Tag: up to 150 words

Halloween!

Chris Hall24 Comments

“It’s Halloween, isn’t it,” grinned Uncle Bill.
“We know,” laughed the two boys in unison.
“I’m glad that both of you have popped around here. I know you have your sheets to be ghosts, but I’ve some things in my shed which will help you as well.”
The two of them looked at each other for a moment, then they followed Uncle Bill to the shed.

“Okay, this should do,” as Uncle Bill produced two broomsticks, two small cassocks and two tall pointy hats.”
The two of them grinned while pocketing some tangerines and Polos.
“Have fun and see you soonish,” as he waved them off.

Meanwhile, Uncle Bill finished his open fire in the living room. The flames danced around and became toasty. Then he carefully arranged their treasures, since all three of them had scrumped lots of chestnuts last week. That will warm them up, grinned Uncle Bill.

~~~
150 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #110

Fishing!

Chris Hall34 Comments


“It’s a great place here,” grinned one of the boys.
“Perfect, since we have our fishing tackle with us today.”
“We could sit by the bank, and maybe dabble our toes in the stream…”
“… or we could get rather more wet, and start from that muddy bit.”
“Muddy is always good.”

They removed their socks and trainers, and put them together by the bank, then they brought their rods, including a good strong net.

They waded around a bit and peered by the waters. A couple of tiny minnows rushed past, but that was all.
“We need to be deeper.”
They got rather wet until they climbed onto the large flat rock.
“Aha, this is much better.”

They didn’t get any fish, but they found several coins at the bottom of the stream.
“It seems that some of them could be very old.”
“Ooh, how exciting.”
“Lucky us, eh?”

~~~

150 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #108

That’s an interesting tree…

Chris Hall37 Comments


“Shall we stop for a bit?” asked one of the boys.
“Yes, good thinking, we’ve been riding for ages.”
“Such a good place here, and right by the nice village pond.”
So, the two of them got off, and put their bikes down, then walked down to the pond.

“This is great, isn’t it,” grinned one of them.
“Should we have a little paddle?”
“We could, although it looks a bit deep, or at least a bit uncomfortable.”
“Okay, let’s walk a little further.”

“Now look at this, this is fab!”
“Gosh, this tree is ancient, isn’t it?”
“It’s called a weeping willow tree, I think.”
“Well, it looks like the Whomping Willow in Harry Potter’s Hogwarts school grounds.”
“I do like that idea of that – a magical tree…”
“… although that could be pretty dangerous.”
The two of them grinned for a bit, then said together: “we’ll ride again.”

~~~

150 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #105

Those two happy boys!

Chris Hall36 Comments


The two boys had just left that rather nice woman, who had said that she would be happy to see them some time in the future.
“Fun, eh,” grinned one of the boys.
“Oh yes, that huge house was amazing.”
“It’s called The Old Hall.”
“That’s right.”
She had laughed a lot, since she said her name is Ms Hall.
“Still, we need to get moving now,” as the two boys started to pedal more quickly.

Then they continued to bike by the little lane.
“Look just over there. There’s two lovely cows who are munching in the long grass.”
“But that’s not where they stay normally, surely?”

The two of them slowed down to see what was going on.
“Oh look, that farmer is just there, he’s going to herd them back where they are supposed to be.”
“Well, I’m saying, phew.”
“Quite right.”

So off they went smiling.

~~~

150 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #104

The Old Hall

Chris Hall39 Comments

“Is this all for me?” she thought, as she opened the car door, and looked up and around. It was huge. She grabbed her phone and several pages of notes, then got out, closing and locking the door. “Habit,” she muttered to herself.”

The key was hidden under a big bush near the main door as the solicitor had said on email. She held it up for a moment, then poked the key in the lock.

It was dark inside, since all the windows had been bricked up. Still there was a large torch somewhere. But then she saw two young boys on their bikes appear.

“Hello,” said one of them. “Do you need some help?”
“We can see it’s dark, but we’ve our front lights on our bikes and easy to remove them.”

