The next weekly challenge topic is: Block
SCRIBBLING WREN
Mum Saves the Day
Paul had anticipated most things so was always half expecting the knock on the door from the police apparently today investigating a missing local girl.
They showed him a picture of Sally, who was currently tied up in his spare room.
“No sorry, never seen her.”
A woman shouted from inside his house and the Officers stepped forward together, knowing they’d got the creepy bastard at last.
“Paul! I think I’ve shat meself.”
He looked embarrassed.
“Sorry, I’m Mum’s carer, I think she needs me.”
Paul closed the door, let the tape recorder play a while longer before hitting stop.
RICHARD
Fidelity
“Really? You spent the night together in the same bed with your secretary, and nothing happened? Nothing?”
“I had no choice, darling. They’d booked us into the same room by mistake. I promise you, nothing happened, except sleep.”
She gave me a hard stare.
“It never happens again. Right!”
I nodded. She knew I wasn’t lying – she always knew when I lied, it was like a sixth sense. I was telling the truth, and she knew it.
Frankly, after sex in the shower, on the balcony, and against the wall, when we got into bed, all we wanted was sleep!
LIZZIE
The string of lights reminded me of you.
It reminded me of those days we spent in the cinema parking lot, next to the industrial fan, barely able to hear each other.
The string of lights reminded me of you and me.
It reminded me of the shouted out tunes that were just laughter.
It reminded me of when our fingers touched by mistake and we didn’t know what to do.
Did you say “I love you”?
The string of lights reminded me of us.
The cinema is now gone but I can still hear that silent I love you.
TOM
Can I bring my friend to tea?
Since I am old, I remember a time before the Beatles. Before was pretty much street corner crooning. Well and motor town and actually Mississippi blue, well all that, but the Beatles got so big they could record just about anything they wanted. Case in point: All together now. Not exactly Wagner there. Being in the States I don’t get that Music Hall Vib. After a dozen pints I bet it is a riot. Chop the tree, sail the boat, look at me. Ok, I’m smiling. Guess after 50 years it has succeeded cause we are still all together now.
Now, The Reason For My Absence.
It’s been near half a year, but I can barely acknowledge my oldest friend’s death. So, it is a bit hard to work him into this length explanation. We could go back 40 years, but that would be way too much plot expo. Let’s land on Podcasting. Jim, God rest his soul, said he was listening to a podcast of two kids from Wisconsin talk shit for 45 mins. I said, I don’t have a Ipod. Sorry got to hit pause here. I had no idea I was about to be answering that question regularly for the next two full years.
SERENDIPIDY
‘Together, forever’
I traced the words with my finger, carved all those years ago, when I thought that our love would always endure.
It didn’t.
He lied.
However, I kept my promise, and when he tried to walk away from me, I broke his legs. I cut out his tongue to stifle his curses, and chained him in the cellar, where he remains grovelling to this day.
I know he hates me with a passion, and I certainly no longer love him, but a promise is a promise, and together, forever, we will remain.
Whether we like it, or not.
NORVAL JOE
Had Billbert and Sabrina not been zooming above the treetops, they would have skidded to a stop. Instead, they hung together in the air as Billbert considered what the old man had said.
“They still have Linoliamanda. We have to do something, Sabrina. Can you bring a wind to knock their house down?”
Obviously Sabrina was not as comfortable hanging out fifty feet above the ground as her fingers gouged Billbert’s arm where she gripped it.
“Remember, Lillywanda is in the cabin, too. And, any wind strong enough to level the building would also blow us out of the air.
JRADIMUS
Another Productive Meeting
“Welcome, All. Have a seat. Quickly, please. We’re short on time. If you’re wondering why I called this meeting – it means you didn’t read the agenda in the invite.”
“Come on, Frank. Knock it off. You do this every time. Just get on with it already.”
“Listen, Little Mike – I say it every time, because everyone always asks what the meeting is about. So if you want me to stop doing this, read the agenda. With that out of the way, I’ll “get on with it”: Item one, Safety-”
A whistle blows. “Shift change!”
“Wait! I just started… Damn it.”
PLANET Z
Our last salvage run was a colony shuttle that flamed out on its way to Mars.
Thousands of bodies in the sleeper pods.
The cargo looked interesting.
Dead withered plants in the hydroponics bay.
The engines were completely shot.
We grabbed the computer system and fuel, and gave the rest a boost back on course to Mars.
An orbital tug could grab the thing and get it to a waystation for offloading.
We messaged Mars Authority so they’d know to catch it before it slams into the planet.
Another colony ship is being launched.
We’ll see if it’s another salvage.