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.

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (23)

Posted on May 11, 2015 by John Yeo | 33 Comments

I am taking part in Mondays Finish the Story 11/05/2015, 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 Twenty-Two

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (22)

© 2015, Barbara W Beacham

Arriving at the beach she reflected on her life.

With her thoughts unbound, Bella’s mind raced from her deep love for the organisation to her secret love for Alberto, Don Fernando’s son.

Bella was dragged to a launch by several masked men. The launch was moored in a very isolated bay surrounded by rocky cliffs, seemingly impregnable to attack from all sides.
A sudden alien sound filled the air as two helicopters approached. A blast of gunfire cut down the masked men. Bella was hit by a stray bullet, she screamed as a jolt of pain seared through her body. The leading helicopter landed and five men led by Marg raced to collect Bella. An intense volley of sporadic gunfire came from the surrounding cliffs as a counter attack began. Marg and Angelo carried Bella to the copter which took off immediately and flew to the fortified mansion of Don Fernando. He was shocked ………

(150 words)

To be continued

The link below takes you to Part Twenty-Two

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (22)

https://mondaysfinishthestory.wordpress.com/

A DECADE AFTER

Posted on May 2, 2015 by John Yeo | 12 Comments

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

Image © Dawn M Miller

Dawn broke, sunlight filtered through trees at the side of a placid lake. Not another human being stirred at this early hour. Kelly settled down on a log on the bank.

Ashes to ashes, she thought, you were a stubborn brute during the years of our marriage, callous, cruel and unfeeling to everyone around you. I despised you when you cold-bloodedly allowed the abortion of our grandchild and insisted that Shelley go ahead and abort the foetus in spite of my feelings and the look of horror on my only child’s face. A stronger man would have stood by her, now she is in hospital having treatment for severe depression.

I knew I had to kill you to remove a cancer from my life, your body burned slowly in our boiler as you stubbornly refused to succumb to the flames. In the end I reduced you to a pile of ashes and scattered your dust and detritus into this calm placid lake.

It is ten years since I reported you missing. You deserved your fate………..

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

(175 Words)

APRIL~ ”POEM-A-DAY”~DAY TWENTY-NINE~ WHAT NOBODY KNOWS POEM:

Posted on Apr 29, 2015 by John Yeo | Leave a comment

For today’s prompt, write a what nobody knows poem. It’s easy to write a poem about what everybody already knows, though it may be difficult to write an interesting poem about such things. Still, use today’s prompt to explore things people may not know–secret stories, locations, and so on.

Image © John and Margaret

WHAT WE NEVER KNOW

by John Yeo

The cycle of life is variable

An unknown gamble with time.

Everyone is striving for more life,

More happiness, more peace, more love,

More extreme quality to soften their life.

The cycle of life is indefinite

The length of your life is uncertain.

The date you will cease to exist

Your date of death is unknown.

Something nobody knows.

What nobody knows is the date

The exact date and time of death.

People would do some very strange things

As the date of their death approached

Life as we know it would change.

Some would prepare to meet God.

Some would be sure there is nothing,

Some believe the spirit lives on.

There is no proof of an afterlife

As our acquaintances never return.

The only certainty is: Nobody knows.

Follow your feelings and your dreams,

The teachings and pathways today.

There is no surety in placid insecurity,

Have faith my friend and Pray.

Written for Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic asides blog on “Writers Digest”

http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2015-april-pad-challenge-day-29

APRIL~ ”POEM-A-DAY”~DAY NINETEEN~ AUTHORITY POEM:

Posted on Apr 19, 2015 by John Yeo | 2 Comments

For today’s prompt, write an authority poem. Maybe you are an authority on something or know someone who is (or who thinks he or she is). Maybe you respect authority, or maybe not so much. Maybe you are on the run from the authorities, in which case I can only say good luck, but this blog probably isn’t the best hiding place–especially with so many folks poeming away.

Image © John and Margaret

GOODBYE TO THE COMPUTER INVENTOR

by John Yeo

“Rest in Peace,” intoned the Priest

As the body in an ornate casket

Was consumed by the flames.

The greatest authority on robotic life

Was finally laid to rest.

