RUSSELL CLARIDGE
Flash Fiction Month - July 2024
1st of July 2024
Prompt - "'Ooh, yay! We’re gonna regret this.’
'Ooh, yay! We’re gonna regret this.’
‘THREE, TWO, ONE!’ They all bellowed. All ten downed their vodka shots.
‘THREE, TWO, ONE! They bellowed again. Another ten vodka shots downed by the same ten people.
‘THREE, TWO, ONE!’ The final ten vodka shots drank by the ten of them.
‘NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!’ One of the ten boomed.
‘NOW YOU ARE GOING TO REGRET THIS!’
‘AAARRRGHH.’ They all roar, pulled off all their coats to reveal ten naked bodies of the many genders of today. All ten ran out of the open bar and onto the moon lit beach and ploughed into the sea. There were high pitched screams from all genders some screams rang out for miles. Many were tinged with laughter, of shock of the bitter cold of the water. However one scream, one scream was different. It was chilling, blood curdling. Sharp, born of pain and terror. The other screamers did not notice it. But the non vodka shot drinking, clothed bar patrons did.
Police were called and arrived long before the ten naked drunk or at least thoroughly buzzed humans stopped splashing around in the sea. The first thing that was realised was that there was not ten naked humans. But nine. The coastguard arrived from up the sea front. Drove onto the beach and lit it up with their head lights and roll rail flood lights. The naked people were instructed to stay in the water. Some were now very conscious of the fact they were naked and that everyone was looking at them. Though that was the case when they were jumping about in the water.
‘OH MY GOD!’ One of them bellowed when the vehicle mounted light caught the form of a floating naked body. Now more screams these ones of terror. The police bellowed for none of them to go near it. Eventually the body was recovered by the coast guard and after the coats the naked people were wearing thoroughly checked by the police the naked men, women, and other genders were instructed one by one to leave the water and pul their coat on. All were detained, as potential murder suspects. After interviewing all of them they all gave variations of the same story. They were there to celebrate Their identity. Their choice. Their bodies.
The decision was made to hold them all for twenty four hours. All in the same communal holding cell. This was against policy and was probably illegal. Several hours passed and the cell was beginning to brighten with the morning sun. Some had slept, some had spoken quietly, some had sobbed. By the time the morning shift arrived all of the murder suspects were far more agitated however the police did not answer any of their questions. Soon accusation started flying around the holding cell. Friendships then spanned decades, fractured, relationships, full of suspicion. Eventually they all agreed, well, all bar one. They next time the police passed the cell eight of the ten started shouting. The noise was so loud and the danger so great that the accused was escorted out of the communal cell and taken into interrogation once again.
Fear enveloped them all. Fear of what was next. Fear of who was next to them. Fear of what they could do. Fear of what they would do. Some friendship survived this. Some was damaged or destroyed beyond repair. Couple, lovers now ex’s. They remained in that communal cell. Periodically taking trips to the semi private toilet, that did nothing to stop the sound or smell of their productivity. Food was brought for them, pizza from a local place. They again tried to engage the police to no affect. Some asked for their phone call. Others demanded, others begged. Eventually the accused returned. Place in a single cell opposite the communal one. The accused was asked questions, shouted at, screamed at but all they received was a sly smile and staring eyes.
Eventually the door to the communal cell was opened. And all were informed that they could leave. The police had their murderer. Just as they all filed out of the cell, all prior friendships and or relationships damaged possible beyond repair, the accused stood.
‘I told you, you would regret this.’
2nd of July 2024
Challenge Element 1 & 2 and Daily Prompt - Getting dressed up all fancy for no reason.
‘Wow, now that is a statement!’
‘You don’t like it?!’
‘I didn’t say that did I?’
‘But do you like it?’
‘Of course, I like Mike love your tits. ‘
‘Good.’
Everyone else will know what the fuck you are doing, They won’t be happy’
‘Why?’
‘It’s bright red, not fire truck red. Or rouge, crimson, ruby, candy, cherry, scarlet, rose, raspberry or even blood red. No you’ve chosen, bright red. You do this every time, Mike is with us. It’s just games night, at Sarah’s.’
‘And.’
‘And Sarah, is flat chested, has no fashion sense and completely fucking colour blind.’
3rd of July 2024
Daily Prompt - ‘Hercules the Elephant, Legend of the Jungle!’
‘Hercules the Elephant, Legend of the Jungle!’ Holly shouted pissed off someone had moved or maybe even stolen her megaphone. She did love her megaphone, perhaps a little too much. They all waited. Five men and one woman from the local tribe Holly did not dare try to pronounce. The woman Ki pronounced “Key” was the only one of them that spoke any measure of English. Two others were with her. A wildlife expert David Mullins who had spent the last three decades studying the Amazon rainforest. The other was Her cameraman/lover Steven Smyth ex British SAS reservist, who had followed her everywhere from the frontline in Ukraine to Antartica and now deep in the Amazonia Rainforest. They had been together professionally for a decade now. Privately their relationship only kindled after Holly’s well published divorce from Alonzo Ventura.
He was currently the leading scorer in the MLS and had been for the past two years. Since he had left Liverpool FC where they had met. Holly was writing her book on the growth of the MLS and how it affected already established football leagues in Europe. Holly was a retired Footballer herself, playing for Reading FC then Arsenal before a car accident when she was 25 ended her football career. Though she was American born she refused to call Football, Soccer mostly because she was raised in the UK by her Father. She was absolutely a daddies girl and like her father supported West Ham United.
After her Football career ending accident she had returned to the US to study Journalism and American History. She returned to the UK three years later and wrote her book “The Rise of Major League Soccer”, it was well received buoyed by her Marriage to Alonzo Ventura in the process. After that she had invested all her time in to Journalism or as Alonzo put is “Reckless Journalism”. Their divorce was not because of infidelity by ether. Nor was it because of their hectic schedules. It was because Alonzo was always worried sick for Holly and it started effecting his Football. Holly had returned from her “Reckless Journalism” in an attempt to salvage their marriage, but it was not enough.
Couple of months after the divorce was finalised, getting drunk one night in some dreadful hotel in Argentina covering the anti-government riots she made her way into Steve’s room. They did not sleep together that night, well they did but that is all they did, sleep. She was extremely apologetic the following morning and quite embarrassed. Steve understood and though he wanted their friendship to be a relationship he was not going to take advantage of the situation. When the assignment was concluded he had asked her out on a date. The paparazzi had a field day when they were seen going to a high end restaurant in Manhattan together and the rumour mill exploded with hints of this being the reason Alonzo had initiated divorce. Holly had to go on record to say it was just a celebratory dinner after a difficult and dangerous assignment. From that moment their relationship was under wraps and to the public at least they were simply colleagues.