She grinned back and said, “you’ll be handy, and you two will be my new friends!”

~~~

150 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #103

Tread with trepidation…

Chris Hall36 Comments


Tread with trepidation

It’s so, so dry. Look at the grass, it’s brown. It’s dying or dead. Ridiculous! Actually it’s not just ridiculous, it’s rather worrying. I have never known a summer as scorching as this. Although 1976 was pretty similar. Gosh, that was a long time ago.

The worrying thing now though is this. It’s El Niño effect. And that is going to be brutal. It’s already beginning. There is drought, wildfires and heat waves too. Then on the other side there will be torrential rain with floods.

Now we need to think. Crops, livestock and infrastructure will reduce food production and disrupt markets. As supply falls, prices rise and food becomes less affordable. When combined with existing pressures such as conflict these climate shocks can quickly increase hunger.

so brace, brace and brace
many things will be required
let us keep alert

~~~~~~~~
145 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #100

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 78, Tread with Trepidation! 8/18/26

It’s up there…

Chris Hall31 Comments

“I can just reach it, well almost. Why don’t you try… you’re a little taller than me, aren’t you?”
“Ah, that’s it.”
“Oops, don’t drop it.”
“Impressive, isn’t it?”

“Now give it to me. I am going to open it. And smell it. Hmm, seems fine. So, another sniff… mm, I’m liking this.”

“You don’t want to smell it?”
“Thanks, but no.”
“But you do want to stay with me, don’t you?”
“Sure, of course.”
“Well, phew!”

“Now it’s time to have a little sip. Luckily I can tip it up with both hands. And slowly too.”

“Wow. That’s strong. It’s certainly an interesting aroma.”
“Hmm, is it nice?”

“Well, I will have another tiny sip. Just to make sure. It’s certainly warming.
“And that’s a good thing?”
“Sure. Now, another shot…, definitely nice now. Are you sure you don’t want some…? Oh well, all for me. Glug, glug, hic!”

~~~

150 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #097

Those koi, again

Chris Hall42 Comments

“Not so coy koi, or maybe a daydream.”

I walked around a pleasant park. I often go there. I love to stroll by trees, bushes and colourful flowers, the scent is always magnificent. There are bugs, bees and birds, so much to look at, and maybe take a few photos with my phone; but my favourite part is the beautiful pond where those not so coy carp, or rather those koi (like from Japan) would bubble up and ask for food – and I can.

Then often I would sit, or even lie down, to continue to watch them, and maybe have a daydream or two. And then I might pull out a notebook and a pen to write a little poem.

dream, dream and enjoy
a delightful day in spring
what could be better?

~~~

This week for #TankaTuesday, Yvette asked us to write a poem about a dream that came true or a dream that fell apart.

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #096

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 74, Oh, to Dream! 7/21/26

Just a small forest…

Chris Hall42 Comments

“I’ll race you,” grinned one of the boys.
“That will be fun,” said the other.
So off they went on their bikes along the scrubby lane. It was almost neck and neck when they both stopped, and rather suddenly.

“Such a small straight track.”
“Let’s go that way.”
So the two of them made their way across the field. They had only a tiny squabble as they decided who would go first. And off they went.

A bit later they both stopped.
“Gosh, it was further than we thought.”
“Still this small forest seems excellent.”
“I wonder what we’ll find?”
“The highest part is over there.”
“It will be dense and quite dark too.”
“And that’s what we like.”

So off they went. And they had a great time. They hoped that they would find a couple of unicorns, and it could have been. A small sighting, they both thought.

~~~

150 words
🦄

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #093

Those two boys… again!

Chris Hall33 Comments

“We’d love to go with you,” said the two boys.
“Okay, pop in,” grinned Uncle Bill. “My Land Rover is ancient but still fine,” as he lurched off onto the road.

“Where are we going,” asked one of the boys.
“Aha,” said he, “you’re going to like this, it’s right by the Fens. I’m going to drop you off for a while.”

Then one of the boys said: “We’re getting pretty close to that wonderful windmill, is it this?”
“It is,” as Uncle Bill pulled up. “You can poke around there, although it’s a shame you can’t go in. I’ll be about an hour,” and off he went.

The two of them had some fun, and even better, an old guy happened to be there, letting them in, and very interesting it was. Then Uncle Bill was back with some pies and ice creams, and not necessarily in that order!

~~~

150 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #092