Writers cramp! ©
  • JOHN AND MARGARET'S FRONT PAGE~~
  • Copyrights Explained
  • Blog~~Scribblings~Scrawlings and Scratchings
  • Words ~ Words ~ More Scribbles
  • Gardening Blog
  • General Blog
  • John's Poetry ~2013
  • Friday Flasher
  • Inspiration Monday
  • Poem-a-day November 2016
  • 750 WORDS Section Two
  • Untitled
This above all; to thine own self be true. 
William Shakespeare

DOUBLE JEOPARDY ~ 23rd MARCH 2016

25/3/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Image © Copyright John and Margaret ~ All rights reserved
A prompt response for Inspiration Monday: UNSTATEMENT

DOUBLE JEOPARDY
by John Yeo

   Rod and Al were the best of friends, they met at public school, and were star pupils in their year, both obtaining above average grades. A bright future was predicted for these two privileged students  The two friends were both studying Law together at University. Carefree days that seemed to be stretching out forever. Rodney’s father was a Member of Parliament and Alastair came from a wealthy family of landed gentry.
    Before long they were courting and sowing their wild oats, they both enjoyed substantial allowances from their doting proud parents. Money was no object and the fine wine flowed, good food was savoured, and love blossomed and died many times. In spite of this, their studies were going well and they were on track to obtain very good results when they graduated.

   Then out of the blue, along came a phone call from an old friend of Rods, an ex-girlfriend Geraldine. The tearful call was an urgent cry for help, and went something like this.
   “Hey Rod! Gerry here! How are you? I’ve just discovered I’m pregnant. You will be a Father in July. We must get together and discuss what we’re going to do about this. You have always been the only one for me!”
   Rod was stunned at this and immediately got on to Alastair who ridiculed the whole notion, actually referring to Geraldine as an easy ride, who was in the process of trying to take him for a ride.
    Rod was too ashamed to ask for help from his Father and approached Geraldine demanding proof. Geraldine just laughed in his face and demanded money from him in an attempt to blackmail him into paying for a private termination.

   That night Rod and Al went out on the town together, and after a long pub crawl they were heavily under the influence of alcohol when they were approached by two police constables on foot.
    Al then drunkenly made an unwise statement. “I smell bacon!” There was a few minutes silence as the effect and the dual meaning of this remark sunk in to all present.
   Soon they were both under arrest for being drunk and disorderly in a public place, and were shown into a cell at the local police station. They were interviewed and huge repercussions would surely follow, as this arrest could jeopardise their careers, if they were charged and their parents were involved.
   Al immediately apologised to the police officers involved  who decided this was an out of character remark, and advised them to stay out of trouble. Rod explained the background to the story and a received a sympathetic response from the lady Constable behind the station desk.
   Then another surprise awaited them as they were leaving, Geraldine was led into the police station. Rod was shocked to learn the so-called Mother of his unborn child. was a hooker using her wits to pay her way through University.
   As they left the police station, Rod and Al shoved all the folding money they were carrying, into a charity box marked, “Police Widows and Orphans Fund.”
    In spite of the UNSTATEMENT, that Al had erased, and Geraldine’s UNSTATEMENT, of impending motherhood exonerating Rod. The two young men became top lawyers and went on to enjoy successful unblemished careers. Geraldine went on to become a very wealthy celebrity model.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

0 Comments

TIME TORTURE ~15th MARCH 2016

17/3/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Image © Copyright ~ John and Margaret
A prompt response for Inspiration Monday ~ Time Torture

