Category: Stories, poems and other short pieces

Margot and her 2CV

Chris Hall25 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

‘Gosh, this will be fun,’ grinned one of the boys.
‘Yes, we’re all going on an adventure.’
‘We have got everything we need,’ smiled Great Aunt Margot. ‘Now get into the back of my 2CV boys, we are going to the woods, since it’s autumn so we can get some mushrooms, and maybe some truffles.’
‘Truffles? What are those?’
Great Aunt Margot waved a hand as she continued to drive, and rather fast, ‘truffles are very good and very expensive, but we will see.’

The three of them tootled around in that little car for a bit, when suddenly Great Aunt Margot stopped, and then reversed, and stopped again. ‘Look boys, there’s eggs available. You can get out and ask,’ as she gave one of them some notes.

The two boys trotted over to the sign, and then into the little farm.
‘Is anyone here?’ shouted both of them.
For a moment it seemed that no-one was around, but just a little later, a very nice lady appeared.
‘Ah, that would be Madame Margot,’ the nice lady said. ‘Two dozen, I imagine,’ as she waved back.

Soon that was sorted, they were off again. ‘Time to find some mushrooms and do some truffle hunting,’ grinned Great Aunt Margot.

They walked around the woods, and all three of them had lovely mushrooms, although sadly they didn’t find any truffles this time.
But they did see something in the distance…
Yes, that’s right, a couple of unicorns – and yes, they are real.


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

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.

Joshua Trees

Chris Hall63 Comments

The Joshua Trees

stunning, aren’t they,
powerful too,
great – magnificent, in fact,
yet the trees are stark and strange.

the sun has just risen,
the trees are warming up nicely,
but did you know that they can walk around?

if you look carefully,
you’ll see them,
promise.

~~~

Image credit:  YS @Unsplash

This image shows Joshua trees in a California desert, in the background the sun is rising over the hills.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #298 photo prompt.

What do you see # 298- 21 July, 2025

A new gallery

Chris Hall37 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

The two boys were back in France, in a small town where Great Aunt Margot lives.
‘What’s the time?’ said one of them, as they both looked up to the big clock outside in the main square.
‘Okay, one more time to walk quickly around the great church – why not?’
‘Shall we do it?’
‘Yes, let’s go.’

Meanwhile, Great Aunt Margot had bought her usual things in the market: a long baguette, some very oozy cheeses and three little patisserie cakes, which she put in her big basket.
She then stopped next to the new gallery.
‘How is it going, my dear?’ said Great Aunt Margot.
A young woman smiled. ‘Anything you would like?’
‘Hmm, something small perhaps,’ as she stepped into the shop.

A couple of minutes later the two boys appeared.
‘What have you got?’ asked one of the boys.
‘Never mind about that, I will show you that back at home. But any way it’s almost lunchtime,’ as she grinned.

The three of them chatted happily, as they walked down to where they stayed, but no one would be able to find what they did after that.

And also in the small town, not far from the woods, you might still see a few unicorns, and their names are: Victor, Wellington, Xena, Yasmine and Zacharia.

So thanks for that Jenne and C .E. Aye, we’ve had a great time, and maybe we will see you around sometime.

So now I must find a new tale, but where?

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

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.

A long way to go

Chris Hall29 Comments

a long way to go,
as I continue to climb,
it’s almost a race.

don’t look down, look up,
did you say that I’m tiny?
just think perspective.

you see from my side,
I’m invincible, really,
I am a giant!

such fun, eh… giggling.

~~~

Image credit:  Vladimir Vinogradov @Unsplash

This image shows a small metal statue of a tiny man climbing a pole. The statue is of a man wearing a suit and a hat and looking upwards.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #297 photo prompt.

What do you see # 297- 14 July, 2025

It’s a lovely train!

Chris Hall37 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

It was another Sunday afternoon for the two boys.
‘It’s always nice to go on our bikes, isn’t it.’
‘Yes indeed, we are very lucky, especially now it’s a lovely day.’
‘Let’s go faster, and maybe we can see a train, since the tracks are not far from here.’
‘Gosh yes, we can go over the bridge just over there.’
And so the two boys rode off as fast as they could.

They came to a stop, and right in the middle of the bridge.
‘Can’t see a train either on the upline or downline at the moment.’
As they both looked (and twice).
‘Are there trains on Sunday?’
‘I’m sure there are… I think.’
They thought again, and looked again; but nothing.
‘Oh well, let’s ride as close as we can, since there’s a little road over there.’

So they continued for quite a long time, still looking for a train.
‘Gosh, we’re almost in another village, and I don’t know this place.’
‘Me neither, but look…’
‘Oh yes, it’s a level crossing and also a little train station.’
‘And now listen…’
‘They are closing the gates…’

The two boys grinned.
‘Quick, let’s get on the platform.’
‘Are we allowed?’
‘Yes, of course.’

