Picture it and Write ~ SATURDAY NIGHT IN SEA-TOWN

Posted on Jul 13, 2015 by John Yeo | 9 Comments

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

Picture it & Write

Original image found on Pinterest

As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia

SATURDAY NIGHT IN SEA-TOWN

by John Yeo

A long hot summer had begun again.

The city council were holding an emergency meeting, to discuss
the increased levels of violence.
“It’s always alcohol related!” Shouted Mrs Matse. “We should close all the beachside bars and clubs, to remove the threat of danger.”
The community was up in arms, the season had got underway again.

Jim Winchester was against the idea from the first. Prohib….What!”

“Prohibition.” Repeated the mayor in his mayoral robes. “We should ban the sale and consumption of all alcoholic drinks along the beachfront until the season is over.“

“Not bloody likely! That would ruin the town, many traders would go broke, and Sea-Town would become a ghost town”
The voice was very strong, very relaxed, very sure of the points raised, and belonged to David Miller, a publican and a local club owner. David had served on the council for several years.
The meeting closed, with no firm decision, as always the council members were equally divided

Billy and Bert pulled up on their bikes.
“Looks like a good place to stop!” Smiled Billy, “Some nice looking pubs along the seafront here. We can enjoy ourselves and raise a little hell, for a while.”
Bert laughed. “Judging by all these Harley’s parked along here we will have plenty of company.”

Nurse Joy had worked in the accident and emergency unit of the local hospital for many years. She dreaded the night-shift in this busy unit by the seaside. As with most seaside hospitals Saturday was usually the worst night shift of the week.

Mary and her friend Juanita were very excited it was Saturday and they were heading into town for their first night out together ever. They were both first year students in the university of Sea-Town, they had adjoining rooms in the hall of residence.

Billy and Bert met up with some other friendly bikers and started out on a glorious pub and club binge. They finished up in the “Tropicana” club, just as Mary and Juanita arrived. Little did any one of the the four separate people guess they were destined to meet up later under very different circumstances.

The music was loud and the drinks flowed freely. Suddenly a scuffle broke out accompanied by loud voices shouting with much cursing as fighting began and the bouncers and doormen moved in to break it up. Then sirens belted out as the police and ambulances arrived at high speed.
Billy and Bert were both injured and rushed by ambulance to Sea-Town hospital.
Juanita screamed as a flying bottle hit her in the face causing a very nasty cut. One of the police officers signalled an ambulance paramedic who helped her into an ambulance, accompanied by Mary.
“You will have to go to hospital to be stitched up.” Remarked the ambulance driver.
Both girls were horrified. “Will she be scarred in her face?” Asked Mary, shocked. “We were not involved, just out for an evenings fun.”
“Sorry Miss, I don’t know the answer to your question! I will put her down as a bystander in my report. Collateral damage.”
“What does that mean? Collateral damage? For heavens sake!” screamed Mary, now very upset and in shock.
“That means she was an innocent caught up in an affray.” Replied the paramedic. “Sorry about that unfortunate choice of words.”

The hospital accident and emergency department was a sea of people in various stages of treatment. Several incidents of drink-related violence had occurred in the town that night and the unit was very very busy. Nurse Joy and her colleagues were rushed off their feet, stitching up the injured and desperately keeping some order out of the chaos.
Billy and Bert were interviewed by the police and released on bail, they waited for three hours to be treated for their injuries. Bert had a broken arm and a very badly bruised face and Billy had a six inch cut on his neck that would leave a nasty scar.
Juanita fortunately had a superficial cut to her face and she was badly bruised. Juanita would be the owner of a nasty black eye on her return to college. She vowed never to go to the Tropicana club again. Ever!

Nurse Joy was very tired at the end of her shift.
“Thank goodness I’m off-duty next Saturday. I will sit on the beach in the sun, protecting these tired eyes, that have seen so much, behind dark glasses.”

the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia

Picture it and Write ~ FRIDAY NIGHT

Posted on Jul 5, 2015 by John Yeo | 12 Comments

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

Picture it & Write

Original image.

As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia

FRIDAY NIGHT

by John Yeo

Mary was at the end of her tether, she had tried every single way that she knew to stop the accursed violence every Friday night. He would arrive home after drinking heavily all evening in the bar with his friends, and pick a fight with her over the slightest thing. This last Friday was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. When he began to shout and upset their baby.

