tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14036626809402332232024-03-13T14:13:46.527-07:00Sue Hester's writing blogHard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-20321202308038503582020-05-19T07:02:00.004-07:002020-05-19T07:03:15.755-07:00Lady Sybil<pre class="western"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is Lady Sybil Chomodley-Mainwaring. </span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span>
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h21KtdkiVOo/XsPmSR8SThI/AAAAAAAAGbw/lkonOaiRIF8pGmvUR1l13w5VNan0ZIPawCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Heron%2Bstill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="481" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h21KtdkiVOo/XsPmSR8SThI/AAAAAAAAGbw/lkonOaiRIF8pGmvUR1l13w5VNan0ZIPawCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Heron%2Bstill.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She is a retired solicitor and JP, all the birds and
animals on the marina go to her with </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">their legal
problems. She paces up and down, giving
their problems her most serious </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">consideration.</span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the evening she listens to the radio, sometimes
Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake comes on, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">then, oh then
Lady Sybil dances like a swan, elegant and stately.</span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span>
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7QrEnuwPMI/XsPmoPBeuzI/AAAAAAAAGb4/FXbzM9KMbI4uxBIT2TpEll1xq6FEDaxKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Heron%2Bdancing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="960" height="219" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7QrEnuwPMI/XsPmoPBeuzI/AAAAAAAAGb4/FXbzM9KMbI4uxBIT2TpEll1xq6FEDaxKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Heron%2Bdancing.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span>
</span></pre>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-14832638463177453442020-05-08T03:32:00.002-07:002020-05-15T05:04:23.903-07:00Freedom for Dink<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">All the next week the weather remained warm and dry so every morning Jennie and Cassie carried the cages out in to he garden under the shade of the huge oak tree.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Because of this Lois and Max spent as much time as they could in the garden too. Max was enjoying making friends with all the different animals, but Lois only had eyes for Dink. They sat either side of the bars that separated them, gazing into each others eyes and whispering sweet nothings to each other. Oh how they wished they could be together for ever.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What a change had come over Lois she was usually always in trouble, tormenting her brothers and sisters, upsetting the older mice by rushing about yelling and screaming, never doing her share of the chores and always running around looking for adventure, now she was quiet and listless.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tulip, Lois's mum was becoming very worried about her, she even took her to see Dr Wefton as Lois was off her food, but he could find nothing wrong with her. Tulip even wondered id Los was going deaf as she never seemed to hear when anyone spoke to her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When Max realised how worried Tulip was he persuaded Lois to tell her mum about Dink.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lois and Max explained how they had met and made friends with the other animals and how they were especially friendly with Dink because he was the only animal who lived alone. All The other animals lived with a friend or in a group but Dink had no one, he'd always lived alone and didn't realise what he was missing until he met Lois.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As son as Tulip herd of Dink's plight she called a tribe meeting. All the mice were very worried about Dink and resolved to rescue him. A reconnaissance set off to assess the cage and reported back. It was bad news, the cage was very secure, it kept Dink safe but it meant it was difficult to escape from. By the time the team had explained how difficult it was going to be to help Dink, night had fallen and it was dark out. Lois knew it was too late to talk to Dink as all the animals would have been put back in the shed. Lois just wanted to be alone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As Lois appeared from under the shed a voice said "Your boyfriend is asleep, you'll have to wake him up"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Hello" said Lois why are you all still outside?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I think they have forgotten us tonight" said Chip.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Never mind" said Smokey "it's a nice mild night, well be ok"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I'm not asleep" said Dink "and I'm cold, I've come upstairs as there is something wrong with my floor, it's cold and damp".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lois went over to Dink's cage, she started to jump up and down with excitement.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Dink your cage is on the grass, the base is missing" yelled Lois, "Start digging, I'll get the rest of the family".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dink clambered down from his bedroom and started scrabbling at the edge of his cage. In no time at all Lois returned with all the best diggers in the tribe. It wasn't long before there was a tunnel running from the bottom of the cage to the garden and Dink squeezed through. Dink was free at last, he was covered in earth and was almost the same colour as Lois. She ran around him combing and cleaning his fur until he was black and ginger again. Lois & Dink wandered back towards the shed with their arms around each other.</span>Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-87747894150954930502020-05-07T13:19:00.000-07:002020-05-15T05:06:43.089-07:00Lois and Max<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One sunny day two little mice called Lois and Max decided to play outside in the garden. Now they had been told often enough by their mother to stay under the shed during the day where it was safe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But it was hot under the shed, it would be cooler outside and any way, they were bored, all the other mice were asleep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lois and Max crept out from under the shed and straight away turned around and ran back under. Outside there were two huge animals, they waited a few minutes, expecting one of the animals to try and follow them. Nothing happened so after a while Lois peeped out from under the shed to see what was going on. "Come on Max" Lois called "the animals are in cages, they cannot hurt us". Max followed cautiously, he was not so sure. Lois was his older sister but she was always running headlong in to trouble and expecting him to rescue her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">By the time Max appeared from under the shed Lois was sat in one of the cages chattering away to the animal. "Lois!" Shrieked Max "what do you think you are doing? That cat will eat you." Max went weak at the knees with fear.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I'm not a cat, I'm a chinchilla, my name is Smokey I won't hurt you and neither will my dad. That's him in the next cage, his name is Chip." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Is your dad ok" asked Max, staring at what appeared to be a squashed bundle of fur in the next cage. "He's ok, he just likes sitting in tight spaces".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Max didn't look convinced so Smokey called "come on out dad, you are frightening my new friends".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chip climbed up on to the top of his sleep box and looked at the mice.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"What are you doing out during the the day?" Chip asked, "you'll catch it if your mum sees you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lois explained that they were bored and that it was hot under the shed. "Mum's won't know we've gone as she's asleep".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"What are you doing outside?" Lois asked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Our owners carried us out this morning before they left for school, they said we would enjoy the fresh air."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Who else is out?" Asked Max.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Smokey introduced the other animals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"This is Bradley and Pip" he said pointing to the gerbils. "Hamish and Marina they are hamsters".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Jet and Hazel" he pointed to the rabbits "there are the guinea pigs too but there are so many of them I can't remember their names!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Hey, what about me, don't forget me" called a voice from a small cage beside the shed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Max and Lois ran round to look in the small cage. Inside was the handsomest mouse Lois had ever seen. Instead of being browny grey like Lois and her family, this mouse was a sleek and shiny black and when he climbed up the side of the cage Lois could see he had the most beautiful ginger under belly. Lois was smitten, she'd never seen such a beautiful mouse before. It was left to Max to make conversation with the mouse as Lois just sat there staring at him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mind you Dink, as the mouse was called wasn't much help. He seemed just as smitten with Lois as she was with him. Drink thought Lois,was the most beautiful mouse he had ever seen with her soft browney grey coat and creamy white tummy and feet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Max lost interest in Lois and Dink who seemed happy just to stare at each other and went back to talk to Smokey and share his peanuts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Suddenly Max realised he could hear his mum calling, he scampered across to Lois who was still gazing at Dink. Max grabbed Lois by the paw and dragged her home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-80986292058428789282020-05-05T05:48:00.001-07:002020-05-15T05:09:02.786-07:00The Mice of Nice Mice Ride<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the story of three brother mice who lived at 27 Nice Mice Ride, their names were Heb, Neb and Lancaster.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was a very nice place to live as there were no CATS so it was very safe and there was always plenty to eat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the autumn there were blackberries and acorns that fell from a huge oak tree. The mice buried these in the soft grass and dug them up again when there was no other food around to eat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The people who lived in the house often said it was more like mowing a forest than a lawn as sometimes the mice missed some of the acorns and they grew into tiny trees. It was a good job there were plenty of acorns as squirrels and deer often visited the garden to dig up acorns too but there were always plenty to go around.