Magpie 37

This piece follows on from my others: Magpie 29, 31, 32 and 34 (that can be found by clicking my blog title above).

Thankyou to Magpie Tales that has supplied the picture prompt.

Paulie sat on the edge of the bed looking out the window to her garden. There was a chill in the afternoon air with the sun still bright, setting slowly over in the ocean. Paulie looked down to the ring on her left ring finger. She fiddled with it, moving it side to side until she could easily pull it off. She stared, admirably at the words engraved on the inside of the gold ring: Paulie, my one love, my only love, my love forever. She smiled as the beautiful face of her husband filled her mind. She stood up, pushing the ring back onto her finger to look into the mirror that hung from the wall above her chest of drawers. She stared into her sky blue eyes and smiled.

"You have the most amazing eyes in the world," she could just imagine her husband saying, "they bring shame to the stars." It was quite a cliche line but her husband was much of the romantic type. Going out of his way to make her feel like a real princess. To always put his beautiful princess before himself was what everyone knew him for.

Remembering her husband, brought tears to Paulie's eyes. He had loved her more than anything in the world and it was much the same feeling for her. But mistakes resulting in a not so great past ended up with Paulie's beloved husband missing and then found dead. She sat back down on the bed, wiping away her tears with her sleeve. She ended up crying alot more than she first thought she would and got up for a tissue from the pink patterned box sitting underneath the mirror. Jerking the box carelessly in an attempt to get out a tissue a small brown bug climbed out from the box and up the wall behind the mirror. She was startled by the bug but she'd never been disgusted or afraid of them and attempted to get it out from behind the mirror. Living on her own for so long she never really moved things. So the gold framed mirror had always stayed exactly there, hardly ever touched. Paulie reached up to the corners of the mirror and slowly, carefully pulled it off the hook it hung by on the wall. It was much heavier than Paulie could ever remember and she was quick to drop it down onto the bed. There, tucked under a corner of the frame on the back of the mirror was a folded piece of paper.

Paulie was extremely curious and eager to see what this was. When she unfolded it and saw a page of writing, entitled Dear my princess Paulie, her heart skipped a beat with excitement.

Dear my princess Paulie,

I am terribly sorry if I am never able to lay my eyes on your beautiful face ever again, sweetheart, but I hope you find this letter and it is some sort of closure for you. I am sorry for the terrible place I have hidden this letter for you-I was in a rush at the time.

Given my past, and the secrets I have kept from you for your own safety you will know I have dealt with some very dangerous people. I hope that they do not find this letter before you. I hope you never have to see these people, or ever hear of them again.

My darling sweetheart, I have written on the back of this letter information I need you to take to the police as soon as you read this letter. It will explain what I know about the missing information of Wentering Place and hopefully clear your name. I hope it brings you freedom and you don't have to worry anymore.

Paulie darling, whether I return tonight or not I want you to know I have never loved anyone as much as you. You are more beautiful, special and important than anything and anyone I have ever layed my eyes on.

I hope this letter brings you freedom, my beautiful princess Paulie.

Love always, Damian.

xxx

Hope you enjoy, your comments are much appreciated! (:

Magpie 35

This was written with inspiration from this picture prompt supplied by Magpie Tales. It follows on from my other short pieces: Magpie 29, 31, 32, and 34 that you can view by clicking my blog title above. Enjoy...

Everytime April woke up in the arms of her husband, Jeremy she simply forgot about the world. She let everything go and slip her mind until it was only filled with the joy of the moment. She thought moments like these were perfect, well to her atleast and she admired her sleeping husband.

There was complete silence apart from Jeremy quietly breathing and a running shower down the hall. All of a sudden it stopped and as she listened carefully she heard the shower curtain run along the rail and Paulie humming to herself. Smiling April rested her head back down on Jeremy's chest and felt the movement of his chest up and down, up and down, the beating of his heart steady and relaxed.

The door to the bathroom swung open a few minutes later and Paulie walked out in her dressing gown. She disappeared to her room and a few minutes after that re-appeared in some fresh clothes. She saw April was awake and smiled brightly, "Morning."

"Morning," April whispered quietly, making sure not to wake Jeremy.

"Would you like some breakfast?" Paulie asked as she loudly opened drawers and cupboards, "I was thinking some bacon and eggs."

"Sure," April said, "that'd be great."

"My spare bed looks alot more comfortable than that rugged old chair," Paulie said.

"Yeah, I couldn't sleep," April explained. Paulie nodded in understanding. Washing her hands in the sink, overlooking her yard Paulie clicked her tongue.

"Those leaves have made a real mess of themselves now," she said, "they're everywhere. I'll need to get out there today and rake them up."

Jeremy moved around in the seat before opening his dazed, tired eyes.

"Good morning sweetheart," April said.

"Goodmorning," he said shifting her wait off him so he could sit up.

"Now you're both up you won't mind some of my terrible music," Paulie said flipping the switch on the radio. The small radio burst with volume and suddenly came alive. The speakers blowing a song neither April nor Jeremy had ever heard of but Paulie knew word to word of.

"And your darkness may faaaaaaaaaaade," she sang as the song finished. We all laughed and clapped playfully and she did a cute bow.

"Thankyou, thankyou," she said.

The beautiful moment was basically ruined when the news came on the radio a moment later.