‘There is no way I want to go through the tedious backbiting and the embarrassment of a divorce.’ She had confided to her friendly Guru and spiritual adviser.

‘I can recommend a final solution to your problem, but the termination will be very costly and permanent.’ The Guru had been counselling Mary for several years and he knew her situation very well.

Mary cried, ‘Yes please’ I don’t care what it costs!’

‘I will give you a letter to take to a little known super store that caters for people who have suffered and reached the end of their tether.’

When she arrived , Mary was mildly shocked at the size of the warehouse, that was described as a super store, catering for many of life’s worries and the ups as well as the downs.

‘Good Morning Madam! Welcome to the super store, full of the magical flavours that can make the passage through time that much easier.’

‘Good Morning, I have a letter here from my marriage guidance guru , I need several items to solve a very difficult situation.’

‘Ah! Yes, we can certainly help you in this matter. Would you like the end to be quick, or a slow painful exit that can actually be reversed if you require.’

Mary smiled at the simple frankness of the proprietor.
‘I think as slowly and as painfully as possible. I’m not sure I would ever want my decision to be reversed.’

‘These few ingredients will add a delicious flavour to any meat course.’

“How do they actually work?’ enquired Mary.

‘Madam the secret is in the sauce, your husband will love the flavour. My two late husbands died for a taste of the Orient. It is the only way to go, especially if they like alcohol to wash it down with. Alcohol dulls the senses and then the strong flavours mask the taste of the additives.’

‘I’ll take it , and serve it with a smile next Friday night.’

Picture it and Write ~ THE EYES OF THE SOUL

Posted on Jun 28, 2015 by John Yeo | 6 Comments

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

__picture it & write

dragon eye of indigo blue (by paloetic)

As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia

THE EYES OF THE SOUL

by John Yeo

Centuries of wisdom glare out of eyes that have inherited a killer instinct. The eyes were staring imperviously from a head that was absolutely still. I stared back to engender a feeling of unconcern to the beast.

I had worked hard in the lab for weeks to produce a serum from very rare plants and associated ingredients. I was now attempting to procure the final substance that would enable me to fulfil my desire to explore, and perhaps transfer the secrets accumulated by generations of reptilian invaders from the captive. I now needed a phial of reptilian spittle to complete the serum. My plan was to anger the beast and provoke a response by continuous aggravation and provocation.

‘Have at you!’ I cried moving quickly forward with a sharply pointed blade.

‘What are you trying to do, you fool?’ Came an unflustered thought, directly received in my mind, no sound was generated, but the voice in my head was very clear and understandable to me in my native language.

‘That was my imagination surely’ I thought. ‘No ignorant leather-skinned animal can speak English, I will continue to bait it!’

Laughter then filled my mind, a deep repulsive mocking sound that grated on my nerves and made me shiver with a revulsion that shocked me deeply.

‘Where is the origin of that ghastly sound?’ I thought.

‘Right here, in front of you idiot, I am far too refined to be angered by your feeble efforts. Our race are, and always have been, the dominant species here on this beautiful globe.’

I stood there in the lab stunned! ‘Was I imagining this telepathic conversation?’ I began to doubt my mental wellbeing.

Then the creature interjected once again and these words entered my mind.

‘Do not be alarmed, I wish you no harm. I wish to communicate our feelings of unease about the way your people are destroying everything here on our planet. We will stop you if we have to, before it is too late. We have been here for centuries, We saw off the dinosaurs before man arrived and stripped the world bare of almost everything. What do you want to use my precious spittle for? I will spit on you for free you two-legged idiot.’

Then I felt paralysed, unable to move an inch, rooted to the spot as the creature fixed his eyes on my eyes and stared deeply into my soul. I felt a warm comfortable feeling of deep relaxation spreading through my being as my mind seemed to fuse and expand with the creatures thought-waves. I was unable to counteract the deep hypnosis as my being and the creatures thought-control was expanded and merged into a unified force.

Several hours later I awoke from a very deep sleep in the lab. My face seemed to be covered with a thick gooey substance. A sudden flashback and I had total recall of the events before I had been overtaken by sleep.