TIME TORTURE
by John Yeo

      The very learned judge adjusted his cap and addressed the prisoner in the dock.
   “You have been convicted of a very serious crime. My instincts are to sentence you to the ultimate sentence. However I intend to sentence you to one day’s imprisonment in the new psychological institution, where you will be re-educated and pay for your crimes. You will be considered for release at the end of the day’s sentence. That will be all!”
   There was a general gasp of surprise from the people in the courtroom.
   The prisoner smiled, then laughed out loud. “Thank you Judge! I will be eternally grateful to you for your consideration, and I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.” He guffawed loudly as he was led away to the cells.
    George Sweeney had battered a Post office clerk to death in the process of committing an armed robbery. He was a career criminal and had no remorse or conscience whatsoever.
    He smiled as he was driven to a brightly lit hospital the next day to begin his sentence.     The doctors were calm and reassuring as they showed him to his quarters, the bright lights were continually on at all times.
   George ate a hearty meal and asked the orderly. “Can I see the Doctor in charge please, I would like to know what time my re-education begins.”
    The orderly smiled and replied. “Don’t worry, Mr Sweeney, you will see him soon, there will be plenty of opportunities as the day progresses.”
   George then said. “Can I have my watch back, it was removed from my wrist by the police, when I was arrested. There are no clocks here! What is the time right now?”
    “Clocks are irrelevant here!” Replied the orderly. “You will get used to our system of time. Time that is stretched out and manipulated to allow you to think your thoughts and redress your balance. Enjoy the feeling of eternity as the day progresses and you will achieve much re-education and reorientation.”
    George began to feel anxious when he heard this. “What do you mean? I am only here for a day, how can I achieve anything? What do you mean by stretching time? I demand to see the Doctor in charge right now!”
   The orderly grinned and said, “Yes of course. I will go and fetch someone. I will be back soon.”
   What seemed like hours passed as George waited and waited. He began calling out loudly to attract attention, banging on the walls and kicking the locked door. A small aperture in the wall held a lift-shaft where food was suddenly delivered, George then realised how hungry he was and wolfed the food down.
  He became disorientated as the bright lights were on and blazing. He slept and woke as the Doctor arrived accompanied by several nurses and the orderly.
   “Hello!” said the Doctor smiling. “How are you?  What can I do for you? We have a long day ahead.”
   “I don’t believe you!” George shouted! “I have been here for what seems like forever already. I demand to see a lawyer and I want my watch back!”
   “Yes Mr Sweeney, here is your watch.”
  George took the watch and suddenly realised it wasn’t working.
   “Hey! My watch is broken! It has been damaged! I demand to see someone from the police to report this crime!”

   “Of course, Mr Sweeney, I will arrange that for you. Now relax and enjoy the rest of your day here.”
   The doctor and his retinue then left.
  What seemed to George like an eternity passed as he was left alone in his quarters with food appearing at odd hours and the orderly checking on him changing faces through the window in the door. The lights blazed interminably as George suddenly became aware that this was to be a never ending day. He became even more disoriented when he finally began to realise there would be no remission on this stretched out day’s sentence.

Copyright © ~ Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

0 Comments

ASHES ~ 3rd March 2016

5/3/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Image provided by Priceless Joy from Pixabay
This was written in response to a photo  prompt provided by Priceless Joy on WordPress

ASHES
by John Yeo

    The form of transport to reach the solar exterior was incredible, a cross between an ice making-machine and a reforming, non-inflammatory stage.     
     The Rock group would have their images projected into space, where the performance was relayed by satellite.
     Earth in the sixties was a melting pot of music. A furnace of scorching mesmerising ideas. The message was in the music with money to burn. The lead singer was a showman with more than vocal magic to entertain his millions of followers. This man was capable of using magical means, disappearing in a puff of smoke then reappearing in his flesh and blood form instantaneously.
     The audience were raised to heights of illusory reality, the lead singer was belting out the scorching themes of fantasy. The stage and the auditorium were suddenly plunged into pitch black darkness as the lights went down and fire broke out, leaving a burning guitar blazing in the centre of the stage. Sadly the singer perished in flames generated by solar heat the guitar continued to burn.
     The trick backfired.


Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

(175 WORDS)
0 Comments

PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT ~ 26  FEBRUARY 2016

28/2/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Image © Copyright John and Margaret
A Prompt response for Inspiration Monday ~ LOVE AT FIRST FIGHT

PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT
by John Yeo

     The ship had sailed away from Southampton on a long voyage to the Caribbean. I have never experienced this type of holiday before, and I was very keen to find a way to pass the time during the interminable days at sea.

    “I think I would like to learn Bridge,”  I said to the Social Hostess, when I went to collect my copy of the morning crossword puzzle and the quiz. “I have never played the game before and it will be a very rewarding way to kill some time while we are at sea.”
    “That’s a good idea.” Said, Angela the friendly crew member on duty. “Just turn up and introduce yourself. It doesn't matter if you are an absolute beginner, the Bridge tutor is very friendly and you are certain to fit in.”
      “Thanks Angela, I will let you know how I get on.”