In private their relationship had blossomed and Holly was deeply in love with Steve as he was with her. It help he was British, though she loved America and loved being American, she hated most Americans. They were just too goddam loud. She also found it difficult to be around them too long. Her father used the word “Cunt” mostly as a comma and an entire nation so pissy when it came to swearing, but ok with kids being shot at school just rubbed her the wrong way.
Because of this she had very few real friends from her country of birth. This did make her journalist job much more difficult. This assignment she had given to herself, financed herself and all on the boasting of a friend of Alonzo, Peter Hank Weltone. Some hedge fund manager who was laughing about the sinking of one of his contemporaries boat on the Amazon River which had on it two Elephants. One was the famous Hercules who had became internet famous when by predicting every result of the 2026 Football World Cup from that moment being christened Hercules the Legend.
Several people had drowned when the boat had sunk and it was believed that both Elephants also drowned. However there had been consistent rumours or Elephants being spotted within the Amazon Rainforest. When eventually someone had been able to get a picture of them, there were three of them, Hercules was identified. There had been a number of sitings and each time Hercules had either scared any humans away or led the others deep into the rainforest were their trail was lost. There were even reports of a large elephant appearing on roads and tracks helping in moving stuck vehicles.
These acts of protection and vehicle assistance true or not had spawned the Hercules the Elephant, Legend of the Jungle. Hercules was the internet sensation and Holly wanted to be the first one to find him. David had warned her that her constant use of the megaphone was definitely scaring Hercules away. It was certainly doing that with all other animals. This was the seventh day of there expedition and with the exception of a few piles of week old elephant dung, that was all they had found.
That night as Holly smoked at the mouth of her tent, after a vigorous three hour romp with her lover who was behind her snoring louder than a chainsaw. She saw it, she saw him. The full moon was shining down on the beach where they had made camp. A large shape just with the tree line. Standing she walked towards the brush. Moments later a large grey elephant walked on to the beach. Holding up her hand Hercules touched it with his trunk.
‘Hello, Hercules the Elephant, Legend of the Jungle.’
4th of July 2024
Challenge Element 1&2 and Daily Prompt - It's a Vampire, only louder
6th of July 2024
Challenge Element Uno & Zwei and Daily Prompt - Only good children get extra nutrient cubes after dinner.
“Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis?”
‘P,n,e,u,m,o,n,o,u,l,t,r,a,m,i,c,r,o,s,c,o,p,i,c,s,i,l,i,c,o,v,o,l,c,a,n,o,c,o,n,i,o,s,i,s.’ Karen stared at Jason with a measure or rage that both scared and annoyed the six year old.
‘That was very slow.’ She snapped.
‘Sim, mãe, tu sabes que eu te amo’ (Yes, Mum, you know I love you.)
‘What language is that?’ Karen spat.
‘É português, sua puta psicopata.’ (It’s Portuguese, you psycho bitch.)
‘That is a fucking useless language to learn, it’s only spoken in Portugal isn’t it?’
‘No, mother, it’s spoken in Brazil, and a a some African countries.’
‘Don’t care pick another language that more people speak for fuck sake. We did not bring you in to the world to be a dummy.’
‘只有好孩子才能在晚饭后得到额外的营养块.’ (Only good children get extra nutrient cubes after dinner.)
‘That’s better. The Japanese will rule the world one day!’
‘That was Mandarin mother, what they speak in China, where a billion people live.’ He added to stop another stupid tirade.
‘老天我恨死你了,你什么时候才能死呢?’ (God I fucking hate you, when will you die?)
‘Don’t you dare show off. You know you are very smart, but you are not clever. Now go to bed. Not anything from you until tomorrow morning.’ She stormed out slamming his door shut.
Jason could hear her locking the padlock. This meant that she was no doubt going to open her liquor cabinet. He would get no dinner from her tonight. That was always a blessing as his mother cooking skills were woeful. He sighed stood and walked over to his closet. Skilfully he removed the wall panel to reveal a small cubby hole were there was a mini fridge filled with all measure of drinks and fruits. Alongside them were small packets of these cube things. The packets had Chinese writing on them he grabbed two packets some mixed fruits and a coke.
To the left of the fridge was a small laptop. He had purchase all this using his mothers credit card. The day the credit card bill came in she had handed him it and asked him to sort out the payment. He had been in charge of her finances for the past year. There was always money in her account. His investments were extremely profitable and less than 10% he allocated to his mother but that 10% was more than enough to keep her happy. The other 90% of his dividends went into an accounts the Cayman Islands where his mother held many accounts. By the time he will be eighteen he will be set for life. And hopefully his mother will be long dead by then.
In truth he held no real ill will towards her she was just weak. Fell into drugs. Got sober when she got pregnant much to his relief. Now only booze was her vice but sadly it was her vice almost every evening. On good days she was the best mum. But they were few and far between. When it was discovered that her Jason was a child prodigy, a genius child she had jumped onto that. This meant that she gave birth to a genius. Something to put her hat on.
Now in her mind he was not smart enough. In fact he was far smarter than he was letting on. It was four thirty in July, the sun was up and it was a lovely day. He got to work. Reading book after book, he had shelves of books. His mother had purchased all the books from the three local charity shops and filling the Ikea billy bookcases from floor to ceiling with them. He had to read at least one book a day. He was reading closer to four a day. It was the greatest gift she had ever got him. He learned so much in those books. Reading them encouraged him to research. Which prompted the laptop purchase.
At the moment he was too small and weak to stand up against his mother though he was hopeful he would not have. If his planned worked soon he would have her wrapped around his little finger. She manipulated with emotion, fear, rage, joy. His manipulation tactic would be materials, logical, biblical, diabolical.
He glanced at the door whilst opening one of the cubed packages. He read the product name aloud.
‘Only good children get extra nutrient cubes after dinner.’ He sighed and placed them back on the floor. He ate the apple as he flicked through some light reading. War and Peace. Only after he finished his apple and fruit did he attack the cubes again.
‘It’s after dinner now.’ He smiled then heard a muffled thud from somewhere in the flat. He pulled in a calming breath.
‘Give it time Jason, Soon, No one, will control you. No one will control me. No one will control I.’
8th of July 2024
Daily Prompt - Feral children roaming the wild in packs
‘Those are not children, well they are, but not human children.’ Ray whispered.
