A 200 word story: Julias place

     This place had once been filled with happiness; it had been a place of joy and youth and of innocence. At Julia’s place the air had characteristically smelt of cooking chocolate cake and strawberries. The sun always shone on Julia’s place, impossibly illuminating every room and every inch of the house, the birds in the grand oak trees that always cast a happy shadow, had always sung sweet melodies to dance to during the day and soft lullaby’s when the twilight fell. In the Garden summer sky blue bluebells grew among the fresh snow white snow drops and daisies mingled with sun kissed daffodils. It had been a magical, unbelievable place however one day great galloping hulking storm clouds rolled in over the sky of Julia’s place, drowning the sunlight, choking it with a thick, rolling smoke stained, purple smog; Dirty droplets of fetid rain began to fall acidic to the touch like the tears of a heartbroken child, it scorched the emerald green grass and withered the bright and hopeful flowers.

Julia’s place had once been a place of great promise and adventure now it is a ruin, a broken, splintered wreck holding only despair and anguish.  

 

Forget Me Not Pt.1

                                                                                          

     Can you imagine waking up and your whole world being gone and I don’t mean gone as in the world was Nuked or unmade, I mean just your life, you memories, your loves, hates; your family and friends. What if all you could remember was a girl you had spent less than three hours with; well that’s exactly what happened to me and this is where the story takes on a life of its own.

      The sun was shining so brightly that it hurt your eyes and forced you to shield them if you were walking directly into it, he took refuge in a library he had walked past many times though the refuge was not just to take a break from the burning sunlight, he was a photographer and for quite a while he had been meaning to go inside; the outside had been plucked right out of the 19^th century and he wondered if the inside was just as stunning. When he stepped in his scruffy blue converse drawing no sound from the deep mahogany floor of the foyer he found something more beautiful than he had been expecting.

“Good morning” her voice rang out around the foyer, bright and cheery, he smiled at her

“Morning” he replied glancing back over his shoulder as he made his way up the grand staircase, she was beautiful and though he had not been intending to he joined the library.

     Work was relatively quiet and not because she worked in a library because she worked the ground floor foyer and was therefore able to ‘meet and greet’ people as they walked in. Occasionally she would get the odd tourist asking for directions or explanations though for the most she just answered the phone and sang ‘good morning’, ‘good bye’ or ‘good afternoon’, it was for the most part a boring job. Then he walked into the building with a camera around his neck and a sweet smile on his face, his grey blue eyes met hers as she greeted and caused the slumbering butterflies in her stomach to waken and beat a hurricane in her stomach. For the next few weeks they flirted silently and then she did something she didn’t normally do, something that shocked even her; she asked him out. It wasn’t that she was old fashioned but she was on occasion shy and retiring and so when he came to the reception to ask a question and she blurted the words, would you like to get a drink sometime, she shocked herself slightly. When she asked him out he was taken aback slightly, this was not because he felt threatened by strong and confident women but he had been working up the courage to ask her and when she asked him though it surprised him a little it did make him feel relieved.       

      With-in a week it was as though they had known each other for years though only technologically speaking and their first date was far from awkward though it lasted only a few hours and the second date was a long time coming, if at all. They continued to talk but never quite got around to making their way on a second date and though she liked him more than she was willing to admit in her mind there is only so long a girl can wait and so when he failed to reply to a text message she let it be, after all life is too short.

     Three quiet weeks had passed, he had not been to visit the Library nor had she heard a word spoken or sent and then she got a phone call;

“Hello?” She questioned, the call was coming from Charlie though she was unsure why he was calling,

“Leigh?” a voice replied from the other end but it was not the voice she was expecting,

“Speaking, who...” She began but was cut off by the voice of the unknown woman

“This may seem strange to you Leigh and I must apologise but I need your help, my name is Mary Winters, I’m Charlies mother and well...” she paused and for a second Leigh was unsure whether she should fill the empty silence, “can we meet somewhere, what I have to tell you, to ask is better off said in person” she finally said.

“Um Sure” Leigh replied though she was unsure “There’s a cafe, Cafe Bisou...” she started

“Yes I know where it is, 2'o clock?”  

 “Okay” Leigh replied still very confused.

