Cloak of Normality (6 of 6). Humpbuckle Tales 142

February 9, 2022February 2, 2022 Bruce Hooper, Humpbuckle Festival, Psychiatric Hospital, The Pyschiatrist fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Hooper feels less alone now.

Although the psychiatrist is a teacher, not a friend, Hooper can share his thoughts and desires.

He doesn’t need to live in his head anymore.

“The night of the Humpbuckle festival,” the psychiatrist says. “Meet me on the clifftop path.” He smiles. “We’re going hunting.”

…

This is the one-hundred-and-forty-second story 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.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

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).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

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

Cloak of Normality (5 of 6): try not to offend. Humpbuckle Tales 141

February 8, 2022February 2, 2022 Bruce Hooper, Psychiatric Hospital, The Pyschiatrist fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

The psychiatrist teaches Hooper how to wear a cloak of normality.

“Try not to offend,” he says. “If someone irritates you just smile, put them at ease. You’ll deal with them later.”

“You seem better,” Hooper’s father says.

Hooper smiles.

In the back of the Lexus, he plans his revenge.

…

This is the one-hundred-and-forty-first story 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.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

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).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

Cloak of Normality (4 of 6): global struggle. Humpbuckle Tales 140

By the fourth session, Hooper finds himself discussing his anger and his desire to be a part of something important.

“How did skinning your cat fit into these plans?”

Hooper says nothing.

“You remind me of myself,” the psychiatrist says suddenly.

Hooper looks up.

“Only, my father never caught me.”

…

This is the one-hundred-and-fortieth story 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.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

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).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

Cloak of Normality (3 of 6): three categories. Humpbuckle Tales 139

February 7, 2022February 2, 2022 Bruce Hooper, Psychiatric Hospital, The Pyschiatrist fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

“Every individual is different, but they fall roughly into three categories,” the psychiatrist says.

His voice is slow, measured, warm.

Hooper sits in a sumptuous chair, staring through the window at the sparkling lake.

He resists the hypnotic rhythm of the psychiatrist’s voice, struggling to keep his heavy eyes open

…

This is the one-hundred-and-thirty-ninth story 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.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

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).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

Cloak of Normality (2 of 6): findings. Humpbuckle Tales 138

February 7, 2022February 2, 2022 Bruce Hooper, Psychiatric Hospital fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

“Don’t worry, sir,” the nurse says to Hooper’s father. “Why don’t you take a stroll around the lake? Have a pot of tea in the cafe? We’ll come and get you when the doctor is ready to discuss his findings.”

Hooper stares at his shoes as his father stalks away.

…

This is the one-hundred-and-thirty-eighth story 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.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

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).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

Cloak of Normality (1 of 6): why? Humpbuckle Tales 137

February 6, 2022February 2, 2022 Bruce Hooper, Psychiatric Hospital fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Hooper’s father drives him through the gates of the psychiatric hospital.

Hooper squirms in the back of the Lexus.

“I’m not mental,” he says, through gritted teeth.”

His father says nothing as he pulls into a parking space.

“We just want to understand, Hooper, why you did what you did.”

…

This is the one-hundred-and-thirty-seventh story 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.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

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).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

“developing now”: a fifty-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 111

January 21, 2022January 18, 2022 Bruce humpbuckletales, Psychiatric Hospital fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

“And after the break we’ll have more on the developing story following the discovery of a body of a homeless man, missing from the streets of Humpbuckle-on-sea for more than five months. Police have made an arrest. The suspect is believed to be connected to the psychiatric hospital.”

…

This is the one-hundred-and-eleventh story 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.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

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).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

You can watch the author read the first 22 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast.

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“break down”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 95

January 12, 2022January 6, 2022 Bruce Psychiatric Hospital fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, short story, zapfic, zapfic50

“Why am I here?”

“You’ve suffered a breakdown. We’ll help you get back onto the road to recovery.”

“You make me sound like an old car. Change my spark plugs, give me an oil change and I’ll be as good as new. Is that it?”

He laughs.

“Something like that.”
…

This is the ninety-fifth story 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.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

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).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

You can watch the author read the first 22 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast.

…

“late breakfast” a fifty-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 37

November 13, 2021 Bruce Dave, Gilham, humpbuckletales, Psychiatric Hospital fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Every day, following retirement, Gilham strolls along the clifftop path to the grounds of the psychiatric hospital, where he brunches on eggs in the Hope Cafe.

Dave – a long-stay patient – often serves him.

Over time, Dave opens up about his illness, its beginnings, who was involved.

Gilham listens intently.

…

This is the thirty-seventh story 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 Tale number 64. 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!

You can watch the author read the first 22 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast.

…

something good has begun” a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 36

November 12, 2021 Bruce Judy, Psychiatric Hospital, The Pyschiatrist fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Judy was raised to believe she is unlovable.

Her first hypnotherapy session with the handsome psychiatrist makes changes.

“Something good has begun,” she whispers.

He gives her confidence in herself.

But he makes her happiness contingent on loving him.

If she doubts him a wave of self-loathing engulfs her.

…

This is the thirty-sixth story 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 Tale number 63. 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!

You can watch the author read the first 22 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast. The 3rd author reading will be published on 15th November.

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