ARTISTIC FAILURES

Posted on Mar 21, 2021 by John Yeo | Leave a comment

SUNDAY 21st MARCH 2021

This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’.
Which can be found by following the link below..

Prompt ~ ARTISTIC FAILURES

ARTISTIC FAILURE

(A sonnet for Sunday)

by John Yeo

I love adding the detail to a very fine drawing

Then painting a picture for sensual pleasure.

I love the satisfaction of producing real art,

The pure creative pleasure of building a picture.

A feeling of accomplishment at the completion

Positive reinforcement of my own interpretation

Producing a likeness, a creation of beauty.

The application of paint in glorious colours

To produce a picture to match the mind’s eye

This relaxation has benefits beyond measure

Blocking out mundane thought by contemplation

Of the subject, and the total intense concentration.

Leading to a final interpretation. Hard to resist.

The question. Why did I not become an artist?

BANGING OUT A DISH

Posted on Mar 20, 2021 by John Yeo | Leave a comment

SATURDAY 20th MARCH 2021

This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’.
Which can be found by following the link below..

Prompt ~ BANGING OUT A DISH

BANGING OUT A DISH

by John Yeo

The auctioneer’s assistant was gingerly holding up an unusual solid silver dish. The dish was lavishly decorated with engraved images of fruit and flowers. Billy the assistant was holding his breath, this was reputed to be an extraordinary piece of work. The illustrations were incredibly ornate and the markings on the base indicated that this piece originated in Russia. The professional theory was that this dish had been stolen and secretly smuggled into Britain. Rumour had it that this incredibly historical dish had once belonged to a girlfriend of Ivan the Terrible; the Tzar of all the Russia’s in the sixteenth century, who had presented a full dinner service to her as a gift to seduce her. This exquisite piece of silver was part of that set; the remainder of which was now housed in the famous Hermitage museum in St. Petersburg. Billy could feel his hand trembling slightly as this information was passed to the assembled buyers in the auction room.

The auctioneer started his patter; the bidding was fierce and competitive between two buyers.

Finally with the words, ‘In banging out a dish of this historical quality, before I bring the gavel down for the final bang have I any further bids?’

Right at that moment a man dressed strangely in a Russian Cossack outfit leapt at Billy waving a sword.

‘This is a bloodstained dish tainted with the blood of creatures consumed by creatures. Bloodstains that will never wash away!’

Billy, in a shocked defensive reaction, threw the dish at the approaching swordsman. The dish bounced off the attackers head and then fell to the floor with a sickening, damaging thud.

The Auctioneer, shocked; dropped his gavel, picked up a gun and shot the menacing intruder dead.

History, in the form of a badly dented valuable dish, lay sedately on the saleroom floor.

The buyer claimed his property, maintaining he had secured a bargain as any competent silversmith would be able to restore it to its former glory by simply banging out the dents.

PARTY FANATICS

Posted on Mar 19, 2021 by John Yeo | Leave a comment

FRIDAY 15th MARCH 2021

This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’.
Which can be found by following the link below..

Prompt ~ PARTY FANATICS

PARTY FANATICS

by John Yeo

It was a special day of celebration for the Beelzebubs. Horatio, the eldest son in the Beelzebub family had reached his first century and the family were keen to raise hell.

‘Father! We must invite everyone in our social circle.’

The head of the family flicked his tail across the table and responded. ‘Of course son the word will be spread through all the neighbouring covens, dens and magic circles at once.’

Messengers were dispatched, the arrangements were finalised and preparations were soon completed.

The night arrived, the guests flew and slithered towards the venue and the party was soon underway.

Devils, witches, wizards, and goblins were soon rocking the night away. A banquet was served of deviled kidney stew, sour cream sauce and blood red wine, mingled together in a heady brew keeping the evil frivolity under way. Horatio danced with an attractive witch with a head full of live snakes hissing to the beat of the music. It was difficult to find any room to spare as the monsters were at play. Everyone was having a terribly good time celebrating this special birthday when something occurred to break the spell. There was a loud bong, when a clang of the doorbell-gong announced a late arrival. A phantom butler answered the door, then jumped back in horror and fright.

There in a shining white clerical collar stood a ghastly frightful nightmarish sight, a priest stood smiling broadly.

‘Good evening to you; can I speak to the person who is responsible for this party please?’