Laugher then filled my mind once again, with a deep repulsive mocking sound that grated on my nerves and made me shiver with a revulsion that shocked me deeply.

Picture it and Write ~ DRAMA IN THE NIGHT

Posted on Jun 21, 2015 by John Yeo | 2 Comments

This is the latest Picture it and Write prompt from Ermilia’s blog
https://ermiliablog.wordpress.com/2015/06/21/picture-it-write-64/

As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia

DRAMA IN THE NIGHT

by John Yeo

The silence of darkness had fallen swiftly over the cold unfeeling city. The silence was never truly felt as the distant sounds of police sirens and ambulances or fire engines was always a song in the background. He pulled his collar up and tightened the scarf around his neck, the night had drawn in quickly and brought a sudden drop in the temperature.

He could hardly wait to get to his destination, his mind drooling over the sight he would be enjoying yet again. Suddenly with a hissing screech, a black cat crossed his path.

‘Wow! You made me jump pussy,’ He thought, ‘Still as the old saying goes a black cat is lucky.’

He continued through the back streets of the city, he knew exactly where he was going, a frisson of excitement electrified his nerves as he got closer to his usual viewing point.

A sudden shower of rain began, as he reached the iron fire escape and began to climb the metal steps.

‘I will have to be very careful, it would be so easy to slip and fall.’ He thought, as he climbed to the top.

He opened his backpack and drew out a pair of binoculars then he focused on the surrounding windows.

‘Hey! The big blonde is almost in her birthday suit, as pretty as the day she was born, except she’s much more curvaceously mature now.’

His vivid tortured imagination went into overdrive.

Another wide sweep of the windows and he whistled softly to himself as a couple were taking advantage of the privacy of their apartment without drawing the curtains.

‘They must feel safe with just the bare walls of an office building opposite.’

He smiled to himself and adjusted the optical lens to zoom in on them.

Then he suddenly caught sight of a horror stricken face staring straight at him from one of the windows.

‘Oh! I have been spotted, I better get out of here fast.’

He ran as fast as he could, slipping down, almost falling down the iron fire escape that was still damp from the rain.

A distant police siren screamed, then another responded and as they got closer the echoes became louder.

He reached almost to the bottom of the fire escape then jumped and melted into the shadows as two police cars raced up with lights blazing and a squeal of brakes.

His heart beating fast, almost stopped as a hand grasped his shoulder, he turned and found himself staring into a pair of steel~grey eyes above a clerical collar.

‘You need help my son, give yourself up, I am with you, We will face your future together.’

Picture it and Write ~ THE VISION OF GOLD

Posted on Jun 14, 2015 by John Yeo | 1 Comment

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

__picture it & write

Sculpture by Mark Newman

As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia

THE VISION OF GOLD

by John Yeo

The classical statue was drawing many people to the exhibition. A young nymph seated on a tree trunk shaped to fit her slender body. A tree nymph, the expression of pride and self assurance in her features drew many to question who she was in life. A lady stood transfixed, stunned into a silence that I felt almost sorry to break.

I asked. “Who was she?”

“A member of the Trojan royal family,” came the almost reluctant reply. “I may be related to her.”

“Her hair gives me the impression of ropes, tangled into a helmet secured with a rose,” I said.

“They are a blend of corded gold and consist of many fine hairs, rolled and shaped.”

I took a sideways glance at my companion, who had her head covered with a scarf.

“You say you may be related!” I went on, noting a strange resemblance in the facial features.

“Yes! That necklet is our family emblem, the women always wore one to protect them from evil.”

Then the lady opened her raincoat to reveal an exquisite neck adornment, exactly the same as the statuesque wood nymph was wearing.

“You have many facial features in common, but surely that is a coincidence as the statue is very old.” I remarked.

“Age is a numerical fiction I do not recognise.” She replied.

I was stunned as she proceeded to remove her headscarf to reveal her beautifully corded golden hair, dazzling to the eyes. There was a sudden flash of blinding white light that burned and momentarily blinded my eyes. When my sight returned the vision of warm golden woman had gone, leaving a cold marble replication behind.

I now come here every day searching for her.

