Category: 3TC

At the lobby

Chris Hall59 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

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The red-head woman had her great big bag again, as she trudged around as usual; she had been walking around the streets of Paris, while her head was swirling still; where had she been? – she paused: she just saw a rather nice café, and the menu outside looked tempting; she sat down while deciding what to pick, and then she ordered.

On the other side of the street, she craned her head, looking at the rather magnificent and old hotel, and next door was a book shop, and she would have to go in.

After eating and paying, the red-head woman felt fortified, as she entered the book shop where there were so many books, from the floor to the ceiling; it was rather dark and dusty, but it smelled interesting.

The man appeared: ‘I will help you, I know exactly what you need – please sit down – I will track them down, very soon,’ and a moment later, the man had taken three books from the shelves, ‘I think that you want these, they are very old, and useful.’

‘I will also help you over to the Hotel Moderne, (now it’s known as Hotel St Germain, by the way), you’ll find out something else later there – trust me; but meanwhile go past the lobby and go into the lounge.’

And so the red-head woman had a great time, playing table-football and listening to the jukebox, while a young man mixed a cocktail for her – what could be nicer?

next episode

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Posted for The Unicorn Challenge, a magical challenge hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr, where they provide a photo and we, in turn, provide up to 250 words.

Di of Pensitivity 101 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: PICK, MIX, TAKEN

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

And now…

Chris Hall59 Comments

 Rosalie Gdy on Unsplash

previously

It was a busy night with the various vampires who were drinking and singing, rushing around, jumping over the tables and running up and down on the stairs; although not all of then.

Joan had brought her husband, Francis, he had long, thick and jet black hair, a very dapper gentleman; next to him was Joan’s best friend, Scatty, she had bright red and spiky hair – just like the red-head woman – she grinned happily, offering a little cache of magic around the three of them.

The old vampire had only appeared just now, he had opened his kitchen so that nothing was hidden in the stores, although almost everything had been eaten already; he had thrown open the huge French doors and welcomed everyone – ‘do you love my outfit – so modern, don’t you think?’ – ‘which century was it’ – said one of them, as he giggled.

‘This is the 20th century: platform shoes, very wide trousers and a lovely shirt and lots of medallions (they’re real, by the way),’ as the old vampire started to dance.

Everyone joined in, as the party became even more raucous; a couple of the vampires started to eat just-dead rats and that was too much for the red-head – she swooned.

She woke up at noon, someone must’ve put her to bed, she looked out, everyone had gone, only her car remained; she ran down and out, looking up at the window, was it a statue? but no, it was the old vampire, and he waved.

next episode

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: STORE, CACHE, HIDE

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

The Old Vampire

Chris Hall52 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

previously

She had been looking at her smartphone many times, but there was nothing there, the two gargoyles had not moved at all and the cemetery was also silent in the moonlight, apart from a couple of young people who had almost shed all their clothing; the red-head woman had looked away, and up over the city into Montmartre, as she sighed and got into bed.

The next day was the weekend and it was particularly busy: the bells had been ringing around the two cathedrals and there was music everywhere, there was even a very tall clown wearing bangles, bows and buttons, and he was playing a tambourine; the red-head looked down from her tiny flat, she rubbed her head, as she decided to go out and down.

Meanwhile the two gargoyles laughed out loud as the red-head woman walked away; they knew that this would only work if she went on her own.

Too much noise still, thought the red-head woman, as she began to walk down one of the cobble streets; the music was strident and strange, as the frequency began to build like a big beat on the drum – faster and faster – the noise was unbearable, and then suddenly… it stopped.

‘Who is this?’ – she looked around, and then she saw a high window in the old house, she looked again to see a young girl.

Suddenly she remembered what the gargoyles said, and she realised this was a vampire – but she was not expecting this one.

next episode

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Posted for The Unicorn Challenge, a magical challenge hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr, where they provide a photo and we, in turn, provide up to 250 words.

Di of Pensitivity 101 – Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: BELLS, BUTTONS, BOWS

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

Unfinished Business

Chris Hall45 Comments

Photo by Andrew Stutesman on Unsplash

previously

The two gargoyles had nodded sagely, as the red-head woman watched both of them, a moment later one of them took out a smartphone and began to messaging, while both of the gargoyles chatted quickly; meanwhile, the red-head woman seemed rather astonished – a phone?! – she peered at it, and it was even newer than hers.