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The situation improved even more when new people moved into the house. At first the mice were quite worried about having new people in the house in case they had CATS or maybe they would put traps down or even poison. They need not have worried for although the new people did have pets they had guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters and chinchillas and they all ate the sort of food mice enjoy. Better still they used hay and soft paper bedding that mice don't often get to line their homes with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not long after the new people moved in they built a shed in the garden for their pets. This was great as it gave the mice somewhere new to live without having to dig holes. It also meant lots of free food as all the pet food was stored in the shed, once the people realised there were mice living under the shed they would accidentally on purpose drop some food on the grass for the mice.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">By this time the mice were pretty sure the people were friendly so one summer's evening when the people were sat outside, three little mice called Heb, Neb and Lancaster decided to try and get the them to help with a problem.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some of the acorns that had been buried earlier in the year were stuck fast in the ground and try as they might the mice could not get them free.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once all the people were </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">sat in chairs on the grass, Heb, Neb and Lancaster started to dig and tug at the acorns. The people watched them but didn't do anything, the three little mice were just beginning to think the people were really stupid when one of the people knelt down and prised an acorn out of the grass. "Hooray" squeaked Heb, "about time" agreed Neb. Lancaster grabbed the acorn and ran home under the shed with it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The people were digging out more and more acorns and soon all the mice were running to and fro collecting all the acorns they could carry.</span>Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-76206397201049815612020-05-04T14:13:00.004-07:002020-05-15T05:11:54.401-07:00Light and Shade<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGCP5I-Osi8/XrB-hMsSfqI/AAAAAAAAGak/-kGqc6GOU9cnQMILmtEoraLe4g5x76egACEwYBhgL/s1600/Chap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGCP5I-Osi8/XrB-hMsSfqI/AAAAAAAAGak/-kGqc6GOU9cnQMILmtEoraLe4g5x76egACEwYBhgL/s320/Chap.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/5jR9jcbEGFM" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0087be; font-family: Georgia,&quot; font-size: 14.25px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Image from Unsplash taken by Anne Spratt</a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'd read and I'd studied tirelessly, early mornings, late nights, desperation driving me on.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'd pored over old maps, followed old paths and trails.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Interviewed people who claimed to know the way.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Paid out good money for information, so far all to no avail.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But maybe this time would be different, maybe this time I would succeed.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I didn't fit into my family, the relationship was scratchy.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not unkind, not at all, just a lack of understanding.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When Granfer first described me as a changeling Ma had shushed him.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But the word had stuck, was I a changeling was that why I didn't fit.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'd spent a long time trying to work out when I first arrived in the family.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There were no photo's of me as a tiny baby, just as a toddler.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ma claimed this was because they didn't have a camera when I was first born but this wasn't true as there were photo's of Ma with a huge tummy and of my older brother Jimmy at the age he was when I'd been born.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then she'd found a photo after Gran had died, just one, of a large dark haired baby propped up in the arms of my brother.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the back, the legend Jimmy and Mary.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When had I stopped being Mary and become Marigold?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">How had that large dark haired baby turned into a tiny blonde toddler</span>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm convinced I'm was on the right track literally, I'm walking along what looked like a disused railway track.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Up ahead was a circle of light, this, I'm convinced i the entrance to the fairy realm, the place I really belong.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></span></div>
Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-62789491665118424642020-05-04T13:35:00.000-07:002020-05-15T05:17:41.695-07:00Three little mice 4<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The three little mice were having a wonderful time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They were staying up late and watching TV. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They were getting up late and eating junk food. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The water giver kept their saucers topped up with food and fresh water but the naughty little mice preferred the ribena they sometimes found in an abandoned cup.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes Jes and Jed watched the boy people play computer games, all loud noises and flashing lights that Jem didn't like so he usually had a nap.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The mice soon learned to listen for the noise of the people arriving home from school, this was their favourite time of the day, what Jes, Jed and Jem waited for. The people would rush in and start looking under the dresser, under the cupboards and the table. When the people spotted the three little mice they would hold out pieces of crisps or biscuits, maybe a grape or a strawberry. Nervously the mice would take it in turns to scamper forward and accept offered treat.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When the mice were full and feeling tired there were lots of warm dark corners they could curl up in and go to sleep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They often looked out the tall window into the garden and they could see their family and friends. They banged on the glass to attract their attention and waved but the glass was too thick so they could not make themselves heard.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For a while the mice were very happy but as time went on the water giver noticed that Jes, Jed and Jem were spending more and more time looking out of the big window. They were missing their friends and family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One day the water giver found the three little mice sat in front of the TV, they weren't watching it they were just sat looking sad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The water giver said to them "Are you missing your family? Do you want to go home?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jes, Jed & Jem looked at each other and then at the water giver, they all nodded.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The water giver bent down an held out her hand with her palm flat. The three little mice climbed onto her hand. She opened the tall window and stepped into the garden. She gently lowered Jes, Jed and Jem on to the grass. "Off you go" she said and the three little mice ran off towards the shed. "Were home" they squeaked "and you wouldn't believe the adventures we've had". All their friends and family crowded round they were so glad to have the three little mice home and they wanted to hear all about their adventures.</span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-13055653434507899292020-05-03T11:11:00.000-07:002020-05-15T05:14:01.842-07:00Three little mice 3<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After the three little mice had drunk the water that they had been given they decided to explore the house some more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They crept from room to room, the house seemed to be empty apart from the water giver who was <span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">sat at a desk in one of the rooms writing </span>and she took no notice of them at all. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There were so many rooms to explore the three little mice became quite confused as they wandered around.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In one room there was a huge window all the way to the floor, Jes, Jed and Jem spent some time looking out of the widow looking for their friends but it was raining very hard and everyone was sheltering out of sight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The three little mouse continued to explore for some time, occasionally they stopped and curled up in a quiet corner and had a snooze. When they woke up they carried on exploring, there were bathrooms, bedrooms, rooms with tables in, but the best room of all was the kitchen, there was still a saucer of water down for them and a bowl of nuts and cereal had now joined it. The mice were grateful but they would rather have had junk food.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jes, Jed & Jem had a drink and then curled up for another nap under a large dresser, they had not been asleep long when there was an almighty bang. The three see mice awoke with a start, it was the front door opening.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In rushed the four humans that had rushed out earlier that morning. Again there was lots of laughing and shouting as they argued about what they were going to eat. The water giver came into the room and said "Don't eat too much, tea will be ready at 6, lasagne and garlic bread".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Mum" said one of the people, "why is the a saucer of water and a bowl of muesli under the table?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The water giver put her finger to her lips "we have visitors, but you must be very quiet or you will scare them."