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WORD PRESS ~ DAILY PROMPT ~7th DECEMBER 2015 ~ SORRY, I’M BUSY

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Sorry, I’m Busy

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Image © Copyright John and Margaret

SORRY, I’M BUSY

by John Yeo

They were locked in the kitchen of a remote farmhouse in the hills. A farm in the deepest valley, where the crystal clear water ran down the hills into a lake.
The food supplies were finished and the pains were gnawing at his stomach. Jodie, his little sister, kept passing out in a dead faint, she would come round with tears in her soulful eyes and look appealingly at him. There was nothing he could do, since their Mum and Dad had been killed, no-one had been to the house. The bodies were still lying on the floor where the robbers had left them. He had tried to get a line out on the phone only to find the robbers had ripped the wires away and disconnected the telephone. Then, he discovered a mobile phone next to his parents bed, he hadn’t noticed it lying there before and he pressed a button that dialled his Uncles number. The ringing tone was answered by a recorded voice that kept repeating, “Sorry, I’m busy, right now. Please leave your message and I will get back to you later!” “Sorry, I’m busy, right now…………

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

MAN-TRAPS

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Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers ~ Writing challenge.

https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com

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.

IMG_8882

Image provided and credited by Priceless Joy

MAN-TRAPS

by John Yeo

   The ship landed on an Earth-like planet, a huge single green sea, bounded on all sides by a mountainous land. The vegetation was stunning, multi-coloured trees, covered in succulent fruit that looked edible and appetising.

        “Looks like we have found what we are looking for!”  The Captain said to his second officer, who was operating the outer periscope to survey the terrain.

   “Yes Sir, there doesn’t seem to be any visible inhabitants, just those strange purple mushroom-shaped plants on the fringes of that forest.”
Johnson, the second officer, had travelled with the Captain on many missions before.

     “Good!” Exclaimed the Captain, “We’ll send an exploratory team and a rover to explore.
As the team got out from the rover, and began walking forwards there was a whoosh as a tentacle whipped out from one of the plants and picked up an explorer and calmly swallowed him. The other members of the team tried to escape but they were surrounded by alien plants.  Cousins of the Earth’s, Venus fly-trap. Alien man-traps. 

(175 WORDS)

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

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A prompt response for “INSPIRATION MONDAY:” ~ NETHERDOOR

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NETHERDOOR

by John Yeo

Billy coughed and spluttered as he shouted with glee. “It’s true, unbelievably true. Google doesn’t know!”

“Google doesn’t know!” Betty laughed, “Impossible, Google knows everything, I rely on Google a lot!”

“Google has no response to Netherdoor. I wanted to find out about Netherdoor before we make the trip. Where we are going, the brochure clearly says to go through Netherdoor, and take the magical mystery tour of Netherworld.” Billy was absolutely flummoxed and amazed at this fact.

“Oh! Come on Billy! Google knows everything: Are you sure you typed the words in correctly?” Betty was astonished. “What did they come up with?” She trusted in Google implicitly.

Billy smiled as he said.. “All sorts of irrelevant, nonsensical advertising, for books and games, based on the medieval meaning of the Netherworld, as the underworld or hell. No guidebooks for the real magical Netherworld behind the Netherdoor. Google hasn’t got a clue about the world on the other side of the real Netherdoor.”

Betty asked Billy for the brochure, to check the spelling as she still firmly believed in the limitless power of the knowledge available through Google.

“The brochure?” Billy giggled, amused at her reaction to the fallibility of the powerful search engine. “I thought you had the brochure, don’t tell me the brochure has vanished!”

Betty looked bemused as she started to hunt everywhere for the missing brochure. “It is here somewhere Billy. I know for certain I saw it. Are you sure you haven’t got it? How can we go if we don’t know where the Netherdoor to the Netherworld is located. Shall I ask Google where it is again?” Betty grabbed her iPad and keyed in Netherdoor again.

Suddenly a metallic voice asked “How can I help you?” Betty was startled, she had forgotten Google had learned to talk. Quickly she recovered and explained the situation. “I’m sorry I didn’t get that!”