"A search for two people by the names of April and Jeremy Egnezi has begun again after two years. The two are suspected and at this point held responsible for 3 deaths. Some associated with the Okakii Gang. They have gone undetected for two years, with their whereabouts no way to be known and the police are now again on high alert for anyone who may recognize these two people, have any information about them or the crimes. In some sport news; Jason..." The voices on the radio left her as easily as the worries of the world did when she woke up in Jeremy's arms.

She got up with tears in her eyes, a lump in her throat, and an ache in her stomach. She shrugged off Jeremy's hands that tried to hold her back. Paulie looked down at her hands in the soapy water and then dried them on a nearby tea towel before following her out into the yard.

"The seasons are changing," Paulie said as she sat beside April with a leaf in her hand. April wiped her face with her sleeve.

"You've made mistakes; we all have," Paulie said, "I, myself have made alot. Some very bad ones and one very horrible one that led to a huge long chain of other mistakes and tragedies."

Paulie placed the leaf in April's lap, "Mabey it's time to turn over a new leaf."

Magpie 34

This piece is for Magpie Tales (that supplied the prompt) and follows on from my Magpies 32, 31 and 29 that you can find by clicking my blog title above. Hope you enjoy...

April dazily opened her eyes and looked out the window to the unfamiliar places and people. The small clock in the car read 3.47PM and she relaxed at the gentle smile of her husband, Jeremy.

"Afternoon gorgeous," he said softly as he stared ahead out the windscreen, occasionally glancing at her tired face.

"Wow," she said, "how long have I been sleeping?"

"Just a few hours," he said, "we're almost there. I'd say about half an hour." April nodded but her heart leaped. Her stomach dropped and freaked out at the thought of meeting with this person after two years. If Jeremy had taught her anything in the time she'd known him it was who to trust under their circumstances. This was the only person.

They both felt unsteady when they stepped out of the car and onto the pavement after the long drive. They'd stopped at a lonely, isolated deli to grab something to eat and drink once, but only once. And when he'd gone in and seen the paper he kept his head down, being careful to not make eyecontact with the old lady reading her own copy of the paper.

"That's seven fifty," she said, holding out a frail hand with her eyes not leaving her newspaper. Jeremy had placed a ten dollar note in her hand and quickly left. He shouldn't have even worried though; It took her long enough to realise he'd given too much, let alone get a look at his face and match him to the face on the front of the newspaper.

But now, at their final destination, hard ground once again beneath them they slowly made their way to the front door.

Three quick knocks on the door with a sweet 'Welcome' sign. Although they hardly showed it the two of them were nervous, they were scared. This was the one person that had always been by their sides, one person they could always trust-no matter what. So why were they nervous? Were they scared it would ruin the trust, that this person had changed. Jeremy thought not. This person was unique, forgave the right people. He'd known this person long, the trust couldn't be broken. They heard a key in the door and the twisting of the knob until it was pulled right open.

Her face lit up, her long hair messily draped over her shoulders. She looked them both up and down until she fixed her eyes on Jeremy. That was when he saw it. He knew she was glad he was here. She would take them in. It would be alright.

She hushed them quickly inside and then hugged him as tightly as she could.

"You mischief maker, I missed you."

She turned to April and hugged her too. She'd taken a quick liking to April two years ago when they'd met.

"Paulie, you've seen the paper?" he asked.

"It's great to see you too," she said, "anyone up for tea." He smiled at the way she took nothing seriously. As far back as he could remember she never had. When neither of them replied she turned back to face them.

"We'll talk about it over some tea," Paulie said in an insisting voice. And with that she turned back around and walked to the kitchen.

"You don't know how much I've missed you," she said as she put on the noisy kettle.

"All the same here," Jeremy said.

"Well, tell me," she said, "tell me how on earth you two did so well for two years."

April sat on a cushioned stool by the bench and Jeremy joined her on one next to her.

"Okay yes, we've got you to thank," he said. She falsely acted flattered.

"The cottage was okay then?"

"It was lovely," April spoke for the first time since arriving, "It was such a shame we had to leave."

"Yes," Paulie said. She reached up to a cupboard and pulled out three mugs.

After the tea was made they all sat down in the lounge.

"So yes," Paulie said suddenly, and softly, "I saw the paper this morning." They all seemed to sit there quietly. Unsure of how to go on. Unsure of what to say.

"The whole country's on a lookout for you now," she said, "they know your faces." Their stomachs turned and April pushed away her tea onto the coffee table.

"And I'm sorry but I don't know what to do," she said, "But you can stay here as long as you need to."

"Thankyou," Jeremy replied.

"I'm just sorry I can't help more."

After dinner April, still extremely tired and her body taken over probably more by anxiety than anything decided on an early night. After reading for a while Paulie went to bed as well and it was 2 the next morning when April woke again. The other side of the bed was unthouched, neat. She slipped out of the bed and opened the door to the pitch black hall. At the end of the hall there was a faint light and she walked slowly towards it, feeling the walls either side of herself. When she reached the end of the hall she ended up at the lounge room.

There Jeremy sat on Paulie's vintage couch. A lamp above him shining brightly on his dreaming mind. A book lay open on his chest. She smiled at her husband despite anxiety running right through her. She sat beside him and lay her head on his shoulder. He woke, startled.

"I'm sorry," she said guiltily, "I didn't mean to wake you."