Picture it and Write ~ SPIRAL INTO OBLIVION

Posted on Jun 1, 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

SPIRAL INTO OBLIVION

by John Yeo

Climbing high in the screw society is always very hard.
Falling from grace can be incredibly easy.
The clouds are an awesome backdrop to the fragile almost immaterial escape from the rough reality inside a world where a harsh everyday life for some is played out in the fight for survival in a modern go-for-it society.
The period of adaptation is deceptive. A carefree, careless, playful youth passes swiftly, almost imperceptively by, leading to the inevitable responsibilities of a structured existence. A job, a mortgage, a family, the list of cares leading up to endless stress takes a destructive toll on the once carefree pliable mind of youth.
Then, one of a myriad of apparent escape routes hovers into view. A spiral staircase escape route. A downwards spiral of escapism into an addiction to a substance or a behaviour that appears to mask reality when life becomes temporarily bearable. For some the escape becomes unbearably worse than the reality. The finality of departure from the shaky spiral descent by embracing the cloudy unknown of the final escape, into oblivion.

Picture it and Write ~ THE SHAMAN

Posted on May 17, 2015 by John Yeo | 15 Comments

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

As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia

__picture it & write

THE SHAMAN

by John Yeo

The shaman had many tricks up his sleeve to help him perform his healing miracles. He was a travelling healer practising his trade with the use of herbs and complex spells to communicate with the spiritual world. One day he came to our village with a following and began to have visitors from the surrounding area as his fame spread rapidly. When an important lady from our village, the wife of a hunter, became very sick the shaman was called to work his magic to make her well. The shaman spent many minutes in a trance before he began, suddenly he shouted at the top of his voice! “Everybody leave at once!” The people were in awe of the reputation of this man, they responded immediately, leaving the shelter, except for her son little Oki, who hid in a corner behind some skins. The shaman chanted prayers and prepared ointment that he rubbed on the woman’s brow and heart. Oki was shocked when he produced a shiny knife from beneath his cloak and began to sharpen the edge of the blade, then to his horror his mother groaned as the knife cut into her chest. Oki leapt from his hiding place and shouted: “Stop!” The shaman, who was in a trance and unable to respond turned to Oki and lashed out with his ceremonial knife. Oki sustained a lethal wound, but in his death throes he took the dagger and plunged it into the shaman killing him instantly. Several hours later the villagers discovered three dead people in the shelter and burnt it to the ground.

Some time later the shiny multi-coloured knife was discovered in the ashes.

Picture it and Write ~ DOWNSIDE UP

Posted on May 10, 2015 by John Yeo | 12 Comments

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

As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia

Picture it & Write

DOWNSIDE UP

by John Yeo

In the optical world of the in-between, the visual link with the outside world is very unusual. June was admiring the roots of the trees as growth was curling and springing upwards, sending them up in a tangled spiral. In the gathering cloudy dusk at the very bottom of the tree where the leaves met the clouds a bird began to sing to welcome the sun at night. The moon quickly disappeared beneath her head over the low clouds as the murky day began. Len, a very individual character, decided to go against all convention and stand on his legs. Grasping the trees for balance he was amazed and delighted with this new unusual view of the world. Extolling the difference, he begged his friends and acquaintances to try this new view of life. Everyone laughed. Religious leaders were scornful , how could you go up to heaven, when the heavens were obviously down. Scientists laughed at the idea of walking around upside down on legs, as man had always crawled around the cloudy firmament without any trouble. Len was quickly escorted to a hospital for the disturbed and lives there to this day, writing upside down poetry.

Picture it and Write ~ PUCK IN A LEAFY DREAM

Posted on Apr 26, 2015 by John Yeo | 3 Comments

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

As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia

Picture it & Write

MANAGER OF MIRTH

by John Yeo

In the days of the incomparable Bard,

When language was robust and pliable,

He managed to coin the word manager

In a magical dream on a Midsummer night.

“Where is our usual manager of mirth?”

Enquired good king Theseus.

“What revels are in hand?

Oberon, with Puck and Bottom are bland.”

I entered the office on a Monday morning

Greeted by the prospect of a mirthless day.

Our manager of mirth said: “Welcome,

Your weekend revels have now ended

Go to your desk and complete that report

Your “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” has ended.”

I looked out of the window facing me

To see a tiny figure playing on a leafy tree.

