Short Story Competition

I've entered 2 stories in to the TooWrite short story competition. The titles are Frogs, Snails and a Stegasauraus, which you can find at www.toowrite.com/frogs-snails-and-a-stegasauraus-8988 and La Elegante, which you can find at www.toowrite.com/la-elegante-9529

The competition closed on September 20th and then went to a 2 week voting period, so about 10 days left if anyone wants to take a look.

That's if there's anyone out there reading this!

http://www.toowrite.com/frogs-snails-and-a-stegasauraus-8988
http://www.toowrite.com/la-elegante-9529

Found this link on a friends myspace site. It never fails to amaze me how unnervingly accurate these things can be :-/

What Your Soul Really Looks Like

You are very passionate and quite temperamental. While you can be moody, you always crave comfort. You are a grounded person, but you also leave room for imagination and dreams. You feet may be on the ground, but you're head is in the clouds. You believe that people see you for how you are, not how you look. But deep down, you know that's not exactly true. Your near future is in a very different place (both physically and mentally) from where you are right now. For you, love is all about caring and comfort. You couldn't fall in love with someone you didn't trust.

Inside the Room of Your Soul

Buzzing

Nearly 2 years in Spain and finally life gets exciting! What did we do today? The Alhambra in Granada? The Mesquita in Corboba? The Gorge in Ronda? No, we went to Ikea in Murcia :-) Who says shopping ain't the new religion!

Sssssnake!

I saw a snake today. Big deal? Yes, because it was the first live snake I've ever seen in the wild. Luckily there were no other cars about, it wouldn't have done my reputation any good for people to know I slowed down to let a snake get safely across the road :-)

Science vs Romance - The Cure

High Tension

Cotton wool clouds dotted sparingly in a powder blue sky

Reeds nestle in the brook, whispering softly in a gentle breeze

Tiny rabbits play on the verge, undaunted by the occasional passing car

Even the distant barking of dogs fails to disturb the tranquillity of the day

But it is disturbed!

A creeping menace crosses this land

Heard beneath the whispering reeds, quieter than the babbling brook

But heard, a low hum, sinister and constant

Metallic giants march across this rural land

Cables strung between them, bunting without flags

No fiesta here, just conflict, nature versus progress

Progress to enable, to move forward, to develop

To feed the addictions of modern life

Where rabbits play on our television screens

and our children play with games consoles

and we talk in cyber space

While our real space is slowly, systematically destroyed

By Progress

Good News!

We've just had the results of our dog's blood test and the leishmañosis has gone! The test was negative :-) Didn't know that was possible once they had a positive test but we're not complaining, just a bit stunned at getting such unexpected good news.

Lost in Words

Steeped in other worlds

Dreams of ancient lands

Faraway places

Planets unknown

Magical creatures

Mythical beings

Heroes and Heroines

Wizards, Witches and Monsters

And me

Sharing their worlds

Till the final page turns

The Party

This very short story was written as a time and word constrained exercise at my creative writing group.

The Party

It’s going to be a great night, even if I have to move hell and high water to get there on time. It’s my best friend’s birthday and Rob has gone to so much trouble to arrange the party, I have to be on time, just this once. I’m leaving work early today so everyone’s getting the answer-phone for the last hour. Can’t be dealing with an Irene crisis when I need to be somewhere!

Home at last. Late of course, I forgot about school traffic! I’ll have to move like a Duracell bunny on acid to make it on time. I can’t let Susie down though, she’s been my walking, talking diary forever and I owe her.

Taxi phoned, hair done, make-up done, dress ironed, check feet to make sure I’m not wearing slippers. Breathe!

Something weird’s going on. The pub’s empty, except for a couple of old-timers nursing their usual half of Guinness and Stan doesn’t look as if he’s expecting a crowd. The back room’s locked as well and it’s not as if I’m early, it’s 10 past 7. Not bad for me actually! I hope I’ve got the right pub, can’t check with Susie of course ‘cos it’s supposed to be a surprise. Or maybe I’ve got the wrong night. Think of an excuse, phone, find out where she is.

It’s not until the third ring I realise a phone is ringing at exactly the same time through the wall! And I can hear shuffling and the odd stifled cough. I looked over at Stan who has a strange expression on his face, as though he’s desperately trying to stem a yawn. The door to the back room clicks softly open and my best friend is standing there with a huge grin on her face. “I knew you’d ring eventually” she laughs. “and I knew you’d have forgotten what day it is” she adds with a sly grin.

My wedding day was supposed to be the happiest day of my life but this surprise divorce party beats it hands down!