Category: Flash Fiction

In the forest

Chris Hall49 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

‘Come on, we can have a race between ourselves, it will be fun.’
‘Definitely, especially since our mountain bikes are best in the woods and the hilly bits.’

The two boys looked back to see the end of their village.
‘Now we are in the proper country – rolling hills and streams.’
‘It’s not too far, but far enough.’
‘Shall we go?’

They looked to each other and grinned.
‘Now it’s time to race.’
‘On your marks, set and… go!’

They went up and down and around, over a couple of streams – they were rather wet and muddy, but who minded? They were biking fast as they were riding neck and neck. Then they came to a huge oak tree in the middle of the track – one went left, the other went right… both were still neck and neck, even though the trees and bushes were getting denser and higher.

They were almost at the top of the largest hill, but suddenly a little glade opened up. The two boys stopped dead.
They mouths fell open.

And what did they see? Can you guess?
I think they will whisper…

‘We saw a couple of unicorns who darted out, and then disappeared.’
‘Did we see them, or not.’
‘Maybe it was just a double take?’

You decide! 🦄🦄

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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.

Back to the library (Tales from the SSC&B)

Chris Hall57 Comments

Johannes Plenio on Unsplash

previous

The librarian, called Deborah, (not Deb, or Debbie), and the red-headed writer, aka the Raconteuse, were almost back to the library building again; they’d had a lovely, languid lunch in the Six-Sentence-Café-and-Bistro, they had looked out to the river, the water and the sky were more than blue, and not a cloud in sight, as they smiled, but then they both said, ‘come on, back to business,’ as they grinned.

They spread the various ancient books and maps around the large table, ‘where would you like to start,’ as Deborah put her pince-nez on, ‘always better to see,’ she remarked; while the Raconteuse bend over that very odd map, then she looked across to her, ‘you haven’t seen this before, even though you’ve been here for many years… is that right?’ – Deborah nodded.

‘I can’t really explain it with this strange map,’ said the Raconteuse, ‘but it seems to move around… look, watch it, but be careful, since earlier it almost made me shiver.’

‘Hmm, indeed, but at least I am a librarian so you don’t need to worry, you are secure in the knowledge that nothing bad would happen to you – trust me, I have been to many places, as have you, I imagine, since you’re a writer.’

The Raconteuse suddenly said, ‘it’s getting rather stuffy, shall I open a window?’ – not wanting to admit that she’d hardly been anywhere.

‘Yes, of course,’ said Deborah, although she kept looking at the map, staring… and staring, ‘mesmerising, isn’t it.’

next episode

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: LANGUID, SECURE, STUFFY

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

More #SixSentenceStories

Another little nonsense

Chris Hall40 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

Ah yes, two different specs
one for distance, and the other for close
but in the middle neither is good
especially using the computer
bloody thing.

It’s definitely not the Goldilocks effect
no, not clever at all
but now I’m thinking about breakfast
maybe some nice porridge
instant, of course!

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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.

Near the River (Tales from the SSC&B)

Chris Hall69 Comments

Johannes Plenio on Unsplash

The red-headed writer, aka the Raconteuse, was on a mission since she was going on a journey and soon, but in the meantime she needed to take several things and put them in her big bag.

She opened the door labelled ‘ENTRY’, and heard it click, as she went into the library, it was full of old books and maps; it seemed that no-one was around as she walked through the different aisles, she took things out and put them on a pile on a handy table, however, she couldn’t take too much, less quantity more quality, she reminded herself.

A librarian suddenly appeared, she was wearing a twin-set, classic and quaint, (a bit like Audrey Hepburn) and also wearing tiny glasses, called pince-nez, she could be pretty ancient but clearly intelligent, she started to speak, ‘any help required?’

‘Actually I’ve a couple of questions, if I may,’ said the Raconteuse, ‘you see, I’ve been looking at a particular map, and I think I should distrust it, although it might be useful in a different way… if you know what I mean?’