     Leigh had tried to prepare herself however when she stepped from the rain drenched summer streets into the sweet smelling, coffee bean, fresh cookie warmth of the cafe she was still full of nervous energy and she knew exactly who she was here to see. She was sat at a table for two set with a vase of fresh bluebells and yellow roses, the woman was dressed in a smart suit though her hair was dishevelled and damp and her makeup which had clearly not been re-applied before she had left to meet Leigh, revealed sore red rimmed eyes,

“Mrs Winters?” Leigh asked as she cast a dull shadow across the silent woman,

“Yes” she said standing and knocking the table slightly,

“I’m Leigh”

“Of course” she said grasping Leigh’s outstretched hand

“Can I get you something Mrs...” Leigh began to offer,

“Please Call me Mary and no I’m fine thank you Leigh” She replied, Leigh smiled and ordered herself a hot chocolate and sat down across the table from the desperately sad woman,

“Please forgive me Mrs...Mary but I still don’t understand what it is I’m doing here” Leigh wondered as she sat at the quaint table,

“Charlie was in a car accident, four weeks ago he had a very bad head injury; swelling and so the doctors put him into a coma so that his brain could get better but when he finally woke up he couldn’t remember a thing” Mary jumped right into the awful tale, only pausing to dab at her eyes with a tissue,

“Oh my god...I’m so sorry” Leigh gasped

“When I say that he couldn’t remember anything, well, he couldn’t remember a thing other than you Leigh” she said finishing the story. Leigh did not know what to say for what could have been an eternity, she sipped her cooling hot chocolate and waited for Mary, hoped for her to say something; finally she did,

“The doctor, the Psychologist and Myself and his father believe that the only way to get Charlie back is for him to be around what he knows and since the only thing he knows is you Leigh...Will you help?” Mary asked,

“Me-I-but how can I help?” Leigh asked

“Spend time with him, move in with him I know that you have a job Leigh but I am willing to pay you for as long as it takes, I need my son back, please” Mary Winters was begging her. Leigh though about what she was asking her to do, to give up her life to help a man that she had only been on one date with, a man she had spent time with only a handful of times, a man who could remember nothing other than the basics and her; he knew Leigh better than he knew his own friends and family.

“What about Beau?” Beau was Leigh’s dog she was a charcoal greyhound mix with a silver smudge on the top of her head and she was everything to Leigh,

“your dog, she can come too of course I know how much she means to you Charlie has told me, he remembers her too” as she said the words her voice broke at the thought of her own son knowing a dog better than he knew her.

“Okay” Leigh agreed though she was still unsure.

     Leigh agreed to go and visit Charlie that afternoon she considered what she might say to him because at the current moment she was his whole world and he was not hers; should she act as though he had just been in a huge accident, should she talk about the weather, the news he had missed while he had been sleeping, maybe she would just let him do the talking. She had accepted a lift from Mary Winters though she only lived 20 minutes from the cafe and she had left her seated with a glass of water and a very welcoming Beau,

“I’ll be just one second” Leigh said as she disappeared into her bedroom to change into something more casual and then they left, she wondered whether it might be appropriate to buy some flowers or grapes but his mother informed her that he had everything he needed, she was slightly short with Leigh,

“How dare you get short with me, I am giving my life up for you and your son, a son who can only remember me which might suggest that he has some kind of inner problem with you , how dare you!” this is what Leigh would have said had she not been riding in a lift full of patients, doctors, nurses and visiting relatives with a woman who was at the time wiping fresh tears from her cheeks and so Leigh bit her lip.

     They walked down the corridor in silence, the generic smell of bleach, medicine and sickness that every hospital no matter how expensive, seemed to hold, Leigh tried not to breath too deeply she hated the smell it made her feel uncomfortable. As they rounded one of the many corners that the hospital held Charlie came into view, he was sat up in bed working on his laptop, the silver grey of his hair, which had been left un-made and slightly mussed, shone in the bright sunlight that filled the room, he had started going grey when he turned 17 but he wore it well, that and the deep rainy day blue of his eyes had made Leigh fall for him. He looked up from the screen just as she rounded the corner; it was as though he sensed that she was there, he broke into a huge grin as their eyes met through the thick glass of the room window. She smiled back; she couldn’t help it despite the situation that they were now in, his smile was infectious and when she considered the fact that other than Beau, she was the only person he could remember she realised just how happy he must have been to see her.

