John is wakened by Kipper’s wet nose nudging him. He pats the dog, reaches for his phone.

He’s late for work and has two missed calls: one from work and one from an unknown number.

The only message isn’t from a fuming boss.

“It’s Janey. I really need your help.”

…

This is the seventy-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.

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

…

John weaves his way through the morning traffic on his second hand bike when Janey calls.

He’s been expecting it, ever since Janey brought Brad to meet him, but it still bites when she tells him she’s engaged.

“I’m happy for you.”

It isn’t a lie.

He’s sad for himself.

…

This is the forty-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 – at the time of posting this I have just published Tale number 98. 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).

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

…

“Let’s try again,” Janey says.

John has been living in Humpbuckle-on-sea for six months and he loves and hates it in equal measures.

“I love you, Janey,” he says. “And that’s why I’m telling you no. We work better as friends.”

Janey pouts but John knows she’s relieved.

…

This is the forty-forth 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 87. 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).

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

…