Beach

Chris Hall35 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

Great Aunt Margot had her old car outside.
‘We know what this is,’ said the two boys in unison. ‘It’s a 2CV, isn’t it?’
‘That’s right, and you can hop in,’ she grinned. ‘We are going to the coast. It isn’t too far,
I’ve got a big basket here in the front, and you too can sit in the back.’

It was a beautiful day and quite soon they could see the sea.

Great Aunt Margot parked the car. She handed the big basket. ‘You can carry it between you.’ She strode ahead, with one hand holding a large parasol and the other with a big and pretty rug.
Soon much munching went on.
‘Now, off you go,’ said Great Aunt Margot. ‘I’ll have a little nap,’ she smiled. ‘You can go all round here – the sand, the rock pools and even the very tall palm trees.’

After about an hour, the two boys caught up with Great Aunt Margot.
‘Enjoying yourselves?’
They both grinned.
‘I’m going over to the little market just over there,’ she pointed. ‘I will still be able to see you.’

Later, Great Aunt Margot was still chattering in the car park. While the two boys were running around the tall, tall palm trees.
They kept looking at them.
‘I’m sure those trees are getting closer to us, don’t you think?’
‘Weird, isn’t it?’

They were still talking about those trees. And then Great Aunt Margot said: ‘don’t worry, they often move,’ as she winked. 

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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.

(250 words)

A Scurry of Squirrels

Chris Hall44 Comments

Squirrels, an Acrostic Nonet Poem

Squirrel, are you in that drey over there?
Quite a place I imagine, is that right
Under and hiding in that palm tree
I definitely think I can see you
Room for many of them
Run out now, go on
Every one join in
Link up together
Scurrying


Written in response to this week’s Tanka Challenge hosted by Willow. She has asked us to think about what is happening underground. Seeds and bulbs are waking up, while roots are looking for nourishment and reaching out looking for communication and news. Little creatures and insects are all on the move.

PS – I hope I’ve got away with this. These squirrels are not quite underground, although they are under and hiding in our palm tree.

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 9 Acrostic Poem, 4/22/2025

Making it up? (Tales from the SSC&B)

Chris Hall50 Comments

Johannes Plenio on Unsplash

previous

The red-headed writer (aka la Raconteuse) had been a bit rattled in the deep night yesterday; she had almost lost the plot as she had continued to write furiously on her laptop, but at least this morning she was feeling much better, particularly since she had been fortified with her breakfast in the Six-Sentence-Café-and-Bistro just now.

She was very keen to show this to Deborah, but la Raconteuse still needed to read back again, since she wanted to make sure what she had written was as good as she could; she knew that the lovely librarian would be perfectly happy to be callous as she explained how it could be better – otherwise, what would be the point?

A final read would be all she’d need, so she settled down in her usual booth, while she put her phone to charge on her laptop, as she started to read again.

She picked up her big bag, waved a hand as she left, then almost ran up the three steps, but then she stopped… dead; she stared in the distance, something suddenly had confused her, but then she continued to walk again – everything would be fine.

Soon she had arrived in the excellent library, as she hurried to the counter to where one of the librarians appeared, a young man, she’d asked for Deborah but what a blow; alas, there was no Deborah, there had never been a Deborah, but how can that be?

Did she just make it up… everything… really?

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: ALAS, CHARGE, CALLOUS

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

More #SixSentenceStories

is it art?

Chris Hall59 Comments

is it art
we think so
it’s in a gallery
the colours are brilliant
russet, amber, cerulean and mauve
excellent! let it mingle and bloom
vibrant, that’s what we want
magnificent, such flare
now, get a picture
we have it
art then
is all

~~

Image credit: Zach Heiberg @Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a view of a sand hill and green shrubs through a broken window of an old building.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #285 photo prompt.

What do you see #285- April 21, 2025

Cosplay

Chris Hall36 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

The two boys had been walking about the town. It was Saturday and it was early May. They moseyed down to the river, where there are lots of small shops and cafes in this part.
‘It seems rather busy here, is there something going on?’

They walked a little further.
‘Look, there’s something strange on one of those tables outside.’
‘What do you think that is?’
‘Hmm, I’m not sure.’

They were getting closer now.
‘Looks like a costume, I wonder who it’s for.’
‘It looks familiar.’
‘Oh, I know what it is, that’s a Spiderman costume.’
‘But who’s supposed to wear it?’

Then a moment later…
‘Look, someone has just appeared from that bar.’
‘Gosh, he’s not wearing much is he?’
The two of them glanced at each other, and then started giggling.

Meanwhile, the guy quickly put his costume on, as he muttered. ‘I just needed a wee, and I’m a bit late too.’ He pointed, ‘you see that large stadium?’
The two boys nodded, ‘we know it.’