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The people fell silent, the water giver pointed to the dresser, they all knelt down and peered under the dresser. Jes, Jed and Jem peered back. After a few moments the people stood up quietly and tiptoed away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-66870012139312912302020-05-02T04:51:00.000-07:002020-05-15T05:13:18.186-07:00Three little mice 2<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When Jes, Jed and Jem awoke the next morning they discovered they were all stuck together. Some of the sugar on the cereal they'd eaten the night before had fallen on to their coats and when they had snuggled up together to sleep they had become stuck.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They eventually pulled themselves apart and cleaned their fur. They decided to explore their new surroundings and crept out from underneath the cupboard where they had slept.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The kitchen was quiet, there seemed to be no one about but no sooner had they left their hiding place when CRASH!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Four humans rushed into the kitchen, they were all talking at once, laughing and chatting, grabbing bowls and plates from the cupboards, milk from the fridge and bread from the bread bin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The three little mice peeped out, their tummies started to rumble and their mouths started to water at the sight and smells, all the food they'd been dreaming of. Cereal, toast, jam and marmite, bacon frying and eggs being scrambled.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jes, Jed and Jem watched hopefully for any crumbs that might be dropped. Suddenly with a cry of "Look at the time, we'll be late for school" the four humans rushed out and the room was empty and quiet yet again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The three little mice crept out of their hiding place again and scurried about, grabbing paws full of delicious food and shoving it in their mouths.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The only thing missing was something to drink, there were no leaky pipes in the kitchen. Jes, Jed and Jem were discussing what the should do as they were all getting very thirsty. They were stood under the table and trying to decide how to find water when another human walked slowly into the kitchen. The little mice froze in fear, they hoped if they stood very still the human wouldn't notice them hiding under the table. The human didn't seem to notice them. She walked to the sink and turned the tap on. It was torture for the three little mice, listening to the water splashing when they were so thirsty but they didn't dare move. After a few moments the human bent down and placed a saucer of water on the floor. "Be careful" said Jes, "there might be a cat here and the water is for the cat".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The human bent down again and this time she pushed the saucer of water towards the three little mice. "You must be thirsty" she said and walked slowly and quietly out of the kitchen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-60599104778561072262020-05-01T06:02:00.000-07:002020-05-15T05:12:39.916-07:00Three little mice<div style="text-align: left;">
<pre class="western" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jes, Jed and Jem were three little mice who lived</span></pre>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<pre class="western" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">at 27 Nice Mice Ride. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">One day they decided that they
were grown up enough</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">to go out into the big wide </span>
world and start their</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> own </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">mouse colony.</span></span></span></pre>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<pre class="western" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">They wanted to stay out late, sleep until noon </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">and eat
junk food all day. They were fed up with being</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> told
“Eat your greens up” and</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> “Get up, it's your turn to
find breakfast, everyone is</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">hungry and waiting”</span></span></span></pre>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<pre class="western"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>
</span></span><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The three little mice thought if they lived with their </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">friends they all be </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">as lazy as they liked and i</span>t </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">wouldn't
matter.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> They decided to become house mice and to
move into </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">the human's house, it was warm there and
there was</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> always plenty to eat, especially junk food
like</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> biscuit and crisp crumbs, not boring stuff like
acorns </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">and seeds.</span></span></span></div>
</pre>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<pre class="western"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally the great day arrived. This was the day they </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">had</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">been planning for. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">They had spent a long time
checking the outside of the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">house and working out
how to </span>get inside. They tried to persuade some of the
other mice to go with them but no one </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">would, they
were afraid of what might await them inside the house.</span></span></span></div>
</pre>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<pre class="western"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our three brave adventurers had no fear, they would</span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">soon be living the life of Riley. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They crept around the </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">shed, along the patio wall and then ran to the safety </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">of a </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">large dandelion growing beside the door. They hid</span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">underneath the dandelion leaves and tried to get their</span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">breath </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">back while they waited for the door to open.</span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They waited and waited, shivering partly </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">from cold as</span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">it was getting dark and had started to rain and partly </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">from fear. Would </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">the door never open?</span>
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just as they were about to give up and return home, </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">the door opened, “Quick lads, </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">here's our chance!” </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">squeaked Jes, the three mice threw themselves </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">through the door </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">just as it was closing. “That was a </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">close shave” panted Jem “Is everyone ok?”.</span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">they'd checked each other over and decided they</span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">were uninjured they looked around to </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">see where they</span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">were. They hadn't got right inside the house but at</span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">least they were </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">out of the rain. There didn't seem to </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">be much food around but by now the three </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">little mice </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">were too tired to care. They found a dark corner and </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">snuggled up in a </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">little furry ball and fell asleep.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next morning the three little mice woke up as soon</span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">as it was light, they stretched, </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">had a wash and crept</span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">out to look for something to eat. “I thought you said </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">there was </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">good food to eat in the house” said Jed</span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I can't find anything, not even an acorn” </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">complained</span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jem. “We aren't in the house yet” explained Jes.</span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“We have to get through </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">that door over there, then </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">there will be plenty to eat”. As the day wore on the </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">three </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">little mice got hungrier and hungrier for there </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">was no food anywhere to be found and </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">they couldn't </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">even go home as they couldn't get back out through </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">the other door. </span>
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fortunately there was plenty to drink as there was a</span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">leaky pipe behind the dishwasher so they had a good </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">supply of fresh water. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Eventually it started to get dark
again and just as the mice were settling down to </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">sleep
the door opened. The mice crept nearer and nearer,
would they be able to slip </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">through before the door shut
again? Yes, they made it, they hurried through the
door </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">and dived for the nearest cover under a cupboard.