"It's okay," he said smiling, looking right into her eyes.

She sighed, "What are we going to do?"

"I dont know," he said as he put his arm around her, letting her head sit on his shoulder. They both sat there in silence, both thinking. Despite being searched for by the country they tried to enjoy the moment that was as close to perfect as they would get for a while.

They both felt the heat from the lamp above them and tried hard to see light of the situation.

Magpie 32

This piece for Magpie Tales continues on from my Magpie 31 and 29. Enjoy...

April pulls the second drawer out of the dresser and piles the clothes into her bag. She pushes them down hard on top of the previous pile. It's like de ja vu and her stomach stirs sickly. She sits on the edge of the bed and remembers back to when she was packing at home. Her old bedroom. Painted the lightest and calmest shade of purple with her purple sheets and purple doonar. With posters of singers on the walls stuck tackily with tape. The room was her haven but she had to run from it and now again she had to run from her haven. Outside the window it is pitch black with no verandah light like her childhood home. Her eye begins to twitch with worry. For the first time in two years she feels anxious. She's worried for her future. Jeremy had always taught her from the day they met you have to take each day as it comes, not dwell on the past and not worry about the future.

She lays her back down on the bed with her legs dangling off the edge. Slightly swaying she hears them hit against something. She sits up and sees the small box she'd packed with bits and pieces not too long ago and had forgotten about.

Sticking out of the old books and magazines sits a little hourglass she had been given just before having to run away. She remembers clearly the last frantic minutes she'd spent in the purple room. Shoving clothes and a toothbrush with an old teddy and the last thing she grabbed as she ran from the room was the hourglass that sat out of place by her little ornaments. She'd stood by the door and stared at it for several moments. She tapped her foot impatiently with thoughts racing around her mind confusing her. With the sound of a door opening she shoved it into the bag and ran. The last time she left her teenage bedroom it was through the side window.

She clutched the hourglass in her hands and felt the tears push their way out her eyes. Time was something she wished she had had more of. Something she wished she still had more of now. Time had always rushed them. It had rushed her and her husband away. It had rushed them to make decisions, that including some not very good ones. Time was something she wished she could go back in and change. But as she watched the sand move through the tiny little hourglass she realised she was running out of time and she had to make good decisions because time was something she was never going to get back.

Mr Dog Man

**The words for this piece were lingering in my mind and I HAD to post them, I HAD to get them down. I would honestly love to hear what you guys think. Thankyou**

Mr Dog Man, you didn’t see me today, did you?

I walked a different way today.

Took the alley right up the hill.

Were you looking for me today Mr Dog Man?

I see you everyday Mr Dog Man.

Everyday on my way to and from school.

No matter which of two ways I take.

No matter how early, no matter how late I leave for school.

We always somehow cross paths Mr Dog Man.

Is it a coincidence?

Were you looking for me today Mr Dog Man?

I always see you walking your creepy walk.

Behind your dark shades and your hat.

And with your fat little Shiatsu cross some sort of bear.

But you didn’t see me today.

Did you miss me?

Were you looking for me today Mr Dog Man?

French was my last class.

We were all barging out of the class into the stream of students in the hall.

We pushed our way free through the doors to the sunny air.

Where the flowers were blossoming in the fields.

No reason to get home quickly today Mr Dog Man.

So I followed a path quite the opposite way.

I went right around the other side of the block.

Then up the alley where the sun shines through the trees to the big hill.

You can see everything up from that hill Mr Dog Man.

But you couldn’t see me, could you?

Were you looking for me today Mr Dog Man?

So I walked home today with the sun shining on me.

I wondered whether your eyes of which colour I have not yet discovered were looking around panicking.

Noticing I was the thing out of place.

Did it bother you Mr Dog Man?

Did you wonder what had happened to me?

Mabey I got a lift home.

Or mabey I was sick.

Mabey you guessed I went a different way.

Were you looking for me today Mr Dog Man?

So, you didn’t see me today, did you?

I walked a different way today.

Took the alley right up the hill.

Were you looking for me today Mr Dog Man?

Magpie 31

Magpie Writing Prompt

Continuing on from Magpie 29...

It was in the distance from the cottage that the day would see the last of the sun. With the darkness flooding the sky the occupants of the hidden little cottage turned on their lights. She sat in an old fashioned chair that was more comfy than the rugged old look of it gave credit. And he, who had that day travelled to markets two hours away sat in the other sipping on iced tea and resting his tired eyes. It was quiet, silent almost. Except for the sound of her turning the pages on her book and him sipping his iced tea every once and a while. So it was no surprise they were both startled when the sound of tyres on the pebble road outside occurred. Both jumping from their chairs they stared out the window at a flash black car that slowly neared their cottage. Swearing he turned for the bedroom and she worriedly stared hard at the unexpected guests.

"Grab your stuff," he said as she continued to watch the car cruise closer.

"Slow down a minute, we don't have to run," she said as she too turned for the bedroom.

"Please, there's no time for this. We knew this day would come," he said as he quickly and stressfully reached for the backpack in the bare bedroom.

"I just didn't expect it to be this close," she said as she rummaged through an old chest of drawers, "we don't have to run." She pulled out long sheet-like clothes and draped them over herself, "atleast not yet!" He stared at her, confused.

