50 Word Thursday #55 – A Valid Recycling

“… after that, he had to make his way all down the parade to the West Pier” – Brighton Rock, Graham Greene.

 

It was a place she liked to hang out with her mates; A spot on the beach by the neatly painted huts. It was early in the day and more or less deserted. There she was, looking gorgeous as ever. As he walked over to her, trying to act cool, with his guitar hanging from its leather band from his shoulder, she called out to him.

“Hey, Dave, what are you doing down here?”

Her friends, Debbie and Sally, sniggered. One even said sarcastically, “What a surprise!”

He had practised for days to be able to play the guitar with total accuracy and he’d written a song, just for her.

Slowly he strummed out a riff and sang her his song.

Jane stared for a minute then she and her mates burst out laughing.

He felt humiliated. After that, he had to make his way all down the parade to the West Pier, and just like in a movie, where it had been deserted before, suddenly the beach was packed. He felt everyone was laughing at him.

When he got to the pier, he sat dejected on a bench and looked out to sea.

After a while, he heard a soft, gentle voice and looked up into a pair of beautiful green eyes.

“So, can you really play that guitar?” she asked, smiling.

“Yeah sure. What’s your name?”

“Elaine”.

Then he sang her his song, changing the name from Jane to Elaine.

It fit perfectly. A valid example of recycling.

[250 Words]

 

This story was written for the 50 Word Thursday challenge. It’s not too late if you want to have a go too, just click on the link below:

https://talesfromthemindofkristian.wordpress.com/2020/01/16/50-word-thursday-55/

 

I have also included the following word prompts:

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2020/01/21/your-daily-word-prompt-accuracy-january-21-2020/

FOWC with Fandango — Valid

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/01/21/rdp-tuesday-movie/

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/01/21/riff/

50 Word Thursday – To Lust and Scheme

“It was Heather who had made the whole thing work.” – Death of a Gossip – MC Beaton

 

She just couldn’t help herself, as the marriage guidance counsellor leaned forwards, she touched his knee. She just wasn’t made for fidelity; it wasn’t her temperament. She needed the thrill of the chase, the brush with danger and risk of discovery.

He was handsome, with such lovely eyes and had to be ten years younger than her husband. As he coughed and gave a crooked smile, feelings of passion and lust erupted inside her. It was all part of her scheme, to run off with this hunk and leave her husband.

In his deep voice, the counsellor spoke: “So, Heather, Steve, I think I can see what the issue is here and I’m sorry, I can’t help you.”

A few weeks later, Heather was shocked to find her husbands note. He had run off with the marriage guidance counsellor.

Walking in a beautiful tropical garden, hand in hand, Steve turned to Sam and said “In a way, it was Heather who had made the whole thing work. I had been determined to make it work and would never have left her if she hadn’t made a pass at you. Then I realised, I didn’t love her anymore, I loved you.”

[200 Words]

 

This story was written for the 50 Word Thursday challenge, this week hosted by Deb Whittam,

Click on the link to take part in the challenge, you have until Wednesday.

https://debbiewhittam.wordpress.com/2020/01/10/50-word-thursday-54/

 

I have also incorporated the following word prompts:

 

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/01/11/scheme/

 

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/01/12/lust/

 

FOWC with Fandango — Brush

 

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2020/01/12/your-daily-word-prompt-temperament-january-12-2020/

 

50 Word Thursday – The Dating Game

“Tom could see her tears s she wrote it.” The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

 

He’d taken her to the Zoo, it was her wish and he’d been determined to gratify it.

He was totally besotted. Her golden hair and the way she blushed when he flashed her a winning smile.

Sitting together in the Zoo’s café drinking milkshakes, into which he blew bubbles through a straw to aerate it.

Tom found it hard to tell her how he felt. He thought she knew, but it was the scary moment for him to declare himself. He’d written her a note which he passed across the table with a pencil for her to write a response.

She read the note and gasped. She picked up the pencil and scribbled her answer.

Tom could see her tears as she wrote it.

Then she got up and suddenly ran from the café, leaving him alone.

He glanced down at his note and realised he’d got her name wrong.

