The other one? (Tales from the SSC&B)

Chris Hall49 Comments

Negley Stockman on Unsplash

previously

The Bartender was setting up behind the bar and Mimi was counting up the till, just as the red-head writer, aka the Raconteuse, walked into the Six-Sentence-Café-&-Bistro, greeting them both, ‘is he in?’ she asked, as her eyes swiveled over the long corridor where the kitchen was and then the office where the usual Proprietor was often in there.

She could hear that Tom was singing loudly in the kitchen, were he was making bread as the tiny bubbles began to rise and foam; then one of the double doors opened as Tom said, ‘it will be ready in a couple of hours,’ and he stopped – ‘you’re here, how lovely,’ as he waved across to the Raconteuse, ‘I don’t see you enough,’ he said, ‘but come this way, I can see that you need to have a word in the office down there; Tom then winked, as she pushed the other side of the door.

The tall, thin man stood in the Manager’s office, and leaned out, ‘come in, my dear,’ as he gestured to the two cozy chairs, ‘tell me.’

‘Last week I saw someone who looked like me; I was sitting in my usual alcove, and I saw her skirting around the room, and then she quickly ran out again – she was pretending to be me!’

‘Well,’ said the tall, thin man, ‘I saw both of you – two red-head women – a real person and a fictional person, but come on, that’s normal here, isn’t it?’

next episode

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

More #SixSentenceStories

Ghosts and Dreams

Chris Hall77 Comments

she sits staring out
rain pitter-patters down, cold and grey
dismal, dank and damp

but inside she’s warm
reading a tatty old book
and what’s wrong with that?

the candle flickers
but there’s no ghosts here now
just peace and happiness

no misery here!

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Image credit: Esra Korkmaz @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows an open book lying on a table near a window. There is a lit candle near the book on the table in a brass bowl. The pages of the book are yellowing with age. There are water droplets on the outside of the window pane.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #252 photo prompt.

What do you see # 252- September 2, 2024

Dosh… and soon

Chris Hall45 Comments

Chris Anderson on Unsplash

previously

The red-head woman was walking around the Montmartre Cemetery, wondering what she could do, since she was running out of cash – although of course she could sell, or maybe pawn, her lovely ruby ring, as she fiddled with her finger.

She had turned left when suddenly she spotted the two gargoyles who were standing next to one of the dead poets graves, as they were busy working on two large easels, wearing artists’ smocks and berets, and both of them were scoffing and bickering (as usual); but then stopped and said, ‘ah, there you are,’ as they grinned back at the red-head woman.

Meanwhile the old vampire appeared, opening his arms and smiling: ‘to you like my outfit,’ as he whirled around; ‘yes, I know, I’m doing my best, although, I know I’m a relic, but I suit and boot quite well, don’t you think.’

‘Now, down to business and stuff,’ said the old vampire, as Joan, Francis and Scatty popped up and join them, ‘okay, we all know about the old building just around the corner,’ as he pointed, ‘and now I can reveal,’ he paused like a drum roll, and winked.

‘It began with the lovely red-head woman who opened that old safe, and then later the two gargoyles managed to read those antique deeds, and then they sent it via courier to me – and that’s where I got it.’

‘You see, it seems I own it out right – and we can do whatever we want!’

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: SCOFF, STUFF, SMOCK

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

I’m going in

Chris Hall47 Comments

Time to go in
as the huge doors beckon.
She has her cotton bag
and she’s on her last call.

She’s inside
and she’s confident.
She walks up the winding stairs,
wearing her professional face.

She disappears, and re-appears.

‘Order, Order!’
She’s the judge.

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Image credit: Richard Stachmann @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a woman standing on the sidewalk, near a door looking at her phone. There is a handbag in between her hand and a cloth bag hanging from her shoulder.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #251 photo prompt.

What do you see # 251- August 26, 2024

The Beautiful Game?

Chris Hall45 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

She’s put out the snacks and brought his beer, chilled, in his special glass (one of them). More beers are in the fridge; she has a pie ready to warm for half-time – steak and kidney – his preferred.

Pre-match build up: pundits pontificate; re-runs, highlights, triumphs and near misses. There is success and then there is shame. Which will it be today? National Pride is at stake, for this is the World Cup.

As she sits, small and submissive on the far end of the couch, she plays a different commentary in her head. Missed penalties, own goals, bad decisions by the ref. The repercussions: cuts and bruises (hers); failure on the field reflected in domestic disappointment.

Predictions are favourable. The odds of a positive outcome are weighed in favour. She weighs up her own odds: win or draw 20 per cent, lose 50 per cent (the chances of a beating).

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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.

Another Full Moon

Chris Hall53 Comments

Guzman Barquin on Unsplash

previously

The full moon leaked across the balcony as the red-head woman looked out into the sky; suddenly she saw Joan, Francis and Scatty, who were hovering on broomsticks: ‘one for you too,’ said Scatty, ‘they are all made with hardwood and jute, and strong and light,’ – ‘come on, hurry,’ said Joan, ‘time to party – we are going around the moon – you’ll see,’ and off they go.