‘We’re busy now – and we have moved into the 21st century – who wouldn’t? but anyway, we need some help too, since we now know that this place goes back to 1789 and the Revolution, not that it matters any more, probably; but never mind just now, we need the old vampire – no, don’t worry – he is on our side.’

The red-head woman raised an eyebrow, as she wondered where she was needed any more, and anyway she was getting restless, although a vampire sounded interesting; she decided to focus on what was happening, ‘you said only two days, what was that?’ – just as her vision cleared – ‘oh, of course, the full moon.’

The two gargoyles almost giggled to each other, ‘now, we need a proper plan, it will all go swimmingly (not like last time… definitely not), okay?’ – ‘yes indeed, and especially since this is the summer solstice, very special in our calendar, don’t you agree?’

The red-head woman was about to explain for the people who live in the southern hemisphere, but she decided not to complicate it, instead she stared over the roof where she saw the beautiful view… how lovely.

next episode

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: VIEW, SAW, VISION

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

Back up to the roof

Chris Hall42 Comments

Photo by daveygravyouis on Unsplash

previously

The red-head woman had been poring over the ancient documents, doing her damndest to make any sense at all, she had been searching for clues and she had made some headway, but not enough.

She looked out from her tiny balcony where she could just see the old building round the corner; it was going dark – time to go – she closed the screen and put her tablet on the table, it seemed unlikely that she’d need that up there.

She had made her way to the old building, making sure no one was around, as she quickly opened the door with her key, and shut it again; she could already hear the two gargoyles bickering on the roof, as usual, but what were they saying?

‘Well, we’ve both heard on the grapevine that this old place would be replaced with a grand and tall building, but where can we go? – they were wringing their hands.

As she got up and so close this time, she realized how huge and ugly they were, quite terrifying in fact, but she was hardly the type who would faint; so she smiled as brightly as she could, and said, ‘I think you could help me… please?’

The two gargoyles did their best to smile back, ‘we are happy to help, as we can talk and read in several languages, so let’s see,’ – while the red-head woman spread out the ancient deeds – two gargoyles peered at them – ‘August 1789’ sacre-bleu!– so you know what this means…

next episode

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: TABLET, SCREEN, KEY

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

Notre-Dame

Chris Hall69 Comments

Photo by KaLisa Veer on Unsplash

previously

The red-head woman ducked down from the roof, it was all very well to watch all this stuff around the cemetery and the two gargoyles were still bickering (she had been thinking about that though, especially of this old building would be razed to the ground) but something more important needed to be done: it was the antique safe – last push more to open it.

But first she needed to drink; she opened her flask and poured, then lifted up her hot cup of coffee, she took several gulps, then it was time to finish that job.

She had tried this several times, turning the lock back and forth, and she was pretty certain it would open this time: turn to the right ‘C’ 4 times, left ‘L’ 3 times, right ‘E’ 2 times, left ‘F’ 1 time, then right to stop; and there it goes, the mechanical combination safe was open!

She grinned for a moment, then dived in; a little later, she created a little dance around the room, then she pocketed several chosen things.

She was about to leave the back entrance of the old building, but she decided to go up onto the roof once more; it was dark again, as the moon was obscured, she peered over the roof where she could hear voices down in the cemetery, but what was happening?

Suddenly, one of the large graves exploded, ash poured out as a deep chasm appeared; fire licked up around the buildings; it was chaos.

next episode

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: CREATE, CHAOS, CHASM

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

May Day

Chris Hall55 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

previously

The ash and sulphur became so dense as the plane banked horribly and listed alarmingly – mayday, mayday – shouted the captain; at this point, the red-head writer, aka the Raconteuse, had so many thoughts but then she blacked out, which was just as well, since the plane lost power: it shuddered and quivered but it glided on the ice.

Just a few minutes later she’d recovered, she stared around, the plane was crippled and in a bad way, but it seemed that everyone was safe; and even better the volcano was silent again, just a few plumes of moulted rock and ash around.

The red-head writer realised that it would be a very long way to walk, but what else would she do; she decided that she would go alone and quickly – she was wearing all her warm clothes and she had a big bag – everything she needed.

