Early start no longer necessary since bad weather necessitated the postponement of my husband's treat to himself of a flight in a Tiger Moth. Suffolk to visit family, not seen since October 2019, is still on. As very much was the entertainment from the set of posts from last week's prompts! Deciding who to place in top spot difficult as ever but after reading and re-reading, and attempting to calculate the most apt criteria, I plumped for Terrie's SAS Diaries entry 143, but everyone else very close behind.
Entries by midnight Thursday 27th
May, new words posted Friday 28th
You certainly deserve the top spot last week, Terrie. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteGreat job, Terrie. Your 'dillos continue to be both amazing AND entertaining.
ReplyDeleteGood going, Terrie.
Deletenice one, Terrie, keep it going! Your dillos always entertain.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for the kind comments. I have so much fun writing about the 'Dillos.
ReplyDeleteThe Lobsterman
ReplyDeleteManny and Detective Hammerton sipped Painkillers on the Boardwalk at Sharkey’s. The tarnished Caribbean sky burst into flames as the sun dipped below the horizon.
“It’s so pretty here,” Joy Hammerton said.
“If you say so,” Manny said, twirling his dreadlocks. “This is some interrogation, mon. Cocktails, lobster bites. What next, a fast romp in the hay?”
“It’s not an interrogation, I’m just asking questions.” She picked up a lobster bite. “Did you catch these?”
“No, mon. These be frozen.”
“Well, let’s get to it. How did you know Kathy Lomax? She’s missing, you know.”
I wonder if Manny kept a straight face during this conversation. Continued good work here, John.
DeleteDialogue creating more than conversation. Loved this, John.
DeleteManny is becoming quite the fascinating character. Love the image of a Caribbean sky bursting into the flames.
Deletethe sky imagery was superb, the sort of thing I can't find when I want it...
Deletelovely dialogue saying more than is showing on top of what seems so casual. Brilliant writing.
The Lobsterman
ReplyDelete“Kathy Lomax worked here, at Sharkey’s, mon,” Manny said.
“Oh, did she now?’ The detective said. “I hear you two had quite the thing going on.”
“She didn’t mind me, mon.” He took a fast pull on his cocktail. “Being white and all.”
“What does her race have to do with anything?”
“Most white women don’t want to tarnish their precious reputations with a Rasta, mon.”
“Where is she, Manny?”
“Probly went back to the states.”
She didn’t fly, take the ferry, or charter a boat. It’s a small island, Manny.” She paused. “I will find her.”
“I hope so, mon.”
Fingers crossed, it'll take time and lots more cocktails and conversation.
DeleteDouble dose...I always love it when that happens. Great "Rasta" reference. Gives the tale so much authenticity.
DeleteQuite a nice verbal battle going on between Manny and the detective.
Deleteit's a very smooth transition and just as entertaining, the prompts melting into the text.
DeleteIntoxicate, Inebriate, Hallucinate
ReplyDeleteThere’s a cocktail lounge down on the south side.
The bar tenders are all chemists with tarnished reputations. Mixologists with a flawed pharmaceutical twist. Let me tell you some crazy shit gets poured and squeezed into those shakers.
You want to go fast? They’ll make you supersonic. You want to go slow? They’ll induce a lethargy that’ll stick with you for weeks. You’ll see monsters, man. Right though the swinging doors of perception. Tentacles and mandibles, talons and fangs. Coming right at you.
And you won’t sleep easy for the rest of your days.
Why one should avoid this lounge is vividly stated, David.
DeleteKnock-out tale, told with a magic mix of words. Thank you, David.
DeleteThis is some lounge. A really great little story, David.
DeleteLovely depiction of a most intriguing establishment. Seems like you can get anything you want here...and even some things you hadn't bargained for. Great descriptions and creatively way out of the box.
Deleteoh can't you just hear the narrator, which is the key to fine writing. Loved it.
