Author: Bruce

“The Dye Pot” a fifty-word story (Humbuckle Tales 12)

Bruce Chloe, humpbuckletales, Molly, The Dye Pot , , , , , , , , ,

“Closed: Order of the Town Council.”

The sign is taped to the door of The Dye Pot.

Molly puts her arm around Chloe.

“Your sister?”

“And her husband. Their hatred grows stronger every year.”

“We’ll fight this.”

“They have so much money and power.”

“We have something more potent : love.”

…

This is the twelth in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds another piece to the puzzle – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account – at the time of posting this I have just published 6 more Humpbuckle Tale there (so we are up to number 22). On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

If you prefer the drip drip drip approach keep coming back here for one 50-word tale every day!

Later today, Monday 18th October, I will be posting an author reading of the first 10 stories (up to and including this one). It will be available here, on youtube, as a podcast and on Hive. If all goes well I plan to post author readings of 12 episodes at a time every other Monday.

Thanks for reading!

Written by Bruce Arbuckle (@felt.buzz on Hive). Find the latest in the Humpbuckle Tales series on Hive

“The Gods Must Be Crazy” A fifty-word story (Humpbuckle Tales 11)

Bruce Chloe, humpbuckletales, Molly, The Kings Head , , , , , , , , ,

“The gods sure were nuts when they made you,” Chloe laughs.

“Gods?” Molly raises an eyebrow.

“You don’t get that level of kooky from just one unhinged deity.”

“Is that a no?”

“I’m not crazy! Of course, I’ll marry you! Now take off that ridiculous costume and come kiss me.”

….

This is the eleventh in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds another piece to the puzzle – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account – at the time of posting this I have just published 6 more Humpbuckle Tale there (so we are up to number 22). On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

If you prefer the drip drip drip approach keep coming back here for one 50-word tale every day!

Tomorrow, Monday 18th October, in addition to posting Humpbuckle Tales number 12, I will be posting an author reading of the first 10 stories (up to and including this one). It will be available here, on youtube, as a podcast and on Hive. If all goes well I plan to post author readings of 12 episodes at a time every other Monday.

Thanks for reading!

Written by Bruce Arbuckle (@felt.buzz on Hive). Find the latest in the Humpbuckle Tales series on Hive

The Pyschiatrist (6 of 6): a fifty word story (Humpbuckle Tales 10)

Bruce humpbuckletales, Psychiatric Hospital, The Pyschiatrist , , , , , , , , , ,

The Psychiatrist (6 of 6: fatal)

The patient enters. He appears calm.

Everyone smiles.

“You look well, dear,” his mother says.

His eyes fixed on the psychiatrist, he doesn’t acknowledge her.

“You!” he shouts. “You killed them!”

A nurse manœuvres him out of the room.

“Still delusional, I’m afraid.”

The psychiatrist’s lie overrules the patient’s truth.

…

This is the tenth in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds another piece to the puzzle – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account – at the time of posting this I have just published the 16th Humpbuckle Tale there. On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

If you prefer the drip drip drip approach keep coming back here for one 50-word tale every day!

On Monday 18th October I will be posting an author reading of the first 10 stories (up to and including this one). It will be available here, on youtube, as a podcast and on Hive. If all goes well I plan to post author readings of 12 episodes at a time every other Monday.

Thanks for reading!

Written by Bruce Arbuckle (@felt.buzz on Hive). Find the latest in the Humpbuckle Tales series on Hive

The Pyschiatrist (5 of 6): a fifty-word story (Humpbuckle Tales 9)

Bruce Chloe, humpbuckletales, Margot, Psychiatric Hospital, The Pyschiatrist , , , , , , , , ,

The Psychiatrist (5 of 6 : blue bicycle)

His wife calls.

She complains about her sister again.

She wants him to shut her sister’s
new business down.

“Make it happen.”

“My pleasure, dear”

He’d always fancied Chloe, but she rejected him.

Revenge led him into the arms of her sister.

Vengence binds them together.

It’s stronger than love.

…


This is the ninth in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds a little bit more colour to the overall picture – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account – at the time of posting this I have just published the 15th Humpbuckle Tale there. On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

If you prefer the drip drip drip approach keep coming back here for one 50-word tale every day!

I plan to post an author reading of the first 10 stories. It will be available here, on youtube, as a podcast and on Hive. If all goes well I plan to post author readings of 12 episodes at a time every other Monday.

Thanks for reading!

Written by Bruce Arbuckle (@felt.buzz on Hive). Find the latest in the Humpbuckle Tales series on Hive

The Psychiatrist (4 of 6): a fifty word story (Humpbuckle Tales 8)

Bruce humpbuckletales, Psychiatric Hospital, The Pyschiatrist , , , , , , , , ,

The Psychiatrist (4 of 6: rain maker)

“I’m a rain maker!” the patient screams.

