Picture it and Write ~ Black Butterflies

Posted on Mar 8, 2015 by John Yeo | 8 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

BLACK BUTTERFLIES

by John Yeo

The final general meeting of the year for the “Black Butterfly” society was, as usual, not very well attended. A lot of folk were in the caterpillar stage, gorging themselves on burgers and chips and all manner of junk food. Anything edible on the surface of the planet was disappearing fast and there was even talk of hunger in some areas. It was late Summer and with a long cold Winter ahead, hibernation beckoned for all. Many more were already in the chrysalis stage, hidden underground in many unlikely corners of the world.
The dress code for this very important event of the year was a black bow tie, worn by all, ladies and gentlemen with no exception. All colourful finery was banned as the mourning process and the sadness of the proceedings began. The members were the doomed butterfly men and women, who had emerged from chrysalises in the Spring, then produced their eggs and watched the newborn caterpillars thrive. These young were now readying themselves for the harsh weather ahead. This last meeting was to prepare for the road into the unknown life hereafter.
When Spring arrives again a huge number of black butterfly men and women will appear and continue the cycle of the Life, Death, and Rebirth of the black butterfly species on this blue planet of Aquarius.

Image from the net

THE HAUNTED AVENUE

Posted on Mar 5, 2015 by John Yeo | 22 Comments

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers-

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers is a new weekly fiction writing challenge. The goal is to write a story between 100-150 words (give or take 25 words) based on the provided photo.

THE HAUNTED AVENUE

by John Yeo

This is the place where the dream was created, deep in Arden forest. A beautiful peaceful sight in daylight with this tree-lined path running through the middle. There are fairies and many little people living here, only visible after dark. The biggest puzzle is the man with the head of an Ass, who is rumoured to have been magically transformed here. The fact is debatable, as there are many Ass-headed beings in the real world, visible wearing the heads of ordinary folk. The tree-lined avenue pictured is haunted by the Lady Arabella who was murdered by her husband after she was caught having an affair with an Ass-headed farmer. The tenant farmer was ostracised and thrown off his land. Now he wanders the woods after dark, broken-hearted looking for revenge, with a pack of hounds ready to tear the foxy killer apart. His Lordship only hunts and walks by day.

(150 Words)

Image © pricelessjoy

This is in response to a challenge hosted by Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. If you would like to participate in this challenge or need more information, please click the following link:

https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com

ABANDONED

Posted on Mar 4, 2015 by John Yeo | 2 Comments

Each week on Tuesday Pen’n’Tonic will post a word, a phrase, a picture, or an idea that will constitute a prompt from which to submit a poem, a flash fiction piece (not longer than 250 words), an original photograph, an original artwork, or a combination of these things that you think applies to the week’s theme.

This week, I give you for your prompt one of my own original paintings entitled “Abandoned.” Need I say more? Get writing. I can’t wait to see what you come up with.

https://penntonic.wordpress.com/2015/03/03/creative-expressions-12-abandoned/

ABANDONED

Image (c) supplied by Pen’n’tonic

by John Yeo

We have been travelling through the Winter storm for hours. The horses pulling the sleigh are badly in need of rest and food. We are desperately looking for shelter and we are a long way off our planned route. The storm, although abated now has been very fierce.
Then as the sun sets on the horizon, a house looms up, outlined and pictured beautifully in the dimming twilight. There are no lights burning and the chimneys are not smoking, we also find it strange there are no footprints in the snow to reveal a path to the front door. Quite spooky really!
We are not surprised to find no-one at home and we manage to stable our horses in an outbuilding attached to the house. As we enter, we are puzzled to find an unfinished meal for two in the dining-room and signs of a hasty departure. The occupants have left without even bothering to lock the doors and windows. We decide to settle down for the night and keep warm and as comfortable as possible. We light a fire and and eat food from tins stacked in the well stocked larder, there is even a bottle of good quality wine. Very tired from our journey we settle down for the night.
The next morning the reason behind the hasty abandonment of this house becomes clear. We have wandered into an abandoned village near a huge nuclear power complex. There is a signpost along the way that reads CHERNOBYL 2 kilometres.

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

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (13)

Posted on Mar 3, 2015 by John Yeo | 21 Comments

I am taking part in Mondays Finish the Story 02/03/2015, 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.

The link below takes you to Part Twelve

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (12)

“When it came to a challenge Jim Smiley had to jump right in”.

