A prompt response for “INSPIRATION MONDAY:” ~ FULL MOON-GLASSES

Posted on Oct 16, 2015 by John Yeo | 2 Comments

http://bekindrewrite.com

FULL MOON-GLASSES

by John Yeo

The optical vision was impaired during the night, and could not be resurrected, using known scientific procedures. Peter the glorious inventor, unveiled his master-piece. Moonglasses.

The operation to remove the two cysts on the patients eyes was a rip-roaring success.

“Except he still suffers from night-blindness!” The exasperated surgeon shouted.
“We all suffer from night-blindness, don’t we?” Enquired an unidentified voice from the the masked fraternity of operating theatre staff.

The surgeon stood up to address the team. Pomposity personified.

“The quality of light at night, is such that ones vision can be affected by the shadows and shading of the clouds that drift across the moon. Two cysts were removed during a night-time operation performed under very bright floodlights, using digital, precision-driven, optical, surgical instruments. Lenses were inserted into the eyes over the eyeballs, but the patient still suffered from night-blindness. His vision was still dark at night.”

Peter the glorious inventor, raised a glass of moonshine that he used to toast the success of an extraordinary new product. As he raised his glass to finish the final drops at the bottom, the rays of the moon shone through the bottom of the glass and the last dregs of moonshine. Then to his astonishment his vision was clarified enormously.
Peter based his extraordinary pair of Moonglasses on a pattern of the rays emanating from the drops of moonshine in the bottom of the glass.
The press were invited to the unveiling of the astonishing glasses. Then there was an overwhelming horror, as it was revealed that although the inventors eyesight had improved, the patient still suffered from night-blindness.
Both the surgeon and the inventor were seeing double, after the infliction of an over-indulgence in moonshine. The Moonglasses were consigned to the portals of the dustbins of failed attempts to turn night into day.

Image Copyright (c) John and Margaret

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (45)

Posted on Oct 14, 2015 by John Yeo | 5 Comments

I am taking part in Mondays Finish the Story 12/10/2015, which is a challenge that provides a photo prompt and the opening sentence to your story. The rules indicate that the story you come up with must be between 100-150 words, not including the given opening sentence.

The link below takes you to Part Forty-Four

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (44)

Finish the story begins with:

“Now this is living the life of Riley.”

Hillary was at home with the children, when the news came through.

“Hey! Look at that cat Mummy!”

“Yes, she knows how to live.” said Hillary, absent-mindedly.

Marg hadn’t been in contact for three weeks now.
Since the attempted break-in by the so-called Brazilian diplomats Hillary had given orders to move the office. Now this strange message, forwarded from the old office.

“Margo, we will get our revenge, you are a marked woman.”

Hillary was worried, she tried to contact the Brigadier, leaving a message with his secretary.

“Mummy the cat looks comfortable.” said Katy.

Yes, one day my partner will relax like that!”

“What Mummy?”

“Oh! Sorry darling.”

Meanwhile Marg was still missing, incommunicado.

There was knock at the front door, and there stood Marg with a smile on her face.
Hillary in her shocked exuberance tripped over the cat who squealed and ran for cover.

(150 WORDS)

The link below takes you to Part Forty-Four

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (44)

https://mondaysfinishthestory.wordpress.com/

A prompt response for “INSPIRATION MONDAY:” ~ SUCCOR PUNCH

Posted on Oct 11, 2015 by John Yeo | 2 Comments

http://bekindrewrite.com/

SUCCOR PUNCH

by John Yeo

The cycle race had been extremely hard going for Fred Wilkinson, at 54 years of age he most definitely was not the man he used to be. Although he was an unusually fit man for his age, he was not getting any younger, and he was finding it continually harder to keep up with the younger cycling fraternity.
George, his eldest son, also a cyclist continually remonstrated with him and literally begged him to stop competitive cycling.

“Dad, you will only harm yourself if you continue to try to outrace the younger cyclists!”

“Don’t worry George, I am a very fit man, I will always be capable of pushing the pedals around. I came second in the last County road-race. Remember I always said I would carry on regardless. If I stop now I will have desperate withdrawal symptoms and my life will never be the same again.”

