Tales From The Town: Pocket Editions (#13-15)

Some more Pocket Tales, to go with this year’s Pocket Tales (#10-#12), and last year’s Pocket Tales (#1-#4 / #5-#9).

Pocket Tales #13

Dust

It filled the air we breathed and the lungs we breathed it with.

Smoke

It filled the air we breathed and the lungs we breathed it with.

Mist

It filled the air we breathed and the lungs we breathed it with.

The Fog Of Existence

It was everywhere
in everything there ever was

Pocket Tales #14

Chasm

They stepped over it as if it wasn’t there.

Bridge

Only the bravest dared to cross.

Cliff

You could feel gravity here as if it was a real thing pulling you down in its grip.

A Dream Of The Moon Never Disappoints

There is enough there for everyone to see and do.

Pocket Tales #15 (Poetry Edition)

A Poem For The Cat

Why is she
so perfect
so perfectly unconcerned
with me?

A Poem For The Fish

Little fish
Big Fish
Swimming in a circle
in the corner of the room

Big Fish
Little Fish
Bioluminescent
Glowing in the gloom

A Poem For The Spider

All her spidery children
spread across the ceiling
Does she even remember them
or know what they’re feeling
Now they’ve left her web
for somewhere more appealing

A Poem For Mum

She doesn’t get angry
because she’s too sad
If only we were good
Instead of so bad

A Poem For Dad

He dreams of the sky
He dreams of the sea
He dreams of the mermaid
He dreams he was free
I think he’s forgotten
Who he used to be.

A Poem For The House

I can feel it
dreaming
Is it dreaming
through me

I can feel it
growing
Almost like a tree

Ae we the birds
in its branches?
Or its fruits
and its seeds?

A Poem For Me

Its okay
to not be seen

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Notes:

1. Made between June 9th and June 12th, 2022

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Tales From The Town: Pocket Editions (#10-#12)

Some more Pocket Tales, to go with last year’s Pocket Tales (#1-#4 / #5-#9).

Pocket Tales #10

The Kite

It is forbidden to speak of the kite anymore. It is mourned in silence.

David

He could not get back up no matter how hard he tried. He pretended instead that he was where he wanted to be.

Pocket Tales #11

(Even the crabs were sunburned)

Gravestone

The gravestone records the beginning and the end. What occurred in the moments between is of no lasting interest to history.

Tradition

They rolled plates down the hill. There was nothing else to do.

Treasure Trove

No one knew it was there, or what it was. The grass had grown long around it. One day perhaps it would be found.

Pocket Tales #12

CDs

They hang from the trees and keep the fairies at bay.

Tapes

The only known thing of infinite length is an unspooled taped unwinding in the breeze.

LPs

They had been listened to so often the sound had worn away. But in our minds we remembered.
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Notes:

1. Made between June 9th and June 12th, 2022
2. Although the words for Gravestone and Tradition come from earlier in the year.
3. Maybe even last year.
4. Also I don’t know why I forgot to do the middle pages in Pocket Tales #12
5. But I did
6. So that one’s shorter
7. Sorry

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Tales From The Town #61: Explanations Of Necessities

“But why, Mum?”

“What’s he doing here?”

“He’s the new lodger,” Agnes explained. “He’s moving into the new rooms.”

“We don’t want him.”

“We don’t need him.”

“But we do need his money,” Agnes said. “It’s sad but it’s true. Feeding all you kids doesn’t come cheap.”

“We aren’t that expensive!”

“We barely eat a thing!”

“Daniel eats nothing at all!”

“I eat apples from the apple tree,” Daniel said. “And drink water from the tap.”

“And ice creams from the ice cream van,” said Agnes, sighing slightly. “I’m sorry everyone, but we really do need a new lodger now Oya’s moved in with Anna.”

“But she hasn’t moved out!”

“She’s just moved upstairs!”

“I know, I know,” said Agnes. “But it’s not like I can continue charging them both now they share a single room, is it?”

“You could!” Claire said. “I would.”

“It just wouldn’t be fair,” said Agnes.

“Who cares about fair!” Claire grumped. “I hate him!”

“You hardly know him, Claire,” Agnes said. “How can you hate him?”

“He called me fat!”

“He did not,” Ethel said.

“He did!”

“Didn’t!”

“He said you were a big girl,” Tina said. “I was there.”

“We were all there,” Ethel said. “Even Mum!”

“See!” Claire said. “It’s the same thing. I told you!”

“That’s not the same thing, Claire,” Agnes said. “I’m sure he was just trying to be nice.”

“He’s not nice at all,” Claire said. “He’s creepy. I don’t like his eyes. Or his smile. Or his name.”

“He’s got eyes like blueberry pies,” Daniel said.

“What’s wrong with his name?” Agnes said. “Christopher’s a nice name.”

“He’s got a name like a videogame,” Daniel suggested. It was the best he could do.

“It’s not even a little bit nice!” Claire said. “It’s an awful name and I hate it!”

“He’s got smiles like a crocodile’s!” Daniel added for good measure.

“No he doesn’t,” Claire said, spinning right round so she could refute Daniel’s allegations head on. “If he had a smile like a crocodile his smile would be nice and I’d like him but his smile is awful and I hate him so he doesn’t have a smile like a crocodile AT ALL.”

“Claire what’s gotten into you?” Agnes asked. “He’s not even moved in yet. You probably won’t even have to see him when he does. He’s very busy. He works in the city, you know?”

“Well maybe he should stay there!” Claire shouted, before suddenly slumping down on the settee.

It was all too much for her. She pulled a hairbrush out of her pocket and started running it furiously through her hair in an attempt to calm down. The cat pawed at her knees, then climbed up her leggings like they were a ladder. Everyone else drifted from the room like clouds.

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Notes:

1. Written on May 9th, 2022

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Tales From The Town #60: Entrance Interview

It was the eyes that did it. Those eyes.

Agnes couldn’t remember anything he’d actually said during the interview, but after she’d shown him the house, the rooms, the garden, the children, all it took was one look from those eyes, those dreamy blue eyes, and she found herself nodding, agreeing, holding her hand out towards him to confirm that yes, he could move in whenever he was ready.

And so the deal was done. There was no turning back now. The lodger had arrived.

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Notes:

1. Written on May 9th, 2022

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Tales From The Town #59: New Rooms

The house had grown again. Children ran through the new rooms in a state of excitement. Adults shook their heads in slight disquiet. Outside, the windows no longer corresponded with their location within.

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Notes:

1. Written on 13th April, 2022

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