tales from the town

Tales From The Town #65: The Lodger (Methods Of Success)

He said all the right things to the right people, smiled the right smiles, stared into their eyes with exactly the right intensity to suggest sincerity. No matter what he did, what he said, those fluttering eyes of his would convince you it wasn’t his fault. It was yours.

“No, no, I should be the one apologising to you,” Agnes said to him, as she surveyed the wreckage beneath the tree. The ruined swing, the broken branch, the sullen children mourning their loss. “I should have told you it was only strong enough for the kids…”

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Notes:

1. Written on May 12th, 2022

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Tales From The Town #64: In The Sun In The Summer

1. Daniel used the hose to make rainbows in the sun.

2. “They’re not real rainbows,” said Claire.

3. “You’re a real rainbow,” said Ethel.

4. “Am not,” Claire said.

5. “Am,” said Ethel.

6. Tina used the hose to make rainbows in the sun.

7. Repeat to fade.

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Notes:

1. Written on June 28th, 2022

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Tales From The Town #63: Unpacking, or The Tools Of The Trade

Christopher laid out the contents of his suitcase carefully on the bed, checking each item off a list to make sure nothing had been mislaid in transit. You never could tell the trouble lost items might bring.

1. Phone #1 (public use)
2. Phone #2 (private use)
3. Laptop #1 (unlocked, innocent)
4. Laptop #2 (locked, encrypted, incriminating)
5. Printer
6. Laminator
7. Wireless Listening Devices #1-#7
8. Passive Listening Devices #1-#4
9. Notebook (in code)
10. Pens (various colours)
11. Camera #1 (conspicuous, innocent)
12. Camera #2 (inconspicuous, deniable)
13. Camera #3 (concealable, beyond legal and moral bounds)
14. Credit/Debit Cards #1-#6 (various names)
15. Voice Modulator (still in box)
16. Cables (knotted bundle)

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Notes:

1. Written on (date lost)
2. But probably in the first half of 2022
3. Or maybe late 2021

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Tales From The Town #62: Weather Report

There was rain enough for weeks in little more than an hour. Lightning struck the grass until half the lawn was made of glass. The wind blew the salt off the sea straight into your eyes, then blew the tears in your eyes straight back out over the ocean.

None of this, of course, had anything to do with the arrival of the lodger. None of this had anything to do with anything except itself. But still it was talked about for quite some time after as if perhaps it did.

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Notes:

1. Written on May 11th, 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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