“he hasn’t smiled at us like that since the day he left” Mary commented, she burst into tears and Leigh pulled her into a hug, she glanced at Charlie, his face showed genuine concern but what it didn’t hold was the pain that a child might feel at seeing one of their parents in emotional pain.

“I think I should go in on my own, just for a few minutes” Leigh said suddenly, Mary didn’t look at her, she didn’t answer with words but only nodded her head and moved to sit on one of the dusky pink coloured chairs that were set in a U shape in the waiting area. Leigh took a deep breath, her hands were shaking, her palms were sweaty and at that moment more than ever the smell that the hospital held was making her feel sick to her stomach. Her hand paused on the door; it gripped the handle for a second keeping her eyes cast down at her feet and then without warning the door handle left her hand and Charlie was stood in front of her. She looked up in shock as the door opened and was even more shocked when he pulled her into a hug, something he had not even given her at the end of their first and only date. 

“You look great, it’s so good to see you, how are you, I’m so glad you’re here Leigh” He gushed all at once, over whelming her

“Thank you, um okay, just give me a minute” Leigh said pulling from the hug and taking a step back from him,

“Sorry this must be strange for you” He said “please come in and sit down” he added retreating back into the room and sitting back on the bed, Leigh looked him over, he looked good for a guy who had been in a near fatal car crash only four weeks ago. His skin was a little pale but his eyes still held a sharp bright glint, he was dressed in a dark blue t-shirt and pyjama bottoms with matching stripes and Leigh could smell the light scent of Jean Paul Gautier, he looked really good. She smiled at him again and he returned it though this time it was a much softer smile,

“I’m sorry about that greeting, I’m guessing it was a little overwhelming” he said

“Just a little” she said taking a seat across from him “so how are you?” she asked

“Honestly a little overwhelmed myself, better for seeing you, someone I actually know” He said

“Yeah I can’t imagine what you’re going through” she replied

“It must sound crazy to you but this is the most relaxed I’ve felt since I woke up” He said with a smile and silence fell between them for a few minutes until he spoke again filling the void, “Pretty weird second date huh?” he said with a grin and they both broke out into laughter after that they settled into comfortable conversation until a knock rang out in the room. Mary Winters stood at the door, she had composed herself and now she wanted to join them, Charlie signalled that it was okay and they were once again plunged into an awkward silence.

“Charlie sweetheart, your father and I and your doctors have been discussing what might be best when you leave the hospital and well we think that the best chance you have of re-gaining your memory might be to surround yourself with the things that you do remember, those things being Leigh and Beau” she said, Charlie looked at Leigh for confirmation,

“She’s right Charlie, it might be your best chance” She said

“Leigh has agreed to move in with you sweetheart and to give her time to helping you remember” Mary continued

“I can’t ask you to give up your life Leigh as much as I would love to be around you all of the time but...” Charlie protested his unmade silver hair brushing gently against his forehead as he shook his head ‘no’

“Charlie, honey, please...” Mary began to talk but Leigh knew that he wouldn’t listen to her and so she took control,

“Charlie believe me when I say I didn’t want to do this” she said honesty “ we have been on only one date now moving in with you after one date if you had your memory would be the least thing on my mind never mind me being the only thing you can recall but you do have a family, one that loves you as far as I can tell, a great group of friends from what you told me and I think you owe it to them to accept my help and I’m all for helping others” she said with a cheeky smile “plus I was hoping for a third date, you know away from the hospital” Leigh added he smiled at her,

“But what about your job, your life?” he asked

“I am willing to pay Leigh for her help” Mary said

“It’ll all work out Charlie, I can bring the things I love with me and together we can get to know you better” Leigh smiled at him,

“Okay” He agreed.

100 word story: Ecstasy eyes

Marisol hadn’t always been blind.

When she could see she gazed upon mesmerising things like the man with the ecstasy eyes.
Every morning whilst sipping hot coffee their eyes would lock, they would flirt silently across the crowd but neither ever summoned the courage to speak.
One sunny morning Marisol found the strength though as she crossed the road a ray of light blinded her and the accident happened.
The operation was experimental but the outcome, if it worked, would give Marisol her sight back.
The bandages were unwound and in the mirror, though blurred she saw those ecstasy eyes.