“Dad, my brother and I will insist on riding in every race you enter from now on so that we can keep an eye on you during the course of the race.”

“George! Will either of you be able to keep up with me! Ha! Ha! Ha!”

This banter and the competitiveness went on for the next few races over the next month or so, until the day dawned when the club championship final races took place. George and his Father were due to race in the late afternoon.
The ladies in the clubhouse were preparing a sumptuous tea when Fred and George arrived.
Beryl was always quick with a quip and she had a very soft spot for Fred.
“Come and taste my fruity homemade tarts Fred! They are all my own work and very tasty.” said Beryl sweetly smiling as she passed a plate to him.

Fred looked at her proffering her wares, smiled and said, “Perhaps just a nibble!” as he popped a piece into his mouth.

Suddenly he staggered forward unable to speak and started to go very red, then blue in the face. Beryl, who was a trained nurse turned and suddenly punched him hard in the back. Fred shocked, spluttered and choked when a piece of pastry came flying out of his mouth.
The shocked club members gathered around, relieved that he was breathing normally and all was fine. Beryl arranged for him to get a checkup straight away at the Doctors surgery, which meant he would miss the race.
George smiled after his father had gone as he quipped to Beryl, “That was a very good right hand punch you delivered there!”

“That was my succor punch!” She replied. “I have been trained to follow through my instincts and I respond fast. I float like a Butterfly and sting like a Bee!”

Image Copyright (c) John and Margaret

TERRORISM

Posted on Oct 9, 2015 by John Yeo | 5 Comments

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers ~ Writing challenge.

Hosted by Priceless Joy.

The goal is to write a story between 100-150 words (give or take 25 words) based on the provided photo.

This week’s photo prompt is provided by Etol Bagam.

TERRORISM

by John Yeo

Breathlessly and excitedly I arrived home clutching the white envelope as tightly as possible.

“Margaret! I got the tickets. I had to wait in a mile long queue for about an hour! We are going to see them live on stage. A first night performance of the musical evening, featuring the talents of our favourite, Andre Rieu.”

“Oh! Fantastic! That is brilliant, Well done John! I have nothing to wear. We will have to go shopping this morning, I will need a very special outfit for this. Thank you so much darling.”

“I have ordered our car for 5pm, that will give us time for a cocktail before the performance begins.”

A few hours later, dressed in our finery we arrive at the concert hall and take our seats and indulge in the unique spectacle and colourful backdrop with the sound of a superb musical extravaganza.

Suddenly there is a huge explosion followed by a stunned silence, before the screams of the injured and the dying ring out. Then sirens and a hubbub of chaos.

(175 Words)

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (44)

Posted on Oct 7, 2015 by John Yeo | 7 Comments

I am taking part in Mondays Finish the Story 05/10/2015, which is a challenge that provides a photo prompt and the opening sentence to your story. The rules indicate that the story you come up with must be between 100-150 words, not including the given opening sentence.

The link below takes you to Part Forty-Three

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (43)

Finish the story begins with:

“Few knew about the castle hidden inside the island.”
When this Island, complete with the built in fortress came on the market, few people were in the know. The sale was made discreetly and the well-respected estate agent was sworn to secrecy.
Lawyers handled the sale and they did extraordinarily well out of the deal.
It was a terrible shock to everyone to learn that this high level of security had been breached and the island was no longer habitable due to several well-placed explosive devices.
Marg had supervised the raid. Delphine had piloted a hired aircraft and they were on the way back to the Brigadier’s, Mysterious Island.
Luigi was on his Brazilian estate when the news reached him of the destruction of his new purchase in the North. He ordered an immediate investigation. A squad of well trained operatives were instantly despatched to interview everyone who had been involved in the purchase.
Then poor Marg……

(150 WORDS)

PICTURE IT AND WRITE ~ THE PAINTED SMILE

Posted on Oct 4, 2015 by John Yeo | 4 Comments

This is the latest Picture it and Write prompt from Ermilia’s blog

Picture it & Write

As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia

THE PAINTED SMILE

by John Yeo

Everyone else was laughing, except for me, I was embarrassed for her and felt her pain. Children can be cruel to one another sometimes, especially when someone looks slightly different to the norm. Mandy was born with a birth defect to her mouth in the shape of a permanent smile, the other children called her names and she was continually bullied.