[150 Words]

 

This story was written for the 50 Word Thursday Challenge, this week hosted by Deb Whittam, click on the link below to see her post:

https://debbiewhittam.wordpress.com/2020/01/03/50-word-thursday-53/comment-page-1/?unapproved=13226&moderation-hash=d2ad3aab69ba4c64cda21183c0099997#comment-13226

 

I have also included the following word prompts:

 

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/zoo/

 

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/rdp-tuesday-aerate/

 

FOWC with Fandango — Scary

 

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/your-daily-word-prompt-gratify-january-7-2020/

 

 

Action Resolution

January is the time to contemplate the year ahead and many make new year’s resolutions. I have written a poem about my thoughts on the New Year and my own resolutions. 

 

My new year’s resolution,

As I contemplate new beginnings

Is to worry less about the execution

and just accept my loss or winnings.

 

Life’s too short to hesitate,

to feel vulnerable, give in to fear.

To stand paralysed until it’s too late,

Before you know it, you’ve lost another year.

 

So, don’t make idle promises

That you don’t intend to keep,

Just resolve to be more active,

For what you sow, you shall one day reap.

 

Copyright: Kristian Fogarty 04 January 2020. 

 

I have included the following word prompts:

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/01/04/resolution/

 

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/01/04/rdp-satuyrday-new-beginnings/

 

FOWC with Fandango — Vulnerable

 

Finish the Story 2020 #1 – The Mystery Coach

The image is from Peter H from Pixabay.

 

Teresa Grabs, formerly known as The Haunted Wordsmith, has resurrected her Finish the Story prompt on her new blog.

https://maplesswanderer.wordpress.com/2020/01/01/finish-the-story-2020-1/

The idea is that Teresa starts a story and then tags someone to pick it up where she left off. Then that person tags another to pick up where he or she left off.

Teresa tagged Fandango first, click on the link below to see his post:

Finish the Story 2020 #1 — The Mystery Coach

And Fandango tagged me… So here goes.

Part One

Leslie squealed as Alan removed his hands from her eyes. “Oh, Alan! It’s beautiful!” The coach and dirt path seemed a marriage made in time. How had he done this? Surely he didn’t go all the way to Pennsylvania to buy the coach, but she wouldn’t put anything past him.

“I knew you’d love it.” Alan’s red cheeks matched his hair. Whether it was from the cold or love, it didn’t matter, an entire year’s work and effort culminated in the smile on Leslie’s face. Totally nailed it.

Leslie bounced and clapped, kissing him on his cheek. “Take me for a ride! It’s works, doesn’t it?”

“Of course it does, my love.”

They climbed into the coach. Alan chuckled, looking all around for its key, starter button — something, anything.

Suddenly the coach started and they laughed as it lurched. Leslie was sure Alan was doing this, and Alan was wondering how Leslie was operating the coach. It wasn’t until it picked up speed as it went down the trail and headed for a corner that panic set in.

“Alan? Alan! Stop this!”

Alan pushed and pulled at everything he could see within the coach, but nothing slowed their ride. “I’m not doing this.” He glanced toward the trees and wiped his face. “Should we jump for it?”

“Are you insane!” Leslie slugged his arm as tears formed in her eyes.

The coach turned the corner on its own. Leslie and Alan covered their eyes as …

Part Two

… the coach careened down the trail, picking up speed. Leslie was crying hysterically. “Alan, please stop this thing before we both die.”

“I don’t know how,” Alan responded. “I can’t find a brake.” The two clung to each other, sure that this misadventure would end in disaster, as the carriage continued to bound and bounce down the trail.

A few seconds later, the jostling of the delicate coach caused the left rear wheel to come off of its axle. The coach tipped to one side and tossed the two passengers from the carriage like rag dolls.

Fortunately, Alan and Leslie landed on a grassy mound a few feet off the rocky trail. Both were shaken, but neither was hurt, save for a few small cuts and bruises. Once it sank in that they were both okay, they hugged each other. “That was a close call,” Alan whispered in Leslie’s ear.

Leslie pulled away from Alan and gave him a stern look. “Alan, where did you get that haunted coach?” she asked.

Alan shook his head. “Well, it’s kind of a long story. I saw an ad in the paper,” he said. “So I called and …”

Part Three – My Bit

“… was told it was in a state of disrepair and so if I arranged to pick it up myself, I could have it for just $10. I thought it sounded a bit strange, but I took a leap of faith and hired a pickup truck and drove all the way to Delaware to get it. The person selling it lived on an old farm, with a squeaky screen door and sat outside in a rocking chair chewing tobacco. I thought I’d been transported back in time.”

