Episode 57
Synchro
The pain-ridden journey to Cindy’s ended. He’d felt every bump in the supposedly high standard of roads. The Roads Department couldn’t claim to have the smoothest streets around.
Carefully installed on her sofa with pillow, blanket and TV remote, Synch would wait for the intensity to subside. He closed his eyes.
“Want some pain-killers?” Cindy asked.
“No, thanks,” he said softly. He didn’t like the pain. He disliked losing four hours of consciousness even more.
“Let me know if you want anything,” she said.
“Ok.” It was bearly audible.
“I’ll just let you rest now,” she added.
No answer. His eyes-lids shut her out. His chest rose and fell with shallow breathing.
She quietly did her chores, checking him regularly.
An hour and a half later she saw his arms raise in a stretch, heard deep intake of breath as he roused from sleep.
He smiled as she came into his view.
“Hungry?” she asked.
“Mmm! What did you have in mind?” he said reaching a hand out for her to come to him.
“As it’s dinner time you have a choice of four dishes from the freezer, all home cooked of course,” she said sitting carefully on the edge of the sofa.
His eyebrows flew up.
“I do a big cook-up once a fortnight,” she explained holding his hand. “Enough to last the two weeks and freeze it in serving size portions. That way I don’t have to cook every night.”
“What’s on the menu?”
“Lamb Stew, Chicken with Carrots and Silverbeet, Beef Stroganoff or Tuna Medley.”
His stomach gurgled.
“Lamb Stew sounds good,” he said.
“Coming right up,” she said leaving him.
“I haven’t had a chance to ask you what you think about this, ah, psychic thing I do,” he said.
“Ask away,” she said removing containers from the freezer.
“Well, are you alright with it?”
“Sure. Like I said, my Mum’s a witch.” He heard a door click shut, beeps then the microwave oven start up. Blended with the oven drone, china tinkled and cutlery rattled. “It’s all in the same department.”
“What do you mean?”
The droning stopped. Click. Scrape.
“Here,” she said handing him a plate of stew. Mmm! Diced lamb and vegies cooked in there own juices, seasoned, thickened and steaming hot. His mouth salivated.
Cindy sat opposite him with a plate on her knee.
“What I mean is, I think of my life as a huge department store,” she said ramming her fork into a meat cube. “Everything from witchcraft to reading zodiac predictions in the newspaper are all in the one department.”
She popped the chunk into her mouth.
“What department is that?” he asked between mouthfuls.
“The supernatural.”
“This is fantastic,” he said licking his lips.
“Yeah, well, you haven’t eaten anything in thirty six hours. Cardboard pizza would taste great. You might think differently when your taste-buds are back on their feet.”
They ate quietly.
Synch finished first, leaned over and put his plate on the coffee table.
“What department am I in?” The half smile on his lips emitted hope.
“You were in the department for men. Now you’re in transit.” She swallowed and flushed slightly. “Final destination is up to you.”
He knew beyond doubt what department he wanted to be in.
Continued…
By Diane L Wood
Writer
My Bio: http://write-intention.com/Diane_L_Wood.html
A Short Short Story: http://easywaytowrite.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=9
A Short Short Story: http://ancientearthashortstory.blogspot.com/
My Fun Page: http://easywaytowrite.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=47
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Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Episode 56: The Cat's Whiskers
Episode 56
Synchro
“Your family’s really nice,” said Cindy.
“Yeah?” said Synch groggily.
“They were very enlightening about your childhood.” She grinned. “The plaits incident had me spellbound.”
He rolled his eyes heavenward.
She was taking new clothes from a carrier bag. She yanked the tags off.
“I overheard some adults talking about a witches spell. What are you doing?” he said.
“Getting you out of here,” she said pulling back the bed covers.
His muzzy head was in no condition to handle an argument. He dragged the side of his body to edge of the bed and rolled off onto his feet. The polished floor was sharply cold on his soles. The room rocked a little.
“Do you need help to dress?”
“I might,” he answered. “How long have I been out?”
“Four hours.” Cindy put one of his arms over her shoulder. “Hang on till you get your balance.”
He liked holding onto Cindy.
With her free hand she went to remove the hospital gown.
“Ahhhh… did you bring underwear?” he said holding the gown around him. “Mine had to be cut off before surgery and binned.”
She pulled two small garments out of the bag and held them up.
“Boxers or jocks?”
“Jocks,” he said.
She ripped off the tag.
“I better put those on,” he said. She handed him the black briefs. He held them out to step into and leaned forward. The room was cockeyed. He clung to the bed. Cindy took the garment from him and helped him step into them. She gently pulled them up under the gown.