"Christ woman! What are you doing? Grab your things, they will be knocking on the door any second. Then after that they won't be knocking." Rummaging through the drawers again without a word much to her husband's disbelief she pulled out some more clothes and covered herself up until very little of her was visible.

"What are you doing?" he asked as she covered herself.

"Planning a sensible escape plan," she replied.

She exited the front door of the cottage as he left through the back. She pretended to look shocked at the men's presence which wasn't hard from their black suits and stern expressions. They wore dark shades just like spies in movies, the only exception: this wasn't a movie, this was real life.

"Gentlemen," she said in a higher pitch than her own as she neared her car and they walked towards her, "I'm in quite a hurry, but may I help you?" She opened the door to her car and put the key in the ignition.

"We are looking for April and Jeremy Egnezi," the taller and balder one said as he held out two photographs, "do you recognise these two people?" She examined the two photographs before shaking her head and replying, "no, sorry." She slipped into the car and turned the key.

"I'm terribly sorry but I really must be going," she said, "was that all?" The first man turned to face the other and nodded.

"Thankyou for your co-operation m'am," he said. She nodded and closed the door as they turned to their car. She took a moment to slow back down her racing heart and drove the car away from the old pink cottage in her disguise.

It was almost an hour later when she arrived back at the cottage. By then it was already very dark but the light in the cottage was on. She pulled off her clothes and ran to hug her husband who stood just inside.

"I'm so proud of you!" he said, "We'll leave first thing in the morning."

She nodded and squeezed him tighter, feeling great to be back in his arms.

"I love you April," he whispered.

Magpie 29

This is a prompt from Magpie Tales .

Hidden by trees, by shrub, by forrest is a little old cottage that sits peacefully in the summer sun. It's old style and the young owners that took refuge in it a few years back have no idea quite how old their isolated home is.

Inside stands a woman at her kitchen bench preparing some food. The only sound is that of the knife quickly tapping the chopping board. She's relaxed in the comfort of knowing no one shall find them out here. Her husband and herself that is. Deep down she knows one day they will be found. That someone will probably recognize them when they are on their occasional trip into town or they'll plan to cut down the rainforest that stretches for miles before getting to their cottage and discover them. The woman reaches for the lettuce and begins to cut it to pieces just as contently as before. She seems to be the most carefree woman in the world despite her circumstances. But then again, she's spent two years pushing the thoughts aside.

Magpie 28

As the warm water relaxes my muscles, my mind too falls into a state of relaxation. Words flood in and out, trying to chose the right ones. That cheating beast. How dare he chose her over me! 5 whole years of my life wasted. I'll be sure to mention that to him.

I wriggle my black toe nails that I painted the night before. He had been sitting there on the lounge, watching one of those crime shows we both loved. The woman had found her boyfriend cheating and he murdered her when she confronted him. Though there should be know faith left in my husband I know he would never have the guts to murder someone. He murdered my heart though. And mabey that's just why I raced home from the cafe where I saw him with that stupid slaggy prostitute of a woman. Her hair down to her bum and her skirt hardly covering it. He hadn't seen me catch him out and so I guess that was why deep down I was excited for his arrival. To accuse him, to yell, to cry. I was trying to flood the anger out of me, to have it poor down the drain with the rest of the dirtied water. But I'd want it back for me to put up a good aguement. He had broken my heart. There was no stopping my show.

"You dirty pig! 5 years down the drain! 5 years I could've spent with a better excuse for a man!" I said the words aloud, let them sit on my tongue. I closed my eyes and sunk down into the warm water. Bringing myself up, my freshly cut hair flowed behind me. I remember getting it cut the other day. Meeting up with him for lunch afterwards.

"You look absolutely beautiful!" he said. He had sounded sincere and I had to admit the new look did suit me and it was very sweet of his flattering but I wasn't all that confident. He always made me confident. I could look like an absolute wreck and he'd still proudly hold my hand. In the park, on the beach, out at dinner. Oh, I remember just the other night. We'd dressed up all fancy for our reservation at an expensive restaurant but they stuffed up and overbooked. We kind of just shrugged our shoulders and walked down to the beach. There we sat on the limestone wall, him in a smart suit, me in an expensive dress, laughing as the sun went down.

All the memories came flooding back and I didn't feel too good.

"It's just the bath, the hot water, going under," I convinced myself aloud. I wriggled my toes again. Ready to show him how heartbroken he'd left me. Excitement built up in me as I pulled the plug on the bath, the water flowed down the drain and I heard him come in the door.

Magpie 25

This is a picture prompt from Magpie Tales

Yes, it's rusty and I know there's a crack here and there.

It's been touched and used and also loved.

I know that my heart may be old but you will always have the key to it.

Magpie 23

This is a picture prompt from Magpie Tales

The memories in my mind, the visual as clear as if it was just yesterday.

I still cry sometimes.

Mostly late at night, when I lay in bed, thinking about everything, mostly you.

My heart aches for you.

It aches because you're gone, it aches of sadness and emptiness and guilt too.

Two disasters that night.

One greater than the other.

First the power is lost and then you.

But it didn't happen that way, that simply.

Quite unfortunately.

The fire alarm went off.

It took it's time to detect the smoke that started off from such a small candle.

But luckily we had the smoke detecters.

Otherwise Jon might not have made his way out in time.

And I probably wouldn't have too.

But then again, maybe that would've been better.

Maybe then I wouldn't have to live with this guilt.