Betty was shocked. Google is fallible! “What are we going to do Billy? We are on our own, we will have to find the brochure.”

Billy nodded and agreed, as he asked, “Where is the brochure?”

“OK!” said Billy, with a twinkle in his eye. “Ask Google?”

 Betty suddenly caught on and replied, “I have an idea lets ask Google the way to Disneyland instead. I am sure they know where that is.

“OK!” said Billy, with a twinkle in his eye. “Ask Google?”

 

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

 

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A prompt response for “INSPIRATION MONDAY:” ~ ELEMENTALLY MY DEAR

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Image © Copyright John and Margaret

ELEMENTALLY MY DEAR

by John Yeo

“Why? Darling what is the problem?”

“You know how much I dislike the man, especially after the way he behaved towards his wife and child. The idiot just up and abandoned them, leaving home with the first woman who happened along. Bringing the subject down to the simplest element of disgust I feel for him, hatred is not a pleasant word. However hatred and distaste together, go for a potent reason to analyse the basics. Why would a man just destroy everything he has built up over a number of years? I tell you my opinion is starkly simple, primitive, and basic, full of hate, disgust, and other elemental emotions.”

“Wow Darling! That is very strong reaction.”

“Simply Elementally my Dear.”

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

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ALIENS

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 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.

 

image

This week’s photo prompt is provided by Etol Bagam, author of the blog, Creative Busyness. Thank you Etol!

ALIENS

by John Yeo

The twins were playing at the bottom of the garden with their rag dolls in a woodland clearing.
“Let’s pretend they are alive, and make a story up Jenny.” Said Jilly excitedly, “I’ll take the two with big eyes and you pretend to be the yellow and blue ones.”

“OK Jilly,” replied Jenny with a grin and they began an aliens game, using strange different voices for the toys, and having wonderful fun.
Half an hour later there was a loud summons from the house,

“Come in you two! It is very late now, and time for Supper.”

“Alright Mummy, we are coming.” Chorused the twins.

“What about the toys Jenny?”

“Oh, leave them where they are, Jilly. They should be alright.”

Later, at the end of the garden there was a quiet whir as a flying saucer landed. Three strange, three headed beings, approached the rag dolls, that were abandoned by the twins.
Strange noises as they swept the toys into their ship and flew away.

“Gullaglugpulladaplugogollygosh”
(“Captain we have captured some aliens!”)
(174 WORDS)

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~All rights reserved.

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

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PICTURE IT AND WRITE ~ FUMIGATION

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This is a latest Picture it and Write prompt from Emilia’s blog ~ 22ndNovember 2015

Picture it & Write

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As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia.

FUMIGATION

by John Yeo

Many candles were burning at the funerals.

An assassin was gunned down by police after a shocking murder. In an act of suicidal determination, he had pulled the trigger on a well loved respected man.
Masses of tearful people were stunned. Five hundred people were gathered together, to express their sadness at the death of a heroic saviour of the town. A scientist who had perfected an antidote for poison in the water, that had been killing the children.

Many candles were burning at the funerals.

For days the local population had been suffering from severe symptoms of poisoning, many children were affected first, and several died. It was thought to be a severe form of food poisoning, that affected the nervous system and had a fatal effect on the children.

Many candles were burning at the funerals.

Dr Qwerty was a young scientific investigator, called in by the town council to investigate. After extensive tests he had pinned the problem down to the water supply and developed a revolutionary antidote that restored the water to its original pristine freshness.
When the final report came to light, it was revealed, Dr Qwerty had discovered high levels of lead in the drinking water, and he came to the conclusion that the water had been deliberately contaminated.

Many candles were burning at the funerals.

The unknown assassin was a member of a feared team of mercenary killers hired to cast doubt on the deceased, in an amazing double bluff.
Some pessimistic folk blamed the unstable political situation, and maintained that lead was deliberately introduced into the water supply by persons unknown, in a cold hearted attempt to create unrest and sow seeds of doubt.

Many candles were burning at the funerals.