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As they sat there puffing and panting, trying to get</span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">their breath back Jed </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">started to sniff around. "Hey,</span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">look what I've found" he squeaked, he was jumping</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">up and down with excitement. Someone had spilt a </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">handful of sugar coated cereal by </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">the cupboard door </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and it hadn't been swept up yet. The three little mice </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">thought</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> they were in heaven, this was what they had </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">been hoping for, they ate and ate </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">until they felt sick. </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then they wriggled under the cupboard and fell fast </span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">asleep.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>
</pre>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-77423723207936822992020-04-28T05:48:00.001-07:002020-05-15T05:53:36.446-07:00Procrastination<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My response to this weeks writing challenge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She sits at her desk, a coffee in front of her, beside it screen is her phone. Her laptop open but ignored as she slowly strokes the leaves on the money plant.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ironic really, she had a deadline for the article, it has to be submitted today but her mind is blank.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She can usually turn out an article in a few short hours but she's been struggling with this topic all week now and all that she has typed is the title word.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She drinks her coffee, puts a few drops of plant food in the pot holding her money plant and twirls her phone round, still nothing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She visits the ladies room, looks out the window to check the weather and then returns to her desk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She reorganises her desk drawer and the pot that holds her pens and pencils, but still her mind is blank.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Who'd have thought it would be so difficult to write an article about procrastination.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-18956702211131312222020-04-23T23:56:00.000-07:002020-05-15T05:53:14.369-07:00Faggots<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can see them from my window and I shudder.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I try to ignore them and focus on the wildlife but it's no good, my eyes are drawn back time and time again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think I'll have to move on, the fear is really affecting me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every time I walk past I'm convinced I can smell burning. The fear gets stronger.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I will definitely have to move soon, that's the good thing about living on a boat, if you don't like your neighbours or the area, just move.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's a shame, I like it here, it's quiet and conveniently placed but I'm too scared to sleep and waking in a panic in the night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is a huge bonfire being built in a nearby field, that doesn't bother me. It's just a pile of rubbish, stuff that will burn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But this, this scares me, if I get too close I swear I can smell burning, I can feel the heat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They don't burn witches nowadays, but they used to, or at least that was the excuse. Most of us weren't witches, we were just too old, a bit strange, too inconvenient.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's the neatness of the branches, they remind me of the faggots, lined up, stacked almost upright around the stake. This is not a normal bonfire. This could have been stacked by someone who burned witches in their previous life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r9rjV7kRIFk/XqKMdpIcUEI/AAAAAAAAGZc/F9Y0UA6PUXwKRGmqHFYRJlyJlQnYbwrTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20200424_0743486_rewind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r9rjV7kRIFk/XqKMdpIcUEI/AAAAAAAAGZc/F9Y0UA6PUXwKRGmqHFYRJlyJlQnYbwrTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20200424_0743486_rewind.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-58295790422511820692020-04-21T08:46:00.000-07:002020-05-15T05:52:13.283-07:00Clairvoyant<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The feeling was subtle at first like a cold breath on the back of her neck.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She shivered, next came the prickling across her scalp.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She tried to ignore the signs and gripped the steering wheel until her knuckles were white.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There were bends in the road but the day was clear and bright.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In her dreams the accident happened in a blizzard, everywhere was white.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was just a dream she told herself but it had terrified her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sweat broke out across her top lip, she slowed her speed slightly but kept on driving.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She'd not traveled this route before but the road looked familiar.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She breathed steadily trying to control had rising panic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was no good, she couldn't carry on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She checked her mirrors and changed lane, sh</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">e pulled up into a layby.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As she did so the tanker coming towards her lost control. It turned on its side and split open with the force of the impact.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Everything went white as gallon upon gallon of milk sprayed from the stricken lorry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The car that had overtaken her hit the tanker and was almost sliced in half.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With trembling hands she phoned the emergency services, there was nothing else she could do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She sat and sobbed, thankful for the dream that had given her warning of the accident.</span>Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-15876009063140698032020-04-09T09:46:00.001-07:002020-05-15T05:51:32.961-07:00Piano<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She sat in the bar nursing a gin and tonic, it depended on the bar staff whether she was left in peace or asked to leave. Brendan was on duty tonight, he always let her stay.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Brendan had the most beautiful brown eyes, the sort of eyes you could drown in, he reminded her of Paul.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the back room there was a piano, dusty and unused now, but when she was younger, she smiled at A</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">the reminisce.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now she was a bag of bones, skinny and untidy but she was clean, she didn't smell despite what some of the bar staff claimed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She'd always been tiny but had curves in all the right places, and wearing her red satin evening dress she had been so glamorous, a real stunner.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Back then Paul had played the piano, she sang, songs of love and longing, of loneliness and despair.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sitting in the bar the years fell away as she hummed one of the old songs but all too soon her glass was empty and it was time to leave.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Out in to the cold leaving her memories of Paul behind, they'd had a few happy years until a bomb had dropped near their lodgings killing Paul. Leaving her a sad and lonely widow.</span><br />