So the ringing woke me and Jon up.

I was so scared.

The fire had begun in my room and stretched right down the hall through the house.

Right up to your end.

Jon woke you up, after much pushing and shaking.

He tried to help you out the window but you ran through the house, through the fire to my room.

You should have listened to Jon.

I was out my window.

I had already climbed out.

That's what he told you I would have done.

So, why didn't you listen?

Why didn't you save yourself?

You had said to me to go to bed.

I told you I wanted to read.

I told you I wasn't tired.

And you listened to me.

But I didn't listen to you.

You told me to put out the candle before I went to sleep.

But the book was very good.

And I read until I grew so tired that I eventually just fell to sleep.

My window had been open and the breeze blew the flame to the curtain.

Setting it up in scary, red flames.

I should've listened.

But you should've listened.

We all should've listened.

But it started with me.

And ended with you.

Unfortunately, the fire ended you too.

I waited outside.

Shivering in my night gown.

A firefighter told me to stand by the truck.

And they used big hoses to try and put out the building that stood there in flames.

I watched Jon climb out the window.

And a smile spread across my face.

Relief spread through my body.

I could just imagine you climbing out after him but you didn't.

"Help!" Jon came over yelling.

"My wife is stuck in there. I couldn't get to the fire extinguisher, it was past the flames in the front room!"

"It's okay, sir!" he shouted and signaled to some others.

"She went after her daughter!"

That's when he saw me.

At first he looked upset, and despair was all over his face.

But then he ran over and he hugged me.

He hugged me tight and for a long time.

As if I was his own daughter.

Even though he knew his wife was in the house, that was up in flames.

Together there, as we were tight in each other arms we cried.

I'm sorry my mother.

I love you.

And I miss you.

Scary Movies-Resulting in Ninja Behaviour

Scary Movies. Love 'em, hate 'em, I'm sure everyone's seen at least one scary movie in their life. I for one, am not a fan but I tend to find myself watching them when it's the choice of my friends. Even watching them during the day doesn't do it for me. I usually end up holding someone else's hand, missing half of the movie because I refuse to look when I can sense something frightening is coming and I am usually absolutely terrified for the days that follow. Scary movies in the past have had their short-term effects and long-term effects as well, such as acting like a ninja through the house in the middle of the night to the toilet. I'm more a comedy girl. I enjoy movie's that'll make me laugh and with lines that last for ages of repeating. But I guess Scary Movies are like pickles in hamburgers from HJ's for me. I don't like them but sometimes I just have to grit my teeth and eat them.

So what do you think? Do you like Scary movies or Thrillers? Or do you prefer the funnier sides of things in Comedies like me?

It was a beautiful and sunny day outside but Jon Heath was inside the Macdonald Residence painting the ceiling of their large dining room. He was all set up in his hat and white overalls with a blue t-shirt underneath. He stood on a tall ladder that sat upon a large white sheet in case any of the paint dripped down onto the floor. Next to the ladder sat his radio that he always took to work with him to keep him company and his lunchbox. He often found himself whistling to the songs as he painted. The Macdonald family had gone out for a picnic in the park to enjoy the beautiful weather so Jon was the only one at the large house besides a bored little dog called Rusty.

Rusty was brown and white and often quite a playful dog. The family had planned to meet up with another family that weren’t too fond of ‘friendly’ pets and they also had a son severely allergic. So the family had decided to leave Rusty at home that day much to the children’s disappointment.

When Rusty woke up late because no bubbly or loud children had, he wandered through the seemingly lonely and empty house. That was until he headed downstairs and heard Jon’s music and whistling. He ran into the room through the slightly open door. Jon didn’t hear him come in and carried on with his whistling. Raymond Macdonald was a whistler. He always used to, especially when he gardened so Rusty didn’t find the whistling strange but more the strong smell of the paint. He barked a few times and this caught Jon’s attention.

“Oh, hey little doggie,” he said. When Rusty was satisfied he had been noticed he began to sniff around the room and Jon went back to his painting and his whistling.Rusty couldn’t find the source of the horrible smell that burnt his nose so he gave up and curled up next to the end of the white sheet. The ladder which sat at the other end of the sheet had proved Jon steady over the years but was about to take a huge turn around. Rusty had always been a playful dog and more or less a mischievous one. He grabbed onto the end of the sheet and prepared to pull.

The Stray Friend

I was walking to school and I saw a stray dog. It had no collar and it was very dirty. My mum had told me about dogs like that. "Infested with diseases, dirty beyond imaginable, aggressive and hard to train." Plus my parents had never really been fond of pets. It was crying, like a sort of moaning. It was laying on the sidewalk and it was shivering in it's thin coat. I walked over to it and patted it on the head. Pulling my school bag off my shoulders I placed it on the ground and pulled out my sandwich. For five minutes I sat there with the dog that I had already nicknamed Susie because it was the name I wished my parents had named me. For that five minutes I rubbed all up and down Susie's back to warm her up. I couldn't risk being late so I left her there on the sidewalk with the last few crumbs of the sandwich I'd given her and headed to school.

I arrived at school to find Jonathan Turner and William Welders by the gate. They were sitting down and were attacking people with spit balls.

"Oh look! Here comes Freckle Face!" They called. They attacked me then with their spitballs but I just turned the other way and ignored them. I didn't want to make them feel like they'd defeated me, that they'd hurt me or upset me. Although they already seemed to have made that assumption.