The train stopped and people got out, and in.
The guard glanced over to the two boys and their bikes, and he said: ‘Do you want to go in the last carriage? And there’s no charge for you.’
‘Ooh, thanks a lot,’ as they both grinned.


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

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.

Beautiful eagle

Chris Hall50 Comments


a beautiful eagle
he flies up
such a wonderful sight

I look up and I can only just see him
I craned even further
and I almost lost my balance
on my window

then he dives down, what has he taken?
a mouse, perhaps?

~~~

Image credit: Sasha Matic@Unsplash

This image shows a hawk-golden eagle, sitting on the grassy surface. Its neck is turned sideways and it’s staring intently into a distance.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #296 photo prompt.

What do you see #296- 7th July, 2025

Goal!

Chris Hall28 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

The two boys were playing football in the park. It was Sunday afternoon, and very sunny.
‘This is fun, isn’t it?
‘Very much so,’ as he dived and stopped the ball.
‘Shall we ask some of the other boys here in this park?’
‘Good idea, and I would like to be in goal.’
‘Fine. You’re pretty good, aren’t you?’
‘Aww, thanks,’ as he grinned.

A few minutes later, several boys appeared.
‘Now we have enough players to have a good game,’ as they decided who would do what.

It had been great at the start but then there was a problem, since the ball went too far and too high. It glided over to someone’s back garden.

They looked at each other. ‘What are we going to do now?’

Several of them peered over the high wall.
‘Hmm. Not easy, but doable, don’t you think?’
‘Well, it is my ball. I shall try.’
‘Both of us will do it.’
Then a couple of other boys helped them up.

Soon they were both sitting astride.
‘Okay, we can do this. Yes?’
‘Of course we can.’

So they jumped down. Grabbed the ball, and hurled it back to the park.
They could also get back themselves, since a handy shed was close enough to jump from that to the wall.
They managed to get away with that before anyone saw it.
It seemed that everyone else was watching the telly – either Wimbledon or Tour de France.

‘Shall we continue the game then?’

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

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.

That was close…

Chris Hall37 Comments


Too close for comfort
that’s for sure
why has that happened?

That ship is huge
while our lighthouse seems so tiny
in comparison.

Back, back, we shout!
Push, push, for pity’s sake…
can they hear at all?

But it’s beginning to work
Heave-ho – that’s the ticket!
My goodness that was worrying for a bit.

~~~

Image credit: Philipp Deus @Unsplash

This photo shows a part of a ship that is anchored very near a lighthouse. The lighthouse appears very small in comparison to the ship.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #295 photo prompt.

What do you see # 295- June 30, 2025

Ooh, sheds…

Chris Hall32 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

‘Those aren’t sheds, they’re garages, wouldn’t you say?’
‘Well, I guess so… does it matter?’
‘Probably not.’
The two boys grinned at each other, as they stopped on their mountain bikes.

‘Interesting place.’
‘Certainly is… not been there before, have we?’
‘Nope, never seen this.’
‘I suppose it’s a bit further in the other direction than we usually go.’
‘Still, let’s have a little poke around, since I’m sure no one will bother about us.’
The two boys got off their bikes and wheeled them. They looked around by the little line of garages.

‘Not many people here, are there?’
‘Just a couple of builders…’
‘You mean, roofers, I think?’
‘Well, whatever… they are just up there.’
They craned their heads up.

‘Do you need any help?’ shouted one of the boys.
But there was no response.

‘Oh well, we can see what they are doing, can’t we?’
‘It looks like some of those roofs need new ones.’
‘In fact, most of them have been done.’
‘Well spotted,’ grinned both of them.

‘Maybe we can see if anyone else is around.’
‘All look closed, and they must be dark inside, I suppose.’
‘But there are quite a lot of nice cars on the other side. I wonder where they have gone?’
The two boys had a little look at some of the cars, but nothing obvious, apart from some books inside… the same books.

‘I know what’s going on – they are all twitchers!’
‘What?’
‘Birdwatchers – and look, they’re coming back.’

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

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.

Another Artist?

Chris Hall62 Comments


he’s an artist
he strides across the fields
he has his easel and all the other things he needs

he stops
he looks around
it’s the perfect place

he sets everything out
and then he paints
broad strokes
colours vivid

is it a masterpiece?

~~~

Image credit: Fuu J @Unsplash

This image shows a windmill standing in a field of tulips. In the background, you see there is a yellow fog and it seems like there is dust in the air.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #294 photo prompt.

What do you see # 294- 23 June, 2025