The Spiderman stood up properly. ‘It’s not far, and you can come in as guests with me. Maybe I can find something for both of you to wear. You see I’m a cosplayer, and you’ll both enjoy that, I’m sure.’

So the two boys were dressed in various items, and they looked pretty good. They wandered around in this busy and happy place, and what did they see?’

Let’s guess… (apart from a date – 4th May)

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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.

Lovely building (Tales from the SSC&B)

Chris Hall54 Comments

Johannes Plenio on Unsplash

previous

The red-headed writer (aka la Raconteuse) had only been in this apartment for just over a month now, and the lease was pretty generous in this neighbourhood, she was able to stay there for a year, or even three years, if she wanted to, and she does… very much so.

The place had been renovated several years ago, mostly by a master builder, she’d met him – nice man, she remembered; she was just about to leave, taking her various things with her, but then she thought she should water her plant, it was an aster –pretty and showy, all those little purple flowers, and it was still alive, rather a miracle.

Then done, she locked the front door and began to walk down all those stairs, and as usual she stopped half-way, looking up and down, and this time she thought about those handsome walls, off-cream, and meticulous, those wonderful plasterers must have worked very hard.

She turned to look out at the other buildings and then to the river beyond, since she would always yearn for any large river which flowed out to the ocean.

She’d been thinking about what she’d written over the last week, and she was fairly pleased about that at the moment.

But before anything else she needed some strong coffee, and maybe a bagel; so she began to walk quickly, since it was always better to be sitting in one of those tables in the Six-Sentence-Café-and-Bistro, where the most helpful people are there.

next episode

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: ASTER, MASTER, PLASTER

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

More #SixSentenceStories

oh my moon

Chris Hall63 Comments

a flash of light
then darkness
my moon, my wonderful moon
where is she?

her name is Selene
and she’s captivating
she can be huge, and brilliant
or far, far away
but she’s always mine
but now she’s red, blood red
is she angry?

~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Joseph Corl @Unspash

Picture # 1 shows:
Total lunar eclipse 3/14/25, showcasing the captivating reddish glow of a blood moon against the dark night sky. Just a bit of white at the top! The stars dot the black background on a very clear night!

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #284 photo prompt.

What do you see # 284- 14 April, 2025

Trolley Dash

Chris Hall37 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

Running down to Spar
my favourite shop
not to small and not to big;
okay, let’s do it.

First, some veg
toms, avos and lettuce
no, that’s not right
not lettuce but lemons.

Next aisle, bread
two types – bagels (yum)
and also Albany sliced
seeded brown and delicious.

Now over to the chillers
that’s two litres of semi-skimmed milk
six little yogurts – just plain
and obviously eggs, also six.

Looking at the list quickly
kitchen roll (always useful)
so now there’s only one thing
it’s for Luna – Whiskas.

Just to pay… and out.
Let me see, what’s the time?
I’ve shaved a couple of minutes off!
Excellent, and thank you Spar.

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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.

Working late (Tales from the SSC&B)

Chris Hall36 Comments

Johannes Plenio on Unsplash

previous

Deborah, the top professional librarian, was in business now, she was able to stay after hours for as long as she wanted, this was not the most important public library in New York, but it was pretty good.

She had put on her oversize smock (almost like she was an artist), and also her thick socks, to keep her feet warm; she had her pince-nez on her nose, plus her handy magnifying glass, and now she would be precise and detailed as she would look at that map.

Deborah had been to many places around the world, from most of North America and much of the south of Europe, and also parts of North Africa, but nothing had haunted her as much as Alexandria in Egypt, that wonderful Great Library.

It was late but she was getting very close, even though that map was still slipping and sliding around; she’d looked up as she heard several people talking loudly, revellers she realised, and she thought one of them was the red-headed writer (aka la Raconteuse), in fact, she was sure about that.

Earlier, Deborah had been skimming through the two most recent novels written by the red-headed writer, both of them were set in Africa; and now Deborah suddenly put two and two together…

There was a map of the seas on the boat in that latest novel, and look at that… almost the same on the table just here, in fact, they are the same: oh my, what a shock!

next episode

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: SHOCK, SOCK, SMOCK

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

More #SixSentenceStories

Those Dolls

Chris Hall60 Comments

I never had a Barbie and certainly not a Ken.
I never liked dolls in anyway at all.
I even found them a little scary in fact.

But now I’m thinking that Barbie and Ken
might be quite useful,
in some way or another?

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Image credit: Julee Juu @Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows Barbie lying on a picnic blanket looking through a magazine and Ken standing next to her with a bag from McDonald’s. There is a pizza box lying next to her too. In the background, you can see a lush green lawn, trees, and a blue sky!

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #283 photo prompt.

What do you see # 283- 7th April, 2025