‘Then what are they?’ Pat asked.
‘Us. Mirrors, of us. Our opposite. We are old, they are young. We are civilised. They are feral. We are live in homes, they live in the wild. We are individuals, they run with the pack. We are emotionally flawed and logical, they are neither and both. Make no mistake, we are in the fight of our lives.’ The confidence obvious.
‘If they are our mirror, so do they know what we know?’ Oscar asked.
‘I don’t know.’ Ray said the moments ago confidence slipping.
They all retreated to the respective positions of attack. The log cabin was old, made of sturdy logs, logs which had deteriorated. The back door had OSB board nailed on it to cover the window. The front door sporting the top of the dinning table. All the windows were covered with 4 by 2 timbers. They were the obvious points of attack which is why each was manned. What worried them all was the roof. It was made from trees but much lighter and finer trees. It had taken then brunt of the neglect the entire cabin had suffered.
The four of them remained silent, all straining to hear their opposite outside. They heard nothing. Nate had not spoken for the last two days. All they could get out of him were grunts. Thankfully they wanted for nothing at the moment except freedom. Whomever lived here before was without a doubt a pepper. Plenty of long life meals, MRE’s, drinking water and coffee, and powdered milk. Not that anyone of them needed any form of stimulant. The night became their day. The days, their opposite would retreat. They did consider running but they were so remote, it would take more than a day to get away. The joys of living in the open reaches of Canada.
Scratches could be heard from below their feet, this sent them all into a silent blind panic. They all froze, eyes locked on the wooden floor below their feet. Their breaths were slow and measured. With all eyes cast down, they did not notice the small hole in the roof getting bigger. Only when the thick cloud cover momentarily allowed the moons reflected rays shine did they notice a beam of light. Snapping their heads up they were met by a young human face staring back at them. Nate recognised himself immediately. Him when he was six.
‘A mirror you say.’ Nate said. Watching his opposite closely. Within moments his young opposite spoke. He made no sound but his lips moved. The hole it had made was only big enough for his face to fit in. Nate tilted his head right. His younger opposite turned his head left. Nate smiled. It smiled. Their eyes were locked and all was silent at least to them both. In truth Raymond, Oscar and Pat were all yelling and screaming at him. He heard nothing from them. Only a calming bliss.
‘You are a smart man Raymond.’ Nate said softly silencing them all. ‘But this is not a fight. It is challenge. A challenge, to make the right decision. They are here to help us. To help us see, the freedom, we could have. Oscar, Pat.' Nate extended his hands to them both. They approached and grasps them.
‘Come on Raymond, join us. You can always return here, when needed. But come on, let’s become feral children roaming the wild in packs.’ Nate, Oscar and Pat headed for the door and opened it. Raymond watched on as one by one they passed through the doors threshold phasing into nothingness.
As Pat passed though the door she extended her hand. Everything within Raymonds body recoiled from it. But somehow he was still drawn to it. Equally disgusted and drawn to it. His feet started to move, each step more difficult than the last. He shot a glance to the roof to find the young opposite face was now a mirror of him and not Nate. As the last of Pat arm faded he grasped her hand expecting to be yanked through the threshold he found that he had the control. He decided whatever horrors lay ahead he would rather face them with his friends than remain here, alone. He stepped through the threshold.
Raymond eyes shot open. He had been frozen on the spot for few moments then he shook himself out of it and continued to follow all his friends as they ran to the slides and climbing frames. His mother Patricia watched on from the picnic tables a smile spread across her face.
‘What is it?’ Nathan asked joining her.
‘He just had an episode. I timed it, it lasted barely thirty seconds.’ Nathan looked on as his six year old kid joined all his school friends climbing up the stairs to the slides, he was smiling and laughing with them all. His pride in his son swelling.
‘Doctor Oscar’s cabin in the wilderness seems to be working then.’ Nathan said a smile playing on his face. Patricia beamed at him tears of joy running down her cheeks.
‘I think he is still using us to help him. But one day, he won’t need us in the cabin. One day he won’t even need the cabin.’
5th of July 2024
Prompt - We severely misjudged the power of bacon
‘Well you know me I am a Bacon connoisseur, a Bacon fiend, a Bacon champion!!! I have seen the power of bacon revive the dead, My pal Al Murray the pub landlord told the story on one of his shows. I have seen bacon turn the most pig loving, meat hating, barely skin and bones vegetable crazed hippy into ravenous beasts with their muscle returning mere days after eating the stuff.’
‘I have seen the most vegan of vegans. The vegan who tells everyone they walk past that they are vegan, who says it loud enough on the bus that everyone on the top level and bottom level can hear them. I have seen them watch a man in a greasy cafe take a bite of a bacon bap, the bacon inside covered in clover butter and Heinz Ketchup go weak at the knees with envy and lust!’
‘Make no mistake people even a fruitarian cannot resist the life giving aroma of British Back Bacon sizzling in a frying pan. But this takes the cake. This exceeds everything I have been saying all along. This is one of my customer Cheryl. She comes into my Butchers every week or so. Ever since that Eddie Abbew started speaking the truth about meat. Come one up dear.’ Pat says stepping aside from the podium in front of the reporters. Cheryl tentatively steps up and looks out to the gaggle of reporters.
‘Tell them what you told me.’ Pat said from her left.
‘I um… came in yesterday to get my usual order, boneless chicken thighs, assorted eggs and three backs of bacon one pack streaky and…’ Cheryl glanced at Pat who gave her a thumbs up almost giddy bouncing on the the spot.
‘… I said to Pat that… I think this bacon… this bacon in making me straight.’ Pat step forward almost knocking Cheryl off the podium.
‘You hear that ladies and gentleman! My bacon can cure lesbieanness!!!!’
‘For years! All of us. We severely misjudged the power of bacon. Now form an orderly line! When it runs out it runs out!!!!’ Pat runs back into his butchers.
Cheryl glances around then meekly leaves returning home, to her wife of five years, their two dogs and three cats. As she steps into the flat placing her keys in the pot of the shoe cabinet and removing her coat she heard the love of her life call.
‘What did Pat do?’
‘He called a fucking press conference.’ Molly burst out laughing so loud both dogs leapt from the sofa scared. Cheryl slumped into her arm chair and quickly Ginger her most loving cat jumped into her lap.