Picture it and Write ~ THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS

Posted on Apr 19, 2015 by John Yeo | 12 Comments

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

As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia To ~ Gustav Johansson

__picture it & write

THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS

by John Yeo

I will wait for you always. This river runs through the very heart of the city to the sea. The evening sun lights up and reflects beautifully on every ripple on the water. I come here to think and dream of the day you will return.

I grew up in this city where many dreams come true and many more dreams are shattered on the rocks of ill-fortune. My family came here as refugees from a horrendous war, when they made this city their home. They worked very hard to set up a business to raise their children in safety. We did have a happy childhood, in spite of the roughness of the concrete jungle that our neighbourhood became, we adjusted and fitted in.

Then I left school and you and I met each other in college, you were a visiting student from a land far, far away. We fell deeply in love and you promised to marry me one day. We lived, loved and laughed our way through college where we both passed our exams with honours. When your visa ran out you were forced to return to your home.

I will always wait, hoping and praying for your safe return to me. We will marry and be free of all the ties and chains of our parents differing religious views.

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

SATURDAY NIGHT IN SEA-TOWN

A long hot summer had begun again.

Jim Winchester was against the idea from the first. Prohib….What!”

“Prohibition.” Repeated the mayor in his mayoral robes. “We should ban the sale and consumption of all alcoholic drinks along the beachfront until the season is over.“

Nurse Joy had worked in the accident and emergency unit of the local hospital for many years. She dreaded the night-shift in this busy unit by the seaside. As with most seaside hospitals Saturday was usually the worst night shift of the week.

Mary and her friend Juanita were very excited it was Saturday and they were heading into town for their first night out together ever. They were both first year students in the university of Sea-Town, they had adjoining rooms in the hall of residence.

Nurse Joy was very tired at the end of her shift. “Thank goodness I’m off-duty next Saturday. I will sit on the beach in the sun, protecting these tired eyes, that have seen so much, behind dark glasses.”

FRIDAY NIGHT

‘There is no way I want to go through the tedious backbiting and the embarrassment of a divorce.’ She had confided to her friendly Guru and spiritual adviser.

‘I can recommend a final solution to your problem, but the termination will be very costly and permanent.’ The Guru had been counselling Mary for several years and he knew her situation very well.

Mary cried, ‘Yes please’ I don’t care what it costs!’

‘I will give you a letter to take to a little known super store that caters for people who have suffered and reached the end of their tether.’

When she arrived , Mary was mildly shocked at the size of the warehouse, that was described as a super store, catering for many of life’s worries and the ups as well as the downs.

‘Good Morning Madam! Welcome to the super store, full of the magical flavours that can make the passage through time that much easier.’

‘Good Morning, I have a letter here from my marriage guidance guru , I need several items to solve a very difficult situation.’

‘Ah! Yes, we can certainly help you in this matter. Would you like the end to be quick, or a slow painful exit that can actually be reversed if you require.’

Mary smiled at the simple frankness of the proprietor. ‘I think as slowly and as painfully as possible. I’m not sure I would ever want my decision to be reversed.’

‘These few ingredients will add a delicious flavour to any meat course.’

“How do they actually work?’ enquired Mary.

‘Madam the secret is in the sauce, your husband will love the flavour. My two late husbands died for a taste of the Orient. It is the only way to go, especially if they like alcohol to wash it down with. Alcohol dulls the senses and then the strong flavours mask the taste of the additives.’

‘I’ll take it , and serve it with a smile next Friday night.’

THE EYES OF THE SOUL

Centuries of wisdom glare out of eyes that have inherited a killer instinct. The eyes were staring imperviously from a head that was absolutely still. I stared back to engender a feeling of unconcern to the beast.

‘Have at you!’ I cried moving quickly forward with a sharply pointed blade.

‘What are you trying to do, you fool?’ Came an unflustered thought, directly received in my mind, no sound was generated, but the voice in my head was very clear and understandable to me in my native language.

‘That was my imagination surely’ I thought. ‘No ignorant leather-skinned animal can speak English, I will continue to bait it!’

Laughter then filled my mind, a deep repulsive mocking sound that grated on my nerves and made me shiver with a revulsion that shocked me deeply.

‘Where is the origin of that ghastly sound?’ I thought.

