February 24, 2015 by drkottaway

The Wedding Bells part 17 (Flash fiction chain number 6)

This is my second contribution to flash fiction number 6, hosted by Jithan, Photrabloger, with his beautiful photograph as inspiration. This is part 17, with the theme being a sweet romance, going around a second time because the ending was uncertain.

Major characters:

Anna Brighton- 32 year old CEO who owns and runs a publishing company
Alex Burns – well established author, Anna’s ex, Toby Blackwell’s cousin
Toby Blackwell – co-owns the Blackwell estate, Alex’s cousin

Minor characters:

Jenny- Anna’s secretary
Melissa Doyle –the bride, Anna’s dear friend
Harrison – Melissa’s fiance.

Here are the links to the story so far:

Part 17

Alex stood starting at the arrow with the heart shaped tip. Anna reached towards him. “Never mind that,” she said, her hands trailing from his shoulders down his arms.

“Wait,” said Alex. “Are you hurt? This doesn’t make sense.”

“It’s just the cupid, Melissa told me,” Anna murmured as she tried to slide into a close embrace.

“No, Anna! You don’t want him! You want me!” Toby was in the doorway. He, too, was holding an arrow with a heart shaped tip. He looked dazed.

Alex stepped away from Anna. “You’re both drugged!” he said.

“When I opened my eyes I knew. I have never been so in love!” said Toby. He was coming towards Anna, arms outstretched. Anna backed towards Alex.

Sara, the flower girl, came in. “Anna?” she said, “You said you’d take me in the garden.” She was holding the paper cone with the ribbons and the bells tinkled. It was empty of flowers now.

“You shot me!” said Toby. He grabbed Sara’s wrist.

“Let go!” said Sara. She was trying to pull away, not quite scared yet.

“Let her go!” said Anna and Alex together. And Anna lost it. Her temper. “Don’t move,” she snarled at Alex, who stared at her in surprise. “Toby,” Her voice was sultry as she walked towards Toby and the little girl. Toby looked up. “Darling,” said Anna, “Don’t think about her.” She slid her hand up Tobys arm and rested it on his shoulder. Toby dropped Sara’s wrist and reached for her. Sara jumped out of reach and Anna clocked Toby: elbow strike to the temple and foot to the shin. He went down hard. Anna stood over him, ready to strike again.

“Shit!” said Toby, “Ow!” He curled up holding his head.

Sara was clapping, Alex saying, “Anna, Anna, that’s enough.” He touched her shoulders and she let him back her away from Toby.

She looked at Alex. He was grinning. “Trained, I see.”

“Supposed to help with the business killer instincts,” said Anna, a bit sheepishly. Sara was hugging her legs. She picked the little girl up.

“Sarah, do you know where these arrows come from?” asked Anna.

Sara touched the arrow. “No. Mine are suction cup. Mom only lets me shoot at windows.” The tip of the arrow was red. Sara stuck her finger in her mouth. “Mmmm. Jam.” she said.

Toby was sitting with his head in his hands. “I have the mother of all headaches.” he said. “Shit. Anna, I’m sorry.” He looked up. “That didn’t help with my hangover at all. You hit hard.”

Alex held out a hand and helped Toby up. “You both look more normal now. What is with the jam arrows? What is this cupid story?”

Sara waved her cone and the small bells rang. “I don’t know,” said Anna, snuggling the little girl. “Let’s go out in the garden and compare notes. And get you some flowers for that cone,” she said to Sara.

“I am going for an ice pack,” said Toby, “Enjoy yourselves….”

Next is part 18: by Austin

Part 19: by Manvi The Conclusion!

February 4, 2015 by drkottaway

The Wedding Bells Part 5 (Flash Fiction Chain #6)

The beautiful photograph above serves as a photo prompt for Flash Fiction Chain #6 hosted by Jithin of Photrablogger. In this chain, many authors from around the world and from different time zones participate, writing consecutive parts in a beautifully orchestrated story telling.

Anna Brighton- a 32 year old CEO that owns and runs a publishing company

Alex Burns – well established author, Anna’s ex-boyfriend, Toby Blackwell’s cousin

Melissa Doyle – the bride, Anna’s dear friend

Toby Blackwell – co-owns the Blackwell estate, Alexis’ cousin

(Supporting characters)

Jenny- Anna’s secretary

Adam – Owner of Adam and Eve’s

Harrison – Melissa’s fiance.