I became her friend, we went everywhere together.
I arranged to meet her after our classes that day. She came into view wearing green and pink wellington boots, the rain hadn’t stopped for two whole weeks and muddy puddles were everywhere.

‘Hi Mandy! Would you like to come for a coffee? I am having trouble with the homework project and I want your help.’

There was no response and Mandy avoided eye-contact, I looked at her closely and I could see tears in her eyes. I had been taken in at first by the painted smile that hid poor Mandy’s tears. She stamped her foot into a large muddy rainwater puddle and sobbed.
‘Why won’t they leave me alone, I hate it when they laugh at my face, I wish I was normal.’

‘Oh Mandy, I am so sorry you are feeling down, I think you are pretty, that smile is infectious, you always cheer me up whenever I see you.’

Mandy stamped very hard into another puddle making a large splash.
‘I want to look normal and angry when people tease me so I can stop them from hurting me.’ Mandy said, kicking the water again with her boots splashing water everywhere.

I then had an idea, what if we covered her mouth with very heavy makeup that would hide her false smile and see how she got on in class with a natural scowl.

‘Mandy I have an idea, let’s go and visit my Grandma who was a makeup artist, I am sure we will get some help from her.’

‘Oh thank you!’ Mandy said with a smile that I am sure was a real smile this time.

My Gran worked wonders and hid the permanent smile with some special makeup. Mandy was delighted with the result and wearing her new scowl she went back to school.

A different Mandy emerged, more confident, she began to single out the abusive bullies but instead of seeking revenge she befriended the girls and became very popular.

Then she asked my Gran to remove the makeup.

When the rain came down again Mandy was dancing through the puddles in her green and pink wellies, singing in the rain with her natural smile on her face again.

SOCIAL SLIP-UP

Posted on Oct 1, 2015 by John Yeo | 9 Comments

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers ~ Writing challenge.

Hosted by Priceless Joy.

The goal is to write a story between 100-150 words (give or take 25 words) based on the provided photo.

SOCIAL SLIP-UP

by John Yeo

The party was a huge social event among the islands and inlets around the approach to the port. The marine community arrived in many vessels, there was always ample mooring space at the big house. The servants had been busy for a whole week in preparation for this long awaited event. Sebastian, the son of a wealthy industrialist Ivan, and his beautiful wife Dolores, had reached the age of eighteen. The guest list was composed of the members of some of the wealthiest people in the community and security was very tight.
The magical night arrived, Sebastian at the door greeting the steady trickle of arrivals with a fixed smile became somewhat uneasy.
Something was not quite right, the security had expelled several young people, and there was a growing presence at the main gate as more and more people attempted to gate-crash the party. Soon fights began between the gatecrashers and security and the police arrived.
Suddenly it became clear, Sebastian had publicly invited his girlfriend Penelope through a post on his Facebook page.

(175 WORDS)

A prompt response for “INSPIRATION MONDAY:” ~ SNEEZE GUARD

Posted on Sep 30, 2015 by John Yeo | 2 Comments

Inspiration Monday: Sneeze Guard

http://bekindrewrite.com

SNEEZE GUARD

by John Yeo

Mayor Reynolds was troubled by traffic problems in the city. Wichitaw was a total gridlock from one end of Main Street to the other on a daily basis.

“This is getting on my nerves, something has to give, I demand some action, call a meeting of the city council at once!” His face was thunderously angry as he shouted this order to his secretary. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and blew his nose.

“Yes sir!” Sarah responded. “I will try to set the meeting for tomorrow, we can e-mail all the members of the council and set up a video conference. Do you want me to prepare an agenda or will you do that? I will need it very fast!” Wiping her nose with a tissue, she waited for his response.

“You do that please Sarah! Make sure you include an item for me under AOB, regarding the pollution generated by this continual snarl up of traffic. I need to get a few new ideas on the statute book as soon as possible.” He searched his pocket for a clean handkerchief.