‘Right here, in front of you idiot, I am far too refined to be angered by your feeble efforts. Our race are, and always have been, the dominant species here on this beautiful globe.’

I stood there in the lab stunned! ‘Was I imagining this telepathic conversation?’ I began to doubt my mental wellbeing.

Then the creature interjected once again and these words entered my mind.

Several hours later I awoke from a very deep sleep in the lab. My face seemed to be covered with a thick gooey substance. A sudden flashback and I had total recall of the events before I had been overtaken by sleep.

Laugher then filled my mind once again, with a deep repulsive mocking sound that grated on my nerves and made me shiver with a revulsion that shocked me deeply.

DRAMA IN THE NIGHT

He could hardly wait to get to his destination, his mind drooling over the sight he would be enjoying yet again. Suddenly with a hissing screech, a black cat crossed his path.

‘Wow! You made me jump pussy,’ He thought, ‘Still as the old saying goes a black cat is lucky.’

He continued through the back streets of the city, he knew exactly where he was going, a frisson of excitement electrified his nerves as he got closer to his usual viewing point.

A sudden shower of rain began, as he reached the iron fire escape and began to climb the metal steps.

‘I will have to be very careful, it would be so easy to slip and fall.’ He thought, as he climbed to the top.

He opened his backpack and drew out a pair of binoculars then he focused on the surrounding windows.

‘Hey! The big blonde is almost in her birthday suit, as pretty as the day she was born, except she’s much more curvaceously mature now.’

His vivid tortured imagination went into overdrive.

Another wide sweep of the windows and he whistled softly to himself as a couple were taking advantage of the privacy of their apartment without drawing the curtains.

‘They must feel safe with just the bare walls of an office building opposite.’

He smiled to himself and adjusted the optical lens to zoom in on them.

Then he suddenly caught sight of a horror stricken face staring straight at him from one of the windows.

‘Oh! I have been spotted, I better get out of here fast.’

He ran as fast as he could, slipping down, almost falling down the iron fire escape that was still damp from the rain.

A distant police siren screamed, then another responded and as they got closer the echoes became louder.

He reached almost to the bottom of the fire escape then jumped and melted into the shadows as two police cars raced up with lights blazing and a squeal of brakes.

His heart beating fast, almost stopped as a hand grasped his shoulder, he turned and found himself staring into a pair of steel~grey eyes above a clerical collar.

‘You need help my son, give yourself up, I am with you, We will face your future together.’

THE VISION OF GOLD

I asked. “Who was she?”

“A member of the Trojan royal family,” came the almost reluctant reply. “I may be related to her.”

“Her hair gives me the impression of ropes, tangled into a helmet secured with a rose,” I said.

“They are a blend of corded gold and consist of many fine hairs, rolled and shaped.”

I took a sideways glance at my companion, who had her head covered with a scarf.

“You say you may be related!” I went on, noting a strange resemblance in the facial features.

“Yes! That necklet is our family emblem, the women always wore one to protect them from evil.”

Then the lady opened her raincoat to reveal an exquisite neck adornment, exactly the same as the statuesque wood nymph was wearing.

“You have many facial features in common, but surely that is a coincidence as the statue is very old.” I remarked.

“Age is a numerical fiction I do not recognise.” She replied.

I now come here every day searching for her.

SPIRAL INTO OBLIVION

THE SHAMAN

Some time later the shiny multi-coloured knife was discovered in the ashes.

DOWNSIDE UP

MANAGER OF MIRTH

In the days of the incomparable Bard,

When language was robust and pliable,

He managed to coin the word manager

In a magical dream on a Midsummer night.

“Where is our usual manager of mirth?”

Enquired good king Theseus.

“What revels are in hand?

Oberon, with Puck and Bottom are bland.”

I entered the office on a Monday morning

Greeted by the prospect of a mirthless day.

Our manager of mirth said: “Welcome,

Nurse Joy was very tired at the end of her shift.
“Thank goodness I’m off-duty next Saturday. I will sit on the beach in the sun, protecting these tired eyes, that have seen so much, behind dark glasses.”

Mary smiled at the simple frankness of the proprietor.
‘I think as slowly and as painfully as possible. I’m not sure I would ever want my decision to be reversed.’