‘Could have been a lot more interesting exercise without a thick head and a pain in the arse,’ he thought.
Cindy readied a polo shirt.
“Did you particularly need both of Mesh’s plaits?”
He raised his arms as she pulled the shirt down over his chest.
The pain in his backside had dulled. Standing up increased intensity though it was bearable.
“I was six. Didn’t understand ‘quantity.’”
He leaned forward holding the bed again.
Cindy flicked a pair of jeans out and eased them onto him.
“Oops!” he said wobbling.
“Hold on,” she said wrapping her arm around his torso to steady him. “The medication must have been strong.”
“I think my body over responds.”
She managed to carefully fasten the stud and send the zip slide home.
“Did your spell work?”
He swayed a little.
“Nah! Couldn’t detach the cat’s whiskers. Had to throw the whole lot in the pond. He swam back to dry land and took a swipe at me. The snails didn’t fare so well.”
“Huh ha,” she agreed slipping his blood stained shoes on his feet. “Couldn’t swim in deep water?” she said
She rested his arm over her shoulders.
“Sank like little round stones.”
“Let’s go,” she said aiming them toward the door.
“Where?”
“To my place,” she said.
Continued…
By Diane L Wood
Writer
My Bio: http://write-intention.com/Diane_L_Wood.html
A Short Short Story: http://easywaytowrite.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=9
A Short Short Story: http://ancientearthashortstory.blogspot.com/
My Fun Page: http://easywaytowrite.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=47
(You may need to copy and paste these to your browser’s address bar.)
Synchro
“Your family’s really nice,” said Cindy.
“Yeah?” said Synch groggily.
“They were very enlightening about your childhood.” She grinned. “The plaits incident had me spellbound.”
He rolled his eyes heavenward.
She was taking new clothes from a carrier bag. She yanked the tags off.
“I overheard some adults talking about a witches spell. What are you doing?” he said.
“Getting you out of here,” she said pulling back the bed covers.
His muzzy head was in no condition to handle an argument. He dragged the side of his body to edge of the bed and rolled off onto his feet. The polished floor was sharply cold on his soles. The room rocked a little.
“Do you need help to dress?”
“I might,” he answered. “How long have I been out?”
“Four hours.” Cindy put one of his arms over her shoulder. “Hang on till you get your balance.”
He liked holding onto Cindy.
With her free hand she went to remove the hospital gown.
“Ahhhh… did you bring underwear?” he said holding the gown around him. “Mine had to be cut off before surgery and binned.”
She pulled two small garments out of the bag and held them up.
“Boxers or jocks?”
“Jocks,” he said.
She ripped off the tag.
“I better put those on,” he said. She handed him the black briefs. He held them out to step into and leaned forward. The room was cockeyed. He clung to the bed. Cindy took the garment from him and helped him step into them. She gently pulled them up under the gown.
‘Could have been a lot more interesting exercise without a thick head and a pain in the arse,’ he thought.
Cindy readied a polo shirt.
“Did you particularly need both of Mesh’s plaits?”
He raised his arms as she pulled the shirt down over his chest.
The pain in his backside had dulled. Standing up increased intensity though it was bearable.
“I was six. Didn’t understand ‘quantity.’”
He leaned forward holding the bed again.
Cindy flicked a pair of jeans out and eased them onto him.
“Oops!” he said wobbling.
“Hold on,” she said wrapping her arm around his torso to steady him. “The medication must have been strong.”
“I think my body over responds.”
She managed to carefully fasten the stud and send the zip slide home.
“Did your spell work?”
He swayed a little.
“Nah! Couldn’t detach the cat’s whiskers. Had to throw the whole lot in the pond. He swam back to dry land and took a swipe at me. The snails didn’t fare so well.”
“Huh ha,” she agreed slipping his blood stained shoes on his feet. “Couldn’t swim in deep water?” she said
She rested his arm over her shoulders.
“Sank like little round stones.”
“Let’s go,” she said aiming them toward the door.
“Where?”
“To my place,” she said.
Continued…
By Diane L Wood
Writer
My Bio: http://write-intention.com/Diane_L_Wood.html
A Short Short Story: http://easywaytowrite.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=9
A Short Short Story: http://ancientearthashortstory.blogspot.com/
My Fun Page: http://easywaytowrite.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=47
(You may need to copy and paste these to your browser’s address bar.)
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Episode 55: Auntie Jane
Episode 55
Synchro
All of them smirked waiting for an explanation.
Given time Synch would have come up with something explanatory and sanitised to conceal his recently acquired ‘gift.’
They couldn’t wait.
“Who shot…
“… must have been running from … “
“Can you walk?”
“… in pain … “
“… caught him yet?”