   I was very early, for the Bridge session and I made my way outside on deck to sit and do my crossword. This was definitely wistful thinking as I soon became aware of the gusty winds outside on deck. The ship was miles out at sea and the waves were high rolling, and foam topped. The view on all sides of the ship was exactly the same, broiling grey-blue waves on a moving sea reaching out to a far distant horizon. The cloudy sky was broken by a few patches of blue, revealed by the wind-blown clouds racing across. I was astonished at how few seabirds there were, until one of the crew informed me that the birds were usually seen close to the shore.
    The only visible thing was a distant spot on the horizon, I asked my new found friend the crew member. “Is that another passenger ship in the distance?”

    “No Sir, that is probably a container vessel, on the way to the docks.”

   “However can you know what that is from this distance?  I asked.

   “Ah! We only usually see cargo vessels on this route, if that was another passenger ship the Captain would have informed everyone over the loudspeakers.”

   “Thanks for your help.” I said.

     “You are welcome!”  Was the friendly response“


  I made my way to the card-room where I was full of questions. Would I like this mysterious card game? Would I be able to pick the basics up quickly enough to be able to take part in a serious game? The Bridge tutor bustled up to me as soon as I entered, a friendly looking, middle aged lady with piercing brown eyes, looking over a pair of brown plastic spectacles, smiling broadly she said.
     “Good Morning, and welcome have you played this game before? I’m Cheryl and this is my husband Bill. What is your name?”

     I was overwhelmed with the warmth of this friendly greeting, and as Bill shook my hand, I replied. “I’m John, and No! I am an absolute beginner. I would like to learn the basics to enable me to play when I return home.”

   “Of course John, welcome!” Said Bill, “You have come to the right place, luckily we have three people here who are looking for someone to make up a four, let me introduce you to Jen and Lew, and their travelling companion May.”

  I shook hands with Lew, a tall portly man, with a bald head and a friendly manner.

      Jen responded with a welcoming smile and said “Sit down,John.” I liked Jen instantly, her dark hair and very brown eyes gave her an open but wary look.

    I smiled and nodded as I took a seat at the table, opposite May. “I'm sorry to say that I am a total beginner, I have never played this game before.”

  Lew responded and said, “Don’t worry Jen and I have played a little before, but May is learning, you are welcome to join us.”

  Cheryl bustled up towards our table and said. “May I suggest that you play men against ladies that will put one absolute beginner, up against another, together with one of the more experienced players.”

    I found myself paired up with Lew against Jen and May. Then total card war broke out as the game began. Closely followed and supervised by the two tutors, Cheryl and Bill. I have never experienced a card battle like this before. I found myself getting exasperated looks from Lew as I bidded wrongly and made many amateurish errors. I could see May was getting by, but she was also overcome by the tension of this fight to the finish.
The ladies won hands down, and Lew was rather peeved, I could see it in his demeanour.

    I found myself warming to May, her total genuine attitude, her bright blue eyes and blonde hair, and her smiling personality. We arranged to meet later for tea.
     Drinking Camomile tea in the cafe and discussing the philosophy of non-verbal communication, we rapidly fell head over heels in love at first fight.

     We never played Bridge again!

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

0 Comments

DIURNAL DREAM ~ 19th February 2016

21/2/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Image © Copyright ~ John and Margaret
A prompt response for Inspiration Monday ~ Diurnal Dream

DIURNAL DREAM
by John Yeo

        “I tell you we all do it!  All we have to do is keep straight faces. Try not to laugh out loud will you, they will never understand. I will put the ideas together that you provide, and take the credit, yet we both know they are your ideas, not mine or perhaps they are a mixture of both.”

 This was expressed by the visible side. The aspect that was responsible for the germination expression and growth of the ideas generated by the combined power of both sides of the equation that was very briefly present for a few microseconds at dawn, and a few microseconds at dusk.

        “OK! If the nocturnal variation stays within the parameters of the night our diurnal dreams can be continued throughout the night. The nocturnal part of an idea is just an ongoing variation, the end result of a diurnal dream continuing throughout the period when the physical side is prone, asleep and inactive.”  

   The visible ongoing diurnal aspect of the double equation pointed out.  