“Yes Sir! I will get started immediately. Your first appointment with Professor Rinski, will be one hour behind schedule as he is running late due to a traffic holdup. He should be arriving very shortly shall I send him right in as soon as he arrives?” Sarah sneezed loudly and uncontrollably.

“Yes please! Oh remind me what he wants. I have an obscure note about the implications and respiratory costs incurred by carbon monoxide poisoning. E-mail me all the information at once please, and send in some hard copies. Thanks Sarah!” The Mayor couldn’t help dabbing the end of his nose with a tissue, pulled from a box kept in his desk. Good job this isn’t visual, he thought.

“Yes Sir!” Replied Sarah, clearing her throat politely

Suddenly a loud ringing of his personal mobile phone intruded, Mayor Reynolds sighed, he was aware who was calling at this time. Sure enough her name came up and he was obliged to answer. Sniffing silently, he pressed the receive call button.

“Hallo Mary my love! Is everything alright?” His voice sounded thick with the continual fluid generated by a sudden sneeze.

“No Henry! Sorry to trouble you at work, both of the children are unable to go to school today as they have gone down with the “shoo” bug that’s going around!” Suddenly there was a loud clearing of her throat as Mary waited for a reply

“Shoo bug? Is that the respiratory problem that is affecting many of our aged relations? Have you called the Doctor?” A worried Mayor tried to hold back a sniffle.

“Of course Henry, but he is stuck in traffic and I wonder if you can call in a helicopter to get the children to hospital! Please darling!” Mary couldn’t contain an uncontrollable cough.

“Oh no! I will try but all our city helicopters are in use at present. Wait there for the doctor and I will get back to you!” The mayor coughed in response.

The internal telephone then loudly sounded as Sarah, quietly coughing into a tissue, announced the arrival of Professor Rinski.

“Send him in please Sarah!” The Mayor responded with a silent sniffle as he could feel yet another sneeze welling up inside.

A minute later the office door opened to reveal a figure dressed in what appeared to be a lightweight diving suit, covering his total body with a microphone attached to a round plastic headpiece. There was a distinct resemblance to a knight of times gone by, except he was wearing a suit of plastic instead of metal and there were a number of air filters attached to the front and rear of his head.

“Good morning!” A metallic voice greeted the stunned mayor.

Image from the net

Written in response to a prompt provided by Inspiration Monday

http://bekindrewrite.com

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (43)

Posted on Sep 29, 2015 by John Yeo | 15 Comments

I am taking part in Mondays Finish the Story 28/09/2015, which is a challenge that provides a photo prompt and the opening sentence to your story. The rules indicate that the story you come up with must be between 100-150 words, not including the given opening sentence.

The link below takes you to Part Forty-Two

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (42)

Finish the story begins with:

“The A&B Building was made entirely from driftwood.”
“Can you believe that?” Delphine laughed pointing to the facade. “Just chunks of washed-up wood!”
“Hey, look at that date! 1899, I must get a shot of the front, to e-mail home.”
Angelo and Delphine were meeting a local businessman in front of this historic building to hire a helicopter and ask for help with local information.
After several attacks on members of the Brigadiers organisation, Angelo and Delphine were ordered to Skagway in Alaska.
A tipoff from Brazil revealed that Dr Dickus had returned to this part of the world and was in the process of recruiting mercenaries to attack the Brigadier’s fortress on the Mysterious Island and attempt to recover the lost bullion.
Luigi was building another military-style force in Brazil, little realising he was was under observation.
Marg was called by Don Fernando. “Please, I need to see you urgently, Bella needs your help!” ……..

(150 WORDS)

The link below takes you to Part Forty-Two

https://johnandmargaret1607.wordpress.com/2015/09/22/mysterious-island-42/

https://mondaysfinishthestory.wordpress.com/

PICTURE IT AND WRITE ~ RAGS AND MR. POTTS

Posted on Sep 27, 2015 by John Yeo | 9 Comments

This is the latest Picture it and Write prompt from Ermilia’s blog

Picture it & Write

Ermilia dog-with-stick-having-trouble-getting-up-stairs

As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia

RAGS AND MR. POTTS

by John Yeo

At last we own our own property, we are so proud it belongs to us, lock, stock and barrel. There is a lot of work to be done it is very rundown and we have boxes and stacked everywhere on the bare wooden floorboards.
Our pet mongrel dog Rags, has settled in, always barking at the slightest noise or a strange passing dog.
Cindy and I are energised and we are decorating the house from top to bottom.

