Finish the Story #5 – The Unusual Commute

I have been tagged in this challenge by Sadje of the blog, Keep it Alive:

Finish the story 2019#5

Thank you, Sadje, I shall try to do it justice.

Teresa, The Haunted Wordsmith, started it off, see her post here:

https://thehauntedwordsmith.wordpress.com/2019/02/14/finish-the-story-2019-5/

 

Rules:

1. Copy the story as you receive it.

2. Add to the story in some fashion.

3. Tag another person to contribute to or finish the story.

4. Please use FTS as a tag so I can find it or link back to part 1.

5. Have Fun!

 

Part one 

Faith stretched and yawned. Somewhere in the house, the kittens were rough-housing and the neighbour’s rooster crowed ear-splittingly loud. There was no use in complaining to the Harvey’s again. She sighed, sat up, and slipped into her slippers. Warm chestnut aroma filtering from the kitchen suggested she was running late. The coffee pot’s timer was set for six, but it felt much earlier. Probably should not have watched the late-late movie, she told herself.

“Tom is always worth it.” She chuckled and set about her morning routine.

By the time she showered and poured her coffee to go, she had decided it was much later than usual. No time for breakfast or yoga. Traffic was light and convinced her even more that she was running behind schedule. She dashed through the terminal and reached the train doors with seconds to spare. They closed behind her and the train lurched forward.

Faith grabbed a hold of the person in front of her to avoid falling over and chuckled. “Excuse me. Sorry. I didn’t mean –“

Without intending too, she screamed as her eyes took in the thing standing in front of her. She released her grip and stepped back.

“Watch it, young lady,” a voice said behind her.

Faith glanced behind her and …

Part Two – 

She uttered a shrill scream. The vision in front of her was unbelievable. The guy, or was it just a gawky teenager, she couldn’t tell because of the clown makeup he was wearing. The costume was all colours of the rainbow and the face was so skillfully made up to resemble a zombie clown. He was grinning at her and with the get up it really looked as if he was ready to devour her with those sharp teeth.

She looked around her and realized that the whole compartment was full of clowns in different costumes and get up. They were all chatting and laughing with each other. It seemed that she had stepped into a nightmare. It wasn’t their fault. Not everyone is afraid of clowns.

She found an empty seat and sat there. Careful to keep her eyes averted from all those clowns. The train was travelling at an unusually fast speed and soon it stopped at the next station. The doors open to let in………….

My Addition – 

…even more clowns. She blinked and rubbed her eyes. She couldn’t believe that everyone getting on was dressed in the same kind of clown outfits as everyone already on the train.

She fumbled in her handbag and took out her asthma spray and gave it two puffs into her mouth.

She felt the tightening in her lungs relax and was able to breathe again, but it didn’t alter the fact that she was in a living nightmare. Her fear of clowns had been something she could usually deal with. After all, as long as you avoid circuses and were careful about what movies you watch, you could normally avoid clowns easily.

Occasionally one of the clowns would look down at her cowering in her seat and grin menacingly at her either with red painted lips or from behind a mask.

One person came up to her and bend down to speak to her.

“Feeling a little nervous are we?” The voice said.

“Well, just you wait until we get to our destination” the man added.

“Wait, isn’t this the train to the centre of town? I’m late already for work” Faith asked.

The man laughed for what seemed like a lifetime and eventually responded.

“Oh no, this is the express train to…….”

to be continued…..

 

So who shall I tag to continue this Clownish tale?

How about…..

Carolyn from Hawkfeatherstories? Fancy having a go?

https://hawkfeatherstories.com/valentines-for-luvvies-challenge-aunty-millys-bloomers/

If you don’t feel like it, let me know and I’ll tag someone else. Got to keep the story going. 🙂

 

 

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A Multiple Word Prompt Poem – A Letter from Beryl.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 

“Dearest Darling,

I thought I’d sit down and write you this letter,

I’m bored you see, and there’s nothing better,

I can think of to do to spend my time,

This yoga retreat is far from sublime!

I’m sick of the beach and the waves and the sea,

The nightlife is dull and there’s no variety.

I’ve lost track of the seashells I’ve managed to exhume.

from out of the confines of my swimming costume.

It’s so boring here I’m tempted to jump

into the canal. I’ve really got the hump.

There’s no television to watch, no booze to drink,

All I can do is sit here and think.

And even though I can’t overindulge,

there’s no sign whatever of losing my bulge!

So, Darling, I beg you, In my humble way,

Send me a big bar of Chocolate today.”

 

And that was the last letter he’d had from his Beryl,

Before she went quite mad and turned rather feral.

So before you spend a fortune on a yoga retreat,

Remember poor Beryl and just watch what you eat.