She looked at her GPS, then set out.

She had been walking at least two hours, there was no ice now and it’s easier to walk, but suddenly the steep shale made her tumbled down, she had a long fall and stopped, she was rather shaken but soon recovered; now she saw a bank with deep water where the stream levels out – and here was the road.

A little later, she saw a huge car, she waved with her big bag, and it stopped; she smiled happily as she was whisked away by an excellent friend who drives too fast.

next episode

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Posted for The Unicorn Challenge, a magical challenge hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr, where they provide a photo and we, in turn, provide up to 250 words.

Di of Pensitivity 101 – Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: SHUDDER, SHAKE, QUIVER

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

More #SixSentenceStories

At the gallery

Chris Hall45 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

She stared around the gallery. The main room had all the great masters in the old wing, very dull, she thought, but this part is new and rather posh, how nice.

She lifted a glass from the tray, sipping the bubbly, then she glided around the room. Some rather good paintings, modern in an interesting way but nothing particularly could her eye. But then she sees an imposing sculpture. It rears up, a hooded man and a gaping maw, and it looks rather frightening. Does his expression reflect the artist’s angst?

Apocalypse by Cliff Davies

She made her way up to the second floor. Then suddenly two men – clearly artists – both of them held up their fists. She hedged away, gripping her glass in her hand. People began to stare. Then a moment later, the fight began on the staircase. But it finished as quickly as it started. What was that about, she wondered, as the two artists shook hands and left.

Two hours later, her flight was called. She smiled quietly as she’d acquired a little picture from the gallery wall, where she’d stashed her big bag.

next episode

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Posted for The Unicorn Challenge, a magical challenge hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr, where they provide a photo and we, in turn, provide up to 250 words.

Di of Pensitivity 101
Saturday’s Three Things Challenge: FIGHT, FLIGHT, FRIGHT

Cape Storm

Chris Hall57 Comments

It moaned and raged across the south coast, right up to the highest mountains.

The storm lashed and buffeted the tallest trees, traumatising animals and people living in their shacks.

The birds, shaking with fear, crept in the hollows and bushes, while the squirrels hunkered down in the deep dreys as the huge palm tree swayed around our garden.

From morning to night the storm raged, and raged again; we looked out into the street where the fire and rescue truck had managed to take down a broken great tree, what a relief, but not before we saw terror in the faces of several people

And finally, in the morning, there was no wind or rain.

At least we all have our houses – the walls, the doors, the windows and the roofs – but everything else is such a mess, and we will only talk about the present at the moment.

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Di of Pensitivity 101
Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: TRAUMA, FEAR, TERROR

Denise Farley of Girlie On The Edge
Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: PRESENT


By the way, this was all true and it was just two weeks ago.

A celebration?

Chris Hall60 Comments

Previously

The red-headed writer, aka the Raconteuse, hurries along the narrow street, looking up and down and around, checking to see what is unchanged: here’s the Bagel’n’Cake place (closed at this time, of course), and here are the two warehouses, rather dingy, on either side.

She’s almost there… and here it is: The Café and Bistro, she holds her hands up, but there’s no one there; she’s deflated, she dropped her head and her feet felt like lead.

She notices something at the top of the steps, it was a still-smouldering cigar butt on the ground – it must be him, the Gatekeeper, who else could it be?

She hurries down to the three steps by the double-doors, peering in the gloom in the long bar and high seats, and across the way to the food pass behind the doors; she could almost see what should be happening – the Bartender with the wine and whisky, and Mimi in the kitchen, and Tom as well.

Then she turns around, going back up, scanning around; there’s something about the back of The Café and Bistro, she races around the building, heaving her big bag, she peeps in the basement, now she’s making headway; she can hear music, in her mind’s eye, she listens, isn’t it Mark Knopfler playing ‘Sultans of Swing’ and wearing his headband?

The Raconteuse grins and she can see the Manager, smiling back and waving; he cranks up the volume and plays, ‘Ace of Spades’.

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Written in response to two challenges:

Di of Pensitivity 101’s Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: HEADWAY, HEADBAND, LEAD
Denise Farley of Girlie On The Edge’s Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: ACE

Click on the Café sign for more #SixSentenceStories