<br />Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-24183933936485975672020-03-31T07:34:00.001-07:002020-05-15T05:50:37.019-07:00Mistake<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What a stupid mistake to make thought Annabelle ruefully.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She should have known better than to trust anything her Uncle Jim told her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The rest of the family said he was a bit touched in the head, a bit simple.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Joe himself claimed to be a changeling, swapped at birth by fairies who wanted a human child.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Either way Annabelle had been stupid to trust him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He'd sworn the book had been given to him by a fairy but he'd probably found it in some junk shop somewhere.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But Annabelle was desperate, pale skin and red hair was not a fashionable look, blonde and tanned was, and that's what the recipe book promised.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She collected all the leaves and flowers listed in the recipe, added the stagnant water and pond slime and mixed up the awful smelling ingredients, she was almost gagging at the stench.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She was greatly relieved that she didn't have to drink the stuff but only had to apply it to her hair and skin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Annabelle stayed hidden in the garden shed once she'd covered herself in the foul smelling gunk, she didn't dare go near the house in case her mum saw her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once the prescribed three hour wait was up Annabelle walked back across the garden and into the house, mum and dad were at work and her sisters were at school.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She ran upstairs and into the bathroom, turned on the shower and stepped under the warm water.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The stuff gradually washed away but it wasn't until Annabelle rinsed the soap out of her eyes that the full horror was revealed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She was green, green from head to toe, including her hair.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-78042630101042919642020-03-26T01:52:00.000-07:002020-05-15T05:50:12.057-07:00Human error<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As she waited to be called, her thoughts drifted back to her job, the one she should have been doing instead of being here. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She was on the late shift today so they wouldn't be wondering where she was. They weren't a nice company to work for, the staff were poorly paid and generally treated badly. Any till shortages were taken out of their wages at the end of the week. She'd soon realised that the other staff members tallied up at the end of each day and and extra was stashed against future shortages. Not taken off site as that would be stealing but everyone had their preferred hiding place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She was still struggling to understand how she'd ended up with £100 shortage, she was meticulously careful when taking the bets and handing out winnings. It was unlikely to be human error.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She shivered despite it being a mild spring day and despite the heat from the lights but she could also feel sweat trickling down her back, strange to be shivering and sweating at the same time. The Abba song Super Trooper kept running through her head. She knew it was the name of a theatre light but the lights she was under were smaller though still bright.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She was relieved that had given her a mask, it gave her at least the illusion of safety. Glancing around the room she could see a couple of people busily working and she noticed the room was spotlessly clean which made her feel better.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Someone spoke to her, "Are you ok Libby?", she nodded.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Everybody ready?" "Then let's start".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There came a rush of instructions to put an arm here, a leg there, head up, head down. This went on for almost an hour, her muscles ached and she was parched but then it was over and she was free to leave clutching an envelope.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The following morning Libby returned to work, the envelope buried in the bottom of her bag. When everyone was busy with customers Libby took £100 out of the envelope and added it to her till, she breathed a sigh of relief, her till would now balance at the end of the week.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whoever would have thought there was money to be mad just for dressing up as an old style school teacher complete with cap, cane and gown and nothing else but the mask.</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-53188590758397169182019-08-02T12:02:00.000-07:002020-05-25T13:50:02.625-07:00Elephant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">'It's an elephant' announced Joey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">'Tis not it's a castle with two turrets', said Mikey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">'It's definitely an elephant' Joey insisted, 'look there's it's ears, eyes and one tusk'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">'That's not a tusk it's a window and there's a light on. Elephants have two tusks so why's it only got one,' said Mikey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Julie listened to her five year old twins arguing over the photograph. She'd spent ages looking at it, trying to think of something to write. It was a writing prompt after all. Unfortunately her mind was still a blank, but at least she knew now that Joey needed his eyes testing. It was definitely a photo of a castle.</span>Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-4186979968281156482019-07-17T06:30:00.002-07:002020-05-21T15:33:54.009-07:00Flat white<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cEtKJLP-6XI/XS8iv-3lZpI/AAAAAAAAGGw/66XWjLBVtF0N7ZNYdnnv5_GfXG5W1T9RgCLcBGAs/s1600/Coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="1100" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cEtKJLP-6XI/XS8iv-3lZpI/AAAAAAAAGGw/66XWjLBVtF0N7ZNYdnnv5_GfXG5W1T9RgCLcBGAs/s320/Coffee.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #939393;">Photo by </span></i><a href="https://unsplash.com/@mauro_photograph?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0087be; font-family: Georgia,&quot; font-size: 14.25px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Mauro</a><em style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #939393; font-family: Georgia,&quot; font-size: 14.25px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> on </em><a href="https://unsplash.com/search/photos/cup?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0087be; font-family: Georgia,&quot; font-size: 14.25px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Unsplash</a><span style="background-color: transparent; caption-side: bottom; color: #939393; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.25px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lorana swore under her breath as the contents of the cup she was holding turned green and started to bubble up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She quickly emptied the cup, grabbed a clean one from the stacks in front of her and tried again, this time it worked and she passed the flat white to the customer with a sigh of relief.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Being a witch wasn't as easy as people assumed, Lorana couldn't just work a spell to become rich and gone are the days when the neighbours would pay money for a love potion or a curse.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lorana had to work for a living just like everyone else. But finding work wasn't easy, nothing with computers as her magic had a tendency to fry them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">At first the job in the cafe had been great, the cafe had been run by the same family for years. The fittings were so old they had come back in to fashion and called retro. There was an old fashioned pushbutton till, urns of boiling water for hot drinks using instant coffee and tea bags. Gas rings for frying bacon, eggs and sausages it had been hard work but at least nothing could go wrong.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Until, that is, Jason arrived on the scene, fresh from college and determined to turn his grandparents cafe into the IN place to be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He was happy with the retro look of the cafe, he loved the old fashioned till but not the urns. The urns had to go, they were replaced with a state of the art coffee machine and Lorana was expected to become a barrista.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lorana tried, she really did but the harder she tried the more stressed she became. The more stressed she became the less control she had over her magic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She knew Jason was watching her carefully and that made things worse.