 

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

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A prompt response for “INSPIRATION MONDAY:” ~ FORGOTTEN BUT NOT GONE

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Image © Copyright John and Margaret

FORGOTTEN BUT NOT GONE

by John Yeo

“Oh! Come on Harry, the television is always on in the day-room, Phoebe Gertie and Rosy will be there all sitting in their usual chairs.”
Louise the ever-busy care assistant ushered Harry into the day room to find the ladies seated in their usual chairs. The television was on full blast as Rosy had a hearing problem, although she was fast asleep.

Phoebe was concentrating on her knitting, she looked up as Harry sat down and said, “Hallo you are new here. Welcome, I’m Phoebe and that is Rosy, she is fast asleep at the moment. That is Gertie in the corner, she never says a word to anyone, just nods and smiles all the time. Sad really, she was a Social Worker once.”

Harry nodded and blankly smiled, “I have a very important appointment but I have forgotten what it was, I will have to ask my secretary, she will remind me, she keeps all my appointments listed in the diary.”
Phoebe smiled and asked sympathetically, “Will your secretary bring your diary, when she comes to visit you? My family and friends used to visit, but they have stopped coming lately. Gertie’s husband used to come, but he passed away several months ago, and no one comes to see her now.”

Louise the care assistant bustled in with a tea tray and some minute slices of fruitcake, sliced very delicately and digestible to even the smallest palette.
Harry looked puzzled and asked her, “What is the time of my appointment?”
Louise was unsure exactly what he was referring to and smiled reassuringly.
“Don’t worry Harry, we will help you keep all of your appointments.”

Just at that moment, Rosy woke up with a start and started choking loudly.
“Have a cup of tea Rosy, take a sip of water, that will help or would you like some cough mixture?” Rosy quickly swallowed some water and looked around noticing Harry there, she exclaimed!
“Hallo are you visiting me? I am waiting for a message from my family. Have you come to see me?”

Louise grinned and said, “No Rosy, this is our new resident Harry, he has just arrived, to stay here with us.”
Harry looked at her closely and said, “Pleased to meet you here Rosy. I will not be here long as I have a very important appointment, but we will soon get to know each other. Are you on the back benches?”
Everyone looked at Harry strangely at that remark.
Phoebe frowned and whispered to Louise, “Is he alright? I hope he is not one of those bragging types who always pretend to be better than what they are.”
Louise said, “Don’t worry Phoebe, he is a lovely man when you get to know him.”
After Louise had left the day room with the dirty cups and saucers, Phoebe and Rosy could hardly wait to get to work on Harry to find out more.

Rosy was first to break the silence. “Harry, I used to be married to a diplomat and he travelled extensively working abroad, we spent a long time in India.”

“Oh! That’s interesting.” Harry replied, “I may have met him.”

At this point Phoebe interjected and said, “Yes, funnily enough both of us were civil servants. I worked in the house as a permanent secretary. What did you do Harry?”

“Well ladies, I haven’t got much time to go into details as I have a very important appointment, I must see my secretary soon.
I was Prime Minister once you know.

Copyright (c) Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

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A prompt response for “INSPIRATION MONDAY:” ~ WHERE WOLF

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Inspiration Monday ~ inmonsterbadge1

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WHERE WOLF

by John Yeo

   He was a drifter who always moved with the whims of his ever-changing quest. A searcher for peace and serenity that drove him always ever-onward to new horizons.
 No one ever really knew him, it was very difficult to penetrate the hard shell that obscured and shielded his ever hungry-mind.
He had a four-legged companion, a tame wolf, who travelled with him and rarely left his side. Rumour had it, he had stumbled across an injured wolf cub in the forest and nursed it back to health. The wolf just followed him wherever he went after that, and a deep relationship developed between the man and beast.
  On the rare occasions his friend went missing, there would be several wolves howling in the night and his friend would be gone, sometimes for a few days.

 Perhaps it was the need for human contact that led him to make his home near our forest encampment. We were a small community of self-sufficient small-time farmer and growers. The community accepted and welcomed him with open arms and friendship, as he drifted around doing small jobs and hard laborious work for food and drink. He was very fond of the homemade rough strong cider, that was brewed by one of our fruit growers.