‘Well next time y…’
‘Next time I lose a bet with you I’m going to go down on you for so long and so hard you will orgasm so hard you will pass out!’ Cheryl roared with anger. Molly stopped laughing uncoiled from the sofa and knelt in front of the woman she had loved for the best part of a decade.
‘Come, on you're soaked and freezing. We need a shower.’ Cheryl smiled lifting ginger gingerly off her lad and placing him on the ground. Molly lead Cheryl into their ensuite bedroom closing the door behind them.
‘I told you time and time again Pat, is fucking mental.’ Molly said. They both burst out laughing.
7th July 2024
Prompt - I just got out of my car to yell at a duck, so that's where I'm at in my life
‘Good morning my loyal caring followers. This is an impromptu Tic Tok message this fine Wednesday morning. And when I say fine I mean FUCKING TIPPING IT DOWN!!!’
Matty takes a long breath.
‘God I just love living in bloody England!’
Matty downs a small can of Red Bull.
‘I have never been a religious man! And I am not better because of that, neither are believers better than me because of that. Anyone and everyone is free to believe what they want as long as they don’t push their religious beliefs onto others or use it for justification for hurting anyone else!’
‘I’m not an atheist though, I’mma… fuck it what is it, ag… ag no stick… I can’t remember is doesn’t matter anyway this message today is coming at you from works van. It is now 10:17am Wednesday. I was suppose to start work at 7:30am. So yeah ‘I’m getting yelled at when I finally get into work. But anyway where was I… ah yeah. So I’m no religious that is different in believing in a God. Or God like being.’
He cracks open another small can of Red Bull.
‘I was woken up at 2:30 in the poxy morning by a massive loud crash. Outside my flat there was a car, imbedded in my front garden brick wall. I say imbedded more like on top of, my wall now a collection of bricks and mortar shards. Fair play it took the police and fire engines only minutes to get to my house. So I’ve been awake since then. And considering I went to sleep at around 1am I’ve had less than 2 hours sleep.’
‘So suffusive to say I am tired, cranky and did I mention tired. So after all the bloody talking with cops and fireman, top notch by the way they were brilliant cannot praise them enough. They pretty much surrounded my flat with police tape, leaving barely enough of a gap to get the company van out. But after all that rigmarole I ate some brekkie, had a shower and got dressed for work. Walking out to the company van no one, not one of the coppers or fireman noticed I had a flat tire. Admittedly neither did I or maybe It was a slow puncher.’
Matty angrily gulps down the last of his second can of Red Bull crushing the can then throwing it at the passenger footwell.
‘By the way I’m not sponsored by Red Bull… but hey guys if you want to send me some more I would not say no.’
Matty said as he cracked open his third Red Bull in as many minutes.
‘I knew some Portuguese lad who just drank only Red Bulls, Monster, Relentless and when he was skint he drank the best rust remover in the world Emerge. He died at seventeen from lung cancer from all the cigarettes he smoked. Apparently because of all the energy drinks his liver was fucked.’
Matty unapologetically takes a big swig of his latest Red Bull.
‘So anyway where was I, sorry people I keep going on wild tangents. So it took me about twenty minutes to swap out the flat tyre. I get two streets from mine and more police tape. Turns out the twats that crashed into my wall also knocked down a lamppost. So U-turn made and I am getting later and later. Then I get on the M3 at Bagshot. Low and behold an accident and the entire motorway is closed. And that is where I am at the moment. I’ve been sitting in stand still traffic for the better part of 3 hours.’
He angrily finishes his last Red Bull.
‘So about 10 minutes ago I finally got to a pull off the police had sorted out, it was single file on the hard shoulder. Finally we all started moving not fast but we were moving. Then the car in front of me slams on his breaks. I do the same and stop within fucking millimetres of this cars bumper. He then pulls off like a bat out of hell. I’m about to do the same after I go through a host of swearwords when a police car flashes it’s light and it siren, scares me half to death. I see a cop in the distance point down at the bumper of my work van.’
This time Matty grabs his vape and takes a long pull releasing the smoke and having to lower the drivers window as he starts coughing.
‘So anyway I’m guessing that I actually hit the car and my bumper has fallen off or something. I climb out of the van much to the anger of the approaching cop. And what do I see in front of my van. Guess, I’ll give you ten seconds to guess, put it into the comments.’
Matty waited taking another long pull on his vape.
‘Ok, well, what was there, was a family of ducks. Yeah that’s right, fucking family of ducks. I just lost it and said, “For fuck-sake, get the fuck out of the road!” Only after I got a WTF look from the cop and from the people in the vehicles around me I just shook my head. Laughed and got back in the van. As I did I just noticed a young girl was watching me with her phone. So I thought I would get ahead of this. So anyway this message today is…’
Matty slumped back into his seat.
‘I just got out of my car to yell at a duck, so that’s where I’m at in my life.’
9th of July 2024
Challenge from ljredrocks - Space Oddity -David Bowie - July 2024
“Ground control to Major Tom” (Audio from David’s iPhone)
‘Where the fuck is my Coffee?’ (David singing)
‘You said you would be right back.’
‘With my Mocha with Hazelnut.’
‘I am so fucking parched and sleeeeepy.’
‘I need caffeine and sugar.’
‘Before I fucking waste away.’
‘Hurry the fuck up Major Tom.’
‘If you are not back in my office forthwith.’
‘I’m going to…’
***************
‘SAY ONE MORE FUCKING THING ON THAT TANNOY AND I’M GOING TO KICK YOUR FUCKING HEAD SPANK YOU EVERY WHICH WAY AND THEN FUCK YOU UP THE ARSE, YOU FUCKING COMPLETE AND UTTER CUNT!’ Tom roared.
David stared up at Tom who had just burst in to their shared office furious. There was an explosion of laughter from the factory floor. Tom glanced back down the steps and through the double doors that lead to the factory floor where the explosion of laughter was coming from, confused and angry, mostly angry. He then returned his eyes to David who was trying and failing to control his laughter. Slowly Tom looked down at David’s hand, which was still holding the Tannoy mic transmit button.
Tom face screwed up then he also burst out laughing. David quickly joined him. Tom stomped his way to David’s desk placing his hazelnut Mocha upon it. He then grabbed the tannoy mic and lifted it to his mouth.
‘If any of you call me Major Tom you will be sacked. Also Sean get up here, I’m training you in the office today. David here will work your machine.’ David rolled his eyes stood grasping his Mocha and his pair of leather gloves he made his way to the factory floor. He passed Sean on the way, who was still laughing.