Cindy has an organising mind and this morning she said.
“We will sleep in the downstairs front room until we finish the bedrooms off”

“That’s OK by me!” I reply. “Hey! Look at that dog, what is he doing with that old stick someone has wedged across the stairs? He is trying to get that out from there!”

“Oh, Rags, come here you silly boy!” Cindy shouts.

“Oh leave him, at least it is the outside stairs.”

Mrs Brown our nearest neighbour pops in for a chat and a cup of tea, bringing a hamper of groceries,
“Just to tide you over dears, until you can get to the local store.”

“Thanks so much!” I respond, “Can I pay you for them?”

“No don’t be do silly! I would like you to take them as a good neighbourly gift.”

Mrs Brown sits on a packing-case drinking a cup of Cindy’s special brew tea.

“Did you hear the story of old Mr Potts, who last lived here, he was a very eccentric tyrant of a man. He would always be chasing the local kids away if they wandered off the path out front, on to his drive. He would charge out of the house waving a big stick to scare them away, every time anyone passed by.”

“No!” We chorused.

Mrs Brown took another sip of tea. “Well he was a bit of a hermit, living alone and not mixing with anyone socially. Rumour has it that he would drink vast quantities of home-brewed cider and get very drunk. One day he tripped over a stick on your back stairs, very drunk and not looking where he was going. He lay at the bottom of those stairs for a whole week before he was discovered, sadly he died on the way to the hospital.”

Cindy refilled Mrs Browns teacup, as we sat listening to this tragic tale.

“Well!” She continued. “Rumour has it that someone deliberately lodged that stick there to trip him up, but there was never any proof and nobody is owning up to anything.”

At this point there was a loud barking from around the back as Rags, tired of trying to dislodge that pesky stick, just sat there barking at nothing, there was no one to be seen.

When Mrs Brown saw this and noticed the stick lodged across the back stairs she nearly fainted with the shock. Cindy gave her a glass of water and produced some smelling salts. When Mrs Brown came around she was alarmed.

“Surely that is not the same stick that was responsible for the death of Mr Potts! How did that get there?” She cried.

“Oh! That stick has been there since we moved in!” I said, “Rags has been going potty trying to get it out, we thought he was just having a game, but after hearing your story now! I wonder?”

	John Yeo on Spring Flowers
	John Yeo on Just Because
	ladyleemanila on Just Because
	notestowomen on Spring Flowers
	John Yeo on HAPPINESS

FULL MOON-GLASSES

The optical vision was impaired during the night, and could not be resurrected, using known scientific procedures. Peter the glorious inventor, unveiled his master-piece. Moonglasses.

The operation to remove the two cysts on the patients eyes was a rip-roaring success.

“Except he still suffers from night-blindness!” The exasperated surgeon shouted. “We all suffer from night-blindness, don’t we?” Enquired an unidentified voice from the the masked fraternity of operating theatre staff.

The surgeon stood up to address the team. Pomposity personified.

“Now this is living the life of Riley.”

Hillary was at home with the children, when the news came through.

“Hey! Look at that cat Mummy!”

“Yes, she knows how to live.” said Hillary, absent-mindedly.

Marg hadn’t been in contact for three weeks now. Since the attempted break-in by the so-called Brazilian diplomats Hillary had given orders to move the office. Now this strange message, forwarded from the old office.

“Margo, we will get our revenge, you are a marked woman.”

Hillary was worried, she tried to contact the Brigadier, leaving a message with his secretary.

“Mummy the cat looks comfortable.” said Katy.

Yes, one day my partner will relax like that!”

“What Mummy?”

“Oh! Sorry darling.”

Meanwhile Marg was still missing, incommunicado.

There was knock at the front door, and there stood Marg with a smile on her face. Hillary in her shocked exuberance tripped over the cat who squealed and ran for cover.

SUCCOR PUNCH

“Dad, you will only harm yourself if you continue to try to outrace the younger cyclists!”