  One sad memorable week we discovered several dead sheep and a goat, killed by a predator and left half-eaten in the fields. Suspicion fell on the tame wolf and several of our menfolk approached the man and his wolf with guns.

 There was unease as he stood facing these angry farmers without fear, the wolf just stood beside him.

      “We’ve come for the killer wolf, step aside or die!” Shouted the leader.

  “Why? The wolf is not a killer and he stays with me.” Replied the drifter.

  Then the wolf growled and howled, and looked at his friend, there was a moment of shocked silence as the drifter whispered, “Where Wolf?”
Moving on the fringes of the forest in the distance, cautiously stalking a wild bird was a full grown wild cat. There was a volley of shots from the men as the big cat fled into the forest and disappeared into the trees.

  The next day the drifter and his friend were gone never to be seen in that part of the forest again.

 

Copyright © Written by John Yeo All rights reserved

 

Wolf Marg

Image © 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

 

THE REUNION

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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.

Car

This week’s photo prompt is provided by pixabay.com (free to use photos).

THE REUNION

by John Yeo

The Old Curiosity Shop was packed full of ancient memorabilia. Old Jake who ran the shop was always very friendly and willing to chat to passers-by.
He was a very great friend of ours, he would rush out of the shop whenever we passed. This was a Monday morning and he excitedly ran out of his shop to show us his mystery car.
“Hey you two! Look!”
We were astonished, parked next to Jakes cycle was the most amazing Minicar.
” I have a funny feeling, I know where this came from, It is my 70th. birthday today, and I have not heard from my wayward, wild-child for years. There was a ribbon placed on the radiator grill.”
At that moment three Harley Davidson motorcycles roared by and as they passed there was a gleeful shout of, “Happy Birthday!” from the leading motor cyclist.
Then we jumped back quickly, as some fireworks exploded in a colourful display across the road from the shop.
The birthday party lasted all day, when Jakes mischievous son returned.

(175 WORDS)

Copyright (c) Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

A prompt response for “INSPIRATION MONDAY:” ~ DARKSPEED

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Inspiration Monday ~ inmonsterbadge1

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DARKSPEED

by John Yeo

        “The infinitely powerful speed of dark, is a new super speed, that exceeds the speed of light, by many aeons-per-supersecond. The elusive dark matter that surrounds us all is moving so fast, that our eyes are unable to focus on the entity at all.” Prof. Barnes, the chief scientist was addressing the team of brave cybernauts who were risking everything, to travel through space using the new medium of darkspeed.

 Captain Johnson was intrigued by the vehicle he was required to take charge of, and how much extra training the crew would require before they took control.
    “How do I power up a ship that is running on an invisible medium?” He enquired.

           “The fuel powering is automatic, once the robotic fuel systems key into the dark matter, the propulsion is automatically fired up, and entirely controllable by pulling a plug and switching off the motors.” replied the Professor, “Landing the ship on the reserve conventional motors, is much like operating a normal spaceship.” The Professor replied.

    “How do we key into the dark matter to take off again, when we are ready to come home?” asked Jim Green, the chief engineer.

            “Ah! Thats easy.” continued the Professor, with a grin “You just insert the plug again, once the system is connected up, the power re-continues to flow.”
After many weeks of intensive training for the crew, with the boffins finalising the details of the revolutionary new craft. The lift-off countdown began, 10-9-8-7-6——-1-Zero.

 One hour later the spaceship landed in a remote desert in the middle of Africa. The watching world was stunned and the spaceship was soon surrounded by cautious troops.
Suddenly the trapdoor was released, and six very youthful looking cybernauts came down the steps.
 At the debriefing, which lasted for days, it became obvious that the crew were under the impression they had been away from home for years, and their intelligence levels had spiralled beyond belief. Their youthful appearance was astonishing, and the adventures they related were enough to fill many books.
     Six months down the line the spaceship vanished from the high security quarantine area where the authorities had been examining it for viral invaders. The original crew were missing and the search was on for the almost instantaneous return of the missing spaceship.
   The new era of darkspeed, darkmatter travel, was underway……..

Copyright (c) Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

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