"Now she's going to go crying to all her friends! Oh wait! She has no friends." They laughed their heads off then and high fived several times.

"Except for the one that looks like a rat!"

And as much as I tried to ignore them and not let them get to me I failed. My eyes watered but I pushed them back and headed to the bathroom. I stood there and stared into the mirror. I pulled some of my hair nearer to my face to try and hide them but again i felt like I failed. So I just tied it back and told myself I didn't care what they thought even though they'd made me feel really self conscious of my freckles. I heard giggling and a group of girls from my grade walked into the bathroom. The type of girls that wore their skirts so high it was a belt and the sort that were as horrible as Jonathan and William. I kept staring into the mirror at myself, even when they walked in behind me and pulled their fingers through their own hair. One pushed me out the way with her elbow and washed her hands. I stormed out and I heard them giggling once again after I left.

The bell was rung and I waited outside my first class. Everyone was standing around loud and rowdy. Melissa walked up to me. She was wearing a bright red headband that was hard to miss.

"Hey," she said, "How are you?" I shrugged my shoulders. I suppose she guessed that meant I wasn't really in the mood. I turned towards the door and the other students turned away and laughed. I wondered what was so funny and came to the reality they were probably gossiping about me. This upset me even more than it should since I had never given anyone at this school a reason to hate me. Probably because I was a pretty easy target. I was ugly, not the smartest person, usually quite clumsy and Melissa says the stupidest things really loud sometimes.

"I liked your kick in PE," one of the girls said deliberately loudly. I stared down at my feet. Like she was perfect at PE!

"Your so much of a suck up in Science! That's crap you came up with that idea alone!"

"I did!" I said. Everyone at this point had turned around and was looking at me. My eyes started to sting as they prickled with tears. I pushed them back as hard as I could but I felt them coming.

"Sorry? I couldn't hear you!" she said, tormenting me. Everyone laughed at something that was hardly even funny. Melissa put her hand on my back but I shrugged it off. Couldn't she see this wasn't the time. She was only going to make things worse. I felt the tears coming through and again I fought them hard.

"Her hair would look so good if she had a shower once in a while!" her friend said. Now that was hardly true at all. I had a shower every single day. The fury built up inside me. Why are they doing this? The tears came spilling out and I turned and ran away. I heard them laughing behind me but I didn't care. I just kept running and running. It was until I reached an alley.

I sat there with my face in my hands. Crying my heart out. I was offended, humiliated and scared. I don't know how long I sat there in the alley. But no one bothered me and that was fine. It was at least a couple of hours. I drew pictures in the dirt with a stick and threw stones against the fence opposite to the one I leant against. My eyes were tired and sore and i sat there resting them closed. I heard footsteps and my heart started pounding. I looked around alerted and rested my heart when i saw who it was.

"Susie," I said, "Come here girl." I waved her over and she laid down next to me. Then Susie put her paw on my hand. It hurt at first, pushing my hand into the stones and grovel but then I realized something. She was my friend and she could sense when I was sad. I smiled at her as she rested her head down on her paw. Stroking her head and kissing it I told her about my problems. About the pretty girls and tormenting boys at school. About my parents always fighting and my grandparents dieing and having no one to talk to. Until now.

Heaven

I'm worried about death,

about what will happen,

when my time is up,

when i must go to heaven

is there such a thing?

either way it scares me,

because after my time is up,

what will be of me?

people believe things,

and some choose to not,

but if i don't believe,

do i even get a shot?

if i've been bad,

will they know of my sins?

if i don't believe in heaven,

will they not let me in?

i guess im just scared,

because it is unknown,

but right now im safe,

in my home

or am i?

if right this second,

i was to go,

would i see god?

well, no one really knows

either way for now,

i've chosen not to fear,

everyone will one day know,

even if 'one day' is not near

Is there a heaven? Well, I don't know. Where do we go? I don't know. Who will we be, or what for that matter? Again, I don't know. I think that is what scares everyone in life. The unknown can be exciting but usually mostly scary. We don't know what will happen and we don't know what we'll be. But it's all about what you believe. I'm still very young and I've been brought up in a more spiritual than religious family. So nothing is set out for me to believe. I don't know what to believe, but I suppose in life I will decide. And one day everyone on this earth will answer those questions. Even if they already think they know...I wish you all long and happy and healthy lives before then. Before the day those questions are answered for us...

Big, fake Smiles

Mrs Ribbon knocked on her neighbors door and heard a dog barking almost immediately.

"Charlie, go away!" she heard someone call. She heard the slamming of doors and then put on a big, fake smile to hide her concern when Mrs Timothy opened the door.

"Eleanor," she said when she saw Mrs Ribbon, "How are you?"

"I'm quite fine," Mrs Ribbon said, "and yourself?"

"Yes, yes, I'm good," there was something about Mrs Timothy's voice that said she was in a rush so Mrs Ribbon hurried to what she had come over to say. However, just as she was about to speak a voice from inside screamed.

"Mum! Eloise kicked me!"

"I did not!"

Clearly embarrassed Mrs Timothy turned away, signaling with her finger to Mrs Ribbon she would only be a second. She stepped into the hall and saw two of her children fighting on the staircase.

"The two of you!" she said, cross, "Grow up!"