Marg smiled when these words popped into her mind, she was on a dull flight to meet up with the team in Paris, France. Bored on the aeroplane, Marg was reading a collection of short stories, by Mark Twain. ‘The French eat Frogs legs, don’t they?’, smiling to herself. Marg took everything with a pinch of salt, especially food for thought.
The threat of an attack by the lab rat Dickus was imminent and very real. The Brigadier and the two teams of operatives were meeting in the city to flush the sinister Dickus and his henchmen out of their hideout before they struck. They intended to attack Dr Dickus at his casino, oddly named the “Jumping Frog”, situated on the banks of the river Seine.
Marg was met by Bella at the Charles de Gaulle airport and picked up the rest of the team. Then came a shock, Angelo……..

(150 words)

To be continued…………..

The link below takes you to Part Twelve

https://johnandmargaret1607.wordpress.com/2015/02/24/mysterious-island-12/

https://mondaysfinishthestory.wordpress.com/

Picture it and Write ~ Water Wars

Posted on Mar 1, 2015 by John Yeo | 6 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

WATER WARS

by John Yeo

The land upriver was cultivated by the Blancas, a harsh people with powerful weapons and a large aggressive army, they farmed and lived off their land.

The river was an important life-giving asset to our people, sustaining our crops and quenching our peoples thirst.

Peace reigned in the area until one fateful day when the river began to dry up. The water began to slowly flow and trickle down until eventually the trickle stopped completely and the river became dry. Our people were devastated, the crops drying and dying off, and the elderly and our children were dying of thirst.

Trackers were sent upriver to investigate but never returned, until one fateful day a tracker got back to report the river was dammed upstream by the vicious warlike Blancas. Our leaders were in instant communication with the leaders of the Blancas with little real response. After consultation with our Army chiefs, Captains, Luke, Nathaniel and I, were sent with our chosen men to infiltrate the Blanca’s land and attempt to destroy this monstrous dam.

We left with a mule-train packed with explosives and started out on our journey. Nathaniel went ahead with thirty men to clear the way of patrols by the enemy. We came under heavy fire halfway and I took my patrol to deal with the aggressors. We rejoined the mule-train having sadly lost several men in the dogfight that followed. Finally after more fighting with the loss of some very brave men, we reached the monstrous dam.

Luke took his team of explosive experts and set a very large number of charges using more explosives than required in an attempt to destroy the banks of the river to stop the dam getting rebuilt. The explosion was devastating, the destruction was awesome, levelling the dam and the banks of the river completely. Sadly Luke and his team were killed in the blast.

The raging torrent of white water raced down the dry riverbed, taking everything along in the swirling torrential flood.

Our people celebrated as their water supply was restored. A bitter war was fought and negotiations are still in progress. We live to fight on as the Water Wars have begun.

As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia

Cup ~ 100 Word Challenge ~ Velvet Verbosity

Posted on Mar 1, 2015 by John Yeo | 6 Comments

100 words on the word “CUP” in response to the latest challenge from VELVET VERBOSITY
http://www.velvetverbosity.com/blog/2015/2/23/100-words-415-empty-your-cup

Anglo Saxon Loving Cup

by John Yeo

Olga and Igor were to be married in the traditional tribal way. The two families had agreed terms and the villagers were gathered for the symbolic ceremony of exchanging swords. Igor the groom said, “I give you this sword to save for our sons, to have and to use.” Olga gave Igor a sword, with the words, “I give you this sword to keep us safe.”
They both then shared a loving cup to toast the Gods Frigja and Freya, the Goddesses who ensure a good marriage. The ceremonial loving cup was kept safely, shining for the future wedding ceremonies.

THE RAVE

Posted on Feb 26, 2015 by John Yeo | 2 Comments

This week, as a learning exercise to help understand point of view, I challenge you to write the same story from two perspectives. Choose two main characters, one settings, and one mini plot. Write two stories, one for each character.

https://penntonic.wordpress.com/2015/02/24/creative-expressions-11-point-of-view/

THE RAVE

by John Yeo

We live on the borders of a modern dairy farm. About once every three months or so an illegal rave party would take place in one of the fields. The farmer was unable to control the influx of thousands of fans and partygoers. The police were powerless, in the face of such large numbers of people, attracted by news on social media.

FATHER

Father was always hopping mad.

“Why don’t they send in the army and round them all up as an example to other law-breakers! The loud volume damages peoples hearing, they will all suffer in later life. The rubbish they leave behind the next day is never properly cleaned up. These raves are illegal, yet the authorities are unable to uphold the law.