DeleteLooking Back
ReplyDeleteAlex peered into the gilt-framed mirror. A tarnished and aging queen returned the stare. No new notches on his bedpost for over a decade now. Days of living life in the fast lane long gone.
A curtain of multi-coloured Skittles cascaded down the television screen while a voice urged: "Taste the rainbow."
Alex blithely raised the champagne glass prepared with his own brand of lethal cocktail and made a toast to his reflection.
"I'll drink to that!"
Misery and bitterness on full display here, Patricia. Great use of the prompts.
Delete'multi-coloured Skittles' the perfect choice for pointing up the bleakness.
DeleteAn aging, once flamboyant person seems so sad to me. Kind of like a track star with premature bad knees, always living in the past. Well done, P.
Deleteoh, that all came together beautifully if incredibly sad. Lovely writing.
DeleteSecret Armadillo Soldiers (S.AS) Diaries - entry 145
ReplyDeleteAfter Pink-Fairy and Atlas departed, Sarg revisited the deep-escape tunnels.
She directed their back filling as well as the installation of undetectable but easy troop-triggered loose-dirt ambushes and hidden rock-fall traps.
In higher tunnels, she ordered several poorly hidden decoy escape tunnels, fastened with cocktails of poisonous weeds and Cinereus’s bottles, to be dug.
As the soldiers worked, Sarg mentally sorted them into three groups and, although it tarnished her pride somewhat, each was given secret and separate orders in the face of a retreat.
‘Defend Base-Burrow,’ she told them ‘but you know where to head if you need to.’
Sarg is quite the strategist, isn't she?
DeleteA nice bit of prose. Retreat is a bitter pill, but it must be an option if you care about your troops.
DeleteI imagine defeat fails to sit very well with Sarg under any scenario but kudos to her for planning in the face of every eventuality. As always, you manage to infuse each 'dillo with his or her own personality and characteristic.
DeleteAs always, Terrie, much magic in your words.
Deleteit's magical the way everyone comes so naturally alive in these instalments. This is a slow, but story building one, if you know what I mean. They can;'/t all be full on fighting, although it feels like that sometimes!!!
DeleteLAST SUPPER
ReplyDeleteMy wife was stunning. She had taken great care to look ravishing tonight, and watching her as she entered the room caused my heart to beat at a much faster rate. Made mute, I could only stare in wonder at her.
I seated her at the table I had set: twin candles, a vase of yellow roses; and our best place settings. Her favorite cocktail awaited by her plate, and the meal I had prepared simmered close by in tureens.
The atmosphere was tarnished only by my presence, for following dinner and after making love, I intended to kill her.
You specialise in cold-hearted, monstrous men, Jim, and this a prime example.
DeleteMy only hope is, she knows what's on his mind and she got all gussied up as part of her plan. But, probably not. A masterful James Deegan work.
DeleteGiven the obvious infatuation of the husband here, I really wonder why the urge to do away with her? Is she having an affair? Is she terminally ill and he wants to spare her unnecessary pain? So many avenues this tale could follow. I hope we find out more.
Deletethe pleasure he seemed to take in preparing the table and the meal is, it would seem, carried over to his anticipating the murder... nice one!
DeletePresque Vu
ReplyDeleteI am obliged to act fast. She arrives without warning. Without fanfare. And I must be ready with the cocktails and nibbles (tasty little morsels on sticks) that she loves. She will not have her fleeting visits tarnished with oversight or inattention for she doesn't stay long and the information she provides is invaluable.
But, it has been many weeks now and she is late.
Too late.
My future self.
Oh! Such intrigue in those last three words.
DeleteIf there's one person you want to show up, it's your future self. Very clever, Patricia.
DeleteSuch and interesting and creative adventure you lead us through, Patricia. This is good stuff!
Deletewhoo hoo, that was a twist I didn't see coming! Very carefully and perfectly done.
