Local Characters

“cool runnings” : a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 254

Bruce John, Park Cafe , , , , , , , , ,

Every Sunday morning Cool Runnings Jogging Club meet at the park on the other side of town.

It’s a ragtag collection of odd shapes, sizes and ages.

John – his injured knee happily excluding him from joining in – often watches them from the safety of a table at the Park Cafe.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the two-hundred-and-fifty-fourth 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.

…

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

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“best start”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 252

Bruce Amanda, Jay , , , , , , , , ,

The week following the opening of Powerful Cymbols music shop, was better than Jay hoped.

“Who knew there were so many wannabe musicians in Humpbuckle-on-sea!”

Amanda has popped in to see her friend.

“I never doubted that,” Jay says. “But it’s difficult to compete with the online stores.”

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the two-hundred-and-fifty-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.

…

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

“memory stick”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 243

Bruce Gilham, Molly , , , , , , , , ,

Molly holds the memory stick she took from Gilham’s flat.

She should hand it in, to the police.

It might contain useful information.

Evidence, even.

But Gilham concealed it for a reason.

Perhaps he didn’t want the police to find it.

She slips it into the slot on her laptop.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the two-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.

…

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

“Beach bum” : a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 240

Bruce Eileen, Holbert , , , , , , , , ,

Eileen stands to one side as Holbert walks around the portakabin.

Police Constables don’t usually accompany Inspectors on potential murder investigations.

She’s unsure of her role.

She reviews what little she knows.

The corpse found by the sea is not a beach bum.

The cause of death is currently unknown.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the two-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.

…

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

“half a second”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 239

Bruce Gray , , , , , , , , ,

In the blink of an eye – half a second at most – Gray makes a life-changing decision: both for him and others.

If consequences were known would he reflect for longer?

Probably not.

For all the misery and suffering there is joy and pleasure too.

“Let’s do it,” he says.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the two-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.

…

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

“Nobel prize” : a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 232

Bruce Amanda , , , , , , , , ,

Amanda’s desk is empty, apart from a monitor, keyboard, mouse and one framed photo (of the climate modeler’s Syukuro Manabe and Klaus Hassel Mann, receiving the Nobel Prize in 2021 for their work in the field) .

Taking out her laptop, she connects to the university network and begins her search.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the two-hundred-and-thirty-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.

…

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

“they are coming”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 230

Bruce Molly , , , , , , , , ,

The King’s Head Pub doors crash open.

A man falls through.

The gentle murmur of conversation dies suddenly.

The man’s clothes are torn and dirty, his face bruised and bloody.

Molly leaps over the bar and kneels at the man’s side.

He looks her in the eyes.

“They are coming!”

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the two-hundred-and-thirtieth 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.

…

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

“home testing lab”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 229

Bruce Holbert , , , , , , , , ,

The body on the beach is identified (thanks to the driving licence found in his pocket) as Mark Anthony.

His registered address turns out to be a portakabin on the Westview Industrial Estate, on the outskirts of town.

Holbert stands looking at a sign that reads “Quick’n’Easy Home Testing Laboratory”.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the two-hundred-and-twenty-nineth 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.

…

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

“that’s a good shot”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 227

Bruce Chloe, The Kings Head , , , , , , , , ,

“That’s a good shot!” Chloe uses her best wow-men-are-just-so-amazing voice.

He nods but fails to pot the next ball and Chloe grabs her cue.

She wanders around the table pretending she’s not sure what to do.

Then she gets stuck in and clears the table.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the two-hundred-and-twenty-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.

…

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


Boys Don’t Cry (6 of 6), a 50-word story: “family drama”. Humpbuckle Tales 226

Bruce Holbert , , , , , , , , ,

Holbert can’t remember how the argument began.

After their sister’s funeral, Darren produces a bottle of single malt.

“To Kay!”

What started as a misunderstanding, or a throwaway comment, erupts into a full-blown shouting match.

Punches are not thrown, but only because Darren is dragged away by his daughter.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the two-hundred-and-twenty-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.

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.

…

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