Enjoy the race!

July 11, 2024July 18, 2024 Chris Hall51 Comments

The next day, the red-head woman and Joan of Arc (also known as the Maid of Orleans), had agreed to go to see part of the Tour de France – and it was even better since there was a rest day before the next race.

The red-head woman had been driving (she’d borrowed a car for a couple of days) and Joan had been looking at the scenery, it was only 2 hours from Paris, down to Orleans, as they were chatting happily all the way.

Soon they drove into a grand chateau, just outside the town, and Joan beamed at it: ‘I have been there before – centuries ago – and you know what,’ said Joan, ‘we’ll stay there, since I know a very old friend who lives there.’

They left their things in the car for the moment and walked around the beautiful town, Joan kept out of the sun, meanwhile, the red-head woman bought two ice cream cones as they walked over to the bridge; ‘you know what, we could go on a little adventure,’ they looked at each other, ‘let’s find a couple of bicycles,’ as they giggled.

They rode around the chateau, and passed the tall trees, cycling happily, then they raced for a little way, then they stopped and got off, putting their bicycles down.

They laid down on the soft grass where it was shady and sweet, where the scent of lavender was blissful; but will both of them be able to get up again?

next episode

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

Joan of Arc

July 4, 2024July 11, 2024 Chris Hall57 Comments

Orleans: Joan of Arc celebrations in May and Tour de France 08.07.24

previously

The large doors clanged open and the young woman appeared, she waved and beckoned; now or never, thought the red-head woman, as she entered the ancient house and into the dark hall, the doors closed, and it echoed around the building.

Both women walked through the courtyard, as they looked at each other; ‘I know who you are,’ said the red-head woman, ‘you’re Joan of Arc, aren’t you?’

‘I am indeed,’ she said as she bowed – ‘I know that you are a vampire, as well.’

‘This is all true,’ said Joan, ‘but let me explain,’ she carried on, ‘I managed to get away before I was burned on the stake, and most of that wasn’t true anyway, but I was a hermit for many centuries until I found a few good friends – we still live here – come and meet them,’ she held up her hands, and beamed.

Joan took her hand and led her into the great hall, where several vampires were sitting drinking absinthe; two were playing chess and one was reading, and further on was a big screen where they were watching the television.

‘Oh my goodness,’ said the red-head, ‘that’s the Tour de France, could we go?’

next episode

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

The Old Vampire

June 27, 2024July 4, 2024 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

June 19, 2024June 27, 2024 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

Up into the light

June 16, 2024 Chris Hall53 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

You hanker down wondering what to do, as you look right and left. It’s a lonely, dark and strange place, and the road is steep and narrow. Slowly you go up, as it twists and turns, you are not distracted, you keep going.

You trudge on, feeling anguish and pain. It’s taking so long, but still you’re going in the right direction, even though it’s so arduous. You’re feeling that you’re falling away, but you have to go on.

Don’t look back (whatever you do) keep going.
Don’t look too far.
Don’t look up, not yet.

You want to go into the sunshine but it’s still too dark and too frightening.
You are desperate to see the sunshine… please!

You want to go into another place.

You start to climb.
Going up and up again and you’re feeling more confident at least.
As you go into this special place – at last.

You turn around this time and you look back.
Now it’s time. Definitely.
Be bold, be happy – it’s coming…

You go into the light now. The sky is blissful.
And you walk into the sunset now and later you run into the moon and the stars.|
You will be a new star… yes!

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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 up to the roof

June 13, 2024June 19, 2024 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

Back in her cubbyhole

June 6, 2024June 13, 2024 Chris Hall49 Comments

Photo by Louis Paulin on Unsplash

previously

The red-head woman climbed up the rickety stairs to the top level of her tiny flat, as she lugged her big bag which contained all those interesting things, which she had brought from that antique safe in that old almost empty building.

Earlier she still could hardly believe what had happened just by the spooky cemetery around the corner; one of the graves had exploded, as a chasm appeared, for several minutes it was chaos, but then the chasm had closed and the large grave looked just the same as before.

She had been about to go back down from the roof, when she saw the two gargoyles flying away; she felt rather sad to see them go and she wondered if she would see them again, but then she heard one of them shout back to her – see you later!

She shook her head for a moment, but now she was busy again; she had removed everything from her bag and spread them around her bed; there was an old beautiful book, various important documents and nestling in the little box – a ring – she quickly put on her finger, it was set in a lovely ruby, maybe an engagement ring, she’d thought?

She looked at the deeds that were very difficult to read, she scrolled down – French was not her first language – but she could tell that this was something about the old building where the gargoyles stay.

Now there is a thought – do gargoyles read?

next episode

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

Notre-Dame

May 30, 2024June 6, 2024 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

Gargoyles

May 16, 2024June 21, 2024 Chris Hall55 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

previously

As she said goodbye to Bjorn, and his beautiful car; she had a new piece, and this time it was a digital art, not that she completely understood it, but Bjorn had promised her that her digital art would double her money in a year.

She had gritted her teeth not thinking about the crash landing on the plane last week, particularly since she had to get on another plane so soon, but now she was back in her tiny flat in Montmartre.

The red-head woman was quite solitary, not like she was in the past, back then she was the life and soul when she had been a Raconteuse; but now she drifts around different places, never settling down, although she will always come back to Paris, the problem is she can’t write as she did.

But she still has some fun.

Nearby was a large empty and old building, where she let herself in; she grinned as she quietly climbed up the rickety stairs and over the wide and shallow roof with several tall chimneys.

The sun was going down all around the city – isn’t it beautiful – and yes, there are two gargoyles and they are coming alive.

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.

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

May Day

May 1, 2024May 9, 2024 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.