Denise Farley of GirlieOnTheEdge
Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: FOIL

More #SixSentenceStories

Climb Up

Chris Hall46 Comments

‘Climb up, climb up, you can do it,’ as they shouted. But she couldn’t hear them. She had fallen, tumbling and tumbling; it was very dark, damp and clammy. She’d been bruised and cut, as she moved around, carefully. She could see a little chink of light here in the cave and she clambered around and began to climb. Now it was lighter and warmer, and it wasn’t too far now. She could hear all of them shouting: ‘Come on, you can do it!’

she climbed, climbed again
as the rays of light shined out
and now, she’s here, phew!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Danial Burka @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a shadowy figure standing on a raised grassy plateau inside a cave. The top of this plateau is illuminated with rays of light coming from an opening at the top.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #254 photo prompt.

What do you see # 254 – September 16, 2024

Retrospection (Tales from the SSC&B)

Chris Hall35 Comments

Kat von Wood on Unsplash

previously

The red-headed writer, aka the Raconteuse, had a spring in her step as she went down a couple of stairs and into the Six-Sentence-Café-&-Bistro; it was a lovely day and Tom had already made a whole load of bagels, while the Bartender was pouring a large cup of newly-brewed coffee.

‘No big bag today then?’ asked Mimi, while the Bartender lent over the bar, and said, ‘that’s very posh, going somewhere?’

‘I am indeed,’ said the Raconteuse as she smiled, ‘there’s a new gallery which has only just opened and it’s not far from here, in fact, I can even walk there; and you know, I might even buy something,’ and at that, she winked and walked out, leaving a nice tip on the bar.

She entered the new gallery, it was bright and light, and the colours danced around the room, she looked everywhere, pondering and lingering on several pieces, and then she was entranced with that particular item, she noticed the name ‘inSPIRAtion’, and it was familiar… she pulled out her phone… it is him!

She put her phone back into her pocket and walked to the desk; a little conversation, getting her card out and then seeing the little red dot, to show that it was sold; she would have it when the exhibition closed.

She held up her fist making a little punch in the air just outside, while she said quietly, ‘I’ve got a beautiful sculpture, it’s almost mine and even better I know who’s made it.’

n

next episode

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Denise Farley of GirlieOnTheEdge
Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: PUNCH

More #SixSentenceStories

The Luggage

Chris Hall55 Comments

she’s moving again
how many times, she’s lost count
where will she go next?

the custom manager
threw the rest of her things out
‘good riddance,’ he shouted

her method is the same
she will find another place
it’s a tradition

a man’s there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Bernhard @Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows the view of a street where a stack of old luggage (suitcases) is piled one upon another, the lowest one resting on a wooden box. There’s a bicycle parked next to this pile, along a no parking sign.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #253 photo prompt.
Di’s Pensitivity101 – Monday’s Three Things Challenge: CUSTOM, TRADITION, METHOD

What do you see # 253- September 9, 2024
Three Things Challenge #M812

The other one? (Tales from the SSC&B)

Chris Hall49 Comments

Negley Stockman on Unsplash

previously

The Bartender was setting up behind the bar and Mimi was counting up the till, just as the red-head writer, aka the Raconteuse, walked into the Six-Sentence-Café-&-Bistro, greeting them both, ‘is he in?’ she asked, as her eyes swiveled over the long corridor where the kitchen was and then the office where the usual Proprietor was often in there.

She could hear that Tom was singing loudly in the kitchen, were he was making bread as the tiny bubbles began to rise and foam; then one of the double doors opened as Tom said, ‘it will be ready in a couple of hours,’ and he stopped – ‘you’re here, how lovely,’ as he waved across to the Raconteuse, ‘I don’t see you enough,’ he said, ‘but come this way, I can see that you need to have a word in the office down there; Tom then winked, as she pushed the other side of the door.

The tall, thin man stood in the Manager’s office, and leaned out, ‘come in, my dear,’ as he gestured to the two cozy chairs, ‘tell me.’

‘Last week I saw someone who looked like me; I was sitting in my usual alcove, and I saw her skirting around the room, and then she quickly ran out again – she was pretending to be me!’

‘Well,’ said the tall, thin man, ‘I saw both of you – two red-head women – a real person and a fictional person, but come on, that’s normal here, isn’t it?’

next episode

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Denise Farley of GirlieOnTheEdge
Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: FOAM

More #SixSentenceStories

Ghosts and Dreams

Chris Hall77 Comments

she sits staring out
rain pitter-patters down, cold and grey
dismal, dank and damp

but inside she’s warm
reading a tatty old book
and what’s wrong with that?

the candle flickers
but there’s no ghosts here now
just peace and happiness

no misery here!

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Image credit: Esra Korkmaz @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows an open book lying on a table near a window. There is a lit candle near the book on the table in a brass bowl. The pages of the book are yellowing with age. There are water droplets on the outside of the window pane.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #252 photo prompt.

What do you see # 252- September 2, 2024

Dosh… and soon

Chris Hall45 Comments

Chris Anderson on Unsplash

previously

The red-head woman was walking around the Montmartre Cemetery, wondering what she could do, since she was running out of cash – although of course she could sell, or maybe pawn, her lovely ruby ring, as she fiddled with her finger.

She had turned left when suddenly she spotted the two gargoyles who were standing next to one of the dead poets graves, as they were busy working on two large easels, wearing artists’ smocks and berets, and both of them were scoffing and bickering (as usual); but then stopped and said, ‘ah, there you are,’ as they grinned back at the red-head woman.

Meanwhile the old vampire appeared, opening his arms and smiling: ‘to you like my outfit,’ as he whirled around; ‘yes, I know, I’m doing my best, although, I know I’m a relic, but I suit and boot quite well, don’t you think.’

‘Now, down to business and stuff,’ said the old vampire, as Joan, Francis and Scatty popped up and join them, ‘okay, we all know about the old building just around the corner,’ as he pointed, ‘and now I can reveal,’ he paused like a drum roll, and winked.

‘It began with the lovely red-head woman who opened that old safe, and then later the two gargoyles managed to read those antique deeds, and then they sent it via courier to me – and that’s where I got it.’

‘You see, it seems I own it out right – and we can do whatever we want!’

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: SCOFF, STUFF, SMOCK

Denise Farley of GirlieOnTheEdge
Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: RELIC

I’m going in

Chris Hall47 Comments

Time to go in
as the huge doors beckon.
She has her cotton bag
and she’s on her last call.

She’s inside
and she’s confident.
She walks up the winding stairs,
wearing her professional face.

She disappears, and re-appears.

‘Order, Order!’
She’s the judge.

~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Richard Stachmann @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a woman standing on the sidewalk, near a door looking at her phone. There is a handbag in between her hand and a cloth bag hanging from her shoulder.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #251 photo prompt.

What do you see # 251- August 26, 2024