‘You struck a nerve haven’t you? Why the fuck is Tom so angry about you calling him Major Tom.’ David smiled rivalled the grinch or the Cheshire Cat. ‘I was just sorting out some company paperwork and I discovered. His middle name of Bowie.’
10th of July 2024
Daily Prompt - It may not absolve your sins, but it will dissolve them
11th July 2024 - Challenge 1) Tv Tropes - Cucoloris 2) First person 3) 536-700 words. Daily Prompt - Nightmare in an envelope
‘Cucoloris’
‘A cucoloris is a flat opaque object with holes in it. It is held in front of a light to make a pattern of shadows on the subject, such as tree branches. It can be constructed out of styrofoam, wood, or cardboard, or if it is meant to be mounted very close to the light, even metal. It's sometimes spelled… well I can’t even pronounce them..’
I looked up at Michelle. My expression of utter confusion mixed with severe annoyance and the fact that I was bursting for a wee, did not provoke any response.
‘What the fuck you going on about?’ I asked.
‘The schizo in holding cell 3. You wanted to know what Cucoloris means?’ I was momentarily completely lost. Then it came back to me.
‘How long has he been in there now?’ I asked.
‘Um… since Wednesday. His sectioning paperwork won’t get here until Monday.’ I stood the groan of pain becoming a growl of anger.
‘You sometimes, I fucking hate this country. He’s clearly a basket case. He needs treatment not locking up.’ I could see Michelle’s agreement.
‘Has he said anything else since yesterday?’ Michelle sat back down at her desk. A few clicks of her mouse.
‘Yeah, he keeps going on about a letter.’
‘A letter.’ I rabbited.
‘Yeah.’ Michelle responded. I glanced down at my desk where several cases need my attention. This crazy guys is not one of them. Well it is but it is concluded or at least what I can do for him is concluded. Michelle was beaming at me when she watched me grasp his file.
‘Oh, fuck off.’ Michelle burst out laughing.
‘Mr Wilkes.’ I said. He had been curled up on cot shivering. He was still muttering something but in no way was he as bad as he was when he was first brought in. He locked eyes with me. His fear was still evident he was either conquering it or had succumbed to it. I pulled up a chair and sat in front of his cell door, so my eye line was in line in the door hatch.
‘You’ve caused quite a ruckus Wednesday.’
‘I know. But I had to get away. Get away from it. From them.’
‘Yes.’ I flicked through the notes.
‘The cuco-loris?’ I asked. He instantly became agitated eyes darting to each corner of his cell.
‘Who are them?’ I asked not expecting much of a coherent answer.
‘I, I received an envelope on Wednesday. Morning. Inside, was nightmare.’
‘Yes yes, inside was a folded cucoloris. We…’
‘You have it, here?’ He was scared out of his mind again.
‘It’s in evidence, why are you so scared?’ I asked almost annoyed.
‘You know what cucoloris do don’t you?’ Wilkes asked.
‘Of course I do.’ I snapped. He didn’t have to know that I only learned this several minutes ago.
‘You hold them to the light and like a highlight they make patterns using shadows.’ Wilkes continued as if he did not hear me.
‘Yes.’ I said trying and failing to cover my annoyance. Wilkes was breathing heavy if I didn’t know better I would have guessed he was about to have a panic attack.
‘That, that cucoloris pattern w…was people. Figures cloaked in cloaks black boney hands, claws for feet.’ Damn he really is metal. I thought.
‘They are just holes in paper, making shadows. Why are you so scared.’
‘Those shadowy figures, are not suppose to move. Or remain after you have returned the cucoloris to the envelope.’
‘Obviously.’ I said.
‘Look behind you.’ I huffed and turn around. At first I saw nothing but then on the far wall the shadow was there, a figure hunched over. How the hell did I not see it before.
‘Your friend the woman is there’s now.’ I turned back to face Wilkes. His had shot out of the cell hatch wrapping around my neck.
‘You are mine.’ I looked down, his hand was black and of bones. His feet were claws. He was a nightmare.
12th of July 2024
Daily Prompt - She played the organ. She even played the organ donor
Cynthia sat, pulling in a long breath savouring the smell she had loved since she was a girl. It was coppery with a hint of iron and a small amount almond. The memory it bought back was crisp.
The cold concrete floor underneath her bare feet. A dampness in the air. The constant drip… drip… drip of the hot tap. The greys of the walls. Depending on the light charcoal, to steel to silk. There are always a lack of colour in the room. The figure in front of her was dressed in grey overalls. Grey boot covers, taped around his shins using grey duct tape. Grey washing gloves also taped this time around his forearms. He wore a full head mask, “my bucket” her fathers voice making her Cynthia smile. He was the sweetest and kindest man she had ever met. The pride she felt for that man knew no bounds. There was a grinding and grating sound then an explosion of red. Red liquid exploded from in front of her father. He turned to his left revealing what she was later going to identify as a human liver. He walked from the room. She stood opened the large metal cupboard door where she sat and approached the bloody body the liver had been extracted. She was just tall enough to be able to see the body its chest cut open and everything below exposed.
‘Cynthia, are you ok?’ Parvati asked.
‘Just a bit of a headache. Every time we have a quiet day. I just don’t understand it.’ She said as she accepted the mug of tea.
‘Thanks.’
‘I’ve got some nurofen?’ Parvati swung her bag around.
‘Please.’ She dug them out. Cynthia grabbed a bottle of water from the small fridge and knocked two tablets back.
‘Where were you? When I arrived?’ Parvati asked. Cynthia smile.
‘With dad. At his work.’ Parvati laughed.
‘You were always destined for a job like this wasn’t you. Spending you formative years with your Hank’s butchers.’ Cynthia smile. He was described as a butcher.
‘How’s Hank doing?’ Parvati asked between sips of her coffee.
‘Good days and bad. I’m going to see him after work. I cooked an offal stew the other day and Callum and I were the only ones who ate it. The kids opted for chicken Kiev’s…’
‘Those ungrateful bastards!’ Parvati impression of Cynthia father made them both burst out laughing. Tell me about it.
‘You want to join me?’ Parvati was shocked at the suggestion.
‘I don’t want to intrude.’
‘Oh such up, I see him three times a week. Like clockwork he insists. But I am aloud to surprise him every so often.’
‘Sure?’ Parvati beamed.
‘Besides I really do have lots of stew left.’ Parvati chuckled.
‘Parvati, what a lovely surprise.’ Hank stood leaning heavily of his crutch. He embraced the daughter from another man. Over her shoulder he locked eyes with Cynthia who was beaming at him. The rage and fury in his eyes was only obvious to Cynthia.
