Magpie 79

Just hours before their brutal death, they left in the black car, smiling like it was the happiest day of their life. But I guess it was-if you minus the murders 8 o'clock onwards that night. With Mary in the front, and Candice and Matthew in the back, they drove away with smiles ear to ear. Mary's timid smile, only just revealing her two rows of perfect teeth still seemed to reduce her mother to tears. Tears of happiness for her children, but also tears of pain to see them finally leave. Mary's younger and more confident sister Candice who laughed and waved to the people that waved them goodbye was elated just like her sister to be starting this new adventure. Matthew also smiled, peering over his sister, Candice's shoulder. It was his idea for this adventure.

"We'll drive right along the beach, just like you always wanted. We can swim and run from the waves. It will be great," he could remember promising Mary one morning at breakfast.

"I expect it will be far too cold for swimming!" she had said, frowning. Then Candice, the chirpy personality she was in the morning came skipping down the stairs.

"It sounds like a surely swell idea, Matthew. But how on earth shall we get around?"

"Did you not hear? I almost have enough money for my car. We can finally go on our adventure, further than the front garden. We'll go right up to Bounty Hills, mabey you will end up seeing your old friend Kathy," Matthew had tried to persuade.

"Mother will never allow us," Mary had said, glancing up from her cereal. Sighing, Matthew turned back to Candice, "Candy...you think it's a good idea, right?"

"I certainly do. Seeing Kathy will be great."

"Hold that smile, Candy!" he instructed. She went along with it, the goodnatured person she was. Matthew gestured towards Candice.

"You wouldn't want to destroy that lovely happiness, would you?" Candice saw what Matthew was trying to do and played along once again, beginning a fake weep. Mary held back a smile, "I'm only worried about your driving. Well not really, but mother is. You said you plan this trip in a month, correct? To leave when the weather is just right, correct?" Matthew nodded.

"Well," Mary continued, "that's too soon. Mother will not think your driving is quite right. But really, I'd love to go. Let me drive away and get us started. I want us off to a good start. Oh, and we're going to the hills first. I want to remember the beach more!" Candice shrugged, closed with a smile and Matthew jumped up with joy, simply glad at the final acceptance.

And then it was just one month later, they found themselves driving away from Kendal Square. Smiles on each of their faces-Mary's nervous but also excited smile. Candice's same, happy smile as that breakfast one month ago and Matthew's smile that reveals less than it really means. But not one of those smiles on those faces, was ready for their terrible fate, the very first night of their adventure.

This is my response to Magpie Tales, prompt 79 :)

Magpie 78

I drop the last paint roller onto the pile of other paint brushes and palettes. It makes a loud noise as it hits the other things I've spent the last fifteen minutes gathering.

I shouldn't be doing this.

I look around, the room is bare now; all the things boxed up in the next room. But I can still imagine our bed in the middle of the room, with the bed-side-tables beside it, along with the half-price lamps we'd bought just after buying the house. I can still visualise the shelves that sat on the furthest wall, that we'd spent ages getting the right position for. We had stood there for a long time, 'oohing' and 'ahhing' and sighing frustratedly.

"They would look so nice here, since this wall is so bare." We'd spent so long on deciding-our first home had to be our perfect one. It's funny, a shelf was such a big deal...and now it's those things that you realise just dont matter. They're not important.

There were four marks, where i'd pulled out the screws from those shelves.

Man, this feels so wrong.

'KRISTY LOVES LUCAS' is written on the wall. The wardrobe used to be there, covering it. The writing brings back memories from that night, when we'd stumbled to bed after a couple of drinks. We sat there the whole night, laughing at everything like we weren't just lovers but also bestfriends. Because we were. She was more than a lover, and more than a bestfriend. She was everything.

She wrote it on the wall, laughing hysterically, her long, gorgeous brown hair running curly down her back. Her teeth almost sparkled, even in the dimmed lights, as did her eyes which I'd always loved about her. We hid it with the wardrobe, the next day. I don't really know why. Not in shame or anything, but it was just something we did. And that was why the wardrobe was unevenly spaced between the window and the door.

Not anymore. It's gone. It's outside, just like everything else. I'm getting rid of it, just like the bed and the shelves, the sheets, the pillows, the quilts, her clothes, the pictures, the silly ornaments she loved to keep, the lamps, the picture of the ocean she'd had since I met her, her little stuffed bear, her candles, her alarm clock and also mine. Her jewellery, her makeup and her mirror. All gone. Just like her. I had boxed up almost everything that I could that reminded me of her. I would get rid of it whilst the paint was drying, most probably.