SCOT

Thirteen year old Scot the farmers son, had a different view, he was excitedly communicating with his i-phone to his friends from school describing the music and the excitement of the rave-up.

“The music is fantastic and all these really cool ravers with their friends camp out for the whole weekend. The beat never stops, I can hear it free at home! I look over at the field where thousands of young people are dancing, drinking and enjoying themselves. I wish I was a few years older, I would be with them enjoying myself

.

Image from the net

AN EVEN MATCH

Posted on Feb 25, 2015 by John Yeo | 17 Comments

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers-

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers is a new weekly fiction writing challenge. The goal is to write a story between 100-150 words (give or take 25 words) based on the provided photo.

AN EVEN MATCH

by John Yeo

“Winner takes all”, said Wide Willy, leader of the local gang. Daring Dick leader of a rival gang smiled with disbelief.
“You will concede everything if we win, including Diana the darling of the town”
Willy nodded, “If Diana agrees I will concede all my love for her as well as our business assets, but if you lose we take control of your patch entirely.”
The tennis court behind the flats was rarely used, until Doreen and Len decided 6 year old James would be brought up, living and breathing tennis. Now 18, James’s talent was about to be revealed to the world. They were approached by Dick, who had been informed of James’s unbeatable prowess. Willy was confident as his player was county champion.
The match was fiercely contested, after 4 sets the players were even at 6 games all. Suddenly a helicopter landed and surrounded by police, all members of the two gangs were arrested on drugs charges.
18 year old tennis prodigy James ran away with Diana. All bets were off!

(174 words)

This is in response to a challenge hosted by Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. If you would like to participate in this challenge or need more information, please click the following link:

https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (12)

Posted on Feb 24, 2015 by John Yeo | 19 Comments

I am taking part in Mondays Finish the Story 23/02/2015, 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.

The link below takes you to Part Eleven
https://johnandmargaret1607.wordpress.com/2015/02/17/mysterious-island-11/

The old typewriter had a mind of its own.

Battered beyond recognition, it was found among the remains and rubble after an explosion in the hideout belonging to Diamond Jack next to Rattle Snake river. Jack was killed outright by a bomb, the typewriter survived, and the ribbon provided a valuable clue. One word was indented in capitals on the ribbon, DICKUS.

Jack had managed to leave a clue that miraculously survived the blast.

Marg was contacted and with the sad news came a summons to a meeting with the Brigadier and Don Francisco on the Mysterious Island. This was to be a mission that would involve many operatives from the two organisations and Marg would take charge of the Brigadiers section.
The training was intensive and Marg was well pleased with the teams performance. Her opposite number and right hand was Bella, a tough operative from Don Francisco’s organisation.
A serious warning threat arrived out of the blue……………..

(150 words)

To be continued…………..

The link below takes you to Part Eleven

https://johnandmargaret1607.wordpress.com/2015/02/17/mysterious-island-11/

https://mondaysfinishthestory.wordpress.com

Picture it and Write ~ Decisions? ~ Decisions?

Posted on Feb 24, 2015 by John Yeo | 4 Comments

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

https://ermiliablog.wordpress.com/2015/02/22/__picture-it-write-101/

As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia

DECISIONS? ~DECISIONS?

by John Yeo

The garden needs a lot of work and we are at the planning stage.

“I think if we cut the trees down, we can lay lawns and have a lake for wild-fowl, with flower beds and borders. We can build a summer- house with many arbours and marble statues everywhere. Nature can be modelled, shaped and controlled.”

“No! Why not have a forest garden and encourage wildlife with deer, squirrels and much birdlife. A natural garden would be best, we don’t need the artificiality of manicured lawns and borders, that is too much like hard work. Nature always wins in the end, whatever we do.”

“We can always concrete the whole area over and build high-rise flats, we could make a lot of money that way. Nature would take a long time to win then!”

“Now you are being silly, I know you don’t like to be overlooked and feel crowded, I see a natural garden, where we keep the trees, and have a woodburning stove. We would have our isolation with privacy to write and create. We will have a vegetable plot with chickens in the middle of our own forest. Nature would be our friend and we would both win then.”

Yes! We can build a small gallery with workshops and encourage a community of artists and writers. We will build cabins in the yard and sell our work in the gallery shop. Nature would be our partner and our friend.”

As usual the image is supplied and credited by Ermilia

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