“Don’t worry George, I am a very fit man, I will always be capable of pushing the pedals around. I came second in the last County road-race. Remember I always said I would carry on regardless. If I stop now I will have desperate withdrawal symptoms and my life will never be the same again.”

“Dad, my brother and I will insist on riding in every race you enter from now on so that we can keep an eye on you during the course of the race.”

“George! Will either of you be able to keep up with me! Ha! Ha! Ha!”

Fred looked at her proffering her wares, smiled and said, “Perhaps just a nibble!” as he popped a piece into his mouth.

“That was my succor punch!” She replied. “I have been trained to follow through my instincts and I respond fast. I float like a Butterfly and sting like a Bee!”

TERRORISM

Breathlessly and excitedly I arrived home clutching the white envelope as tightly as possible.

“Margaret! I got the tickets. I had to wait in a mile long queue for about an hour! We are going to see them live on stage. A first night performance of the musical evening, featuring the talents of our favourite, Andre Rieu.”

“Oh! Fantastic! That is brilliant, Well done John! I have nothing to wear. We will have to go shopping this morning, I will need a very special outfit for this. Thank you so much darling.”

“I have ordered our car for 5pm, that will give us time for a cocktail before the performance begins.”

A few hours later, dressed in our finery we arrive at the concert hall and take our seats and indulge in the unique spectacle and colourful backdrop with the sound of a superb musical extravaganza.

Suddenly there is a huge explosion followed by a stunned silence, before the screams of the injured and the dying ring out. Then sirens and a hubbub of chaos.

(175 Words)

THE PAINTED SMILE

I became her friend, we went everywhere together. I arranged to meet her after our classes that day. She came into view wearing green and pink wellington boots, the rain hadn’t stopped for two whole weeks and muddy puddles were everywhere.

‘Hi Mandy! Would you like to come for a coffee? I am having trouble with the homework project and I want your help.’

‘Oh Mandy, I am so sorry you are feeling down, I think you are pretty, that smile is infectious, you always cheer me up whenever I see you.’

Mandy stamped very hard into another puddle making a large splash. ‘I want to look normal and angry when people tease me so I can stop them from hurting me.’ Mandy said, kicking the water again with her boots splashing water everywhere.

I then had an idea, what if we covered her mouth with very heavy makeup that would hide her false smile and see how she got on in class with a natural scowl.

‘Mandy I have an idea, let’s go and visit my Grandma who was a makeup artist, I am sure we will get some help from her.’

‘Oh thank you!’ Mandy said with a smile that I am sure was a real smile this time.

My Gran worked wonders and hid the permanent smile with some special makeup. Mandy was delighted with the result and wearing her new scowl she went back to school.

A different Mandy emerged, more confident, she began to single out the abusive bullies but instead of seeking revenge she befriended the girls and became very popular.

Then she asked my Gran to remove the makeup.

When the rain came down again Mandy was dancing through the puddles in her green and pink wellies, singing in the rain with her natural smile on her face again.

SOCIAL SLIP-UP

SNEEZE GUARD

Mayor Reynolds was troubled by traffic problems in the city. Wichitaw was a total gridlock from one end of Main Street to the other on a daily basis.

“This is getting on my nerves, something has to give, I demand some action, call a meeting of the city council at once!” His face was thunderously angry as he shouted this order to his secretary. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and blew his nose.

“You do that please Sarah! Make sure you include an item for me under AOB, regarding the pollution generated by this continual snarl up of traffic. I need to get a few new ideas on the statute book as soon as possible.” He searched his pocket for a clean handkerchief.

“Yes Sir! I will get started immediately. Your first appointment with Professor Rinski, will be one hour behind schedule as he is running late due to a traffic holdup. He should be arriving very shortly shall I send him right in as soon as he arrives?” Sarah sneezed loudly and uncontrollably.

“Yes Sir!” Replied Sarah, clearing her throat politely

Suddenly a loud ringing of his personal mobile phone intruded, Mayor Reynolds sighed, he was aware who was calling at this time. Sure enough her name came up and he was obliged to answer. Sniffing silently, he pressed the receive call button.