But one of them screamed, "He pushed me into a wall and almost broke that expensive frame!"

"I did not! It was you that hid my pencils in the fridge! She almost blew it up!" the other one fought back. Her eldest daughter then came down the stairs, eating a chocolate bar.

"Hey!" the youngest child whined, "You said I couldn't have a chocolate!" Mrs Timothy sighed.

"Whatever, whatever! I'm trying to talk to Mrs Ribbon, be quiet!" She stepped back out the door and they both put on big, fake smiles to both hide their concern.

Sun Aware, Story of Skin Cancers

i lay on the beach,

sun on my skin,

it will burn

and it will sting

but thats my fault,

the price I pay,

to get a tan,

the unhealthy way

they say there's skin cancers,

but i bet they're real rare,

i bet i wont get them,

so i don't care

spray-on tans make me orange,

that's happened before,

so i don't use spray-on tan,

at all anymore

id much rather spend,

my summer days,

getting a tan,

the natural way

by laying on the beach,

and feeling my skin,

sting and peel

and the tan that it brings

but now i'm thirty,

i'm still pretty young,

but ive got a skin cancer,

probably from the sun

'we can only do so much',

the doctors say,

you should've worn sunscreen,

while laying in the bay

so now i cry,

because my chance is low,

and now i am sick,

because of what i now know

i should've listened to mum

and worn sunscreen,

i should've been protected,

from the harmful sun beam

but i didn't listen,

and i chose this way,

so now for what's been done,

i must pay

SLIP SLOP SLAP

Be careful in the sun. Look after your skin! You've only got one chance!

Tiffy

her name was Tiffy,

she was my cat,

but Tiffy died,

killed by a baseball bat

i know her killers,

i know them well,

i've told almost everyone,

theres no one else to tell

she went wandering,

but she didn't return,

when i found her dead,

my heart started to burn

i hate them,

the ones that killed her,

they have no hearts,

those horrible killers

it was those boys,

that lived down the street,

but no one listened,

i went down in defeat

but those boys,

that killed my cat,

will get their justice,

with my baseball bat

i'll get my revenge,

a plan I shall make,

to get those boys

for my poor Tiffy's sake

The seriousness of the squashed Carrot

My little brother Cody and I ran through Grandma's garden.
"Be careful of the lettuce," she had warned, "Sitting by the fence."
Cody and I lifted our legs high and tiptoed carefully across the path.
"Remember there's potatoes there too," Grandma had told us.
We watched our steps as we walked past the potatoes, only just visible above the soil.
"And the carrots, petals, especially careful with the carrots. They've taken their time to come up!"
"Yes Grandma," we had said in unison. Cody and I stepped past the carrots. I watched his as carefully as mine but his foot slipped on the path and came right down on a carrot. Cody turned to me with alarmed eyes. They watered and I told him it was alright. I pulled up the mangled, squashed carrot.
"What are you doing?" he asked in a panicked voice, "Grandma can't know. We should just get out of the garden and play in the sandpit where she said we didn't have to be careful of squashing anything." I opened the small gate that was old and rusty and Cody followed behind. I heard his footsteps stop when we walked past the sandpit. I turned to face him. He was standing slouched, and visibly upset. He threw his hands up in the air, as if in surrender.
"I'm not having anything to do with this!" he shouted. But it was too late. We were caught red-handed by Grandma who was coming up the path. She was smiling but shaking her head. Like, she did when we told her silly jokes. I was terrified and the expression on Cody's face said he was too. I knew she would be mad. She said to be careful of the carrots. I looked down to her feet where a grey rabbit was passing.
"The rabbit got into the garden, did he?" she asked. I nodded, feeling saved and my heart slowing down.
"It's happened before," she said, "they just trample right over the carrots to get to the lettuce." She clicked her tongue, "Those mishcevious rabbits."
"Are you cross?"Cody asked her.
"Not much we can do about it now, is there?" she said to us as we shook our heads.
"Well, c'mon," she said, waving us over, "You might as well put that bad carrot in the compost. The muffins we baked are ready, so come back to the house." I looked at the squashed carrot in my hand and couldn't help feeling slightly guilty. We followed behind Grandma back to the house. Cody leant over close to me and whispered quietly, "I won't say nuffin' if you don't!"

Magpie 22

Gardening was never my thing, nor my brothers' or my sisters'. I much preferred to write, and my brother would draw and my sister different still, would much prefer to play with her dolls. Outside my mother would work, most the time and on most days. She'd spend countless hours out there harvesting food for our dinners. She had to work much harder after my father left and spent even more time out there. We'd all been unhappy since he'd left and were as broke as ever. I'd sit inside writing, staring out the window. Mother would be in the garden and it would be raining. I would think to help her but push the thoughts aside as it would be much too boring and I didn't feel like getting wet.

One day when I got home I found my mother in her bed. My sister told me she'd fallen sick, most likely from the cold rain.

"But what about our dinner?" my brother asked and my tired mother didn't reply. She sighed long and deeply and that's when I started to cry.

"What about our dinner?" my brother asked a second time.

"Go get your boots on," I told him, although he only crossed his arms across his chest.

"Go get your boots on!" I screamed at my stubborn little brother. I felt the tears run down my face and the fury build inside me. He stormed out of the room, realizing how serious I was. I knelt down by my mother. Her body was cold and her eyes stayed shut even when my warm lips touched her cheek.