London Underground

Whistling and whooping filled the air, bringing the alley to life, Mae instantly felt her heart beat quicken and she began to panic. The streets of London were not known for their safety; Mae was stood in the darkened alley behind ‘the cats Pyjamas’ boutique where she had been attending a party. She began to retreat though she found she was not moving as fast as the encroaching crowd. Quickly she felt their weight behind her, forcing her forward out into the street, where they quickly dispersed but not before sending Mae flailing into the road. She stood a rabbit frozen in head lights as a car which could have driven straight out of the 1920’s came toward her; before Mae could scream a hand grabbed her arm, dragging her back to the safety of the street.

“You okay there? Those things u’ll kill ya, should be more careful. Ma’am?” a man’s voice asked, “Hay are you okay, you look a little lost” he asked her, concern tinted his words
“Um, I don’t know, I’m Mae” she said struggling with her words, staring blankly at her saviour, “actually I think I’m gonna, can you…” Mae’s words stuck in her throat as darkness filled her vision and the street fell from beneath her as she blacked out.

 When Mae woke she expected to be in her own bed, surrounded by her favourite things but she was not. When Mae’s eyes finally adjusted to the darkness she realised that she was in fact laid under a black satin sheet on a large double bed, the room she was in was decorated in dark navy paint accented with mahogany furniture. Mae climbed from the bed still dressed in her black tulip dress, though her shoes had been removed and upon examination Mae realised she had broken on of the heels, she sighed in frustration. Moving over to the lone chair which was situated next to a full length mirror, a wardrobe and dresser Mas looked over herself; her lip was bust, her dress torn and dirty and her hair stood up in directions it was not supposed to; She noticed a hand written note on the dresser next to the mirror:

Mae, I hope you find everything you need here, i took the liberty in choosing something fresh for you to wear and anything else you may require can be found in the bathroom. Please feel free to come down stairs when you’re ready.

Gage

Suddenly the events that had led to her waking up in a strange room came rushing back to her and confusion filled her mind, how had she ended up in Piccadilly circus, she felt out of time. Mae moved toward a door which she assumed led to the bathroom; it was decorated luxuriously in gold tones and white tiles; on the marbled counter sat a silver brush and next to a makeup pallet. She washed her face and applied a little foundation to the bruise forming around her lip, she added a touch of rose coloured lipstick and a sweep of shimmery powder to her eyes and cheek bones. Mae brushed her hair into submission so that it fell in loose curls and then returned to the bedroom. She slipped off her torn dress examining the bruise on her left hip that she could not recall getting and then pulled on the dress that had been left for her. The floor length, cream silk dress kissed her toes, it had a low slung waist and a low neck line; the bottom was decorated in an art deco style pattern which was mirrored on the shoulders, Mae slipped on the cream T-bar shoes and twirled in front of the mirror, giddy. Then something shiny caught her eye and stopped her twirling; on the dresser sat a beautiful diamond necklace, earring and bracelet set, it twinkled and kept her gaze as she reached out and fastened each item to her body, each piece set off the outfit perfectly.

As Mae gingery followed the long hallway along toward the grand spiral staircase she began to wonder what she was doing; why was she so happily following the instructions of a man she had barley met, wearing clothes he had left her, why was she not panicking, why was she not freaking out. She had been pushed into and woken up in a place that appeared to be a mash-up of both the 1920s and the 21^st century; old Collier cars were running on engines that could have been plucked from any 21^st century vehicle, they had CD players and air conditioning, there was modern electric lighting and advertising in Piccadilly circus but there were also 1920s dress, streets and talk, Mae was lost and she didn’t seem to care. She continued on her way taking in the rich, deep colouring of the walls and staircase as she descended toward the jazz music drifting up toward her from the depths of the building. Mae reached a deep red door, held open by a short, stocky, balding man dressed in a slate grey, double breasted suit, he smiled at her but bid her no verbal greeting and simply closed the door behind her.