“You’re pulling my leg,” Leslie said unconvinced.

“No Seriously. After I loaded up the damaged coach onto the truck and gave the strange man his $10, he gave me a sideways glance and said to me, “Beware, it’s bad luck to ride on Sunday’s”. I thought nothing of it at the time, but it’s Sunday today. I think we’re lucky to be alive.”

Leslie looked doubtful but said “Well, how are we going to get home, the coach is busted and we must be a few miles from home. It’s not that busy a road either.”

Alan saw a house off in the distance and pointed it out to Leslie.

“Let’s take a walk over to the house and see if anyone can accommodate us by lending us some tools to repair the coach. Or maybe they could let us use their phone to call some roadside assistance.”

As they walked towards the house, they noticed that it was a rickety old wooden building painted the brightest shade of puce.

“I’ve never seen a puce coloured house, Leslie, have you?” Alan asked sniggering.

“Is that what you call it? I call it Flamingo pink” Leslie giggled back.

“I wonder what kind of fellow lives in a house like this” Alan replied.

Then they reached the front door and knocked…..

 

OK end of part two, now who shall I nominate to continue…

How about Sadje of Keep It Alive?

New Year -Tagged

 

I have included the following word prompts:

 

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/01/02/leap/

 

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/01/02/rdp-thursday-puce/

 

FOWC with Fandango — Accommodate

 

Bloggers Recognition Award Nomination.

Well, I am proud, over the moon and chuffed to bits to have been nominated for this award by a blogger that I have such high regard for, who I have collaborated with a number of times writing several poems; Beckie of Beckie’s Mental Mess.

Blogger Recognition Award

The Rules:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
2. Write a post to show your award.
3. Give a brief story of how your blog started.
4. Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
5. Select 15 other bloggers for this award.
6. Comment on each blog to let them know you’ve nominated them and a link to the post you created.

How my Blog Started.

Well, It all began back in March 2018. It was on the 7th of March to be precise. I have been writing stories and poems for years but I had never shared my work or sought feedback before. For a Christmas Present, some friends bought me a 6-week creative writing course at the CityLit college in London. Having enrolled on this course I found that my urge to write became insatiable. Before I wrote once in a while but after I started writing daily. It was like an explosion. I decided that I needed to have a place to put all the stuff coming out of my mind. I entered a competition and I didn’t get anywhere but in the feedback, I was given a link to WordPress. I am naturally a bit of a technophobe but I had a go and created my blog. I have not looked back since. It has been a wonderful experience and I wish I had started much earlier. The blogging community has been really helpful and supportive. I have made some excellent blogging pals.

Since then I have written a lot of short stories and lots of poems. In the last few months, I have slowed down a bit and am not currently blogging as much but I hope that with the energy that comes with the New Year, I will start writing more again.

 

Advice or Guidance

1. Blog about something that you love and just keep going, followers will come.
2. Don’t worry if you can’t keep up with the rate of other bloggers. Write when you can and when you feel like it.

 

My Nominees:

This is always the bit I find hard, not because of a lack of people I think deserve it, it’s because there are SO many wonderful bloggers out there putting their heart and soul into everything they do that it is difficult to choose.

My thoughts are that if you are reading this then please consider yourself nominated. You Deserve it.

And also, as we draw near, I hope you have a lovely Christmas or whatever way you spend the darkest days of Winter.

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2019/12/22/guidance/

 

Tinselheart- A Christmas themed poem.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I’ve wrapped my heart in tinsel,

after all, it’s Christmas time,

I hoped it would help me feel more jolly,

happy, joyful and sublime.

But instead, I’m cold and empty,

I’m not filled with Christmas cheer,

And though my heart is wrapped in tinsel,

no-one wants my love this year.

 

Copyright@ Kristian Fogarty 22 December 2019

 

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2019/12/21/tinsel/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2019/12/21/rdp-saturday-joy/#like-8578

 

 

 

Let the Festivities begin (and end) – A Festive poem

 

Christmas comes but once a year,

Filled with presents and festive cheer.

but the run-up is filled with stress and fear,

Although I’m happy, once it’s here.

 

I’m glad that it’s only an annual event,

for once all the foods eaten and presents sent,

I’m sick of Chocolate and my energy spent,

when it’s over and gone, I’m relieved it went.