This is part 5. To read the previous four wonderful parts, click the links below:

PART 1 by Sona

PART 2 by Yinglan

PART 3 by Priceless Joy

PART 4 by Frenesthetist

PART 5 is mine:

Oh, the hen party! The stripping “policeman” was a fabulous dancer. The “police van” took them to a private venue and the women all gave Melissa gifts. She opened them and there were shouts of laughter!

“Look at her blush!” as Melissa held up a scanty see through short neglige.

“Model, model!” shouted the women, as Melissa covered her mouth laughing.

“Here, I’ll do that,” said the dancer, and he strutted around in the filmy top. He stayed in his thong and Melissa would not let him model the very naughty underwear. “Oh!” she said, “I thought I couldn’t be embarassed!” They were quite lacy, see through and absent the crotch.

“This one!” said Anna. Melissa tore off the shiny wrapping and ribbon. It was a black box, with a screen. It was a camera, but how odd. “No download?” said Melissa, looking at Anna.

“No download,” nodded Anna. “You can take pictures but only view them in the camera. It destroys the chip if someone tries to open it.”

“Oh!” said Melissa.

“So….,” Anna grinned, “Your husband and you can take pictures with no fear that anyone else will see them.”

Melissa laughed. “You win. That is the naughtiest present of all.”

And the party continued…

_________
It was nearly dawn, with just the faintest lightening in the east, when the “police van” returned Melissa and Anna to the estate. Jenny and the others were driven to their homes or hotels as well.

Anna helped Melissa to her bed. Melissa was nearly asleep on her feet, though she had stopped drinking some hours ago. Anna was happy that no one had partied until they were sick. Melissa flopped face down on her bed and kicked off her shoes. “Night!” Anna thought Melissa was already asleep.

Anna was glad that they had a day to rest and get ready for the wedding tomorrow. She started back to her room, but she was not quite sleepy. She wanted to walk a little. It was a bit lighter. “Surely the gardens are safe,” she thought. Her room had doors onto a patio, and she slipped outside.

The sky was lighter, with turquoise fading up into blue black, and a few small clouds that were tinged at the bottom with gold. The house was dark and quiet. The gardens smelled of roses. She stepped onto the path very quietly.

She wandered a little. She could smell the flowers almost before she could see them. Gardenias. Fresia. More roses. The grass was dewy and it was still just barely cool.

<Crack>

She stopped. A noise. She was frightened for a moment and stood very still. Someone else. She heard quiet footsteps, ahead. Moving away. And then she heard bells. Bells, high and sweet.

She slipped her shoes off and picked them up. She tiptoed forward, quiet as a mouse, and looked around the next rosebush.

It was Alex. He was on his knees. He was humming. And when he moved, she heard the bells.

She watched and he turned. He held a small paper cone, with ribbons and small bells at the end of the ribbons. He placed a forget-me-not among the miniature roses and ferns in the cone. Then he smiled and walked very quietly towards the house.

Anna was intrigued. She followed, quiet, quiet, freezing when he stopped.

She followed him into the house and up the stairs. She felt like a spy or someone watching a romance. Who were the flowers for?

He stopped a little ways from a bedroom door. He wrote something on the cone, but she couldn’t see what. He placed the cone carefully on the floor a bit in front of the bedroom door and then he backed towards her. Anna slipped back behind a long curtain, peeping out. Now he was standing, peering at the door.

They waited. Anna tried to breathe very quietly.

After 20-30 minutes, there were noises in the room. The door opened. A small girl in bright pink pajamas came out, rubbing one eye. She stopped with her fist against her eye, staring at the cone of flowers. She swooped forward and studied the writing. She swept the cone up, hugged it with the small bells ringing and rushed back in her room. “Mama! Mama! Look! They know I am the flower girl!”

Alex turned and Anna could see his face. He looked as young as the little girl and just as delighted. He covered his mouth and stepped quietly down the hall.

Anna stood behind her curtain. This Alex, this was one that she didn’t know. When they were children, they knew each other a little. Once they had been playing at a friend’s and had teamed up to make up an elaborate play, with princes and princesses fighting dragons together. But they had rarely played when they were younger. When they had dated, he was so serious and driven and professional, she just felt cold and eventually gave up. He seemed to only care for his writing and his career.

Anna went back to her room, wondering. Was this really Alex? Was he affected by the cupid’s spirit that Melissa had mentioned? Maybe he WAS the household “cupid’s spirit”. Could he really be a romantic inside that tough exterior?

She fell asleep and dreamed of bells and flowers and….