 

Copyright: Kristian Fogarty 15/February/2019

 

This poem was written for the Three Things Challenge, now hosted by Paula of Light Motifs II

The Three things were: Seashells, Yoga and Letter.

https://lightmotifs.wordpress.com/2019/02/14/three-things-challenge-pl1/

 

I have also included the following word prompts:

 

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2019/02/15/humble/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2019/02/15/rdp-friday-canal/

FOWC with Fandango — Variety

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2019/02/15/your-daily-word-prompt-overindulgence-february-15-2019/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50 Word Thursdays #7

The rules
1 The completed piece must be in multiples of 50 words – a maximum of 250 words. Anything is acceptable – poetry, story, anecdote.
2 There will be a photo and a random phrase that I will take from the current book I am reading – you can use either or both
3 Please pingback and tag 50WordThurs so I can do a summary.

As you may be aware, I have taken over hosting this challenge that Deb Whittam used to host but decided to move on to new things. I am now co-hosting this competition, taking it in turns with Teresa, The Haunted Wordsmith. Last week was her turn, click the link below to see the wonderful selection of stories:

https://thehauntedwordsmith.wordpress.com/2019/02/13/recap-50-word-thursday-6/

So here is the picture for this week:

And here are the words: From the moment we saw him most of us lived in dread of him. – Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo.

I hope you enjoy this weeks Challenge.

Have fun.

🙂

Tell the Story – The Windfalls

“What’s in the bundle?” the man asked the ragamuffin as he scampered out of the woods with a red spotted handkerchief held over his shoulder on the end of a pole.

“Nuffin'” said the young scamp.

“Well, if’s it Nothing, then why not let me see?” came the man’s response.

Little Charley had seen men like him before, looking all Ritzy in their fancy clothes, but still with a mind to take from those with less swank. He quickly jumped down and through the man’s open legs and ran off up the street.

“Here, come back.” Cried the man. He tried to give chase but the boy was too fast for him. Who’d have thought that a scrawny boy, with no meat on his bones and less strength than a fly, could move so fast?

Little Charley ran down a muddy alleyway between two cottages, away from the main street. Tucked behind the main row of houses was a wooden hovel. It was where his old grandmother lived. She had been poorly and so he had gone to get her a present.

He ran through the door and plonked himself down on the wooden stool in front of the fire.

In her usual chair in the corner, his old grandmother sat puffing at her tobacco pipe. The air reeked with the pungent smell, but it gave her comfort. She was curmudgeonly old baggage, but he loved her.

“What’s that you got there Charley?” His grandmother asked, coughing and spluttering but taking a puff from her pipe despite her cough.

“It’s a present for you, Gran. It’s some of the last windfall apples. I thought they would make you feel better.”

“Ah, you’re a good boy, Charley. A good boy.”

 

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2019/02/08/strength/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2019/02/08/rdp-friday-baggage/

FOWC with Fandango — Ritzy

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2019/02/08/your-daily-word-prompt-bundle-february-8-2019/

 

I was tagged in this Tell the Story Challenge by BereavedSingleDad, see the post below:

Tell the Story Challenge

Thank you for tagging me, I do enjoy these challenges.

 

So here is a picture for anyone who would like to have a go at this Tell the Story Challenge: Write a story or poem based on this:

 

So this is open to anyone who reads this, likes the picture and wants to have a go. Have fun. 🙂

 

Tell the Story Challenge – Mental Cruelty

Sadje of the Blog, Keep it Alive has tagged me in a Tell the Story Challenge, see the post here:

Tell the story Challenge #11

I believe this challenge was created by the Eclectic Contrarian, and so I would like to thank both of them, Sadje for tagging me and the EC for coming up with the concept.

Here is the picture that Sadje has chosen for me:

As the Marmalade Kitty Cat heard it’s humans’ car pull off the drive, he ran into the living room to look again at the new toy they bought.

Slowly he stepped up closer. “It sure look like goldie fish” thought Kitty.

Gingerly he sniffed at it. “It sure smells like goldie fish” Kitty thought.

It came as a revelation when Kitty pounced and knocked over the ornament that it was not a fish in a bowl at all! It was some plastic construct made to look and smell just like the real thing!

Kitty couldn’t comprehend who would manufacture such a cruel thing!

In order to make it clear that he was not happy, he left his humans a little coming home present on the mat.

 

Copyright: Kristian Fogarty 08/February/2019

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2019/02/07/revelation/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2019/02/07/rdp-thursday-manufacture/

FOWC with Fandango — Construct

 

So who shall I tag?

JP the Wide-eyed Wanderer

https://wideeyedwanderingspoonie.wordpress.com/2019/02/06/wide-eyed-wanderings-broad-bay-nz/

Kristian of Life Lessons from Around the Dinner Table

https://lifelessonsaroundthedinnertable.wordpress.com/2019/02/06/romantic-movies-day-5/

Bereaved Single Dad.