“I could have used your talents, earlier,” the psychiatrist says.

He smiles, directing the nurse to give the man something to calm him down.

The nurse’s smile is warmer than it should be.

His frown drives her away.

He will punish her later.

…


This is the eighth in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds a little bit more colour to the overall picture – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account – at the time of posting this I have just published the 14th Humpbuckle Tale there. On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

If you prefer the drip drip drip approach keep coming back here for one 50-word tale every day!

I plan to post an author reading of the first 10 stories. It will be available here, on youtube, as a podcast and on Hive. If all goes well I plan to post author readings of 12 episodes at a time every other Monday.

Thanks for reading!

Written by Bruce Arbuckle (@felt.buzz on Hive). Find the latest in the Humpbuckle Tales series on Hive

The Psychiatrist (3 of 6): a fifty word story (Humpbuckle Tales 7)

Bruce Psychiatric Hospital, The Pyschiatrist , , , , , , , , ,

The Psychiatrist (3 of 6 : great support to the community)

He’d known the patient’s mother since he was five years old.

“Look at you!”

He squirms, uncomfortable in her embrace.

“You haven’t changed!”

“Neither have you,” he lies.

She fingers the scars on her face, subconsciously.

“It comforts me. Knowing you are his doctor.”

He smiles.

If she only knew.

…

This is the seventh in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds a little bit more colour to the overall picture – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account – at the time of posting this I have just published the 13th Humpbuckle Tale there.

Thanks for reading!

Written by Bruce Arbuckle (@felt.buzz on Hive). Find the latest in the Humpbuckle Tales series on Hive

The Psychiatrist (2 of 6): a fifty word story (Humpbuckle Tales 6)

Bruce humpbuckletales, Psychiatric Hospital, The Pyschiatrist , , , , , , , ,

The Psychiatrist (2 of 6: interactions)

She hated herself for being a stereotype : the nurse sleeping with the doctor.

He was stuck in a loveless marriage (another cliche) but he wouldn’t leave his wife .

It wouldn’t play well with the press.

She should end it.

She should do the right thing.

But she knew she couldn’t.

…

This is the sixth in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds a little bit more colour to the overall picture – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account – at the time of posting this I have just published the 12th Humpbuckle Tale there.

Thanks for reading!

Written by Bruce Arbuckle (@felt.buzz on Hive). Find the latest in the Humpbuckle Tales series on Hive

The Psychiatrist (1 of 6): a fifty word story (Humpbuckle Tales 5)

Bruce humpbuckletales, Psychiatric Hospital, The Pyschiatrist , , , , , , , ,

The Psychiatrist (1 of 6: witchcraft)

The patient first accused his mother of witchcraft when he was sixteen.

At first she thought he was joking.

She ignored the growing signs of psychosis: she wasn’t trained to recognize them.

Until one night she woke to find he had soaked her bed in petrol.

“Time to burn, witch!”

…

This is my fifth 50 word story in my series of Humpbuckle Tales, stories set in the fictional town of humpbuckle-on-sea.

I always publish the stories first on my blog on Hive. You can find the most up-to-date Humpbuckle Tales by checking out the HumpbuckleTales blog on Hive

“fatal” a fifty word story (Humpbuckle Tales 4)

Bruce Brian, Dave, humpbuckletales , , , , , ,

“It was just a game. “

Brian is shaking.

Dave coughs. Thick smoke rises from the burning car below.

“We should go.”

Throwing things off the bridge was his idea.

But Brian’s tomato, splattering red on the truck’s windscreen, caused it to swerve.

Watching television, later, Dave learns three people died.

…

This is my forth 50 word story in my series of Humpbuckle Tales, stories set in the fictional town of humpbuckle-on-sea.

I always publish the stories first on my blog on Hive. You can find the most up-to-date Humpbuckle Tales by checking out the HumpbuckleTales blog on Hive

Written by Bruce Arbuckle (@felt.buzz on Hive)

“Blue Bicycle” (Humpbuckle Tales 3): a fifty word story

Bruce Chloe, Margot , , , , ,

Chloe was six when Margot received a shiny blue bicycle for her ninth birthday.

It was beautiful!

Envious, Chloe stole, then abandoned her sister’s present.

Margot was punished for not caring for her missing gift, and for lying (accusing her little sister of the crime).

Chloe had never been forgiven.

…

This is a fifty word story written by Bruce Arbuckle. It was first published on his Hive blog (@felt.buzz). You can find all his Humpbuckle Tales here)