Everything is just too much. I keep count of the days that she's been gone. It brings me to tears but I just know I have to do this. I have to get the last of her out of my life. If I can't have all of her, then I don't want any of her. I'm going to paint the room and destroy all my memories of her. I need to. I just cant quite work out why. I kneel down to pull the lid off the tin of paint. She hated this colour, I remember she told me it was the one we would definitely not use, the day we went out to pick room colours. Mabey this wasn't such a good colour to use.

I can't believe I'm going to do this. I sit on the floor and cross my legs, giving myself something I hadn't in such a long time; a moment to think it through. I'd done alot of thinking since she was gone, but only about her. Not really what I was doing to myself. I sit like we had to, right up to year twelve at school assembly. All of a sudden the memories flash back. Kristy and I had gone to school together, but she was real shy and so we never dated until after we graduated. We hardly even knew each other in high school, but there wasn't one day I didn't melt over her and everything she did. She was perfect. The tears prick at my eyes again and a lump forms in my throat. All of a sudden, my stomach begins tossing and turning with some form of butterflies. Exactly like on our first date. It's been 874 days since then. I keep count because it was one of the most important and happiest days of my life. I can't seem to let go of it...or her. My stomach stirs again, and the memories, although so long ago are fresh and magical in my mind. Straining my heart. I fall back and lay on my back. The tears run down my face and I cry. I just cry to get it out. I cry because I'm hurting; because I miss her and I cant have her, I love her, she's gone, she was everything, she was perfect. I cry because I've held it in for so long.

Who am I kidding? I can't do this, I shouldn't do this.

I thought this urge to clear her from my life was just like the reason we covered up the writing on the wall; it was just something we did with no real explanation needed. I wipe my eyes with my sleeve and sit up again. I feel like suddenly I'm awoken. I realise the silence I've been living in, what I've put myself through. Like something magical, I suddenly realise that I can't change what's happened. But she's safe and oneday I'll rejoin her. I turn on the radio, I call a friend and I swap the brushes and paint for everything I tried to get rid of.

Magpie 71

"Ouch!"

"You're it!" Ray squealed, as he poked me on the arm and ran away.

"Don't touch me! Especially on my sunburn!" I yelled back at him.

He pulled a face and poked out his tongue. Joel, my other annoying bundle of a brother ran and jumped onto my back, his arms almost strangling me as he wrapped them around my neck.

Of course, Ray saw this as his opportunity for attack. He too, ran towards me, yelling, "charge!" Their little fingertips were not as innocent as they looked. They, mabey even unintentionally, took advantage of the sunburn I'd received on our Summer holiday to put me through a world of pain. Screaming at them to get off me, it was mum to next step into the scene.

"Please!" Mum hissed at us, as she attempted to pull Joel from my back, "The other people here would like to view the museum in peace." I looked around, and counted a whole of two people in the dusty room that smelt of the sea." As much as I was a total advocate for getting rid of my brothers, I had to admit there wasn't really anyone here to annoy anyway.

"Aw, but c'mon mum! There's nothing to do here!" Ray moaned.

"Yeah!" Joel, growled on to agree, "This stinks! You said this holiday would be fun."

Dad called over to mum, motioning for her to come and look at something. This beachside holiday, 1000 kms away from anything half decent to do was all dad's idea. But I guess mum was right in saying, this was dad's only break from work in the whole year and he should get to spend it how he wished.

"Tell you what...twenty more minutes. Find something to look at, and if you all behave we'll get nice, cold ice-creams." That was enough for Ray and Joel and I nodded, as not to be a nuisance.

The three of us trudged off into the next small room. There were some paintings of the ocean on the walls and a couple of disgusting fish plastered to the walls also. In each corner of the room there was a glass cabinet filled with clams and pearls and sand, obviously taken from the beach. The room at first seemed boring, with it's brown timber walls and floors and only one small window at the end. It was all very plain when we realised there was a doorway to another room. Walking through to that one, it was a complete transformation. This one was so much different, with a larger window and much nicer walls and floors. there was a bench with a cushion also, and the three of us sat there straight away.

We all seemed to be completely consumed by the ornaments in the centre of the room. It was probably the brightest thing we'd seen since arriving in this town. I dont know how, but we all sat there for so long. We hardly even had to speak, we were all daydreaming, thinking, wondering-what on earth this masterpiece was.

"Those boats in venice!"

"Fish..."

Our eyes were all set on the mysterious objects hanging by the thinest of wire or string. Mabey thats why, for twenty whole minutes neither of them hardly spoke. It was something unexplainable. Something completely amazing.

Mum and dad walked in shortly, and explained we had been so good. Like we'd all been in a trance we suddenly jumped back into the disorganized, loud family we are known to be. I smiled. That was the quietest Joel and Ray had been in a very long time. Even I hadn't been that quiet in forever. It was completely indescribable, the simplicity of the object, yet the complexity of the 'illlusion' of it all didn't fail to amaze even me.

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