Tales From The Town #202: Nostalgia

“Do you remember…?” Daniel said.

“NO!” said Claire.

“But he hasn’t even asked you anything yet, Claire,” said Tina.

“I don’t care,” said Claire. “I am not thinking about the past. The past is BORING!” She picked something up off the ground and then threw it back onto the ground to prove her point. “And it’s stupid.”

“You’re stupid,” said Ethel. “You just threw a boiled egg on the ground.”

“I HATE BOILED EGGS!” said Claire. “And I hate picnics!” Claire stormed off towards the swing and then got on the swing and swung on the swing in as furious a fashion as it was possible for a girl to swing. “AND I HATE ANTS!”

“I think she does remember,” said Daniel.

“I think we all remember,” Agnes sighed, unable to forget.

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Notes:

1. Written on March 31st, 2025

(untitled)

all the things i ever did
were so long ago

i cling to memories
as if they were lifeboats
from the shipwreck of my past

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Notes:

1. Written on March 7th, 2025

Tales From The Town #201: Bored/Not Bored

“I’m bored,” said Ethel.

“Not as bored as me,” said Claire. “I’m more bored than anyone has ever been, ever, anywhere, in the whole wide world. Even at school. Even in a museum.”

“I bet Daniel’s not bored,” said Tina, who was also quite bored, even if she didn’t like to admit it. “Daniel’s never bored.”

“Daniel’s too stupid to be bored,” said Claire. “And also he’s an idiot.”

“That’s not very nice, Claire,” said Daniel. “And anyway, I win.”

“What do you mean you win?” Claire said.

“The paint’s dried now,” said Daniel, pointing at the wall they were all standing in front of but which only Daniel had been looking at. It was a freshly painted lilac now. Yesterday it’d been blue or something. “You three weren’t even looking. But I was.”

“Urgh,” said Claire. “I didn’t even know we were playing.”

“Well, we were,” said Daniel. “And I won.”

“No, you didn’t,” said Claire. “Also you were cheating. I demand a rematch!”

“Claire? What are you doing?” Ethel wailed helplessly.

“Shut up, Ethel,” said Claire. “I am not losing to Daniel. Not ever.” She turned back to Daniel and loomed ominously over him as best as she could. “Come on, Daniel, it’s best of three. No wait, first to three…”

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Notes:

1. Written on March 7th, 2025