A Lovely Evening

January 23, 2025January 30, 2025 Chris Hall47 Comments

The red-head woman was elated as she slammed her cue down and laughed saying, ‘I’m the victor,’ as she turned around, but then she slipped and fell down, fortunately Francis was at hand, and he helped her up, ‘enough, let’s go.’

Joan and Scatty had already left, as they wanted to have a little swim in the clear river, they would take all their clothes off, skinny dipping was hardly a vice, but still they made sure there was no one around; they both jumped in, swimming and giggling, then they tread it water as they looked up to see the huge moon.

By now Francis and the red-head woman had been walking next to the river, they could hear the splashing from Joan and Scatty – ‘don’t worry about us,’ as the two of them waved back.

Said Francis, ‘let’s continue to walk, I feel I could speak a verse or two,’ as he started to utter eloquently: ‘by the way it’s from Shakespeare… of course.’

But the red-head woman had no truck in that kind of thing, as she hurried up to where The Old One and Mr Cushing were standing near the limo: ‘oh, that looks divine,’ as she licked her lips.

Mr Cushing had been busy mixing and blending a large pick-me-up, it was a special concoction, excellent for all of them (even the two gargoyles who had been bickering for almost an hour), ‘come everyone, enjoy, and maybe a bit of tripping too,’ as he winked.

next episode

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: VICTOR, VICE, VERSE

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

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Day and Evening

January 16, 2025January 23, 2025 Chris Hall50 Comments

Kalina O. on Unsplash

previously

Everyone now knows that Peter Cushing was a great chauffeur: the Old One was sitting next to him grinning happily, while the two gargoyles were sitting backwards, being very careful not to scratch the upholstery, while looking around with their eyes peeled.

They had been in the lovely limo for several hours watching the many villages and little towns, since they were so much nicer than motorways, but now they were coming to a forest and it seemed right to stop.

‘So what’s here then,’ asked the red-head woman, as the two gargoyles proceeded to answer, while everyone else opened their doors and climbed out.

Scatty and Joan made a beeline to walk down to the river where it was clear and refreshing as both of them took a little sip, and a little more, where Joan explained that here in the cities, the water was often cloudy and opaque.

Meanwhile, Mr Cushing had been busy removing several deck chairs, a couple of small tables, and other useful things from the undercarriage of the limo; and soon Francis was happy reading another tome, while the Old One and Mr Cushing began to reminisce again.

Rather later, most of them went into the hamlet together, where they found a bar; but already here was the red-head woman who was in her element, she had been playing pool for more than an hour, winning everyone in sight, the next one, she said: ‘So pal, what do you think – double or quits, eh?

next episode

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: OPEN, OPAQUE, OPAL

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

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Gassing in the limo

January 9, 2025January 16, 2025 Chris Hall51 Comments

Kalina O. on Unsplash

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They all piled into the limo; the two gargoyles bagged the back, Francis was happy to lounge on the third row, and Joan and Scatty sat in the middle; the red head woman was clutching her big bag, and The Old One sat almost at the front: now they were ready to go.

‘How long will this take?’ asked Scatty, ‘will we need a hotel, perhaps?’– ‘honestly, don’t be silly,’ said the nearer gargoyle, ‘I estimate it’ll take six hours,’ while looking around at the chauffeur.

But before the chauffeur could speak, The Old One said: ‘I know who you are,’ as everyone turned to look at him; meanwhile the other gargoyle said: ‘well, we thought he was an actor, right from the start.’

The chauffeur glided to a stop, then turned around taking his shades off; ‘I have been an actor for many years, and yes, I’m not able to do it anymore, I’m not dead, nor a vampire, no, I’m an immortal, but never mind that.’

The Old One almost shouted: ‘you’ve been in many, many Dracula films haven’t you – and rather raunchy back in the day, but my favourite film (two actually) was the Doctor – you were Doctor Who.’

‘Oh yes,’ as he smiled back, ‘I remember that machine… the TARDIS, great wasn’t it,’ then The Old One added, ‘I had a bit part, I was an extra in that, I was a Dalek, no speaking part but I was very hostile and menacing… oh, happy days!’

next episode

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: HOTEL, HOSTILE, HONEST

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

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Let’s go to the fair

January 2, 2025January 9, 2025 Chris Hall48 Comments

thank you, Misky

previously

Scatty had been waving a flyer about the fair, while running around from bedroom to bedroom, ‘come on, it’s only in the next town and we’re able to get there very easily – come on, a lovely fair – there will be all sorts of things… who’s in?’

‘What a wonderful idea,’ said The Old One, ‘I wear such style, of course, boot and suit required, don’t you think?’ as he began to hum.

Joan was also up for this, ‘I do hope they have dodgems and I’m great at playing catapult… come on, Francis, you’ll come, won’t you?’ as she looked down, but he was still reading, while lying on the chaise-longue.