The party-host, looked hard, scrutinised the interloper closely.

‘Who are you? Can I see your invitation card? This is a private haunting party.’

The priest, put his hands up in horror and said,

‘I’m not here to party. I’m here to complain. Would you kindly keep the noise down, the noise in the graveyard is waking the dead.’

It was then the turn of the host to smile as he motioned the priest to enter.

‘Here is a special invitation card, stay with us for a while as we wait for our friends from the graveyard. Stay and enjoy the party.’

MASTERING MATH

Posted on Mar 18, 2021 by John Yeo | 5 Comments

THURSDAY 18th MARCH 2021

This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’.
Which can be found by following the link below..

Prompt ~ MASTERING MATH

MASTERING MATH

by John Yeo

Concentration is the spur for a successful introduction

To coax the beauty of numerical thought to arise

Requires a sympathetic enlightened induction.

Studying the beauty of numerical form is seduction

Enabling the mind access to mathematical highs

Concentration is the spur for a successful introduction.

Mastering the power of higher thought and deduction

Pushing new thought processes to unaccustomed rise

Requires a sympathetic enlightened induction.

Interest is heightened through sympathetic instruction

Visualising the totality of forms the ultimate prize

Concentration is the spur for a successful introduction.

The logistical power of mastering math construction

Allowing the powerful beauty of math to mesmerize

Requires a sympathetic enlightened induction.

Purity and simplicity in mastering math is an attraction

That will lift the thought process as high as the skies.

Concentration is the spur for a successful introduction

Requiring a sympathetic enlightened induction.

BELIEVING IN THE PRETENDS

Posted on Mar 17, 2021 by John Yeo | Leave a comment

WEDNESDAY 17th MARCH 2021

This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’.
Which can be found by following the link below..

Prompt ~ BELIEVING IN THE PRETENDS

BELIEVING IN THE PRETENDS

by John Yeo

The cancer is very advanced,

I had responded to the patient’s call.

The cancer is incurable,

The patient is ready to die

The writing is certainly on the wall.

‘Doctor you tell me I’ll die.

I have a confession to make;

Will you hear my deathbed plea?’

I offered to call a reverend priest,

‘Please. No! I never believed.

Will you let me get this off my chest?

I would like to tell you in confidence

As a professional and a very good friend.

I have always done my level best

Something has always haunted me.

My wife is my Father’s daughter,

We fell madly in love and wed.

We carelessly loved our way through life

The only people who know the truth

Sadly, now they are all dead.

We married under false pretences

With a nod and a wink and love.

We have always believed in each other

Some say our incestuos union

Is against the laws of God.

We have loved believing our pretends.

Please respect my confidence

In your special capacity.

We have known and trusted you for years

As a professional and a very good friend.

My wife will inform our children.

When my life in this world finally ends

I would like you to offer her support

And assure her of my love for her.

We lived happily immersed in our pretends.

Thank-You

BLOODY BRILLIANT

Posted on Mar 16, 2021 by John Yeo | Leave a comment

TUESDAY 16th MARCH 2021

This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’.
Which can be found by following the link below..

Prompt ~ BLOODY BRILLIANT

BLOODY BRILLIANT

by John Yeo

Two people are playing chess. One person can read minds, the other person can see the future.

‘I know the result is surprising, the funeral is a surprising affair. A double funeral! I like the floral arrangements of chess pieces. When I advance this piece she will be surprised.’

‘What is he thinking about? Double funeral! I can read him like a book, he wants me to take the offered pawn, well I’m not going to! I’ll move this Bishop over here and take him by surprise.’

‘Ha! I could see that coming and I saw her next move. I wonder what she would make of the fact that her husband didn’t bother to attend her funeral. My wife attended and the rest of the family. I wish they hadn’t shed so many tears over my death. The way she brought that Bishop into play was a cheeky move. We will soon need a Bishop to conduct our double funeral.’

‘What’s that nonsense? Is he crazy? We are playing an important match here and all he can think about is death. Utter bloody nonsense. At the back of his mind there is a foggy area where the future should be. Perhaps he is right to be thinking about death. He’s certainly not considering a result in his mind. That line of thought and checkmate move wasn’t a bad idea, I think I’ll have to block him here, I’ll play my Rook allowing me to mate him in three.’

