Full Moon

Chris Hall48 Comments

Photo by Abdullah Ahmad on Unsplash

previously

‘That can’t be,’ she she thought, ‘two gargoyles moving around on the roof?’ she stared for several minutes, but the gargoyles stood completely still, as she had expected; she clambered over the shallow roof, it was time to get busy – as she went back down the rickety stairs, she was going to pick a lock.

The red-head woman had been all around the old building – twice – where she had been casing the joint; there was not much there anymore, but in the basement there was something useful, it was an antique safe – all she needed was some time and patience: she had done this before.

She had her torch and her picking things; she had been at this for more than an hour, but it’s almost there; suddenly she heard a noise on the roof; a moment later she was taken back with amazement – the two gargoyles were very much alive – and bickering.

We need a new place because the old one would be replaced with a grand and tall building, and that’s no good, but where will we go?’ – ‘I don’t know where and it’s too dark to see,’ but then suddenly the full moon breaks out and all the roofs were almost light here in Montmartre.

The red-head woman could hardly believe it, she stared around wondering what might happen next; it was almost midnight as she looked down to the cemetery – just behind her – bats and owls, and mythical things – very spooky.

next episode

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Denise Farley of Girlie On The Edge
Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: LIGHT

Inside – Outside

Chris Hall47 Comments

she’s a little black and white cat
who tippy toes around the house
walking silently then staring out

now she’s in the garden
clawing the old bench
then she prowls around

she climbs on the wall
who’s out there?

there’s no one in the close
and no one in the bushes
where are they?

she’s back in the garden
sauntering and scampering

but soon she’s ready to snooze
suddenly she’s awake
who is it?

there’s almost a squabble
but the other cat as already gone
and quite right too

now it’s back to base
and it’s lunchtime
and lots of purring

a little later
she’s gone back to bed
what a lovely life she has!

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Image credit:  Jon Tyson @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a wall graffiti: a picture of a black cat with mismatched eyes, and different words scrolled on the wall around it.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #239 photo prompt.

What do you see # 239- May 20, 2024

Gargoyles

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

Springing up

Chris Hall49 Comments

the lanterns spring up
all around the world
little specks of light
filling up with glee

the colours are vivid
from crimson to mauve
as they skipped around with joy
what a beautiful globe

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Image credit: Leon Contreras @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows many lanterns floating into the night sky. Some are nearby are more visible than others which are far away.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #238 photo prompt.

What do you see # 238- May 13, 2024

Road Trip

Chris Hall42 Comments

Photo by Ken Cheung on Unsplash

previously

The red-headed writer had never met this guy until just now, although they had been friends for several years, as they had been doing posts in the ether (or at least in a phone or laptop); there had lost touch for a while doing other things, but it didn’t matter now as there were both grinning.

For a couple of hours they talked and joked, what a beautiful place, she said, several times, as Bjorn laughed just like a bear; he drove long and hard on the plateaus and in the valleys, but then he turned off to a small location, almost right by the sea: ‘there’s my spot, he said.

They sat down in the warm and cozy house – there was toast and sardines with whisky – as they looked out on the wilderness.

Then it was 10.30 pm and it’s dark and she’s tired now; meanwhile, Bjorn was doing strange things in his computer, ‘bits’ and ‘bots’ and ‘non-fungible tokens’ – of which she knew nothing and she smiled as she went to bed, wrapped up next to her huge big bag.

She woke up and it was almost light; she went out and down to the beach, how many grains of sand are there, could she hold just one in her hand? and then it happened…

Suddenly, a green smudge of light materialised as the magical spectacle began; it skipped across the darkness of space, while the shimmering liquid flames danced around the sky: it was the aurora borealis.

next episode

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Denise Farley of Girlie On The Edge
Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: GRAIN

More #SixSentenceStories

The realms of mystery

Chris Hall58 Comments

the angel and the mermaid
what we do every day
we stand in the park
not moving at all
but later, it’s dark and silent
and the gates are closed
and in the moon light
the glorious graceful dancers
whirling and swaying
spreading joy

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Image credit: Marianna Smiley @Unsplash “Thrive” by Danial Pooper a sculpture in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a giant female figure who is opening her chest to show the greenery inside. There are cracks on the visage and torso of this sculpture.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #237 photo prompt.

What do you see # 237- May 6, 2024

May Day

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.

Di of Pensitivity 101 – Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: SHUDDER, SHAKE, QUIVER

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

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Magic Moon

Chris Hall36 Comments

the moon beckons me
as the night sky’s burn brighter
her moon becomes radiant
my magical dreams drift on
and offer tiny pulses of light

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Image credit: Kenrick Mills @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a full moon in a cloudy sky. It’s night time and the clouds behind the moon are illuminated by the moonlight in an eerie fashion.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #236 photo prompt

What do you se # 236- 29 April, 2024

Flight 45

Chris Hall59 Comments

https://unsplash.com/@usgs

previously

The red-headed writer, aka the Raconteuse, had been staying in her bolt hole place, a tiny flat right up on the rickety stairs, in Montmartre, near the cemetery; a useful place where she’d already sold her little picture for her tidy profit, just a week ago.

Now it was time to go, she grabbed her important things in her big bag; all she would need was some new warm clothes, buying them from a small boutique shop.

Soon she was making her way to the train, taking her to Charles de Gaulle airport, where she had been many times; she also liked to move around from place to place, often in different continents, but she’d never been to Iceland, it would be the coldest place she’d ever been.

After the usual performance to get in the plane and take off, including keeping her eyes shut for a couple of minutes, everything was fine; now she was quite happy to enjoy her gin and tonic, and look forward to seeing some of her friends from the Cafe, although what there were all doing was a mystery to her for the moment.

About three hours later, she’d been reading most of the time, but now there was a great deal of turbulence, as she put everything away and buckled up her seat belt tightly; she looked out from the window, and suddenly a huge plume of fire burst out from the volcano as it erupted.

‘Brace, brace, brace,’ yelled the captain.

next episode

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Denise Farley of Girlie On The Edge
Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: TONIC


More #SixSentenceStories

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Earth Day 2024

Chris Hall34 Comments

so many people
reaching out more

rage, rage, rage again

too much pollution
too many plastic bags and bottles

it should be a better place
so make it happen

just a little help
and hope

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Image credit: Tom Barrett @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a view of a walkway/ street, at a time when the shadows cast by the sun are out of proportion larger than the people walking the street.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #235 photo prompt

What do you see # 235- 22 April, 2024