Part 6 written by Sweety

Part 7 written by Itchy Quill

Part 8: written by on Ruth

Part 9: written by Austin

Part 10 : written by Rashmi

Part 11: written by Phaena

Part 12: written by Manvi

Part 13: written by Sona

Part 14: written by Yinglan

January 18, 2015 by drkottaway

The Tiny Soldier Part 4 (Flash Fiction Chain #5)

Here is my addition to trablog’s flash fiction chain 5, thanks!

Character List :

Rick – a not so ordinary ten year old

Jenna – a social service employee

Mrs. Montgomery (ma) – the foster mom

Jake – Mrs. Montgomery’s only son

Sun – The monkey

Recommendation:

Read the first three parts before venturing this part.

Part 1 : Written by Abirami

Part 2 : Written by Sona

Part 3 : Written by hiddenstarsfiction

Part 4

Rick settled on the ground and Sun stood on the wires above him.

“I think better in motion, O Best Beloved.” said Sun. “You desire to know how I became the monkey? The first monkey?”

“Oh, yes,” said Rick. Books were his hiding place and passion and escape as a foster child, but to have someone TELL him a story…. He tried not to think about it or hope. They would probably be interrupted.

Sun looked up at her namesake, starting to warm the dry courtyard. “A’Tuin, the giant turtle who swims, you know of him?”

Rick nodded. “Discworld.” he said.

Sun frowned. “Oh. This isn’t Discworld, is it.” Rick shook his head. “You know that there are many universes? And many stories. Which is your origin story?”

“This is earth,” said Rick reluctantly. He often wished it were Discworld.

“Many stories.” said Sun, “You know many origin stories. In the Garden, Eve was made from the rib. That is what the book says. That is part of the story.

After Lucifer left heaven and became the Snake, Lucifer wanted power. Adam and Eve were to be thrown from the Garden, all for eating the Apple from the tree in the center. Adam and Eve had covered themselves and were hiding. They had named the animals and plants that were present but there was no Monkey.

Lucifer Snake wept out of frustration and rage. “Eve is too weak. She is only a rib. She can’t bear the children and bear the blame for the apple as well.” One of Lucifer Snake’s tears fell into the dirt. It held some of Lucifer’s remaining power from Heaven. The tear and the dirt shuddered and…”

“What are you doing?” Jake was standing in the sun, his shadow falling over Rick.

Rick scrambled back. “Nothing!”

“Yeah?” said Jake. “Nothing? Stupid.”

“Isn’t your show on?” Actually Jake had shows all day. He did nothing before school but watch tv and after school he alternated. TV. Movie. TV. Movie. Ever since the game platform had broken. They couldn’t afford a computer or internet right now anyhow.

“Power’s off.” Jake muttered, head down. He was kicking at a pile of dirt.

Rick knew that Ma would not get the check for another two days. Then there would be a fine to turn the power back on. It had happened twice in the last five months. Eleven foster kids and Jake, but there was never enough to go around. Ma might be able to get help from the church, but she’s said she couldn’t use it too often or they’d cut her off.

“Army,” said Jake. “I told Alf and Wheeze that they are playing too. Now.”

Rick got up. He didn’t dare look at Sun and he didn’t want to get pounded. He wanted the story. He hoped Sun would understand.

In bed in the dark, tired, he worried that Sun would not come back. They were out of bananas and really out of most things other than oatmeal. At least they had that.

And the deep voice woke him. “The tear and the dirt shuddered. I rose out of it. I didn’t know who I was or what I was for. Lucifer looked at me and started laughing. “Go to them. Go to Adam and Eve and get your name.”

Adam had done the naming, but he had fallen asleep in the terror of the Apple. I went and there was Eve. She looked at me and said, “Hello. You are Monkey.” I threw my arms around her neck and cried. My tears carried Lucifer’s power and dripped onto her shoulder. The tears entered each cell and added power, and Eve passed them down to each child. Through the mother, only. You too have Eve‘s mitochondria.

And that is one story of how I became the Monkey.”

Rick was crying a little. He hoped Sun couldn’t tell. He didn’t remember his mother. He wished he did. And he was tired, he didn’t like playing Army with Jake and Wheeze had skinned his knee and bled and Ma had been upset. “We are out of band-aids!” She used soap on the scrape and Wheeze had cried. Rick had tried to do what Jake said without getting hurt, but he didn’t like Wheeze getting hurt either. He was also so glad that Sun had come back that he could hardly bear it.

“Will you tell me more stories? Please?” he whispered.

“Yes,” said Sun, “Now sleep….”

Part 5 by : Austin

Part 6 by : Phaena

Part 7 : Written by Tobias

Part 8 : Written by Priceless Joy

Part 9: Written by Raskmik

Part 10 : Written by Manvi

Part 11 : Written by Sweety