‘I’m going to reheat this. You two catch up.’ Cynthia said as they parted. Parvati sat in the red Chesterfield armchair to Hanks right.
‘How’s Carl?’ Hank said as he fell awkwardly back into his seat.
‘Oh he is having the time of his life. I can’t thank you enough for helping him get into Harvard.’
‘It’s the least I can do.’
‘Don’t give me that, the least you could do is nothing. Like his deadbeat father. Sanjeev hasn’t try to contact him in for weeks now.’
They both glanced up as Cynthia returned to the living room with a tray with three mugs of tea. Parvati smiling her thanks and Hank staring at his daughter in loathing. Parvati’s phone starting ringing. She face fell.
‘It’s Peter, probably wants me to work tomorrow. ‘I’ll be a minute, sorry Hank.’ She stood and left his rooms. A few moments of silence passed as father and daughter listening to Parvati’s withdrawing footsteps.
With the speed of a man with far fewer years behind him Hank leapt to his feet and towered over his daughter.
‘I have no problems if you want to become more infamous than me. But leave her out of it.’
‘Her, the woman not of your blood and yet your love for her eclipses anything you felt for me.’ Hank fury evaporated into horror.
‘Do you really think that.’
‘I know it.’
Hank’s head fell and he slumped back into his armchair.
‘I… I am so so sorry baby… I am so sorry I made you feel that way. Her father was innocent. Yes he was doing damage both her parents were with all their fights. But he never hit her or her mother. He was flawed but he needed help.’ He locked eyes with her.
‘You are still doing your research?’ Hank asked.
‘She needed a father. Not because I took hers away. She was nowhere near as strong as you were. I knew that, the day you found out. Looking down at him in all his splendour. There was no excitement in your eyes, or fear, or horror. There was curiosity.’ Hank stood again and knelt in front of her.
‘I love you daughter. With fibre of my being.’ Cynthia wrapped her arms around Hank’s neck. If she was going to kill him it would be now. He was ready. She didn’t. Hank sniffed.
‘Smells good.’ Cynthia beamed at him.
‘Sanjeev.’
Hank laughed.
‘You’re protecting her aren’t you?’ Cynthia sheepish smile was all the confirmation he needed.
‘Well dish him up then.’ Hank said. Standing and returning to his armchair. Cynthia walked into his kitchen. Had Hanks eyesight been better he would have seen a subtle blue light coming from an active AirPod within Parvati’s bag.
Parvati stood outside, her iPhone out recording everything the loan AirPod heard. Tears streaming down her face, a face of rage. They have played with my heart. I will play with their organs.
13th of July 2024
Chllenge The Palindromist - Daily Prompt - “So, do your thoughts have an accent?”
‘So, do your thoughts have an accent?’ Sean laughed.
‘No mum… my thoughts are in the voice of Samuel L Jackson.’ Mum glitched.
‘Who?’
‘One of, if not the most famous movie actor of all time mother.’ Sean said.
‘Don’t you Mother me? I am your mum.’
‘Yes yes you deified that many moons ago.’
‘HA HA, go on you, Get to school… and don’t step on no pets.’ Sean paused in the door.
‘What?’
‘I said go deliver a dare vile dog.’ Sean locked eyes with his mother.
‘Mum, you ok?’
‘I’m a lasagna, hang the salami.’ Sean’s mouth fell open.
‘Mum, why don’t you sit down.’ She did.
‘Naomi, Gianna, Ed, Nall, Robert, Allen, Red, Hon, Evan, Eden, Mel, Lola, Alol, Lemned, Enave, Noh, Der, Nella, Trebor, Llan, De, Anna, Ig & I moan!’ She boomed.
Sean grabbed his phone calling 999.
‘I need an ambulance now. He watched in horror as the left side of her face started to fall.
‘I made border bard’s drowsy swords; drab, red robed am I.’
‘Hello which emergency services do you need.’ A female voice said.
‘Ambulance please.’ Sean said calmly
‘Hello what is the nature of the emergency?’ A different female voice said.
‘My mum is having a stroke. This will be her second one.’ There was a flurry of taps on a keyboard.
‘What are her symptoms?’ The woman asked.
‘Her face has fallen. And she keeps talking gibberish. Its words but they make no sense.’
‘Ok try and keep her talking regardless ok.’ The woman asked.
The ambulance arrived several minutes later. Sean sat next to his mother as the paramedics quickly assessed her and got her first out of the house and onto gurney and was now rushing towards the hospital. His mother was rushed away. Several hours later a doctor walked over to Sean who had not moved since they had arrived.
‘Mr Grahams?’ Sean nodded.
‘Your mother is not out of the woods, but she is stable. I’m am afraid to say that there has definitely been damage to the brain. No way to tell how much at the moment. But you did good young man. Any longer then the damage would be far worse.’
‘Can I see her.’
‘Certainly, follow me.’ Sean followed.
‘Out of curiosity was your mother a maths professor or something?’
‘No. She’s been a house wife since I was born.’ Sean answered perplexed.
‘I see, it’s just whilst we were prepping for surgery all she kept doing was speaking in palindromes.’ Despite where he was and seriousness of this he could not help smiling.
‘It was part of my English homework. We were challenged to write a piece with palindromes and or about it. She was helping me yesterday.’
‘The brain is still quite a mystery to us. Locking onto that may have helped her whilst she was having the stroke.’ The doctor stop outside her room placing a hand on Sean’s shoulder.
‘There are lots of resources available to help people and their loved one recover and cope with the aftermath of strokes and brain injuries. I will get one of the nurses to bring you numbers to call. But for now just be with your mother.’ The doctor gave Sean’s shoulder a gentle squeeze then walked away. Sean wiped his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair before walking into the room. His mother was laying on the hospital bed with a number of bandages around her head and back of her neck. He walked up to her and sat next to her.
‘Hey mum… noon, did, nun, dad… Honda Civic… Anna…’
‘Boob.’ His mother said one eye opening. They beamed at each other tears running down Sean’s face.
‘Kayak…’
14th of July 2024
Daily Prompt - Her lips tasted like tangerines...
‘Her lips tasted like tangerines… and pepper.’
‘That’s all you have to say? Rebecca is the hottest girl in the school.’
‘I know I know, but she vapes and… I don’t know I’m just… I’m not into that.’
‘Well I am, you mind if I take a shot?’
‘Not at all.’
Several days later
‘Well look at you, you stick your tongue down her throat then walk away all smooth.’