 “There is an aspect of this coming together. The ultimate coming together to bring the two aspects of a dream into a single entity, that is largely unnoticed and usually ignored and this is the period of diurnal dreaming that takes place when both sides are incredibly bored. Take the average mind wandering away from a droning vocal rendition of obvious facts that are getting relayed and replayed continuously. As in the following…”

DIURNAL DREAMING
by John Yeo

The lecture was long and intricately constructed,
Of facts that had been stitched together again.
In a cycle of repetition to set the mind drifting
Looking out the window at the pouring rain.
I like the look of the flaxen haired girl on a cycle,
I believe there is life on the other side.
Would you believe if the world was two sided
Dreams could be split in two.

The culmination of the interpretation, is that
Dreams are an ongoing fantastical spread,
Of nocturnal desire flooding diurnal dreams
With ideas that could never be shattered.
That girl with the flaxen hair has become
A part of my personal individual stream
In a world that is very well grounded
She is now a part of a diurnal dream.

Copyright. © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

Picture
0 Comments

THE SNARK AGES  ~ 4th FEBRUARY 2016

6/2/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Image © Copyright ~ John and Margaret
Prompt response for Inspiration Monday  ~
The prompt ~ THE SNARK AGES


THE SNARK AGES
by John Yeo

   Today I am going to steal something from you my patient readers on a timescale of microseconds this will feel painful. Each microsecond will be as valuable as each of the preceding microsecond, an infinity of time to the little known elusive impossible snark.
   Our story begins with a puzzle, when a For Sale sign was removed from a suburban house.
A little later, the dustmen started to remove the rubbish from the side of the house.

   Rumour had it that the house was sold to a mysterious couple, who the estate agent never actually met, the house was purchased by an agent acting on their behalf, who professed never to have met his clients. The owners moved in, in the dead of night, and no one saw them arrive.
The only clue they were there, was when the dustmen collected the trash.

    The couple settled into the neighbourhood very well, or so they thought, but strangely they had no contact with the people on either side of their house. The people on the block never saw a sign of them, not even a hide or hair of them, not a whisker. The full dustbins were always removed and re-filled again by the unseen mysterious occupants.
   The curtains were always firmly closed but no-one ever saw any of the occupants. One day Bronson Williams and his wife Louise tapped nervously on the door to introduce themselves and make them feel welcome. No response, Louse left the flowers she was carrying on the doorstep and they gave up and went home. Three days later the flowers were still there and the dustmen came and emptied the bin, with no response from within.  
     
    Charlie and Cherise on the other side of the mysterious house, then tried to get a response from the back door, Charlie banged loudly without success, there was no response. The blinds were tightly drawn and Cherise tried to peep inside without success, the place seemed to be quite deserted, they left the flowers they had brought on the back doorstep and returned home.  There was a bouquet of rotting blooms on the front doorstep. Three days later the flowers were still there when the dustmen came and emptied the trash.


     Four days later a For Sale sign went up and several people were shown around the house by an agent. The owners were nowhere to be seen, eventually the house was sold and a young couple moved in, the neighbourhood breathed a sigh of relief as a sense of normality returned.

    The refuse began to be collected again. There was no forwarding address for the occupants as there was nothing to forward.
​

   The culmination of this mysterious tale lies in the microseconds it needed to read it. Each microsecond added to another microsecond eventually becomes infinity. This is known as the elusive mysterious, snark ages.
   At the beginning of this tale of decaying refuse, I mentioned I would be stealing something from you my greatly esteemed reader. I have stolen at least five minutes of your precious time.
To the average well read snark, this will feel like ages.
    I am sure the refuse will eventually be collected when the dustmen return to work from their strike.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

Picture
0 Comments

PORTABLE NIGHT ~ 26Th JANUARY 2016

28/1/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Image © Copyright ~ John and Margaret
 A prompt by Inspiration Monday: Portable Night


PORTABLE NIGHT
by John Yeo

     “Mummy, you really mean we are going to see Aunty Sheila and my cousins down there!” Exclaimed Ruthie, pointing to the toy globe, and spinning it around. “How will we get from here to there?” she asked.
   “Yes darling, we will be going by aeroplane of course, flying from one side of the world to another.” replied her Mum.
  “Mummy, Daddy says they are all upside down over there. Our daytime is their night. how will we sleep?”
  “We will adjust Ruthie, we will have to try to sleep in our daytime here and their night-time there!”
   “What about the bogeymen that only come out at night? Will they be around in the daytime there?” asked Ruthie
   “Ahh! That’s a difficult question darling, bogeymen come in all shapes and sizes, even here at home we have nasty bogeymen that are about in the daytime!”
  “Mummy, stop it! I know when you are joking, you always smile and crinkle your eyes up.”
   “Yes Ruthie, now go to sleep! We have a long journey tomorrow.”