The room she now stood in seemed to have no end and no bottom, smoke stirred and music played over the muted voices of people she could not see, she walked more cautious now, careful not to bump into anyone. However as she moved the smoke cleared revealing groups of people stood chatting; men discussing business and women gossipping; couples were dancing and cuddling in corners and singletons were flirting, Mae could not see the man she had glimpsed before in the street and so she continued on down the second set of stairs,

“Ah, here she is, the woman of the moment, our mysterious guest” the same honey toned voice said, she halted on the stairs suddenly aware of all of the eyes that were now trained on her “Don’t be afraid of them, they’re just wondering who you are, as am I” he said as he moved to take her hand and lead her down the remaining few stairs and across to a table, “Johnny can I get another glass of bubbly please” he called over to the bar man, who quickly obeyed,

“I’d much rather prefer bourbon, please” Mae said, her mouth betraying her, she had not meant to speak to freely in the presence of strangers

“Alright, Johnny please get the lady a double bourbon” he corrected and smiled at her “I’m guessing you need it” he said and pulled out a chair for her

“You have no idea” Mae replied, gladly sitting down away from the prying eyes of the others around the room

“So Mae let me introduce you to a few people here and then we’ll go talk. This here is Ellen, she’s an artist, an occasionally moody artist” he said, Ellen was sat her legs slung across the arm of the chair she occupied, her lips were painted in a dark rouge, her skin pale. She wore a knee length black beaded flapper dress and a dark feather in her hair, she nodded at Mae, waving her cigarette in a greeting, He continued “Alright, this is Jimmy and Jenks, twins, two of my best guys” Jimmy and Jenks were identical, in the short time Mae looked at them she scanned quickly for a simple difference but could find none, each wore the same navy suit and silk shirt, fedora hat and black shoes, she smiled as each greeted her with a ma’am. “Finally this is Arrigo, my oldest friend, in both definitions of the word, the one man I trust with everything” he said a warm smile touching his lips.

“It’s nice to meet you” Mae said, she felt the need to greet the man with words rather than a simple movement, he was older than the others, his hair greying but still full, his face was wrinkled, his mannerisms from another time,

“It’s nice to meet you miss” he said with a slight Italian accent, he took her hand and nodded his head ever so slightly, sitting back down again and nodding toward his friend

“Shall we” Gage asked her and gestured toward an empty table in a far back corner

“Okay” Mae replied, she trusted the man more than anyone else she knew.

Mae followed Gage over to the corner table, it was private but more brightly lit than the rest of the club, she slipped into the leather lined booth next to him; for the first time she realised that his eyes had not left her face since they had met at the staircase.

“So where are you from Mae?” he asked catching her eye, drawing her attention from the ground,

“Here, um, London, I’m just a little lost that’s all” she said, though she didn’t know how to explain exactly what had happened to her

“Well you’re lucky I found you, there are some unsavoury characters around these parts, a dame like you could get hurt or worse” he said,

“Yeah, I guess so. So who are you? You’re not an unsavoury character?” she asked but regretted her words instantly as the smile dropped from his face

“I used to be, but I made good for the bad things I did, now I guess I offer people a service. Protection from the unsavoury characters, you know the police ain’t much good, most of ‘um are in the pockets of the bad guys and those who ain’t, are too old to care, they want a quiet life, no trouble, easy retirement. That’s where me n’ the boys come in, now I ain’t gonna pretend we’re law abiding citizens, I do pay my taxes and this club here is mine, but I won’t deny that I’m in the same business with the likes of Capone or Schultz but I like to think I’m on the side of the little man, y’ know what I mean” he answering her question perfectly, honestly and the whole time he was talking Mae had become mesmerised. In the brighter light the sharp blue of his eyes was illuminated, she studied him, his face, the small lines that appeared around his eyes when he smiled, the blush colour of his lips; he wore a deep black suit, black shirt and silk red tie, his black fedora had a matching flat red bow and he wore a single silver chain around his neck.

“So you’re a gangster?” Mae asked outright, slightly shocked until she remembered where she was;

“Bluntly yeah, yes I guess I am and so are they” he said, a grin spreading across his face “Look where ever you’re from I’m guessing there are guys like us, women like them but we’re not all bad you know. Most of them are out for themselves, the money, always looking to gain no matter what but us we’re a different breed; we’ve evolved so to say, we take less and give more and in return we actually receive more, charitable donations so to speak. We help people, those who are being threatened by the less evolved and sometimes they take a disliking to it, to us. Don’t get me wrong Mae, I need to make money I got a club to run, men to pay; we run guns, offer protection depending on who we’re protecting we charge for the pleasure and it is prohibition if you hadn’t noticed. I promise you Mae I’m the better of two evils, I sit on the devils left shoulder, it’s a little closer to heaven than the right” he smiled then and Mae smiled back, his honesty, his humour felt refreshing

“Okay” Mae said, she was mesmerised by every inch of him, finding out what had happened to her had left her mind completely and she would happily stay where ever she was forever, with him.