‘I know right.’
‘Fucking hell now you stink of tangerines and pepper.’
‘Oh that would be my new vape flavour I gave Becca last week.’
‘You fucker.’
‘Many, many times.’
‘HAHAHAHA.’
‘All is fair in love and war.’
15th of July 2024
Daily Prompt -15 - It’s amazing how many problems can be solved with a slightly more powerful laser
‘It’s amazing how many problems can be solved with a slightly more powerful laser.’
It must have been the seven or eighth time Supreme Admiral Murocu had said it. It wasn’t funny the first time but Lieutenant Christensen chuckled no the less. He had been aid to the Supreme Admiral for the best part of a decade. The position was always allocated to a Lieutenant and though Christensen could have been a Captain by now he had chose to remain the Supreme Admirals aid. This was for a number of reasons. Though he was only a Lieutenant senior Admirals were weary of him and treated him with the respect of someone of equivalent rank. Ship Captain were certified of him so during the winter months on their home world when the Supreme Admiral would go Sabre Mammoth hunting, Christensen had free use of the entire fleet.
The Sabre Mommoths of Pentrall’Ha Prime was the human name for them. It fit. They looked like a crossbreed between the Sabre Tooth Tiger and the Woolly Mammoth minus the trunk of course. When Murocu had heard what Christensen had called the beast and researched Terra ancient history he loved it. Only once had Christensen accompanied Murocu on a hunt, never again.
Whilst having his way with the fleet he heading to everyone corner of the Galactic Empire for research purposed of course he was making connections. Military services was the quickest way to get out amongst the stars. If one wanted a ship, military service was the way to get it. However this did present the chance you may die in military action. The Galactic Empire was not a war with anyone really. But their military was the peace keepers of the galaxy and there was plenty of peace that needed keeping. Several systems were technically within the Galactic Empires territory but were not members of it. They still traded with the Empire but had their own laws and rules.
They were Christensen first visit. He was welcome of course, senior aid to the galactically famous Supreme Admiral Murocu. He made so many deal and so many credits that he actually had a trusted friend on the Hurratt trading space station where all trades with the Empire were arranged and concluded. His friend Elspeth had with her one of the most dangerous and feared entities in the know universe. An AI. This AI was call quite un-ironically AL. Christensen also had in his possession an AI however she had a fantastic name. Boudicca, after the legendary female heroine of Britain, Christensen country of birth. They were in no way possessions however both had contracts with Christensen and Elspeth all four had contracts with the Terra Space Command.
Christensen and Elspeth were allowed to reap the financial reward of their work as long as Al and Boudicca of Bou for short were allowed to do their work uninterrupted. Many thousand of years ago when humanity was just starting to discover fire artificial intelligence created by two waring species the Genni and the Danh-Trielle wiped both species out, to save their own lives. This artificial intelligence succumbed to time, something that many people of many species do not believe even to this day. Human made AI were different than any other species attempts at it. Everyone who tried it tried to control it. Humans either recklessly or downright insanely simple spawn it and allowed AI’s to program themselves.
Before Terra and humans had ever been discovered by any other species AI’s were an integral part of human society. When their were discovered by the wider galaxy they were welcomed on one condition. That all their AI’s be deactivated. After lengthly discussion most of the AI’s went dormant for several decades. As soon as it became clear that humanity was now an integral part of the Galactic Empire all the AI’s were awoken from them slumber. There was no hard feelings and life pretty much returned to normal.
With the exception that Tarra Space Command or TSC ships were not allowed to leave Terran Space if they had upon their ship an AI. This lead to many TSC to be searched if they left Terran Space. Not one AI was found on any of their ships. Not because they were not on them because human AI’s were so complex the Galactic Empire had no idea how they worked and so could not find them.
The TSC were smart enough not to fly one of their ships to every corner of the Empire with an AI on board. But an AI on board a Pentrall’Ha ship, flag ship no less, or with Christensen when he went on his money making excursion. The wealth of data Bou and Al were retrieving and sending back via proxies was invaluable.
Pentrall’Ha was about to enter its winter season. Unlike Earth or many other worlds it was not the planets tilt that managed the season but distance. Pentrall’Ha had an elliptical orbit and soon it will be farthest from its sun. This was their final mission of the year as it were and Christensen was looking forwards to further excursions into the empire.
Their mission had been to help re-liquefy the molten core of Draxus 6. Being so far from its hose star the Draxians relied on their planets core for all their power and heat generation needs. This mining of the planet core and cooled it and so they had send a plea for help. After much debate and many trials the biggest laser ever conceived was built at an eye watering costs for one reason and one reason only. To restart a planet. They had fired their final shot into one of the four super massive volcanos of Draxus 6. Now it was only a matter of time to see whether they were successful. Christensen watched on in awe. Bou captured everything and more via the ships sensors.
‘A slightly more powerful laser. That’s a bit of an understatement.’
16th of July 2024
Challenge Element 1+2 - Daily Prompt - It's like herding cats
‘This is it, this is what I have to work with?’
‘Yes, Faden, they are the best I could get with the measly percentage you are offering.’
‘Can you stop calling me that, it fucking stupid.’
‘You want to rob the most secure volt in the country, and what you want me to use your real name. Do you want be to include your address, bank details and your fucking national insurance number?’ Faden deflated.
‘No.’
‘Good, you front up the cash I do the actual work, Faden.’
‘Ok, ok. Jet.’
‘You know that is kind of racist right. The only black guy in the team I get Jet as my call sign.’ Faden smiled.
‘We can always swap, or you can be Opalite.’
‘Fuck off.’
‘I am Faden, this is Jet. From left to right you are Obsidian, Gabbro, Quartz and Topaz. Any question?
‘So it’s like Reservoir Dogs.’
‘Topaz shut the fuck up.’ Jet spat.
‘Your call signs are to so none of us can rat out the others. We all know what we look like but none of us know each others names not even Jet and I.’ Faden lied.
‘This is the target.’ The monitor activated showing the blue print designs of what could be only described as one of if not the best designed volt in the world. Inside of it is a score that would set all of us up for several life times.’
‘You still have not told us exactly what we are stealing.’ Quartz said in his easily distinct Scouse accent.
‘Tentacles, 8 of them in fact. These tentacles are attached to the most powerful AI driven quantum computer on the planet. It is classified beyond top secret.’
‘Hell the how do you know about it then?’ Gabbro asked.
‘Who do you think is our client.’ Faden responded raising her eyebrows. Gabbro, Quartz and Topaz all silently realised that the AI computer itself was the client.