“… own flat …”
Christmas day lunch thought Synch. Everyone talking at once and no-one making any sense.
From the middle of the melee came a shrill,
“SSSW-THWIWW-WWWITT!”
Synch smiled at the silence.
“Auntie Jane?” he said.
Pushing bodies aside a small neat woman in her fifties came forth, worry creasing her brow. She was his mother’s older sister. She acted much younger than his mother.
“Synchro my lad.” She considered all her nieces and nephews to be her own. Perhaps because she had no children of herself. “What happened ya great Wally?” She patted his arm affectionately.
So many eyes watching him. He opened his mouth. Nothing came out. His backside throbbed. He looked at Cindy for support.
“A crazed intruder broke into his flat and tried to kill Synch,” she said.
His face paled. His butt felt like a white hot skewer was twisting its way deeper into his flesh.
Cindy felt his hand wet and tense, noticed the slight sheen of sweat on his face and neck, saw his stilted movements under the bed covers.
“Are you ok? Shall I call a nurse?” she said pressing the call button.
His audience frowned sympathetically en mass.
“I’m… fine… “ he breathed.
Cindy knew he was not.
Continued…
By Diane L Wood
Writer
My Bio: http://write-intention.com/Diane_L_Wood.html
A Short Short Story: http://easywaytowrite.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=9
A Short Short Story: http://ancientearthashortstory.blogspot.com/
My Fun Page: http://easywaytowrite.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=47
(You may need to copy and paste these to your browser’s address bar.)
Synchro
All of them smirked waiting for an explanation.
Given time Synch would have come up with something explanatory and sanitised to conceal his recently acquired ‘gift.’
They couldn’t wait.
“Who shot…
“… must have been running from … “
“Can you walk?”
“… in pain … “
“… caught him yet?”
“… own flat …”
Christmas day lunch thought Synch. Everyone talking at once and no-one making any sense.
From the middle of the melee came a shrill,
“SSSW-THWIWW-WWWITT!”
Synch smiled at the silence.
“Auntie Jane?” he said.
Pushing bodies aside a small neat woman in her fifties came forth, worry creasing her brow. She was his mother’s older sister. She acted much younger than his mother.
“Synchro my lad.” She considered all her nieces and nephews to be her own. Perhaps because she had no children of herself. “What happened ya great Wally?” She patted his arm affectionately.
So many eyes watching him. He opened his mouth. Nothing came out. His backside throbbed. He looked at Cindy for support.
“A crazed intruder broke into his flat and tried to kill Synch,” she said.
His face paled. His butt felt like a white hot skewer was twisting its way deeper into his flesh.
Cindy felt his hand wet and tense, noticed the slight sheen of sweat on his face and neck, saw his stilted movements under the bed covers.
“Are you ok? Shall I call a nurse?” she said pressing the call button.
His audience frowned sympathetically en mass.
“I’m… fine… “ he breathed.
Cindy knew he was not.
Continued…
By Diane L Wood
Writer
My Bio: http://write-intention.com/Diane_L_Wood.html
A Short Short Story: http://easywaytowrite.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=9
A Short Short Story: http://ancientearthashortstory.blogspot.com/
My Fun Page: http://easywaytowrite.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=47
(You may need to copy and paste these to your browser’s address bar.)
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Episode 54: Let Them Wait
Episode 54
Synchro
“If you have someone to look after you for the next five days you can go home,” said Doctor Smyth-Jones after the examination. “Get plenty of rest,” he added before leaving the nurses to re-dress the wound and make Synch comfortable.
Great. He can go home.
The ring tone of his mobile phone was muffled. He opened the drawer of the bed-side table and flicked open the phone on the fourth ring.
Hmm, his favourite detective he thought drolly.
Synch told him the good news.
“You can’t go home,” said David. “It’s a crime scene, a possible homicide. No-one’s allowed in there.”
“I need clothes and toiletries,” Synch protested. “And where am I going to stay?”
“Buy new necessities and check into a motel,” David said. “And… ah, we found two bodies in a housing commission flat in Broadmeadows.”
“Let me guess,” said Synch. The pit of his stomach felt heavy. Chilled goose bumps stippled his skin. “An elderly lady and a younger disabled female?”
“Yeah,” said David. “We still don’t know the whereabouts of Ryan Sturges, which brings me to the next topic. Will you work for the department on a regular basis as a consultant?”
Synch’s mouth hung open unable to emit any sound.
Wh-at… wh-ere… h-ow…?
“Synch? Are you there?”
“Um, yeah.”
“Did you hear what I said?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you have an answer for me?”
“You must have a lot of faith in this weird thing I do,” said Synch. He wasn’t entirely sure of its accuracy himself.