‘Well, I have been qualified in various ways,’ she looked around, and then said, ‘including secrets.’

‘Secrets?!’ said the Raconteuse, ‘ooh, very much for me, you see I’m a writer, and what could be better; but listen, it’s almost lunchtime, could you be free for maybe an hour, we are close to the river and also close to a lovely place, it’s called the Six-Sentence-Café-and-Bistro, will you come?’

next episode

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: QUAINT, QUALIFY, QUANTITY

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

More #SixSentenceStories

Just a one-off, or a mash-up!

Chris Hall59 Comments

Gavin Thomson – Artist from Cape Town

Well, it is a crunch match between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool, and it’s all about football or soccer, depending on where you live; so let’s find out what’s happening just now.

It’s a huge venue in Paris (France), known as the Parc de Princes, it’s already full, and both teams are some of the best players in the world.

Meanwhile, there are various people we know in the crowd, they can sit together even though they support different teams (and also four of them of vampires): we have on the home team from PSG, it’s The Old One, Joan and Francis (with his full title, Cote de Saint-Germain); and on the away team from LFC, it’s Scatty (Scotland) and the red-head woman (originally from Liverpool).

But where are the two gargoyles? – oh, there they are… right up on the roof; good grief, they are commentators; there are watching the match while talking with their phones, and they are a completely neutral (that’s good), and also we could mention it’s very, very cold up there, so both of the gargoyles wound their scarfs more tightly.

Okay… commentary by the two gargoyles – let’s listen in

…. what a hash from Liverpool, but now it’s a GOAL!! from PSG, but no – disallowed…

…. HALF-TIME

…. oh no, that is far too harsh – another yellow card… need to be a bit careful … but now… GOAL!! and it’ll count from Liverpool.

We had a great time, didn’t we, especially since Liverpool won (again)!!

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p.s. – if you haven’t seen the vampires and gargoyles for some time, we hope you are not missing them too much. Ah, Paris…

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: HASH, HARSH, HAD

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

More #SixSentenceStories

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Chris HALL and Cliff DAVIES – YNWA
(can you see us)

A Posh Neighbourhood

Chris Hall42 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

‘Hey, look at this place, it’s very posh.’
‘I don’t think we have been here, have we?’
‘Definitely not.’
‘Still we can mosey around, since it’s the holidays.’

The two boys walked around one of the cul-de-sacs.

‘Oh, look at this. It’s a lovely large chameleon right next to the wall.’
‘It’s not real.’
‘No, but it’s very cute.’
‘That wall is pretty tall, and it goes all around the house and the garden I suppose.’
‘I bet it’s really nice.’
‘Do you think we would be able to go inside?’
‘Shall we find out?’

The two boys knocked on the door and rang the bell.
And waited.

‘No answer.’
‘Try again.’
‘Okay. ‘

‘No reply.’
‘Maybe we can climb up, and over?’
‘Shall we try?’
‘Hmm, don’t think so – bound to be court.’
‘Yip, you’re right.’

They stared for a bit.
‘Did we try the handle on the door?’
They tried, both of them; but no luck.
However, they saw something.

And if you look very closely, beneath the handle, you can see a tiny unicorn.🦄

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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.

The Perfect Storm (Tales from the SSC&B)

Chris Hall45 Comments

Johannes Plenio on Unsplash

previously

The red-headed writer, aka the Raconteuse, had written into the deep night, as the rain lashed around the top of her apartment, it seemed to be a perfect storm; she listened to the whistling wind for a while, and then she was back to writing again.

She’d slept for several hours, and when she woke up she was pretty pleased with what she’d written so far; she looked outside and smiled, the weather was so much better.

She put her coat on and hurried down the many steps; but half-way down she stopped and stared across to the end of the street, she was almost sure that she’d seen the Bartender, and a guy who she felt she knew as well, but now they had parted, going in different directions; she wondered what that was about, but why would she worry about that?

