A Story – The Watchtower

People had called him paranoid, and even mad when he had imported the ironworks and spent huge sums of money constructing the watchtower on the edge of his estate. They even went as far to call it his folly and suggest it would bankrupt him. Now, of course they saw that what he had constructed served a purpose, and for that they were grateful. They would soon forget though.

It was only because of the tower that the village was afforded sufficient warning to be saved. Or rather those who had listened were saved. Others, scoffing at what they thought were rantings of a madman, were not so lucky. The bright sunrise and calm sky belied the events of the night before. He had seen the signs of the impending attack and had manned the tower, safe in the knowledge that the silver cage built in the top that that been so costly would save both him and she who was so precious to him, his daughter. When he spied the ghostly riders on the horizon at sunset he sounded the alarm as he had promised to do. After all, they only ever attacked at night, as sunlight was their enemy.

Those in the village who heeded his sign had taken refuge where they could. Shutting themselves into deep cellars and being totally still was the only way to survive. Others, filled with fighting spirit and beer stood little chance. These were not mortal warriors and there was no blade in the armory that could cut them.

By morning the prophecy had passed. They would be safe for another ten generations, although the village would be counting the cost for at least two, and all would be forgotten after five. He wondered if the tower would still be standing when it would be needed again, his legacy for his descendants perhaps…

~Richard

February 25, 2016 0

6 sentence story – Retirees

The friends of the wild-haired youth were grinning at him as his high score, which had remained unbeaten all summer, was exceeded by both drivers.

“You’re down to third place!” squealed his annoying younger brother who he was forced to tolerate as a member of his gang under parental duress.

He clipped him round the ear and snarled, “Don’t be cheeky, Jack!”

Turning from the controls, to look him straight in the eyes, the old man softly growled: “You should treat your little brother with more kindness, lad.”

Something in the old man’s scarred face and tone filled him with an odd mixture of shame and fear, and quietened the crowd too.

“Yessir, I will,” he whimpered sheepishly, as he reflexively bowed his head.

~Richard

February 22, 2016 0

6 sentence story – Death Supreme

“He was an extraordinarily intelligent man,” they say, “someone who worked tirelessly to protect the people from change.” To me though, he lacked pragmatism. His bright mind, molded by his god-view, was distorted to defend a status quo established centuries before. Unyielding and narrow minded, his decisions would impact millions for a generation and beyond. I think he enjoyed in the notoriety. Personally, I didn’t like the man’s demeanor.

~Richard

February 18, 2016 0

Fighting Legends

Last night’s fight was a brutal battle of strength and wits. Although it was fairly matched for the first eight rounds the Blue Bomber was able to drive home a devastating blow to the Red Rocker, the reigning champion, midway through the 9th. Our reporter was able to capture the precise moment from his ringside seat and have this spectacular action shot here for The Evening News Sports Page within minutes…

~Richard

February 17, 2016 0

6 sentence story – First Words

The neurology team had been working with him closely since the accident had rendered him effectively powerless to communicate. Being able to half blink one eye had been his only way to get his basic needs laboriously expressed to his carers. These novel neurological implants opened up a world of possibility to him through using thoughts to simulate basic muscle movement to control the cursor on a computer keyboard display. They waited eagerly for his first words from his prison in over two years. The letters written to the screen came slowly: H-E-L. What a great start, they thought as the rest of his message was revealed: P-M-E-D-I-E…

~Richard

*This is based on a conversation with a friend, TK, who did help to create and develop such a life-changing communication tool, but with a much more positive outcome.

February 9, 2016 1

A Story – The Chain

Hanging in the park was a chain. He saw it and wondered what it may be attached to. Looking up it disappeared into the clouds high above. Strangely, it was still, as if attached to the ground, yet the end was dangling free. He couldn’t resist the urge to reach out and touch it. Lightly at first, as if it wasn’t real, then he grabbed it and tugged at it. Nothing happened. Very odd, he thought. Gripping tightly with both hands he tugged as hard as he could. It didn’t budge. Now he was really intrigued. Looking round to see if anyone was there, and feeling a little self conscious, he grasped the chain firmly and started to climb…

~Richard

February 6, 2016 0

A Story – Small Journey

It had taken the four of them the a long time to build the car. They had seen pictures in the papers of the “big people” and a group of them had been enthused by the possibility of creating their own. Over the months they had copied the plans appropriately. It was never a problem to get the materials as the”big people” were always so wasteful. They hadn’t even noticed the missing can and other objects.