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Eventually after a few weeks when the situation still hadn't improved Jason asked Lorana to stay after work for a chat. Lorana's heart sank, she knew he was going to sack her. She struggled through the rest of the day with a heavy heart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once the last customer had left and the doors locked Jason leant against the coffee machine and looked at Lorana.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> 'I've noticed you seem to have a problem with the coffee machine' he said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lorana nodded miserably.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> 'Let me show you something' said Jason.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">'Its no good' she blurted out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jason held up his hand, 'Just watch'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He took a cup and filled it with black coffee, hot and strong. Lorana was about to point out that black coffee should be made in a glass as, but he put his finger to his lips. He pointed his finger at the cup and concentrated, the tip of his finger started to glow. 'Flat white' Jason murmured and the black coffee in the cup turned instantly to a flat white!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-35743872710436101912019-07-13T05:34:00.000-07:002020-05-15T05:48:00.295-07:00Homeless<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like a lot of the homeless he doesn't make eye contact, he's not begging so he doesn't need to interact.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He did beg to start with hoping someone would take pity on him but now he doesn't bother, all it ever got him was another kicking.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He smells horrible and he knows it but he's past caring. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He used to keep himself clean, tidy and well groomed, though he was never a fashion victim, he'd never been attractive enough.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He's cold, his coat is threadbare and offers little protection from the rain and wind.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He is small and skinny so he just tries to make himself as small as possible and tries to ignore the traffic roaring past in front the dark corner he has squeezed him self into.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He's heard that there is now a policy of moving the homeless on and out of the area, maybe someone important is visiting the area or maybe the general public have complained. He moves further back into the dark recess where he is hiding.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He used to have a good life, a home and someone to love. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He's not even sure why it all went wrong, it wasn't booze or drugs, but go wrong it did and look where he'd ended up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He's close to giving up, he can feel his body shutting down, he has had nothing to eat or drink for ages now. Maybe one morning he just won't wake up, he's hoping that it happens soon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He finally falls asleep through sheer exhaustion, vivid dreams disturb him. Then it isn't a dream, bright lights, shouting, someone grabs him, drags him out of his dark corner and shackles him. He is thrown into the back of a van with a dozen others, he sits quietly, some of the others are aggressive and noisy, some quiet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The journey seems to take hours but eventually the van reaches its destination and they are all dragged out and thrown into individual </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">cells, bare apart from a small hard bed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He sits in the corner unmoving, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">frozen now with fear. What will happen next? Does he even care any more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He's offered food and drink but refuses it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He's dragged into another room, prodded and poked by someone in a,white coat he is made to s</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">hower, asked questions that he ignores. Eventually he is returned to his bare cell.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Time drags, he eventually accepts the food and drink he is given but he still refuses to make eye contact or answer any questions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Eventually he is moved out of his cell, what new terror awaits him now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A few minutes in the fresh air and then a precarious walk to some steep steps. At least this place is warm and there is something to sit on other than the cold tiled floor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He sits very still waiting to see what happens next, nothing happens for sometime though someone is sat beside him. She asks no questions, she just sits, very still and very quiet. Time passes, everywhere is quiet and darkness falls.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Eventually he moves, stealthily and slowly, nearer the woman sitting next to him. She smiles but still says nothing. Closer and closer he edges until he is right beside her. She moves her arm and he wriggles onto her lap and her arms wrap round him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">'Good boy' she whispers, 'good dog, you have a new home now you're safe'.</span>Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-89542570489122428302019-07-12T00:32:00.001-07:002020-05-15T05:47:20.472-07:00New story<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is a piece of Flash fiction I've written in response to a writing prompt by Lyssa Medana.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She knew as soon as she walked in to the office that she was going to enjoy this job. It was the sign hung over water cooler that made it so. One of those stupid signs that read You Don't Have To Be Crazy To Work Here But It Helps. The casual use of the word crazy immediately lessened any feelings of guilt she might have had.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There were twelve of them in the team altogether and she immediately picked out the most likely ones.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There was the kooky one, Maybelle, who thought that cackling like a banshee made her kooky. Her desk almost invisible under mounds of hideous knick knacks, mooning gnomes and rude sayings. No room for any work to be done on her desk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The mother hen, Joan, massively overweight and smelling of BO. Smiling fatuously, her desk was covered in photos of kittens. Always ready to listen to everyone's problems and offer advice but no time to do the job she was paid for.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The couple, Dan and Angie, eyes only for each other and no conversation beyond their planned wedding day. All their time was taken up with making lists and browsing pinterest for wedding ideas.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The letch, Peter, incapable of talking to any woman face to face, he talked to their boobs, all the time his hand in his pocket, constantly juggling what she hoped was his small change. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">People were so stupid, no one questioned why a temp had been taken on when there was barely enough work to go around. They all talked about the hatchet man from head office that was due any day, they all thought they were safe as they convinced themselves they were working hard. Pah, they had no idea what hard work was.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Still she'd made an effort to look as though she fitted in, no one would ever suspect her, she was small, quiet and self effacing. She changed her appearance from job to job, different hair colour or style, different makeup. She happily took on all the tasks the others didn't want to do, none of them realising that they were edging closer to losing their job.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Usually her decisions were based on facts, which members of staff were productive and which weren't but this time her judgment was clouded by that bloody sign.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As soon as she knew definitely who'd hung the sign above the water cooler the list would be complete and would be emailed to Head Office.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She hated that sign with a bloody vengeance, years of being pointed out at school as the girl who's mother was crazy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Suffering from post partum depression wasn't the same as being crazy, she knew that now but she still hated that bloody sign.</span>Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-46135619855295324922017-02-17T11:23:00.003-08:002020-05-15T05:46:36.339-07:00The Tatie Girls<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wonder what happened to the other Tatie girls.