“Do you want to dance” he asked, though it seemed less of a question than a statement as he was already stood up, holding his hand out to Mae. He had removed his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his black shirt, his arms were tanned and muscled, each had worn and new tattoos decorating them. Mae reached out slipping her hand into his, the skin on his palm was soft, smooth unlike the rough feeling skin on the top of his hand, and she smiled as he twirled her onto the dance floor, the movement felt effortless, pre-programmed. They moved slowly, softly to the light jazz music drifting around the room, no words we’re spoken and their eyes remained locked on one another’s.

     Mae blushed lightly; she could feel his thumb tracing light circles on the underneath of her wrist, her heart skipped a beat as he pulled her closer and whispered in her ear, “Who are Mae and where in hell did you fall from?” he moved away, keeping the distance between them close, watching her mouth as she spoke,

“I don’t know but I’m glad I landed here” she replied, her voice as soft as his had been, silence passed between them for a few moments before he pulled her close again, this time he did not ask her any questions, or whisper any words in her ear; he pressed his lips against hers, they were parted slightly but the kiss remained chaste. Mae kissed him back, bliss flowing over her body, she wanted to freeze the exact moment their mouths met, the heat, the feeling of happiness but something ripped them apart.

While they had been dancing in heaven and others had been laughing and singing five men had forced their way into the club, they had silently murdered the men watching the doors and had burst through into the basement contained club, their guns aimed. Not a half second passed between the door crashing open and the guns firing, bullets ripped through the air, people fell around them, women screamed and men yelled firing their own guns in retaliation, Mae had frozen, no scream escaped her lips, no sound of any kind, she simply stood surrounded by those who had fallen and those who were fighting back,

“Mae!! Move now” Gage screamed breaking the haze that had fallen around her, before she could respond he was pulling, dragging her out toward a back door hidden against the wall, his gun in hand; he turned firing as they fled out in to the alley way and down toward the street. Mae could still here the gun fire and screams from inside, in the distance sirens rang out, all she could concentrate on was the beating of his pulse where she had her thumb against his wrist and the damp heat of his palm. As quick as they had reached the street a car pulled up being driven by Anton, inside Mae could see Jimmy and Jenks who was cradling Ellen in his arms. Mae looked toward Gage for some form of direction or explanation but none came, only three words left his mouth, “Get in now” he yelled above the sirens, his eyes desperate, he lifted her before she could move, lifted her into the safety of the car, so that her eyes could see what his could not. In a split second Mae made a decision she never thought she would even have to contemplate in her life; as she looked over his shoulder down into the alley way she saw one of the armed men burst through door, his gun pointed toward Gage, Mae quickly twirled herself back out of the car and as Gabe turned with her, his mouth ready to form angry questions, he saw what she had but had not the time to change what would happen,

“I fell in love with you in a split second” Mae whispered into his ear, her body jolted when the bullet hit it, she slipped from his arms and hit the cool floor.

When Mae woke up she was surrounded by a crowd of people dressed in Versace and Dolce and Gabbana wearing Jimmy Choos and Manolo Blahniks, the lights were bright and blinding,

“Mae Jesus what happened are you okay, get that chair” a voice said through the blur

“Im fine, I…” Mae began but stopped when she realised that she was back in ‘the cats pyjamas’, she brushed the hair from her eyes and allowed herself to be assisted over to a waiting chair,

“Are you okay Mae, someone get her water, how do you feel?”

“I’m fine, it was just a dream, he was just a” she started but something stopped her, music drifted in from the street and outside the street light seemed to have dimmed and music filled. Mae rose from her chair pulled by the sound, the hope of what might be outside

“Mae where are you going, who was a dream, Mae?!” her friend shouted after her but she had already left the boutique, had run out into the warm night air, a smile spread across her face when she saw the source of the music; pulled up at the curb outside the boutique was an old, satin black collier, the music floated from with-in. Mae walked up to the back door her heart hammering against her chest and then skipping a beat when she saw who was inside. He lent forward, his black fedora and red flat bow atop his head, a smile on his face; his eyes glittered in the street light,

“Hay beautiful, get in” Gage said, he opened the door and held out his hand for her. Mae didn’t need to think or decide she climbed into the car and into his world. If she were dreaming, she would happily sleep forever.  