DeleteChange of focus [427]
ReplyDeleteDC Henry Moth explained Philly Stepcart's claiming Derek Nickle implicated in the murder of Toni Forsyth, the holly-bush lass.
'Nickle senior. Tried curing his mid-life-crisis with the usual cocktail of sex'n'drugs with schoolgirls. Over-heavy reliance on the protection of privilege. Inevitable blackmail fast-drained family coffers. Topped himself when it became headline news, thanks to Stepcart's investigation. When Derek realised how badly tarnished his silver-spoon inheritance, it was the papers rather than Pater he blamed. Either he mistook Forsyth for Philly, or was targeting all blonde female reporters.'
'We need to warn Philly –'
Henry smiled. 'D'you think she doesn't know?'
Loved the holy-bush lass - likely how cops might refer to the victim. I wonder if that's why Stepcart implicated the suspect, to protect her own skin?
DeleteLove DC Moth's outward explanation. He is obviously blessed with a most orderly mind. Still, one feels a certain sense of dread for what might befall Philly.
DeleteI suspect that Philly best be most careful.
Deletecarefully built up to that last line. Nice one!
DeleteConvergence [Threshold 350]
ReplyDeleteRaven the faster. Dismounted and stood beside me, untouching, proprietorial; teeth gleaming in the light from the approaching other.
A man, not as tall but similarly broad. Bare-chested but for a tattoo of a cock-tailed horse, a symbol repeated on the gleaming tank of the vehicle he rode.
The curl of his lip, as his eyes travelled from Raven's tarnished, sand-blasted quadbike to me, suggested he found us similarly unappealing. Raven's face merged challenge with the satisfaction of being right.
'I suspected I'd crossed the boundary –'
'Some time ago. Though this the first geographical one. This your current woman?'
Current woman, huh. I wonder how that will go over? I'm looking forward to hearing more of the new guy, obviously with a past involving Raven.
DeleteOoohhh, "current woman." You continue to add layers to Raven's character that makes him even more intriguing with every reveal. Had to smile at the wonderful "cock-tailed horse" reference. Reminded me of "Banbury Cross" and the "fine lady" to be found there. Great childhood memory.
Deletesharp writing proved by that last line, which says so much more than its few words.
DeleteCripplegate Junction/Part 261 - Train Of Thoughts Revisited
ReplyDeleteAs the train chugged beneath the railway arches, fast did Clive Bailey's memories of Cripplegate Junction begin to fade. Recollections of people, places and predicaments melted as ice in the Mint Mojito cocktail of a balmy summer evening and evoked vague echoes of perceived threats and menacing warnings.
Yet, one image remained vibrant and untarnished, confirmed by wisps of bright orange fur that lingered still on the turn-ups of Clive's pinstripe trousers...that of an engaging, precocious and unforgettable tabby by the name of Marmalade.
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To read the earlier installments (a suggestion only) which led to this point in the tale please visit:
http://www.novareinna.com/cripplegate.html
A link to return to "The Prediction" can be found on the site. Thank you.
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I enjoyed how Clive's thoughts melted and faded. I suspect others will also experience such symptoms when it comes to Cripplegate. Great title.
DeleteMuch enjoyed the 'melted ice' reference, but a mite concerned for Clive's state of mind.
Deletethese memories are fading too fast for my liking, but he is retaining the right one, Marmalade. Will Clive recover his memories and return to Cripplegate, we ask...
DeleteThe Joys of Mediumship 56
ReplyDeleteTime is going so fast it’s impossible to keep up with tasks; there always there seems to be something waiting to be done. I forgot it was Wednesday, the day for writing my contributions, a cocktail of thoughts, facts and input from a spirit, someone nudged me and I’m racing to catch up with myself. Spirit are intrigued with the Gravestone Press imprint and giving me ideas for new ranges of anthologies, more work, more stories, with luck they won’t tarnish. There’s always silver cleaner on hand if they want it… they’ll leave that to me too!