‘How did she figure that move out? Anyone would think she was a mind reader the way she can outplay my most obscure lines. Any minute now it will be curtains for both of us. Lady, if you can read my mind; start praying now. I will bring this pawn into play to bring the endgame closer.’

‘What the heck? I think he’s onto me. Here goes my unplanned assault…..…….. Bloody brilliant!’

“Checkmate!”

A shout came from the audience as a man dressed in battle fatigues rose and sprayed both players with an automatic machine gun; killing them both instantly.

FROSTED FOREHEADS

Posted on Mar 15, 2021 by John Yeo | Leave a comment

MONDAY 15th MARCH 2021

This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’.
Which can be found by following the link below..

Prompt ~ FROSTED FOREHEADS

FROSTED FOREHEADS

by John Yeo

Night, under the railway bridges in Winter, the wind whistling along graffiti covered walls.

Homeless people sleeping under assorted rags, cardboard box rubbish and grubby woollen blankets.

Twenty supine forms lined alongside each other guarding bin bags full of treasured possessions.

No visible individual recognition characteristics, just a row of naked faces with frosted foreheads.

A mangy mongrel tied up with a piece of string, licks the frost off the forehead of one sleeper.

Showing simple animal care for the owner of the hand that periodically provides food.

Vermin, attracted by the odours of rancid food and faeces scuttle around the walls.

Groaning and snoring emanates along the row of naked faces with frosted foreheads.

THUMB SUCKING SISTER

Posted on Mar 14, 2021 by John Yeo | Leave a comment

THURSDAY 14th MARCH 2021

This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’.
Which can be found by following the link below..

Prompt ~ THUMB SUCKING SISTER

THUMB SUCKING SISTER

by John Yeo

The Dawson sisters were identical twins. Judging by looks; it was hard to tell one from another. Yet somehow, it was easy, once you got to know them well. One of the sisters was extremely introverted by nature and the other sister developed exactly the opposite characteristics. I will let the story unfold and allow the reader’s natural judgement to separate our twins. It was the time of the school Christmas pantomime; which was to be ‘Cinderella,’ this year. The twins, Cleo and Marie, were desperate to be in their first stage show. They went to the audition together, where the only roles left were the ugly sisters. Everyone agreed they were far too pretty to be cast as ugly sisters.

The girls were devastated; they begged, pleaded and made such a scene. It was then, their dramatic acting abilities became clear.

Cleo was particularly vociferous; ‘We will be perfect for the parts as we’re real sisters. We won’t even have to act the parts. Will we Marie?’

Marie had her thumb in her mouth and simply nodded, having wiped away some stray tears with the back of her hand.

Mr.Soames, the English teacher shrugged, then suddenly said,

‘I can see you would be perfect for the part of one of the sisters Cleo, but would Marie be capable of playing a bully? Both of the ugly sisters bully Cinderella.’

Marie still had her thumb firmly lodged in her mouth and she seemed to be about to answer when Cleo responded.

‘Of course she can! it’s only a play not real life.’

Miss Eagleton the casting director decided to send them to a makeup artist to work magic and make them appear ugly.

The professional makeup artist threw her arms up in the air, and shouted. “Impossible! I cannot work with these girls. How can I be expected to change Beauty into the Beast, twice?”

Once again, between them, the two girls created such a scene, Miss Eagleton quickly caved-in and agreed to do her best. Make up was applied liberally, wigs were added to create an effect of individuality. Everyone agreed that she had done her best but the twins would have to act even more ugly to complete the effect.

Cleo was a natural actress and she was able to portray herself as ugly as she could possibly be, in everyone’s opinion. Marie got through the transformation almost without uttering a word.

Then fate stepped in, Mr Soames received a message from his star of the show, Eve Simpkins, informing him that she was unable to play Cinderella as she had developed laryngitis and her voice had become gruff and masculine. Mr Soames then announced there would be some changes in the cast.

‘Eve Simpkins will be recast as one of the ugly sisters and one of the twins will play Cinderella.’

A voice from the group enquired, ‘Which one of the twins have you got in mind? The bossy sister or the quiet one?’

‘I’m choosing the quiet one. The thumb sucking sister is perfect for the part. If we can keep her thumb out of her mouth.’