Cheesy Music.

 

So you know the rules? Take the picture I provide and write a story, poem or anecdote about it, then tag three others and provide them with a picture of your own.

The most important rule is to have fun.

Also if you don’t fancy having a go, then that’s fine.

Here is the picture:

Twittering Tales – Mountain Block – A tale in 280 characters.

Photo by Pexels at Pixabay.com

They say a book starts with one word. Just as a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step. However nice the words they don’t make it so.

He stared at the nearly blank page. On this journey, there was a mountain blocking his path. He prayed for inspiration. Then it came.

[277 characters]

 

This story was written for Kat Myrman’s Twittering Tales Challenge:

Twittering Tales #122 – 5 February 2019 – It starts with one word…

 

Teddy Bear’s Beware! – Kira’s Sunday Scribbles.

O Teddy Bear’s beware!

If you go down to the woods today you’ll be in for a shock or three!

There is a tribe of vicious teenagers engaged in devilry

They had Theodore tied up in ropes as they danced around the tree.

and another nameless Teddy lay in pieces for all to see.

I could see this tribe of teddy-torturers would be the death of me.

So, what could I do? I’m asking you, but turn away and flee?

I ran far away but to this day, I wonder what could be

The reason why this wicked tribe would act so bloodthirstily.

 

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2019/02/03/kiras-sunday-scribbles-28/

 

A Musical Gimmick.

In Hindsight he wished he hadn’t bought it.

He only went into the shop to buy a present for his wife. The saleswoman had looked like such a nice lady, but she had pounced on him like a tiger at a tea party as if he was covered in whipped cream.

He emerged with a piano stool made of fine mahogany and richly upholstered in red velvet brocade. Carrying it down the narrow cobblestoned streets was tricky. He almost fell twice.

It was a bargain apparently. Just twenty pounds and it also came with a large pile of piano music from Haydn through Beethoven to Shostakovich. He realised he’d been taken in by the gimmick. How was he going to explain it to his wife?

They didn’t even own a piano.

 

Copyright: Kristian Fogarty 03/February/2019

 

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2019/02/03/gimmick/

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2019/02/03/your-daily-word-prompt-tricky-february-3-2019/

FOWC with Fandango — Hindsight

https://swimmersweek.wordpress.com/2019/02/03/swimmers-36/

 

 

 

Once upon a Crime…. a Challenge from Rory, A Guy Called Bloke.

It was a cold and frosty morning when the telephone rang on Inspector Kristian’s desk.

He was just in the middle of dunking his chocolate hobnob in his tea, it was the crucial third dunk, the one where he would either place the gooey mess into his mouth, or the whole thing would disintegrate into the cup. Quickly he shoved the soggy biscuit into his mouth then reached for the phone.

“Yes?” He said, or would have had his mouth not been full of biscuit.

The person at the other end knew his little foibles and understood him anyway.

“It’s Officer Rory speaking Sir. There’s been a Murder. Can you come to the Lighthouse at Paula’s Point straight away?”

“Typical” Muttered the Inspector to himself “I was just looking forward to putting my feet up and reading another Agatha Christie novel.”

He picked up his large, leather Gladstone bag, filled with all the tricks of his trade and ran out of the door. The quicker he got this done, the quicker he could have afternoon tea.

On Arrival, Officer Rory greeted him at the entrance to the old Lighthouse.

“So, Officer, what do we have here then?”

“Well, Sir, we have the body of a Lady. She was found slumped in a large leather armchair. It was the Lighthouse keepers daughter. She was tending the lighthouse for her Mother, who is away on vacation. Someone called the police when the lights all went out.”

As he entered the building, the Inspector couldn’t help feeling a sense of Deja vu. He had done this all before.

The main room was decorated with flock wallpaper, a flowery patterned carpet and chintzy armchairs. In a leather armchair, by an empty fireplace, slumped the body of the murder victim. Next to her was a small table, on which there was a diary. There was also an old fashioned Tiffany lamp with a shade covered in multicoloured glass in the design of a dragonfly. On the floor was a crushed page from the diary.

At first, there did not appear to be any injuries on the body. No blood, no wounds of any kind. The inspector could smell something, though. Something that reminded him of bonfire night.

Suddenly it came to him and he jumped up exclaiming “Sparklers!”

Officer Rory in a calm and deadpan manner asked: “What was that, Sir?”

“Sparklers, my dear fellow. That is what I can smell. This lady has been electrocuted!”

As they took the body away, the Inspector picked up the piece of paper from the floor.

The date was that of the night before. On it was scrawled “We need to maintain secrecy at all times. No one need know. Dinner is served at 8pm”

The Diary itself gave no clues it had been a gift to the victim, in it was an inscription.