He craned over to see the flyer, ‘give it to me,’ as he slowly sat up, ‘see the date… it was last week – it’s already gone,’ Joan and Scatty stared at it, ‘daft, both of you,’ said Francis.

‘Just as well,’ said the red-head woman, who had been packing everything into her big bag, plus a small suitcase which contained various goodies, ‘time to go back to Paris, anyone else?’

The two gargoyles had been busy using their phones, since it seemed that everyone would like to go back to Paris: they shouted, ‘the limousine would be arriving shortly – the car, the man and the dark shades… and here it is,’ the two of them said to each other, ‘he looks very familiar… isn’t he an actor?’ – ‘but I thought he was dead, still nothing new there!’

next episode

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: ABLE, ACTOR, AFT

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

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Are we playing?

December 26, 2024January 2, 2025 Chris Hall50 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

previously

The four vampires – Joan, Francis, Scatty and the Old One, the two gargoyles plus the red-head woman had been having a whale of a time for several weeks in that wonderful chateau, although some of them were becoming rather restless.

Georges, the manager, was also becoming a little fraught; he had been walking around the market earlier, where he happened to look up and who did he see, these two gargoyles were watching the game of boules just behind the high wall next to the chateau: I admit this crowd are more than weird, they are completely loopy but what can I do? (he thought).

Francis were still very happy reading all those beautiful books in the library, but he was not alone; Joan had read ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ by Charles Dickens and it was the second time too, but this time she felt it was less interesting and she read it half-heartedly now; instead she was looking out from the window, daydreaming about something else.

The Old One had been wondering what to do next – another movie or maybe Joan, or even the red head woman, could play Scrabble with me.

But the red-head woman had other plans.

Scatty had joined the two gargoyles on the tall wall; she watched the game for a bit, ‘boules, I can watch or not, not my favourite though, but look at this… admission is just 10 euros, shall we go?’ – the two gargoyles started to grin, ‘why not?’

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 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: ALONE, HALF-HEARTED, DAYDREAM

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

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Our Little Lockets (Tales from the SSC&B)

December 18, 2024 Chris Hall39 Comments

At Full Moon, the Moon’s face is fully lit up—give or take a tiny bit.
©Steffen Thorsen/timeanddate.com

previously

‘Do we remember what we did… that beautiful day, and night, when we saw the Harvest Moon,’ said the Raconteuse, – while Mimi said, ‘of course, it was us and Jenne,’ as she clapped her hands, – then the Bartender said, ‘later we came home where we found our silver boxes and our little lockets.’

Mimi held up her locket, while the Bartender held out her hand, ’I made it into a ring, nice, isn’t it?’, as the Raconteuse gently opened the small box; but then the Bartender froze for a moment, as Ms Storme lunged at the box, ‘give me a look, won’t you?’

‘Wait, just a moment,’ said the Raconteuse, ‘there’s no locket, but here’s a letter from Jenne – she says she’s gone to pastures new, also Mr C. E. Ayr, and the two of them do the Unicorn Challenge, jolly good,’ – ‘I would agree,’ said the tall, thin man, who winked.

He continued to pose a question, while the Gatekeeper looked on, and Hūnga barked; ‘my idea is that Ms Storme should take over the reins, what do you think?’

Everyone seemed to be happy with that, so that was that; Ms Storme and the tall, thin man suddenly needed to be elsewhere; while the Gatekeeper and Hūnga, will be elsewhere too, and later they will look up, since there’ll be a tiny nick over the moon.

‘And as for me,’ said the Raconteuse, ‘I’m going to dip into this book, in fact, it was partly written by me.’

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: POSE, FROZE, CLAP

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

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So very happy to be included in this wonderful poetry anthology.
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

Devised by Colleen M. Chesebro and Robbie Cheadle
Amazon.com LINK
Amazon.UK.com LINK

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The Silver Locket
authored by Chris Hall
writing as Holly Atkins

Order on Amazon: paperback and ebook

A Silver Box (Tales from the SSC&B)

December 12, 2024 Chris Hall38 Comments

Christopher Bill on Unsplash

previously

‘Are you going to open that?’ said Tom – as the red-headed writer, aka the Raconteuse, nodded her head; she was about to gently rip the parcel but then she heard the wonderful car, as the three of them turned to look at the street.

‘Looks like she’s back,’ grinned Mimi, ‘we can always adapt, but it is so much better when our Bartender is here,’ as they watched the beautiful car glide around the corner, ‘and look who also is there – it’s the Gatekeeper and lovely Hūnga.’

The tall, thin man and Ms Storme appeared from the Manager’s office, both of them looking rather smug, but Tom muttered to himself – she’s hardly an angel, but he said, ‘how nice to see you, my dear,’ as he smiled radiantly, using his best actor voice.

But now there was much merriment since Hūnga bustled in, closely followed by the Bartender and the Gatekeeper, while Mimi said, ‘it’s certainly busy now… drinks everyone?’