<br /><br />We met at infants school, it was a stupid, cruel name given to us by someone’s older sister. There were 5 of us, one was a boy and only 2 of us actually went tatie picking.<br /><br />Tatie pickers were the lowest of the low in village hierarchy, it was hard backbreaking work, usually done even in the 50’s by the village poor and gangs of itinerant workers.<br /><br />We were all outcasts, ignored by the other kids, bullied when on our own but not when we were in a group. There was me, Jeanie, Kevin, Angela Green and Ana.<br /><br />All avoided or bullied for different reasons, me because I was dirty and unkempt, my mother had a career, was snob, and no intention of doing boring things like cooking and cleaning. She and was unpopular with the other mothers, she never tried to hide her contempt for them.<br /><br />Jeanie was epileptic, she was avoided as some people thought it might be catching.<br /><br />Kevin was also dirty and unkempt, he was like a wild animal jumping on desks, peeing on the nature table, kicking out at teachers, his mother was ‘no better than she ought to be’.<br /><br />Angela’s real name was Angelina Verdi, she was clean but all her clothes were worn and dated. Her dad had been an Italian POW, put to work in the fields, he’d married a local girl and anglicised his name. <br /><br />Ana, there were rumours that her dad had served time in prison for unnamed crimes. Later conversations with my mother revealed that Ana’s father was a German Jew who fled to England and was interned during the war.<br /><br />Angela and I were the only two who went tatie picking, she with her mother and father and older brothers, there were 14 mouths to feed in their family, an unusually big family by 50’s standards, though when my father was a boy there were many families of that size around.<br /><br />I went tatie picking with my granny, my mother hated me going to the tatie fields but as she and my father were both out at work granny provided child care, so when granny went tatie picking, so did I.<br /><br />We left the area when I was eight years old, following my mother’s peripatetic wanderings from one end of the country to the other, I changed schools every couple of years. But my years as one of the Tatie girls stood me in good stead.<br /><br />I was never going to fit in with the in crowd, I was/am short and fat, I never had the right clothes or listened to the right music. To be honest I didn’t really know what ‘the right clothes or right music’ were.<br /><br />Within a few weeks of starting at a new school I would have mastered the local accent and worked out who the other outcasts were and made friends with some of them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-91222333170173937992015-03-22T10:39:00.000-07:002020-05-15T05:45:13.626-07:00Cherish happy moments<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Cherish all your happy moments: they make a fine cushion for old age</b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"> </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Christopher Morley</i><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Happy moments, well this was one of her favourites she decided as she stalked round the dungeon, the whip quivering in her hand.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She couldn't believe he hadn't recognised her, her voice at least, but they'd only met a few times and he was too far gone now, too deep into his own personal sexual fantasy.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She grabbed him by the hair, pulled until his head came up, his eyes staring and glazed.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">'Have you been a very bad boy Reggie?' she demanded.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">'Oh yes, yes, very bad, I deserved to be punished severely'' he drooled.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">His head fell forward as she released his hair.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Bad boy indeed, the bastard had blamed one of his very junior colleagues for an almighty cock up he'd made, got him sacked, bad mouthed him throughout the industry. Six months later and the victim of this spite was depressed and stacking supermarket shelves as it was the only job he could get, all his qualifications made worthless by the arsehole who was now chained quivering and naked in her dungeon.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">And no she hadn't kidnapped him! She could hardly believe her luck when Sir Reginald had phoned! </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">He'd come to her willingly to fulfil his deepest desires.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">It took all her control to use the whip on him carefully (she'd re-read the Spanner guidelines as soon as she'd realised who her newest client was).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">After an hour she released him, he paid her double the fee agreed & he'd limped happily away with a smile on his face.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">A smile that was soon to be wiped away, once the video was passed to the News of the World journalist.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Sitting in the bar with a glass of tonic, the journalist with a pint of bitter in hand, questioned her.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">'All these years I've been trying to get you to give me a story about an MP or some other important person, you always refused and you have been offered a fortune, yet you've always refused.' 'Why now, why him?'</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">She smiled but said nothing</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">'I suppose it's too much to hope that this is the first of many?'</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">'When is the story about Pete Fairbrother being published?' she asked.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">'Tomorrow' replied the journalist. 'Is that really all you want, a story about how some poor kid was blamed for one of Sir Reginald's cock ups?'</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">She smiled again and stood, ready to leave the bar.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">'I don't even know your real name, I can't keep calling you Mistress Lash'</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">My name is Ruth' she replied ''Ruth Fairbrother and Pete is my baby brother!'</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><br /></span></span></span>Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-5800997668062522322015-03-16T12:26:00.001-07:002020-05-15T05:44:35.606-07:00Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time. Sir Terry Pratchett<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">The machine’s beeping.<u></u><u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">Cursing & muttering, she’s wild eyed.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">‘Dis damn machine, it doesn’t like me!’<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">‘I’ve pressed every damn button!’<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">I read the error message ‘Refill paper’<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">I do, it works.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"> ‘Why’s it not work for me?’<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">I shrug.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">Still muttering, she wanders off.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">A little voice pipes up ‘Has she gone?’<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">‘Why can’t you just do her copying?’<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">‘ I don’t like her’ replied the gnome.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"> ‘So you bugger about with all her jobs.’<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5555562973022px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">The gnome chortles.</span></div>
Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-43183693277384345232015-03-15T12:56:00.000-07:002020-05-15T05:44:13.300-07:00Change of reality<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">My story for the Light & Shade challenge</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Other people's opinion of you does not have to become your reality</b></span></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i> Les Brown</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">She
noticed my bag as soon as I sat down in the seat opposite her on the
train to York.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">'Snap'
she smiled waggling her bag in my direction. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">We were
both carrying a Michael Kors tote in the same shade of pink.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">She
told me she'd bought hers from a car boot sale, very pleased that it
had only cost her £5, I didn't have the heart to tell her that I had
4 or 5 of them in assorted colours. Well not any more, but before my
ex husband had dumped me for his 20 year old air head secretary, when
I'd had money to spend!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">She