They had worked together as a small team and were pleased with the results, even though it had taken them months of their spare time, after all their normal duties had been completed. Some elders of the group had initially told them they were wasting their time but, to be honest, most were secretly impressed when the car started up.

The youngsters had clearly learned a lot and they could see that this development would open up so many possibilities for the community at large…

~Richard

January 31, 2016 0

A Story – The Observer

In the field stood the viewer, ready for the tourists to use to survey the countryside. It was well used, mainly because it was sited in such a good position that allowed the paying guests to obtain a panoramic vista of the area. However, in the dead of night, when everyone had left for home, the viewer quietly turned on its own. A faint whir could be heard as a different set of lenses were brought into the optical plane. These allowed the machine to see much further and wider that any human being was able to. Not confined to the visible spectrum, the inconspicuous machine also collected infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths and transmitted the data to its owners sited on the edge of the solar system.

The machine was slow and methodical. It was part of a vast network of similar devices that had been working this way now for over 50 years. After all, they were a patient race, which seemed to be more than could be said for the current dominant species of the third rock from the sun…

January 26, 2016 0

Men of a Certain Age and the Saddest Story in 4 words

I have just come back into the house after having spent time out in winter storm Jonas, shoveling the snow outside the back door for the dogs, and also to cutting a path to the chicken run to see if the hens are ok. They are, by the way, in fact so “ok” that one of them was in the nest box laying and was quite cross that I disturbed her!

So, I dry myself off, make a cup of tea and think about what I should write today. I post some pictures of the storm to facebook for friends and family to see and, as I procrastinate, I see that someone has posted a link to a challenge to write the saddest story you can in 4 words.

Quick as a flash the following phrase springs to mind:

“Man dies shoveling snow”

Whoa, there – not another bleedin’ subliminal message, thinks I. As a “man of a certain age,” what am I to make of that?

Well, a quick search of the wonderful wide web tells me that around 100 people in the US die from heart attacks in the winter while shoveling snow, although there are thoughts that the real figure may be more than double that. Although it’s mainly sedentary men who this affects, causing those of us who consider ourselves to be “fit” to think we’ll be alright, this is not always the case. Apparently plenty of younger, fitter guys (and their families) befall this unnecessary tragedy too, as the exertion of lifting snow, coupled with cold air which works to constrict arteries, creates “a perfect storm” for a heart attack.

So, to keep this message short and sweet I offer another 4 words and a sobering, but humorous image, that everyone should heed as Storm Jonas makes its way up the East Coast:

“Be careful out there”

~Richard

January 23, 2016 2

A Story – The Steampunk Moonlander

This is a rare find indeed! Discovered recently in a box of ephemera left as part of an eccentric recluse’s estate in Wensleydale, England, this is thought to be one of the fabled photographs that captured the largely apocryphal adventures of her forebear, Theophilus Carter.

Although Theophilus ostensibly made his living as a cabinet maker in Victorian Oxford, he was also of sufficient means to indulge his passion as an enthusiastic inventor. His initial setbacks with his more modest invention, the Alarm Clock Bed, first shown publicly at the Great Exhibition in 1851 met with such muted response that he was forced to continue his future activities hidden from public scrutiny through fear of criticism. In fact, such was his modesty that little is known of his later development of the steam space engine and his subsequent solo return trip to the moon in 1898.

He was blessed with sufficient foresight, however to carry photographic equipment with him on this adventure and I am pleased to be able to share with the public at large this remarkable image of the lunar surface, with waxing Earth and “The Brunel” rocket in the foreground.

January 17, 2016 0

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Category: prose

A Story – The Watchtower

6 sentence story – Retirees

6 sentence story – Death Supreme

Fighting Legends

6 sentence story – First Words

*This is based on a conversation with a friend, TK, who did help to create and develop such a life-changing communication tool, but with a much more positive outcome.

A Story – The Chain

A Story – Small Journey

A Story – The Observer

Men of a Certain Age and the Saddest Story in 4 words

A Story – The Steampunk Moonlander

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