“Dear Sadje, You have a dream. Keep it Alive. Lots of Love. M.”

The Inspector sat down in one of the other chairs, with swirls of paisley and a gold coloured antimacassar, and had a think.

When he entered the building something had plucked at his brain, but what?

Officer Rory came in with a young lady wearing overalls and carrying a large bag.

“This is the electrician, Sir. She has come to fix the electrics so we can switch the light back on. Don’t want any ships crashing on the rocks, It’s dangerous waters around Paula’s Point. Have you finished sir?”

Inspector Kristian stood up. He recognised this young woman. She did several jobs around the town. He had last seen her singing her heart out in the local night club. He also recognised her perfume.

“Officer Rory, arrest that woman. She is the murderer!”

The woman tensed and dropped her bag. It fell to the floor with a loud bang. Several heavy tools fell out and rolled across the floor. She tried to run, but another officer stood by the door. She turned and exclaimed to the Inspector “But how did you know?”

“I recognised your perfume, my dear. It’s Poison, isn’t it? I smelt it that night when you sang at the karaoke bar and I smelt it again when I entered here. I knew you have done many jobs, but I didn’t know you were also an electrician. It would have taken an electrician to carefully remove the plug, electrocute the victim with the bare wires, then put the plug back on. You were clever, my dear, but you couldn’t fool Inspector Kristian.”

“But Sir, What was the Motive?” Officer Rory asked.

“I believe it was Blackmail. She was going to talk wasn’t she?” The Inspector replied, turning to Crushed Caramel, the electrician.

“Yes, I told her a secret about my friend, Tao, and she said she would talk if I didn’t give her £1000. I don’t have that kind of money. I knew that I could use the old Tiffany lamp to electrocute her. I thought I could get away with it, but you are too clever for me.”

With the Crime Solved, Inspector Kristian returned to the office and while typing up his report enjoyed an enormous scone smothered in cream and jam.

The End.

 

So, Hopefully, I haven’t missed anything or anyone. This story is a bit of light-hearted fun, written in response to this challenge set by A Guy Called Bloke, see the post here:

Once Upon A Blog Crime ……..

Who is the victim?

https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/

Who is the murderer?

https://crushedcaramel.wordpress.com/

Who is the location?

https://lightmotifs.wordpress.com/

Who is the murder weapon?

https://sparksfromacombustiblemind.com/

Who is the motive?

https://tao-talk.com/

 

I hope no one was offended by this story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tell the Story – A Bedtime Fairy Tale.

“I’m telling you, he’s only got one!” Jack shouted at the crowd in the bar.

None of them believed he had climbed up that beanstalk. None of them believed that it lead to a world in the clouds.

“I tell you I’ve been to it’s very top, Its Zenith.” Jack protested.

“Yeah, Yeah, I supposed you sneaked up on this giant like a commando, all covered in camouflage. You’re just so full of it, Jack. It’s one tall tale after another with you.”

Just then there came an almighty roar. The ground shook. Glasses and bottles fell off the bar and smashed on the floor.

Outside the beanstalk swayed side to side and from above a sound emerged from the clouds.

“Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum….” It boomed out.

Then through the clouds peered a giant head.

“Cor, He’s right an’all” shouted Tom, the Pipers son. “He’s only got one!”

They all stared up at the giant as he started climbing down the beanstalk.

Having only one eye, the giant’s depth perception wasn’t all that great and so he missed his footing and fell to the ground killing himself and several gawking onlookers into the bargain.

It’s not something you see every day, not unless you had too many drinks at the bar.

Which of course, they’d had. Which was why no one remembered a thing the next day.

The End

Copyright: Kristian Fogarty 01/February/2019

 

This story was written in response to a picture challenge from Rory, A Guy Called bloke:

Tell The Story … Something, Somewhere!

The ‘Tell the Story’ Challenge was created by:

https://theeclecticcontrarian.wordpress.com/2019/01/12/tell-the-story-challenge/

 

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2019/01/31/rdp-thursday-camouflage/

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2019/01/31/zenith/

 

I would like to thank Rory for tagging me in this challenge. I would like to tag the following people:

Cyranny of Cyranny’s Cove

Weak in the knees… – Song inspired haiku challenge

Laura Venturini of Lauravent69

A Completely Frozen Chicago Looks Like Something Straight Out Of ‘Game Of Thrones’ Right Now

and

Becky

~*~ To Be A Kid ~*~ (Poetry)

Now, if you don’t want to take part, then that is absolutely fine, but if you do, here is the photo for you.

Guidelines … Create your own Tell The Story around the image above, then select three bloggers of your own and add your own image to complete the tag. All you need do is create a tale, story or poem.

Have Fun.