  The next day the family took their seats on a Qantas  Airbus and were soon tucking into some tempting airline food, Ruthie was very excited. “Daddy what time is it there now?”
   “About 9 o'clock at night, they are about 10 hours in front of us over there. You would be in bed there now.”
  Soon the friendly aircrew came around to make sure everybody was comfortable, and asked for all the windows to be blacked out. Ruthie was curious about this as the sun was shining and it was still daytime outside. “Mummy why is everybody sleeping in the middle of the day?”
     “Shush darling, people are sleeping, we have to try to sleep now, to catch up with the time where we are going. The curtains turn our day into a portable night, so we can reset our body-clocks.”
    “Daddy, Where is my body-clock?”
   “Shush please!” Came an irate voice from an elderly gentleman in the row behind. “People are trying to sleep. Please be quiet, or I will call the steward!”
  “Mummy, is that what you mean by a day-time bogeyman”
  “Hush Ruthie!” Said her Mother suppressing a broad grin.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

Picture
0 Comments

CATASTROPHIC SUCCESS ~ 21st January 2016

23/1/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Image © Copyright John and Margaret
A prompt response for Inspiration Monday ~ ‘Catastrophic Success’

CATASTROPHIC SUCCESS
by John Yeo

     “Bill and Bella have won the lottery!” said Robin enthusiastically to his wife.
   ”What’s that darling? You’re joking! Really how much did they win, I must catch up with Bella. Do you know, she’s my oldest friend, but I haven’t heard from her for months.”
   “I’m not exactly sure how much, Sarah my love. I must try to get hold of Bill too, we were on the golf club committee together, maybe he will have won enough to see his way clear to funding a new clubhouse.”
  Sarah smiled as she bent down and patted a passing dog that was on a long lead, “Hello Rexie, good girl, there’s a good doggie, sorry I haven’t got any chocolate today. Hello, Mrs. Perkins! Have you heard the news? Bill and Bella have won the lottery this week.”
  “Have they really Mrs. Edwards, how much did they win? I’m on my way to the church, the Vicar was asking after them last Sunday. I’m sure they will make a substantial donation towards the fund for a new church roof, now they are wealthy.”
  “Well Mrs Perkins, I don’t know how wealthy they are, but old Ted, the gardener distinctly overheard Bill say to Bella on his mobile, we’ve won the lottery!”
   “Hello you two!” A tall slim man approached smiling broadly. “I expect you have heard the news, we have two winners in the community, it’s all over the village. Bill and Bella are always saying how the school needs more IT equipment. I am on my way to see them now, I am sure they will make a substantial donation.” Mr Saunders the headmaster, had kept the local school going for years, Bill and Bella were both ex students.    
   "Have you heard how much they have won?”

  “No Mr Saunders, no-one seems to know, I expect they asked for no publicity, you can’t be too careful these days.” replied Mrs Edwards.
    “That hypocrite who lives at the end of the village, you know, the one who hates kids walking by his house, always running down Bill and Bella’s kids to all and sundry, wants to organise a surprise party down at the pub for the lucky winners. Money does have some strange effects on people.”
 David the local postman rode by on his cycle and called out.               'There is a traffic jam in the village apparently someone has won the lottery. Who phoned the press? I can’t get through to deliver the mail!,”
 Suddenly a police siren sounded, cutting into the normal peaceful calm of the village.

   Mrs. Potts a matronly lady dashed up to the villagers and said,
           "Someone has been spreading false rumours about Bill and Bella winning the lottery. Well they only won £25.00 for matching three numbers, chaos has erupted, beggars have come from miles around.”

  There was a deafening silence as this astonishing news sunk in among the assembled villagers.
     “The good news is, old sourpuss has paid for a surprise party tonight and everyone is invited.”

  First a few silent grins, then a snicker and several chuckles, with loud laughter that developed into side-splitting roars of mirth, resounded among the villagers.

  Six months later, Bill and Bella quietly sold their house and left the village, never to be seen again. Old sourpuss often wondered about that!

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.



Picture
0 Comments

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    September 2017
    December 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    Categories

    All
    Flash Fiction
    Writing Practice
    Writing Prompt

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.