“Hallo Mary my love! Is everything alright?” His voice sounded thick with the continual fluid generated by a sudden sneeze.

“No Henry! Sorry to trouble you at work, both of the children are unable to go to school today as they have gone down with the “shoo” bug that’s going around!” Suddenly there was a loud clearing of her throat as Mary waited for a reply

“Shoo bug? Is that the respiratory problem that is affecting many of our aged relations? Have you called the Doctor?” A worried Mayor tried to hold back a sniffle.

“Of course Henry, but he is stuck in traffic and I wonder if you can call in a helicopter to get the children to hospital! Please darling!” Mary couldn’t contain an uncontrollable cough.

“Oh no! I will try but all our city helicopters are in use at present. Wait there for the doctor and I will get back to you!” The mayor coughed in response.

The internal telephone then loudly sounded as Sarah, quietly coughing into a tissue, announced the arrival of Professor Rinski.

“Send him in please Sarah!” The Mayor responded with a silent sniffle as he could feel yet another sneeze welling up inside.

“Good morning!” A metallic voice greeted the stunned mayor.

RAGS AND MR. POTTS

Cindy has an organising mind and this morning she said. “We will sleep in the downstairs front room until we finish the bedrooms off”

“That’s OK by me!” I reply. “Hey! Look at that dog, what is he doing with that old stick someone has wedged across the stairs? He is trying to get that out from there!”

“Oh, Rags, come here you silly boy!” Cindy shouts.

“Oh leave him, at least it is the outside stairs.”

Mrs Brown our nearest neighbour pops in for a chat and a cup of tea, bringing a hamper of groceries, “Just to tide you over dears, until you can get to the local store.”

“Thanks so much!” I respond, “Can I pay you for them?”

“No don’t be do silly! I would like you to take them as a good neighbourly gift.”

Mrs Brown sits on a packing-case drinking a cup of Cindy’s special brew tea.

“No!” We chorused.

Cindy refilled Mrs Browns teacup, as we sat listening to this tragic tale.

“Well!” She continued. “Rumour has it that someone deliberately lodged that stick there to trip him up, but there was never any proof and nobody is owning up to anything.”

At this point there was a loud barking from around the back as Rags, tired of trying to dislodge that pesky stick, just sat there barking at nothing, there was no one to be seen.

When Mrs Brown saw this and noticed the stick lodged across the back stairs she nearly fainted with the shock. Cindy gave her a glass of water and produced some smelling salts. When Mrs Brown came around she was alarmed.

“Surely that is not the same stick that was responsible for the death of Mr Potts! How did that get there?” She cried.

“Oh! That stick has been there since we moved in!” I said, “Rags has been going potty trying to get it out, we thought he was just having a game, but after hearing your story now! I wonder?”

We both finish the day working non-stop, flat out to get as much done as possible before it gets too dark.

As we settle down to sleep Cindy whispers. “Good Night darling, I hope our little house is not haunted by the ghost of Mr Potts!”

“Good night Cindy! Don’t worry, Rags will see him off!”

“Except he still suffers from night-blindness!” The exasperated surgeon shouted.
“We all suffer from night-blindness, don’t we?” Enquired an unidentified voice from the the masked fraternity of operating theatre staff.

Marg hadn’t been in contact for three weeks now.
Since the attempted break-in by the so-called Brazilian diplomats Hillary had given orders to move the office. Now this strange message, forwarded from the old office.

There was knock at the front door, and there stood Marg with a smile on her face.
Hillary in her shocked exuberance tripped over the cat who squealed and ran for cover.

I became her friend, we went everywhere together.
I arranged to meet her after our classes that day. She came into view wearing green and pink wellington boots, the rain hadn’t stopped for two whole weeks and muddy puddles were everywhere.

Mandy stamped very hard into another puddle making a large splash.
‘I want to look normal and angry when people tease me so I can stop them from hurting me.’ Mandy said, kicking the water again with her boots splashing water everywhere.

Cindy has an organising mind and this morning she said.
“We will sleep in the downstairs front room until we finish the bedrooms off”

Mrs Brown our nearest neighbour pops in for a chat and a cup of tea, bringing a hamper of groceries,
“Just to tide you over dears, until you can get to the local store.”