  

The Girl with the Gypsy soul

       I once met this girl whose soul was different for this girls soul was wild and free, though this was not how she wanted it to be. Since she was born she had felt the pull, when the rain drops fell fat and full, She wanted to run to a new far away land without a care or a though for those she abandoned. Her father had done it to her and she had hated him so but as she grew she felt for him for when the pull wrapped its hands around you all you could do was go.  To run and fly and float away until she felt free for another day.

How did this happen  I had asked her as her blue eyes dance and twinkled with child like glee,

A gypsy curse was laid upon me she had replied,

Her father had broken the heart of a raven haired young woman not knowing where her heritage ran, she had taken her life and he had been cursed, a curse to never again settle, perpetually in limbo and this curse would pass down to his heirs. For her it started when she was young the rain began to pelt her window and she wanted to run she fought the urge for as long as she could but when she came of age she could no longer stay stood.  

Run, run as fast as you can her mother screamed after her as she ran,

And so she did, she ran and she hasn’t stopped yet, she pauses for a while in a place, with a person, doing a job, to tell her story but still she fells the pull again and when the first rain drop hits the dry ground before the second makes contact she has packed her bags and left for a new adventure.   

The boy with the wooden heart pt.2

     There once was a boy who instead of the thump thud rhythm of a flesh and blood heart he had the groan and whisper of a wooden heart cut straight from the heart of the forest. Though this didn’t make him any different from any other boy or girl however his luck in loved suffered much worse than he. He had been in love exactly three times, or so he had thought, the first girl who had made his heart skip a beat or two had beautiful blond hair and bright blue eyes but her hands were as sharp as a chainsaw and all too quickly the boy found this out and once she had finished with him his heart was missing a chunk the size of a large acorn. Next there was the girl with a mouth that breathed words of fire, when he first met her she reserved her heated words for others but in the not too distant future they became directed toward him and she left his heart in a blackened state, singed and tarnished by her fire.

     Just when the boy with the wooden heart began to think that love was not for him, that he may never meet a girl who would not, could not harm him he heard a most wonderful noise drift past his ears. He searched for the source and when he found it he found that his heart beat with a quickened rhythm at the sigh of a beautiful girl with long chestnut curls and warm emerald eyes, she sang with the heart of a nightingale. Over time the boy with the wooden heart and the girl with the soul of a nightingale fell deeply in love and he found that the beautiful melodies she sang soon healed his broken and bruised wooden heart.     

The boy with the wooden heart pt.1

     There once was a boy with a wooden heart cut straight from the body of a great grand oak tree; when he had been born he had nearly left the world too soon but his father, a carpenter, had gone out to the place he loved the most and preyed at the base of an old oak tree. Suddenly the great being awoke and spoke to the man

“What is it that had made you so sad?” it spoke, its voice was grand and all-encompassing yet it was so soft that it drifted down around him stopping his tears,
“my son I have just gotten him and now I am going to lose him” he sobbed
“That is a conundrum, why is he leaving so soon?” the oak asked his leaves rustling and drifting to the floor like tears down the man’s face
“his heart is breaking” he replied
“oh, you know many, many of my friends and children leave me and I have stood here for over a century, I am old and tired and I would like for you to take a part of me and to craft your son a new heart” he said his branches bending around, back and forth as though enunciating what he was saying
“but how can a wooden heart save my sons life?” the man asked
“love is a great and powerful magic” he replied “just trust your heart and you will give your son his life” he added
“but it might kill you” the man said
“every being must die and I am afraid I have been quite greedy with my years, your son may have them now” the great oak boomed shaking his branches, blanketing the ground below in colours of orange, amber and burnished red

“thank you” the man said wiping the remaining tears from his reddened cheeks. He stood and left quickly running and collecting his tools before returning as quick as a breath. He wrapped his arms around the tree in an embrace so strong that even the great being chuckled with delight causing the birds to flee from its branches and then he began to work.

     When he had finished cutting the square of wood he began to carve it, sanding and chipping as he went, he wept for the old tree and all he had done, all he had given for his son and as the tears fell soaking into the golden wood the heart began to stir and though its imperfections were many it beat with the strength of the oak tree, with the love of the man’s soul and with the life of the forest.