365 Days of Writing

  Short Story -- Bob and Reg One pigeon was sitting on the top of a roof when another landed next to him. ‘’Ello Bob!’ said the second pigeon. ‘’Ello Reg,’ said the first. ‘Whatcha doin?’ asked Reg. ‘ ‘Just sittin’ here and thinkin’,’ said Bob. ‘Whatcha thinkin’ about?’ asked Reg. ‘The vastness of the cosmos and how little of it we actually get to see,’ answered Bob. ‘Hmmmm,’ said Reg. ‘Deep.’ Bob turned to Reg then. ‘And what are you doin’?’ ‘I was flyin’, saw you here and thought to myself: There’s old Bob. Might as well go say ‘ello, and here I am.’ ‘Hmmmm,’ said Bob. ‘You think I l’m old?’ ‘It’s a manner of speakin’, Bob,’ said Reg. ‘It’s not meant to be factual. How can you be contemplatin’ the cosmos and not know that?’ ‘You calling’ me daft?’ asked Bob. ‘No,’ answered Reg. ‘Just pointin’ out the juxtaposition.’ ‘I’ll put your juxt in a position,’ said Bob really starting to get riled now. ‘Hey now! No need for name callin’ or that!’ exclaimed Reg, who was also starting to ge...

  Short Story -- Monkshood Manor: Part 22 Teddy settled herself on the settee under a blanket, journal resting on her lap, where she could also look up and see the family tree.  The longer she read, the more she was convinced that Arthur wasn’t just cruel. He was a criminal.  I found out today that he’s not just prayed upon our maid, but apparently has had the audacity to trick at least one of the Pemberton girls from down South into thinking he meant to court her.  Later… Maribelle (the maid) is beside herself. She’s starting to show and Arthur has decided to go off and stay with a friend.  A few pages after…  I decided that I couldn’t keep silent. I told mother. Arthur has always been ‘strong willed’ she told me. I think she’s afraid of him. He is a rather tall man now and not at all unathletic. Years of riding and hunting. I hope she and father will at least help Maribelle.  A month later…  Lucy Pemberton has disappeared from society. Her paren...

Short Story -- Monkshood Manor: Part 21 M rs Winter was glowing after Mr Reed left. ‘It’s official!’ she declared with glee. ‘You own Monkshood!’  Even Mr Drey was exhibiting the rare smile.  The fire burned cheerfully in the grate. A warm smile from the house itself.  Teddy blushed but was smiling. ‘It is official! Now, before Mr Milling returns, I’d like to get some actual ideas to paper. It’s not just hypothetical anymore.’  And the three of them went their separate ways, with Teddy heading to the study.  Sitting at the desk she pulled out a sheet of paper and started brainstorming: 1) School — one room to start — maybe one of the other drawing rooms on the ground floor could be converted? Or should it be in the attic where it’s currently the nursery? If so… a separate entrance for village children 2) Rooms for the orphan children — current guest wing or current nursery? 3) Room for teacher — probably close to children wherever they end up 4) Other necessitie...

  Short Story -- A Fork in the Road She’d gotten so used to making herself small that she’d forgotten how vibrant and alive she used to be. She’d been told over and over and over… That she was too independent, too intelligent, too loud. That she wasn’t ladylike enough, that no one wanted a girl that smart, that she needed to care more about her appearance. So she shrunk herself — not to be more ladylike or less intelligent. For those things just were — but so that she didn’t make others uncomfortable. And then one day… She was walking through a forest, thinking about what needed to be done that day, reflecting on different memories and experiences, and imagining. And she came to a fork in the path. The one way, she’d been before. It wasn’t a bad walk. In fact it had some beautiful scenery along it. Next to the path ran a gurgling stream that was fed from a small waterfall up ahead. The scent of pine hung heavy in the crisp January air. The other way, she’d not travelled before. It ...

  One or Two Sentences No one ever said that the one sentence posts had to be journalistic in nature. I could also use them to keep track of opening line ideas. 

  Short Story -- The Quest It started with a girl. She was young enough to still see magic everywhere and old enough to be wary of it. ‘You can’t be serious!’ cawed the raven to the girl as they walked through the forest. ‘Surely you’ve heard enough stories to know that this never ends well.’ ‘And yet, I am determined to try,’ the girl said calmly. ‘But, but, but,’ spluttered the squirrel, ‘You’re our friend! We don’t want to lose you!’ She gently held the paw of the squirrel riding on her shoulder. ‘No one ever promised that things worth doing would be safe or easy.’ She looked the raven and the squirrel each in the eye in turn, ‘My mind is made up.’ Then she added softly, ‘You don’t have to come with me. This forest is your home. Your families and other friends are here.’ ‘We won’t leave you!’ the squirrel said vehemently, looking at the raven for affirmation. The raven rolled his eyes and added, ‘Even if it’s a fool hearty idea and we’ll all most likely perish. At least it shoul...

  One Sentence Enjoyed a slow morning and then an afternoon exploring Llangollen.      

  Journal Today when Little One and I walked, we deviated from a route I knew and headed off on an unknown path. In this day and age with Google Maps I was still relatively sure where we’d end up, but it was still a new walk — at least in part — for us. Little One was fussy by this time and pulling his hat over his eyes, which always means he’s tired. He has recently decided that when in the pram, if he’s going to sleep, the hat will over his eyes. I doubted myself for a second and thought about staying on the route that I was familiar with since he was fussy and tired. I double checked what Google Maps said. And then I left the familiar for the unknown. Not a big unknown, mind you, but an unknown none the less. And I was glad I did! I can’t say this new route was overly scenic as it ended up leading us along a main road for a good portion of it. But the noise of the cars driving past soothed Little One to sleep (I had to move his hat up to check). And as we neared a more familiar ...

  Poem -- You're Only This Size Once You’re only this size once So let’s use some time to explore New foods and textures, sounds and friends, More and more and more. You’re only this size once So go ahead and nap on me I’ll give you snuggles, protect your dreams and use the time to read a story. You’re only this size once So, of course, I’ll hold you when you cry To comfort you and let you know that you’re my favourite little guy. You’re only this size once So I’ll cherish everyday We giggle and laugh and roll and talk and fill the day with play.

  Short Story -- Once Upon a Time...  Once upon a time in a kingdom not as far away as you might think there lived a… Cat. To be clear, in case your imagination is already running away with you and making you think that in this kingdom cats were able to talk or wore clothes or acted as diplomats… they can’t. They only do the usual cat things: hunt mice (if you’re lucky), enjoy catnip, push anything on a table or counter off of it, etc. That is to say that in this kingdom they aren’t generally any more or less sentient than the cats you probably know wherever you are. Now that that’s been established: Once upon a time there was a cat. He was a medium sized cat with grey patches and white areas of fur. He was quite fluffy. He had intelligent green eyes. And what really made him stand out — in appearance that is — is that he had markings by his mouth that looked surprisingly like Poirot’s moustache. No one quite knew where the cat lived, but many many people throughout the castle...