They were flying down the Seine and then the ocean appeared, ‘let’s go to New York,’ shouted Francis, ‘you can see the Café and Bistro, and I think you’ve been there haven’t you?’ – ‘well, kind of,’ muttered the red-head.

They crossed the water keeping with the moon, and then they landed: ‘well,’ said the red-head, ‘I’m going in and quickly skirted around the room,’ – at that moment, the Bartender was wiping a cloth on the sparkling table, as she looked up and smiled, and Mimi also waved happily as she when back to the kitchen; ‘I think I got away with that,’ muttered the red-head.

‘Come on let’s fly to the West Coast; here’s the bridge now, and let’s sit,’ – then the red-head woman hugged her warm fabric as she watched the moon rising again.

But now it’s time to go – and this is the clever bit… ‘widdershins, widdershins, widdershins’ shouted Scatty.

***

Did she fall asleep? thought the red-head… did she dream all of this? but no; she looked in her pocket – it was a napkin from SSC&B!

next episode

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: CLOTH, FABRIC, JUTE

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

More #SixSentenceStories

Walking Boots

Chris Hall55 Comments

will he walk a thousand miles
as he climbs around the sea
and will he walk another league as well?

his boots are big and magnificent
as he strides over mountains and lakes
and then the pinnacle arrives…

but what more can he achieve?

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Image credit: Karsten Winegeart @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a pair of hiking boots suspended in the air. They both are facing in different directions and it seems as if they are worn on feet attached to invisible legs!

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #250 photo prompt.

What do you see # 250 – August 19, 2024

Rare Books

Chris Hall41 Comments

Aliis Sinisalu on Unsplash

previously

The red-head woman had woken up, had thrown off her quilt, stood up, walked across and opened the handle into the little kitchen where she spooned some strong coffee into the jug, as it percolated; she stared out into the grey and dank morning, it was wet, very wet, completely different from yesterday.

She got dressed quickly, drinking her coffee, and as she sat down with the three new and ancient books that she had only just bought from the bookseller, she opened all of them.

The first thing she realised was that all of them were in English (phew), and the second thing she realised was that she had known right from the start, these were written about Joan of Arc, Comte de Saint-Germain, and Scáthach: her three friends (and vampires) Joan, Francis and Scatty.

She delved down, looking around all of them, piecing and putting markers everywhere, what seemed particularly interesting was that the two historical tomes were similar, but the folklore one was poles apart; but everything was good.

Then she remembered about the little book which she’d found – the one in the safe; she would get that now.

Meanwhile, it was all very well to read these old books but the red-head woman still needed to hatch a plan (and soon, and then stick to it) since she had little dosh left after doing everything else, but it was raining so hard, like cats and dogs, it was better to stay at home, just for now.

next episode

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: HANDLE, STICK, POLE

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

What a vista!

Chris Hall55 Comments

Walk up this beautiful alley
so fragrant, fulsome and vivid,
washed with umber and white-lime walls
as marigolds and cyclamens bloom.

The steps are worn and warm as well,
as we weave around the village,
and then eventually we’re here.
The vistas are magnificent;
we look out to see for many miles
and we wish we could stay forever.

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Image credit: Sig- Sigmund @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a view of an alley where stairs lead up to a house. The stairs are decorated with planters where different flowers are flourishing. There is a huge vine hanging from the side wall. The whole look is of a well-used and aged home.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #249 photo prompt.

What do you see # 249- August 12, 2024

Oh, the Olympic Games

Chris Hall58 Comments

Edin on Unsplash

previously

The red-head woman had been still smirking as she got into the taxi, she had rather a lot of euro coins as earlier she’d won at table-football with several people in the lounge in the Hotel St Germain, and she’d pocketed it them in her big bag, meanwhile the helpful concierge had been dialling one of the taxi ranks from the lobby.

The taxi pulled out and it seemed very busy, she craned up looking around – and then it had dawned on her: she’d completely forgot about the Olympic Games in Paris, and it was already happening, it was so interesting and massive, and right here too (she’d been distracted for several weeks), but now she was very excited.

The taxi had drawn up, almost right at the door, as the red-head woman opened her big bag and digged deep into her compartment, unearthing her money and got rid of most of her coins; she gave him saying – ‘keep the change’ – while he grumbled and then smiled.

The red-head woman heaved up her bag and hurried up to the top of her tiny flat, she deposited her bag, then opened the little balcony; she saw the two gargoyles who were hovering over her, ‘can we come in?’ – she nodded.

‘We’ve been busy for the past two weeks, as we have a temporary job, helping the climbers in the Olympic sport,’ they started, and stopped…

‘Gosh, sorry, got to go, we’re going to watch the final of women’s beach volleyball (ooh)!’

next episode

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: DIG, UNEARTH, INTER

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

One of the Gargoyles😂