“My superiors are impressed with your predictions and want you on-board,” said David.
“I need to think about it,” Synch said finally.
Cindy popped her head in the door and saw Synch on the phone. He beckoned her to come in.
“Hi,” he said. He felt a stupid grin on his face as he finished the call and greeted Cindy.
Was there really that glitter stuff, kids used to make drawings sparkle, in her eyes or was his imagination playing games with him?
He held her hand. It was warm and comforting, and, having a surprising effect on his masculine anatomy. Pain in the general region was supposed to quell sexual re-action, wasn’t it?
Cindy bent to kiss him on the cheek. He ran his free hand into her hair at the nape of her neck and gently re-positioned her to brush her lips against his. He held her there. She softly touched his lips again with her own holding the kiss a little longer.
They both heard the door smash open.
“Let them wait,” he whispered against her mouth and kissed her again.
They heard multiple footsteps.
“Synch! Are you okay,” came a confused female voice.
“Obviously not sis. He requires mouth to mouth resuscitation,” came a smart-Alec male voice.
“There’s always later,” Cindy whispered into his mouth.
“Uncle Synch, what are you doing?” came a small high pitched voice.
“So long as now catches up with later,” he whispered and released her.
He blinked twice and held Cindy’s hand tight.
His whole family had crowded into the room.
Continued…
By Diane L Wood
Writer
My Bio: http://write-intention.com/Diane_L_Wood.html
A Short Short Story: http://easywaytowrite.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=9
A Short Short Story: http://ancientearthashortstory.blogspot.com/
My Fun Page: http://easywaytowrite.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=47
(You may need to copy and paste these to your browser’s address bar.)
Synchro
“If you have someone to look after you for the next five days you can go home,” said Doctor Smyth-Jones after the examination. “Get plenty of rest,” he added before leaving the nurses to re-dress the wound and make Synch comfortable.
Great. He can go home.
The ring tone of his mobile phone was muffled. He opened the drawer of the bed-side table and flicked open the phone on the fourth ring.
Hmm, his favourite detective he thought drolly.
Synch told him the good news.
“You can’t go home,” said David. “It’s a crime scene, a possible homicide. No-one’s allowed in there.”
“I need clothes and toiletries,” Synch protested. “And where am I going to stay?”
“Buy new necessities and check into a motel,” David said. “And… ah, we found two bodies in a housing commission flat in Broadmeadows.”
“Let me guess,” said Synch. The pit of his stomach felt heavy. Chilled goose bumps stippled his skin. “An elderly lady and a younger disabled female?”
“Yeah,” said David. “We still don’t know the whereabouts of Ryan Sturges, which brings me to the next topic. Will you work for the department on a regular basis as a consultant?”
Synch’s mouth hung open unable to emit any sound.
Wh-at… wh-ere… h-ow…?
“Synch? Are you there?”
“Um, yeah.”
“Did you hear what I said?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you have an answer for me?”
“You must have a lot of faith in this weird thing I do,” said Synch. He wasn’t entirely sure of its accuracy himself.
“My superiors are impressed with your predictions and want you on-board,” said David.
“I need to think about it,” Synch said finally.
Cindy popped her head in the door and saw Synch on the phone. He beckoned her to come in.
“Hi,” he said. He felt a stupid grin on his face as he finished the call and greeted Cindy.
Was there really that glitter stuff, kids used to make drawings sparkle, in her eyes or was his imagination playing games with him?
He held her hand. It was warm and comforting, and, having a surprising effect on his masculine anatomy. Pain in the general region was supposed to quell sexual re-action, wasn’t it?
Cindy bent to kiss him on the cheek. He ran his free hand into her hair at the nape of her neck and gently re-positioned her to brush her lips against his. He held her there. She softly touched his lips again with her own holding the kiss a little longer.
They both heard the door smash open.
“Let them wait,” he whispered against her mouth and kissed her again.
They heard multiple footsteps.
“Synch! Are you okay,” came a confused female voice.
“Obviously not sis. He requires mouth to mouth resuscitation,” came a smart-Alec male voice.
“There’s always later,” Cindy whispered into his mouth.
“Uncle Synch, what are you doing?” came a small high pitched voice.
“So long as now catches up with later,” he whispered and released her.
He blinked twice and held Cindy’s hand tight.
His whole family had crowded into the room.
Continued…
By Diane L Wood
Writer
My Bio: http://write-intention.com/Diane_L_Wood.html
A Short Short Story: http://easywaytowrite.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=9
A Short Short Story: http://ancientearthashortstory.blogspot.com/
My Fun Page: http://easywaytowrite.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=47
(You may need to copy and paste these to your browser’s address bar.)
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