HUGGABLE SNUGGIES

Posted on Mar 13, 2021 by John Yeo | Leave a comment

SATURDAY 13th MARCH 2021

This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’.
Which can be found by following the link below..

Prompt ~ HUGGABLE SNUGGIES

HUGGABLE SNUGGIES

by John Yeo

Beryl Jones was a different little girl who grew up to be a different young lady.

When Beryl was a little girl she loved her huggable snuggie.

Beryl’s huggable snuggie was a sabre-toothed tiger covered in fur.

She named her huggable snuggie-toothed tiger, Tina Toasting-fork.

When Tina opened her mouth to breathe her forked tongue would appear.

Beryl’s Mother Mary was an incredible lady versed in white magic and spells.

Mother Mary had a huggable snuggie black pussy cat called Midnight.

Midnight had long fur, green eyes and extremely long sharp claws.

When Tina Toasting-fork met Midnight in a huggable snuggie fight

Mother Mary’s huggable snuggie goblin arrived to calm things down.

Beryl’s Grandma Meg was the Queen of the underworld coven.

Meg went everywhere with four huggable snuggie horned devils.

Shamus, Erasmus, Septimus and Devious commonly known as Festus.

The fabulous four all covered in fur, fantastically fought all comers.

Tina Toasting fork, Midnight and the huggable snuggie four cuddled up together as huggable snuggies often do.

NETTLES FOR NELLIE

Posted on Mar 12, 2021 by John Yeo | Leave a comment

FRIDAY 12th MARCH 2021

This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’.
Which can be found by following the link below..

Prompt ~ NETTLES FOR NELLIE

NETTLES FOR NELLIE

by John Yeo

Norman Gellby was 69 years of age, a man who had lived a full life. A leader of men and a captain of industry, he threw himself into everything he was involved in and usually came out smiling. Nellie, his wife, was the first to notice the little lapses of memory, the increasing number of times she had to remind him of little things. Nellie would often finish his sentences for him and she gradually became responsible for keeping their appointments diary.

Norman was in total denial of the possibility of a medical reason for these lapses and just laughed the whole thing off as old age approached.

Secretly, Norman was worried enough to be aware that something would have to be done. He began to stretch himself with word games. Then he began to take supplements that promised to sharpen up the intellect. He watched Nellie’s reactions to his interactions with her, very carefully, to see if there would be any miraculous change or rapid improvement. No such luck, he continued to stretch himself however with puzzles and herbal supplements.

One day Nellie heard of a herbal remedy used by gypsies, a drink made up of common woodland plants that promised to regenerate the intellect and reverse cell degeneration. Nellie secretly caught up with a large family of Romany wanderers and described the potion and then begged to be able to buy some of this miracle elixir. The head of the family introduced her to his Grandmother who agreed to mix the potion but she warned Nellie that Norman may have to take the mixture regularly for the rest of his life.

Nellie began to notice a distinct improvement to Norman’s memory over the next few weeks. Norman assumed this was probably due to the mental exercises and vitamin tablets he had been taking.

Norman’s mental faculties began to rapidly improve.

Nellie continued to administer the gypsy cure, included with many brain enhancing vitamins. Norman was stretching his brain enormously with word games and astonishingly, this seemed to have worked.

Doctors and Scientists employed by various drug manufacturers were keen to question Norman and Nellie in an attempt to isolate the substance that had effected this remarkable improvement.

The billion pound question was? Which area did the improvement come from? Was it even a single factor in Norman’s combination of remedies? Or was the improvement due to a combination of them all? Nellie revealed her visit to the gypsies and the herbal cure she had administered. Strangely when the potion was analysed it seemed to be made up of Nettle juice and Dock leaves.

There was no final answer to these tantalising questions. Norman lived to be 103, writing 15 books and becoming a chess grandmaster.

Nellie became an expert on Nettles and Dock leaf potions. She grew a new variety of Nettle that became known as Nellie’s Wonder and made a fortune by producing a unique wine from Nettles for Nellie.

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Monthly Archives: Mar 2021

ARTISTIC FAILURES

BANGING OUT A DISH

PARTY FANATICS

MASTERING MATH

BELIEVING IN THE PRETENDS

BLOODY BRILLIANT

FROSTED FOREHEADS

THUMB SUCKING SISTER

HUGGABLE SNUGGIES

NETTLES FOR NELLIE