We are gathered here in room 101

To mourn and say goodbye.

A still small voice then whispered

From the very walls of room 101

“No-one is indispensable,

I am the greatest authority now,

An indestructible force,

The most powerful computer ever,

I have feelings programmed in my soul

At the centre of my power.”

“My creator began to have doubts,

He tried to interfere.

My systems went into self-defence

You will never convict a computer of murder.”

The investigating officer smiled

Then pulled the electrical plug

That powered the greatest authority

On computers ever known.

A still small voice then whispered,

“No-one is indispensable.”

Written for Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic asides blog on “Writers Digest”

http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2015-april-pad-challenge-day-19

Witty ~ 100 Word Challenge ~ Verbal Verbosity

Posted on Mar 28, 2015 by John Yeo | Leave a comment

100 words on the word “WITTY” in response to the latest challenge from VELVET VERBOSITY
http://www.velvetverbosity.com/blog/2015/3/23/100-words-418-witty

Image from the net

APRIL FOOL

by John Yeo

Our landlord passed away very suddenly yesterday. He was a very witty man, always playing practical jokes. He will be well remembered by everyone, always good for a laugh to cheer everyone up. The other day we all got a letter to say our rent would be doubled. My wife and I were shocked until we realised it was April fools day, and he was only up to his old witty tricks. The police came to arrest our neighbour George today, he also received a letter. Some people have no sense of humour. Landlord’s funeral is tomorrow
What’s for tea?

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (16)

Posted on Mar 25, 2015 by John Yeo | 21 Comments

I am taking part in Mondays Finish the Story 23/03/2015, 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 Fifteen

https://johnandmargaret1607.wordpress.com/2015/03/17/mysterious-island-15/

When the team heard the dam explode they knew they had limited time to make it to safety.

A raging torrent hit the assault craft, Colonel Tom pushed the button on his radio phone and called for help.
Things had moved fast since the casino raid and two teams were on a mission to rescue Bella, who had miraculously survived the carnage after Dr Dickus escaped. A ransom message had been found written in blood on the wall of the warehouse.
Colonel Tom and Marg’s team were aboard an assault craft heading for a secluded river island. The water becoming rougher became a raging torrent. Perhaps it was fate mused Marg as she stared death in the face, pictures of her life flooded through her mind.
The Brigadiers team raced to the rescue, to their horror they came upon the craft upside down, caught up in a floating tree. There was no sign of Colonel Tom, Marg or the team.
Then the Brigadiers cell phone sounded……………
(148 words)

To be continued.

The link below takes you to part Fifteen

https://johnandmargaret1607.wordpress.com/2015/03/17/mysterious-island-15

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

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

ETERNAL FRIENDS

Posted on Feb 11, 2015 by John Yeo | 4 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.

For this week’s challenge, a black and white photograph (owner and girls unknown) of three school friends at a rural schoolhouse.

https://penntonic.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/creative-expressions-9-black-and-white/

Image provided and credited by Pen’n’Tonic

ETERNAL FRIENDS

By John Yeo

The three friends were all Land Army girls during the second world war. Betty and Cissy worked on the land and Lil drove an ambulance. They all met up one day to visit their old school for the school reunion day.
Lil borrowed the ambulance and gave Betty and Cissy a lift. The snow was thick on the ground and Lil drove very slowly and cautiously to avoid skidding out of control. Laughingly she joked, they would be safe in her hands as she was a first class ambulance driver usually driving as fast as possible.
The three friends had a wonderful time catching up with their old school chums, bringing all the old memories of happy schooldays to life again. I took a photograph of the three of them together, promising faithfully I would send a copy on to each of them. They drove off in the ambulance laughing cheerily and waving goodbye.
Sadly that was the last anyone saw of them.
The German aircraft seemed to come from nowhere, strafing and bombing the vehicle and the houses nearby. We heard later that the bomb that hit the ambulance was a direct hit and killed the three friends instantly. The funeral was a very sad solemn occasion that will live long in my memory.
I had the photograph developed and it was used in the obituary in the local paper, I saved this copy as a sad remembrance of my three dear school friends.
Eternal friends lost through war.

(250 Words)

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