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 the two of them

Chris Hall48 Comments

she’s a pretty girl, isn’t she
just like her dad too
they walk along the beach
just the two of them

it’s warm and mellow
only a little breeze
which wafts merrily over the sea

just waves and waves
rolling back and forward
ceaselessly

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Image credit: Mohamed Awwam @Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a man holding a baby up in the air. In the background we see the sun breaking through the clouds over the sea!

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #279 photo prompt.

What do you see #279- 10 March’ 2025

He’s big!

Chris Hall55 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

Wow, he’s big
and beautiful,
regal too.

Staring out
on the gate,
what’s he thinking?

He’s hardly moving,
what’s going on
in his mind? (anything?)

I’m getting closer,
can I pet him??
ah – he’s purring!

That’s enough though.
He climbs down,
walking with purpose.

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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.

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)

Sleeping Beauty

Chris Hall45 Comments

She was slumbering, peacefully, for a long, long time. Will she open her eyes? Not yet. She was fine for the autumn, turning this way and that, making herself more comfortable. Then it turned to the wintery time. It was darker and colder, frigid and stark. She hunkered down, keeping herself warm, as she delved down. Slowly, slowly the winter passed, and suddenly… it was spring! She opened her eyes and looked out.

hey, little squirrel
lovely to see you again
here’s some nuts; enjoy!

…

Squirrels take all sorts of things for their nests, including bits of newspaper and magazines. It kind of reminded me about this photo, so I used it for my prose/poem.

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Image credit: Стас Кадрулев @Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a woman, her head resting in an aperture of a rock. Her eyes are closed and she appears to be sleeping.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #278 photo prompt

What do you see # 278- 3rd March’ 25

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

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The Dunes

Chris Hall49 Comments

it’s bleak
no sign of life
it’s stark
and yet, the colours are magnificent

it glares white
livid, and burning beneath
and yet, it’s beautiful

huge dunes rise up
is there anyone there?
but there’s no-one
so do we know whether the dunes move?

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Image credit: Felipe Labate @Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows black/ brown trees growing in a desert valley and the brown sand dunes can be seen in the background.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #277 photo prompt

What do you see # 277- February 24,2025

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