told me about her life, the dead end job that she'd just lost when
the company went bust, & her chilly flat, how she'd used some of
her redundancy money to go & see a London show, she was still on
cloud nine, humming snatches of Abba from the show. She was now
heading back to York, her home town, back to her flat, hopefully to
find another job though it wasn't easy, she had no qualifications &
was the wrong side of 40.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">I told
her I was divorced with no children, she'd never married, no children
no family of any sort. I feigned sympathy, but actually I was heading
to York for a knock down drag em out meeting with my 'family',
various lawyers and business associates & felt I could well do
without my family.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">I
didn't tell her that my ex had died of a heart attack whilst shagging
his young wife, or that she had frittered her way through the family
money, aided & abetted by the finance director whom she was also
shagging.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">I only
realised something was wrong when the bailiffs turned up to repossess
my home, the secretary & finance director had buggered off to the
Caribbean with everything they could steal. My name was still on the
company books & now I was being harassed by creditors, lawyers &
members of my ex's family who were all looking to me to bail them
out.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">My new
friend & I were still deep in conversation when the accident
happened, I'd been to the dining car & bought us both a coffee,
not long after I sat back down there was an almighty crash, the
screeching noise of twisting metal, we were both showered in broken
glass as the carriage started to twist and roll down the embankment.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">I lost
consciousness as I was hit on the head by a heavy case, when I came
round there was screaming, groaning & the flashing lights of the
emergency services.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">'Margaret'
I called, 'Margaret ,are you OK?' When I wiped the blood from my eyes
I could see that she wasn't alright, most of her face had been ripped
off by a large slice of metal. She would never be alright again, I
hardly knew her but I felt so sad, she'd not had much of a life &
now it was over. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Voices
were coming nearer, shouting instructions, checking each person as
they reached them. I felt a hand on my shoulder, 'Are you OK, how
badly are you injured?'.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">'I'm OK
I think'</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">'Can
you get out of your seat?'</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">'I
think so' I replied.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">I'm not
sure why I did it, a sudden urge, an idea, as I leaned forward to get
out of my seat I pressed briefly against Margaret, I swapped her
Michael Kors bag for mine. I grabbed her bag & with it I grabbed
her life.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">'What's
your name?' I was asked as I was helped towards a waiting ambulance.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">'Margaret,'
I replied, offering up a grateful prayer of thanks to the woman who
had unintentionally offered me an escape from the problems I was
facing.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">The
lawyers & family members who were waiting for me would wait in
vain.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">I would
be starting a new life, a new reality, under a new name in a chilly flat in York.</span></div>
Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-28616317955439410072014-10-18T11:01:00.001-07:002020-05-15T05:43:26.204-07:00Surprise!!!<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RcqbenjHRig/VC_grW0FMuI/AAAAAAAAAPc/OPINI528KHY/s1600/ENAP43.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #777777; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RcqbenjHRig/VC_grW0FMuI/AAAAAAAAAPc/OPINI528KHY/s1600/ENAP43.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(233, 233, 233); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons, taken by </span>AlejandroLinaresGarcia and shared under Creative Commons</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was supposed to be a surprise, that & a last ditch attempt to save our failing relationship.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was too young & stupid, or maybe naive to realise it wouldn't work. I assumed that since we were in a sexual relationship marriage would follow (I told you I was stupid!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'd had such a crush on him since the first day I started on the same college course as him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Such a crush that I thrown caution to the winds, thrown all my plain white cotton knickers away & thrown myself at him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'd come from an all girls school, was an isolated, cosseted, only child & the sudden influx of people of the male gender into my sphere of notice had turned my life upside down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When he started to lose interest in me & started hanging round with her, a skinny goth with an assortment facial piercings. She was aloof, I was desperate. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I begged & pleaded, nothing worked. He raved about her piercings & how sexy they made her look. I followed him around until he called security & said I was stalking him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I did some research, I decided to take the plunge, I couldn't have facial piercings, my parents would have a fit. I decided to have piercings my parents wouldn't see.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Friday, I visited the local tattoo parlour, the only place that would do what I wanted. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fuck, they hurt, all of them, my clothes rubbed & I could barely walk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But on Monday I knew he'd be in the college cafeteria eating breakfast at 8:30.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was determined to Make An Entrance, I chose my outfit carefully. Very short skirt, the latest Nike trainers & a tee shirt, artistically ripped.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I felt like a million dollars, until that is, I walked through the metal detectors the college had installed in the aftermath of last terms stabbing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The alarm sounded, security arrived, I tried to run towards him, the security guards grabbed me, threw me to the ground. I landed tee shirt up under my armpits, legs akimbo.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And there they were for everyone to see, rings through my nipples & two rings & a padlock holding my labia together.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The security guard was close enough to read the inscription, he chortled & was about to read it aloud.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I twisted one leg free & kneed him in the jaw, I heard it snap.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Still, I'm over him now, I've had time to think about what went wrong.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of the prison guards is really cute, I'm sure he fancies me, but of course he can't say anything until I'm released in 6 weeks time.</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403662680940233223.post-87462978255678117182014-10-10T10:52:00.003-07:002020-05-15T05:42:30.058-07:00Killer<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4666652679443px;">I was just about to leave for work when the urge took me again, I’d thought about it the previous evening and made my plans. In the morning I was undecided, was it right to do such a thing or wasn’t it. Eventually I stopped dithering, I grabbed the knife, a long sharp knife from the drawer. It was a spur of the moment decision, after all I reasoned, I didn’t have to use it. I wrapped it in a clean tea towel and hid it in the bottom of my bag. The tea towel could be used to clean it afterwards, to save messing up my bag.<u></u><u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4666652679443px;">It wasn’t a nice atmosphere at work, lots of people were stressed and unhappy, what I was about to do would be good for some people, maybe some wouldn’t see it that way but that was their problem. I’d thought long and hard before I’d come to a decision, in the end my decision was made on the basis of some small evil causing the greater good. Some people thought I was evil, baking such delicious cakes and taking them to work when so many of the team were trying to lose weight. I felt that everyone deserved a treat especially at year end when there was so much pressure.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4666652679443px;">I would take in cake and bedamned to those who didn't appreciate it. </span></div>
Hard up Hesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561421853249973134noreply@blogger.com1