Loved this entry. That "silver cleaner" reference was so humorous. Brought a much-needed chuckle since my broken arm appears to be giving me some unexpected trouble today.
DeleteI'd never thought you short of ideas, Antonia!
DeleteIf you want something done right, call a busy person. Makes sense, I guess, though it doesn't seem like a very good response on my end. But I enjoyed your entry.
DeleteThe Mad Italian 203
ReplyDeleteMy file is still here (of course) there is no tarnishing the reputation and the work of the Italian master of all things desirable, starting with ongoing fame, of course. A cocktail of good words and bad keep people discussing me – they can do that as long as they wish… meanwhile the government’s enemy has turned on them, faster than I anticipated, and is busy telling the world what really happened with the coronavirus. It will be interesting. The fallout will be substantial. The old quote of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer should resonate with the PM.
I am in awe every week of the Mad Italian's insight and finger on the pulse of current events. This week was certainly no exception.
DeleteI agree with Patricia. The Italian does keep a finger on the pulse of mankind's follies.
DeleteStop the Week, I Want To Get Off (?)
ReplyDeleteThe computer has eaten the entire file, I don’t know where it’s gone, I used a cocktail of commands and suggestions and got nowhere. It was fast enough to respond with a blank screen, but no file. Has someone been polishing and adapting my files, perhaps? They weren’t that tarnished… The Mad Italian crept in and stole his place, he is usually the last of the third, but he wanted to talk about the cocktail of poison doing the rounds in Parliament at the moment as Dominic Cummings is fast spilling all the beans he has collected.
For real, Antonia? The computer has eaten your file? I simply hate when that happens and it usually occurs when I've failed miserably to effectuate any type of back up. I once composed an entire short story (of which I was extremely pleased) only to find a few days later it had vanished into the ether. I never did have the enthusiasm to recreate and it wouldn't have been the same anyway.
DeleteI have Stop The Week 1 - 6, all else has gone.
DeleteLuckily, you should be able to retrieve the missing episodes from those posted on The Prediction.
DeleteYes, I might do that. Meantime I just rescued my Letters folder from the backup disc, that too had gone for a walk. I really really need a whole new system but - I also really really need a new flat roof, the hall is badly marked with leaks, sometimes decisions are impossible, I need the computer to work, work brings money but if the roof caves in...
ReplyDeleteThere are no customers in East Cowes, they cannot park, they cannot cross the road without risking their lives, and I learned today that the company doing the work damaged TWO water mains which is why it is all running weeks overdue... so...
I have Gravestone Press up and running and my publisher is coming up with as many ideas as me. His is to have unthemed anthologies 4 times a year. I changed it slightly to PREVIOUSLY USED and asking the authors for stories they have had accepted and would like to see out there again. If I can get the imprint accepted by bookshops and all, I will be one happy person.
If you want to be in any of these anthos... there's a submit button on fiction4all.com or use my email address
dorothystaticm@gmail.com I'm paying for stories. It's made a difference already to the authors' attitude to me and the new imprint.
The Secret Armadillo Soldier (SAS) Diaries - entry 146
ReplyDeleteThe moon shone with a tarnished glow and, omen-like, the sparse sprinkle of stars winked out and in again.
A cocktail fer disaster, if yu’ ask me,’ muttered Cinereus, ‘wind direction kin also determine ‘ow fast projectiles move, be they critter or rock.
If those daft buggas of yors can’t fight they won’t last long.’
‘Not as good as SAS, but we kin fight, ‘said Clancy proudly.
All the ‘Varks and Pangolins nodded assertively.
‘We’ll use rocks first,’ decided Nigel, quietly contemplating the Pangonel, ‘a wide spread of fairly heavy ones, that’ll surprise and scatter ‘em.’
‘An then,’ asked Cinereus.
Really very addictive this series.
DeleteThe dialogue is always so entertaining and on-point. I do love me some 'dillos.
ReplyDelete