A little later, the Raconteuse began to open her parcel, ‘okay, I’m doing it,’ – while everyone crowded around, even Hūnga… ‘so, it’s a box, small oblong and clearly silver,’ she looked up, ‘ah, I know this… and you?’ staring at Mimi and the Bartender.

‘Do we still have those?’ – ‘well, mine is on my dressing table,’ said Mimi, – ‘mine is in my bathroom,’ said the Bartender, – ‘and mine, my original one, is still here in my big bag, so the fourth one has been given back… mm.

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: ACTOR, ANGEL, ADAPT

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

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Speeding Along (Tales from the SSC&B)

December 5, 2024December 12, 2024 Chris Hall42 Comments

Thanos Pal on Unsplash

previously

The red-headed writer, aka the Raconteuse, was been on that long, long, wonderful train, but now she was keen to arrive back to New York; she’d been listening to the two guys talking about the executor of the will and how much money they might inherent; she was still grinning as she left the train, it seemed that their late uncle had a lovely long life.

She’d been mulling in her head as she’d begun to execute a plan and a plot, as she was sitting in a taxi as it made its way to downtown New York; she’d tipped the cab and then walked across and along to the small alley.

She was ready to greet all the Proprietors, as she walked down three steps to the door; she opened the SSC&B, hearing the tinkling bell; Mimi and Tom appeared through the double doors and both of them smiled although their hands were full.

‘There’s only us here at the moment,’ said Mimi, ‘the Bartender has gone on leave with her fancy car, and the Gatekeeper with his gorgeous dog have also gone somewhere; but the tall, thin man is around somewhere – and that new woman, Ms Storme, well, she’s a dark one.’

‘Look, on the table next to the bar,’ said Tom, pointing, ‘this is for you: it’s a small parcel, it arrived yesterday.’

The Raconteuse dumped her big bag, and then stared at it, and stared again; she looked to Tom and Mimi, ‘hmm, that doesn’t look good.’

next episode

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: EXECUTOR, EXECUTE, READY

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

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The Museum (Tales from the SSC&B)

November 28, 2024December 5, 2024 Chris Hall56 Comments

2H Media on Unsplash

previously

The red-headed writer, aka the Raconteuse, had a spring in her step as she walked from the hotel to the museum that morning, she was delighted to find that helpful man from the train yesterday, now known as Joey, and he was working in a museum in Rocky Mount – how splendid!

Joey looked up from the counter, ‘excellent,’ he said, with his strong accent, ‘there’s a good place just here, I have already made a ticket on the stand, “Time Travelled Tomahawk”, that’s right, isn’t it?’ – ‘of course,’ said the red-headed woman as she took it out from her big bag, ‘shall I attest it’s real?’ – soon everything was in order, as they looked at it together.

She wandered around looking at exhibits but she was suddenly drawn to a particular item – a small jade camel in a glass box; she stared at it as she looked at every angle and then she turned to see Joey.

He had been standing in the shadows but then he walked next to her: ‘I found that… that jade camel, I was able to get it into the museum, and that way I got a job here, but otherwise I’d never have been there.’

‘Oh gosh, look at the time, I need to go, or I will miss my train, and I really need to get to New York by tomorrow.’

‘Well, nice to see you,’ said Joey, ‘might you come again, maybe on a plane or do you not like the altitude?’

next episode

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Thursday’s Three Things Challenge: ATTEST, ALTITUDE, ANGLE

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

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The Jade Camel – microfiction series

it seems that this might be back again… or not

Another Train Journey (Tales from the SSC&B)

November 21, 2024November 28, 2024 Chris Hall46 Comments

Thanos Pal on Unsplash

previously

The red-headed writer, aka the Raconteuse, was back on the long train where there were many benefits – gorgeous scenery, comfortable seats and tables, the dining car and the sleeper car; lovely coffee and a bagel (although not as nice as one of Tom’s), but there was a rather attractive man who was sitting opposite by the aisle, time to use her artful wiles.

She turned to face him: ‘do you know where this place is,’ as she smiled, ‘you see there’s an interesting museum in Rocky Mount, and of course, that’s where we will leave the train, and I’m pretty sure that I can place this in there, as she took this out from her big bag.

The man almost dropped his coffee, ‘what in the world is it?’ – he stared at it, and then to her, as she grinned.

‘It’s a tomahawk and it’s very, very old,’ as she moved to sit next to him, ‘we mustn’t be careless with this thing – you see it isn’t just a tomahawk, it’s a time travelled tomahawk, it’s handy, very handy, don’t you think? – and it actually belongs to Jenne, but it has been hanging around for years, and I’m sure it would be better in a museum.

By the way, are you from Miami originally? – you don’t sound like that… in fact, I could place that accent anywhere – you are from Liverpool, aren’t you!

She got up, beaming happily, ‘you will help me to carry all my things later, won’t you?’

next episode

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