It was still very damp outside but the Raconteuse wasn’t bothered about that, she was looking for a new style, she was still happy with her hair, but maybe a smaller bag, a clutch perhaps, and a new dress – red, of course, she would be rather classy for a change, as she went into a little boutique not far from there.

She was back in her apartment, happy to have got what she wanted; she would spend some time with her laptop, but then it would be party-time.

She looked at her watch – time to go; she was going to the Six-Sentence-Café-&-Bistro, she might even dance.

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: DAMP, DRESS, DANCE

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

More #SixSentenceStories

Carousel

Chris Hall47 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

‘Oh gosh… look up. There’s something very wrong up there.’
The two boys stared for a bit, and then they walked around the carousel.
‘That’s what she has lost, and it’s a terrible shame, don’t you think?’
‘It was so windy and wet, the rain had been pouring all night.’
‘It was very dark and there was a great storm lashing around, remember?’
They continued to look up.
‘She isn’t afraid though, despite what happened. She is still proud and she holds her head up high.’

The two boys walked around again.
‘I wonder what happened though? I mean, she’s still a horse, but…’
‘Shall we have a look?

They tried looking around the various rides, but they had no luck.
‘Oh well, at least the sun is shining now.’
‘And we can take our cagoules off.’

They look at each other.
‘Just before we go, let’s look up once again.’
‘She’s still handsome, being a horse, but really she’s a unicorn, isn’t she?‘
‘And maybe she still has some magical powers, don’t you think?

‘Okay, time to sing now, and we will show our true colours.’
‘That’s right, we’re red!’

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.

PS – it’s football – and it’s Liverpool (where we used to stay)

And also a song from Carousel – a musical hit!

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark

At the end of a storm
There’s a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark

Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
For your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone

You’ll never walk alone

Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone

You’ll never walk alone

Songwriters: Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers

Night-time Weather (Tales from the SSC&B)

Chris Hall51 Comments

Johannes Plenio on Unsplash

previously

The red-headed writer, aka the Raconteuse, had left the Six-Sentence-Café-&-Bistro, as she walked through the slush and wintery rain; she had another rented place now, she had got a bargain and it’s right on the top floor, not far from here, and also not far from the Bartender’s pad.

The wind was picking up now; she began to hurry, while tightening her overcoat, and keeping her big bag close; she could hear a couple of yobs yelling, they were getting nearer, but she was here now, swiftly opening and closing her door.

She hurried up all six floors, it was certainly making her fitter; she unlocked her door, taking off her big bag, removing her coat, and kicking her shoes off, as she padded over to her very messy table; she looked out at the nearest window, while the night sky groaned and moaned.

She pulled out her smartphone, it had a new ring, not sure how it happened though; she’d heard two pings just now: one was from the Bartender explaining about something the tall, thin man had said, and the other was about another great friend, who knows all things about weather.

She returned to the table, looking around to find her many notes about weather, and she also needed her notes about the skies, the clouds and the rainbows, this can be awesome; she opened her laptop, waking it up, now she dived down to continue to write.

And yes, she talks to herself… but who doesn’t?

next episode

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: WRING, YES, YOB

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

More #SixSentenceStories

This Tree

Chris Hall34 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

Come on, let’s go and see this great big tree. It’s very old, as well. Well, so they said.
Okay, it’s probably fun. But who said that?
Does it matter?
Well, I guess not.

A little later...

Wow, it’s so tall, and wide. Let’s walk around.
Ooh, we can peer inside.
More than just peer, we can get in it.
Should we do that? I mean, is it safe?
It will be fine. Come on, don’t be a wimp!
Okay, I’ll come.

And then they both jumped together.

Oh, that’s odd.
What do you mean, odd.
Well… it looks bigger inside than it did before.
It’s bigger inside than outside?
You mean…
Look up there.
Oh.
Oh.

They looked at each other, and then they looked up again.

It’s a…

.

.

.

.

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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.