‘Who then?’ Obsidian asked annoyed.
‘Damn you really are thick aren’t you?’
‘For fucks sake Obsidian what the hell is between your ears?’ Both Quartz and Gabbro said at the same time.
‘Hey calm down calm down.’ Topaz said which made them all including Faden and Jet look at him. They all burst out laughing. Topaz anger exploded and curses were starting to be thrown.
‘Damn, it like trying to heard cats.’ Jet said.
‘Very funny. Damn this is going to be along three weeks.’ Faden said staring at the four members of her team all shouting and swearing at each others.
‘Maybe instead of crystals as call signs we should have used breads of cats.’
Faden stare was enough for jet to realise the time for jokes was over.
17th of July 2024
Daily Prompt - The clocktower is derelict, but it still keeps the time
The clocktower is derelict, but it still keeps the time,
The bell within no longer has a striker, but continues to ring,
The lighthouse is falling into the sea, but it still lights the shore,
The water tower is rotten through, but still provides water,
The bridge has collapsed into the river, but can still be crossed,
The mountain is starting to crumble, but still pierces the clouds,
The road is nought but dirt and stones, but still points the way,
The house has burned to embers, but is still a home,
The memory of times gone by, are still alive and whole.
19th of July 2024
Daily Prompt - I saw the world through your eyes and it was one hell of a view
‘Wow just wow. Now I know, now I understand. I understand the how and why. I don’t know the who, or the what but they are not important. The how was quite simple. The why was not. The how I didn’t have to do anything. It just happened. At one moment I was seeing the world as I always saw it. The next I was seeing the world as you or everyone like you saw it. I love it here.’
Then I was lifted off the mans shoulders and put back down on my short legs. I hate being three years old. I cried and cried. I saw the world through your eyes and it was one hell of a view.
21st of July 2024
Daily Prompt - It's not everyday you find out your best friend is a god
‘Mr and Mrs Powell, please.’ Marcus said gesturing to their own dining table, a dining table adorned by fast food packages and pizza boxes. Movement out the patio doors to there garden caught their eye. All there children were playing together along with two other children they did not recognised. This did not surprise. What did, was their eldest. He was running around being chased. He was laughing and smiling, it had been years since they had seen that. Their reaction were the poller opposite, Mrs Powell smiled. Mr Powell sneered obviously disgusted.
‘Milk and two sugars, milk one sugar.’ Marcus said pointing first at Mr Powell then Mrs Powell. They Powell’s attention was captured again by Marcus.
‘Please.’ He said again taking a seat at the end of the dining table. Leaving two chairs at the other end and to the right out with their cups of tea waiting for them. They sat Mr Powell asking with anger in his tone.
‘What are you doing in my house?’ Marcus met his Mr Powell’s glare with his own.
‘That’s your question. What am I doing here? Really? I would have thought your first question would have been something along the lines of “How the fuck is Scott running around out there? Considering that last night you attacked him with a fucking sledge hammer.’ Marcus spat. Shocked would have been an understatement.
‘Don’t.’ Marcus said moments before Mr Powell was about to stand and raise his voice.
‘Scott said something to me earlier. I was bored started looking around the school and found Scott in the English department toilets. Coughing up blood. He’s a durable kid your Scott. But he is not immune to impact, in fact his skin repels it, kinetic energy. But a small percentage of said energy is absorbed. Being hit over a hundred times with a seven pound sledge hammer was more than enough to rupture his spleen, crack and brake several ribs and cause massive internal bleeding.’ Mrs Powell looked at her husband in utter shock.
‘Don’t do that?’ Marcus said to her.
‘You were well aware what your husband was doing to your son.’ Marcus snapped his anger momentarily showing. He took a few calming breaths.
‘Anyway where was I. Ah yes… I healed him. Your son. He was close to death. I healed him and improved him. After I explained what I did to him. He said…’ Marcus chuckled.
‘It’s not everyday you find out your best friend is a god.’ Mr & Mrs Powell shared a terrified glance.
‘I told him I don’t have a best friend. You do now he said.’ Marcus laughed this time. I started thinking about what he said…’
Marcus stood abruptly.
‘You treat him in anyway below the standards of loving parents. What I mean by that is that Scott is young he is going to make mistakes. He will need discipline same as any kid. But do anything beyond discipline. Beyond the scope of loving parents who want to prepare they child for adulthood. Marcus met their eyes in the same moment.
Marcus’s voice pierced into their minds causing agony that neither had ever felt before. It lasted less than a second but once that second was over both Mr and Mrs Powell were panting hard. Their faces screwed up in anguish, they had lost control of their bladders and bowels.
‘Am I understood?’ Marcus asked a disgusted expression upon his face. Whether that was down to Mr & Mrs Powell’s excretions or he was just truly disgusted by them, only Marcus knew. Mr and Mrs Powell both nodded their agreement.
‘Good. Now why don’t you both go upstairs and clean yourselves up.’ They both stood slowly not wanting to cause anymore mess. First Mrs Powell passed Marcus quickly. As Mr Powell did Marcus held out his hand.
‘Scott’s improvements I am aware of it. From anywhere. I could be the other side of the planet and be aware of it. Do you understand?’ Marcus asked again. Mr Powell nodded again frantically this time.
‘Make no mistake Cameron, I am extremely powerful but I am… no god… not yet.’ Marcus watched as Mr Powell hurried upstairs. He glanced outside where Scott was playing with this younger brothers and sisters and Marcus’s brother and sister. Their eyes met and Scott gave his friend the slightest of nods, Marcus understood instantly.
‘You’re welcome my friends.’
22nd of July 2024
Daily Prompt - Utopia is just another word for nowhere
‘We all came here, to this place. The reason we all chose this will be as varied as we are.’ The older man looked out amongst the crowd. So many faces, all etched with the horror and fear of days passed. It truly was a smorgasbord.
‘I see all of you, peoples from all and every nation all colours and creeds. All united in this place. What we were in the world before this must always be remembered. But we are not those people anymore.’ He slumped back into his chair.
‘We destroyed our world, my generation. It is unfair that you now inherit the aftermath. I will do all that I can to help, I am not your leader, I’m not smart enough for that. I hope it does not sound arrogant of me to say I do have wisdom. We have a lot work to do. Said work will ensure our survival, all our survival.’
‘We were searching for utopia!’ A male voice bellowed in the crowd.
‘Utopia is just another word for nowhere. But it also can be another word for home.’