"Tell me what to do," I said.

"I don't know," she whispered, "I can't remember what was almost ripe." This time i was the one to sigh.

Just like I had, she sighed too, "Tomatoes," she whispered.

My brother stood by the back door with my sister by his side. I knelt down in front of him and stared right into his eyes.

"I'm sorry," I said, "for yelling at you. But we all owe apologies to our mother who has worked outside all this time for the benefit of all of us. Now it is time, for us to work for her so she can get well again." We all went out to the garden where stray weeds covered the once brick path that sat outside of our home. I stepped past fruits of green and red and vegetables of all sorts. Most of it would not survive and most of them looked bad. I went to the back where I saw circles of red. There where some sun shun through the trees sat 5 red tomatoes. I carefully pulled them off the stem and knew what I had to do. I would make tomato soup and my mother would be well after some time of rest. I felt horrible for leaving my assistance so long but from that point on my mother would not have to be the only contributer to what we all benefited from. I looked at my brother and sister skipping in the garden. Maybe we would all be happy again aswell.

First Story Posted

Today I've decided I'm going to get right to it and post one of my finished stories. It's a short story and it's called Unfaithful. I actually wrote it quite a while ago and I hope to get some of my newer work up soon. Not that I think anyone has actually seen my blog yet, but I would just like to say I would be so thankful if you have any feedback at all. Also, by getting a follower it can always lead to another. I will also become a 'follower' for you if you do so for me.

Thanks :)

As Morgan Cambridge applied her makeup in her small apartment’s bathroom she stared at herself in the mirror. She heard the door open to her apartment.

“Sweetie,” her boyfriend, Jonah called.

“In the bathroom,” Morgan called back. He walked into the room and gave her a kiss.

“You look gorgeous,” he said, “are you going out?”

“Yeah, Teresa rang before and we’re going to go out with a few of the other girls from uni,” she lied.

“Oh,” he said, his tone filled with disapointment, “will you be back late?”

“Probably,” Morgan replied. Morgan and Jonah walked out to the dining room. It was already dark outside. Through the large windows you could see the whole city. Morgan grabbed her bag and went to give Jonah a kiss.

“Give me a call if you need a lift home,” he said.

“I’m taking my own car,” she said.

“Okay, well have a good time. I love you,” he said. But as Morgan said those three words back she couldn’t look Jonah in the eyes.

She hurried out the door and into her car. Jonah watched from the window as she drove off. Then he turned towards the kitchen as he heard a familiar sound. It was Morgan’s ring tone. She had left her mobile behind as she had hurried out the door. On the screen of the mobile, ONE NEW MESSAGE FROM DAMIAN YORK, appeared. But the message was locked with an unlock code. Jonah phoned Teresa so that she could let Morgan know that she had left her phone behind.

“Hi Jonah,” Teresa said when he called.

“Hi, Morgan just left to meet with you guys but left her mobile behind. Would you just let her know when she gets there,” he said.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Well, Morgan said she was going out with you and a few others tonight,” he said.

“I don’t know why she’d say that. We hadn’t arranged anything. Derek and I are just staying home tonight,” Teresa, said.

“Oh really, maybe she got mixed up or something. I really don’t know,” he said, “Well, if you do hear from her or anything tonight let me know what’s happening, right?”

“Will do,” Teresa, said, “See you.”

“Bye,” he said and he put down the phone.

“How strange,” he said aloud.

That night Jonah waited in the lounge room of the small apartment surfing the television channels. It had gone 2am and then there was a loud knock at the door. He slowly opened the door hoping it was Morgan but instead a tall man in a dark outfit. As he opened it a bit further and some light came out of the apartment and into the corridor he realised it was a police officer.

“Hello Mr Spencer,” he said.

“Hi. What is this about?” Jonah asked.

“I’m Sargent John Courtly and I’m sorry to inform you that Morgan Jollettes has passed away,” he said. Jonah was absolutely speechless. His throat went dry and his heart seemed to slow which was the complete opposite of what would normally happen when he was shocked and start to panic. He felt numb and almost fell to the ground.

“W-what?”

“I’m sorry Mr Spencer. I understand this information is hard for you to take in. She was in an accident earlier tonight but died at the scene of the crash,” The Sargent said.

The Sargent helped Jonah to a chair.

“She was not in the vehicle of her own,” he said. The shock was too much for Jonah. Tears prickled at Jonah’s eyes. He almost fell from the peach, wooden chair that he sat upon.

“There was a male and he was driving. His name was Damian York. He has also died. Do you know this man?” York-Jonah had heard this from somewhere. He knew this name but not this person, the txt message from earlier on Morgan’s phone. That must have been who Morgan had gone to meet.

“She received a m-message from someone by that name but sh-sh-she wasn’t h-here to get it. She left her m-mobile here.” Jonah burst out in tears. He felt as if someone had just ripped his heart out.

A few days later, when Jonah felt the sun had been destroyed and his life was not worth living Morgan’s messages were unlocked and it was thought Jonah had the right to know what they said…

When Jonah looked at them, the ones from Damian York had kisses and hugs and ‘I love yous’ and then it suddenly sunk in that Morgan had not been faithful to him.

The hardest thing for Jonah when losing the one he truly loved. Was finding out he wasn’t loved back.