Tales From The Town #184: A Fort

The fort stood halfway up the hill at the end of the garden, as far beyond the swings as the swings were from the house. It was constructed from four deckchairs, one picnic blanket, two beach towels, someone’s t-shirt, three shoes and a stone. Its current supplies consisted of two jam sandwiches, one apple, and a packet of quavers, two water pistols, three quarters of a bucket of ammunition (paddling pool water), plus a colouring book, three pens, two dolls, and a plastic tea set (imaginary tea optional).

Their enemies occupied the Wendy House, and woud be resisted at all costs (up to and including getting soaked by water bombs).

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Notes:

1. Written on August 13th, 2024

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Tales From The Town #179: Puppet Show

The puppet show will be appearing at various locations around the town throughout the summer. Performances last for approximately 45 minutes and entry is free. The puppets are 8 to 12 inches high and made from varnished wood, and move across the stage in ways variously described as “creepy” (Ethel, aged 9), “weird” (Claire, aged 9), “mesmerising” (Tina, aged 9), and “like if they were secretly spiders” (Daniel, aged 9). The stories they tell have been proclaimed as “eerie” (Ethel), “stupid” (Claire), “moving” (Tina), and “like secret spider dreams” (Daniel).

Whoever is operating them and for what purpose is currently unknown. If you have any information or concerns about anything related to puppets or puppetry, please call 999 immediately.

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Notes:

1. Written on July 13th, 2024
2. I missed out a tale last weekend but we’re back now.
3. Please forgive me.

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Tales From The Town #178: Spaceships Built From Steam

“Spaceship.”

“And that one?”

“Spaceship.”

“What about that one?”

“Spaceship.”

“Daniel, will you stop saying they all look like spaceships when not one of them looks even anything at all like a spaceship EVEN SLIGHTLY!”

“They don’t just look like spaceships, Claire. They ARE spaceships.”

“No they’re not. They’re clouds!”

“They’re lighter than air!”

“Yeah?”

“And they move!”

“So?

“They can disappear!”

“And?”

“And they’re full of space!”

Claire remained unconvinced by her brother’s arguments on the matter.

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Notes:

1. Written on June the something or other I can’t remember exactly.
2. The title’s stolen/derived from this excellent book by Lisa Tuttle.

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Tales From The Town #120: Ice Cream Competition

“Two scoops?!” Tina said, wide eyed with awe. “I’ve never had two scoops before.”

“Mine’s got two scoops too,” said Daniel. “In different flavours!”

“Mine has two scoops and a flake!” said Ethel. “I don’t know what’s gotten into dad but I like it.”

“I think maybe he’s just sad,” said Tina. “He’s not been the same since the mermaid ran off with that walrus last year.”

There was a moment of silence as they contemplated their father, as he counted out his sand and seaweed covered coins at the ice cream counter.

“Yeah, well mine has THREE scoops!” Claire shouted, quickly getting back to what was important. “And I’ve got two of them!” She pulled her arm out from behind her back with a flourish a magician would have been proud of. “You’ll never beat that!”

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Notes:

1. Written on May 26th, 2023

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Tales From The Town: A Summer Book

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Notes:

1. Written between the 5th and the 11th of August, 2022
2. Although the cover was drawn on the of August, 2022
3. And also the back cover.
4. And also I suppose technically The Cat In Summer was written whenever The Cat In Winter was written.
5. Which was last summer instead of this summer, it appears.
6. Also it’s too hot to transcribe these today so I hope you can read them all.
7. I assure you the crossed out word at the end of Flags Of Forgotten Nations is not rude.
8. At all.
9. Unless you consider C&A rude
10. It’s quite rude I suppose.

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