 

Copyright: Kristian Fogarty 15th December 2019

 

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2019/12/14/festive/

 

Sound of Silence – Apologies

Many of you will have noticed that I’ve been a bit quiet of late. This time of year is just so stressful and I find that just cramps my creativity.

Photo by Kat Jayne on Pexels.com

I wanted to apologise for not blogging much or visiting other blogs. I do have some plans to write some more stories and poems soon, including my continuation of a murder mystery starring Miss Lemon, former secretary to Hercule Poirot, which was inspired by a recent trip to Agatha Christie’s home in Devon.

Check out the post here:

https://talesfromthemindofkristian.wordpress.com/2019/10/06/a-frisson-from-the-past-part-one/

 

I was also inspired by the Word of the Day – NAKED, to share a song clip by Simon and Garfunkel, Sound of Silence.

Part of the lyric is “In the naked light I saw, 10,000 people, maybe more.”

 

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2019/12/13/naked/

Sunshine Blogger Award Nomination

 

I have been nominated for this Sunshine Blogger award by the lovely Beckie of Beckie’s Mental Mess and we call can do with a bit of sunshine at this time of year (except you Southern Hemisphere inhabitants or those closer to the equator). 🙂

Click on Beckie’s post here:

Sunshine Blogger Award

 

About Sunshine Blogger Award:
It is given to those who are creative, positive and inspiring while spreading sunshine to the blogging community.

The Rules:

a. Nominate 11 people and notify them via comment.
b. Ask them new 11 questions.
c. Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
d. Display the award logo on your blog post.
e. Answer the 11 questions asked

 

Beckie’s Questions:

1. Do you search for difficult words in your writing? like I do. I have to search for meaning.

No, I do not look up difficult words to use in my writing. I use words that I commonly use in speech.

2. What do you prefer tea or coffee? For any specific flavour, please mention the same.

I detest coffee but I drink tea, properly made in a teapot. The tea I tend to have is Assam which isn’t a flavour of tea, tea is a leaf from the Camellia Sinensis plant and Assam is a region in India which grows it. Tea takes on characteristics depending on where it is grown and Assam tea is known for its strong malty taste. I take my tea with milk but no sugar.
3. Most of the time, I am found writing while walking to and fro in my room, on my phone’s notepad. Do you like writing on phones or tablets or laptops?

No

4. Where would you like to live, if not the current country?

I couldn’t imagine living anywhere other than England. Despite the weather and the overcrowding, I don’t think I could call anywhere else home.

5. How many books do you have in your own library?

Too many to count, so more than four.

6. Have you participated in any protests for any social cause? Which one and why?

No

7. A motivating line of your own, if this was an award given to you on stage.

Thank you to everyone who considers me worthy of this award. You’re all fabulous, Thank you and keep reading my blog. 🙂

8. What genre do you prefer in movies?

I prefer movies or films that transcend genres. The best films have elements of both humour and tragedy. I do have a soft spot for musicals.

9. Are you a bathroom singer?

I sing in the shower and in the living room and also when driving my car. This time of year I sing a lot of Christmas Carols.

10. How do you spend your Sunday?

Cleaning out the chickens, a bit of housework and then a long soak in the bath ready for Monday.

11. Do you like watching TV? What do you prefer watching?

I don’t watch a lot of TV, I find most TV programmes at the moment extremely banal, but I do enjoy a documentary or an old sitcom, like Blackadder (if you don’t know what Blackadder is, you need to look it up).

 

So my Nominees:

We could all do with a bit of sunshine at the moment, so consider yourself nominated.

 

Questions for my nominees:

1. What will you be eating on the 25th of December?
2. Will you be making any New Year Resolutions?
3. Where do you hope to be in 12 months time?
4. If you could invite someone round to spend Christmas with you, who would it be?
5. What do you think is the best way to bring unity to the world?
6. What smell makes you feel at home?
7. Can you play a musical instrument?
8. Are you likely to see snow over the Christmas period?
9. Do you like Turkey (The bird)?
10. Is there a song or a piece of music that you like to listen to at this time of year?
11. What is the best Present you’ve ever had?

 

So there you go, I hope you enjoy your Christmas and have lots of Sunshine too.

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2019/12/08/fabulous/#like-1979