Local Characters

The Arrangement 4 of 6: “seaweed”. Humpbuckle Tales 128

Bruce Helen, Sebastian, The old Manor , , , , , , , , ,

The Manor looks the part from the outside.

Grand building, beautiful gardens, a lake.

Inside it’s a mess.

The previous owners had began to convert it into hotel, but gave up halfway through.

“What do you think?”

His daughter sneers.

“It’s a dump. It smells of seaweed and dog shit.”

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

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

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

…

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

The Arrangement 3 of 6: “salad plate”. Humpbuckle Tales 127

Bruce Anabel, Sebastian , , , , , , , , ,

Anabel sometimes wonders why she married Sebastian.

“Mums the word,” he says. “You can’t tell anyone. Not even Helen.”

Anabel throws a plate at him. It misses his head by an inch.

“Steady on, dear.”

Secretly, Anabel is pleased. She dislikes Paris and always fancied being Lady of the Manor.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the one-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.

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

…

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

The Arrangement 2 of 6: “drop of water”. Humpbuckle Tales 126

Bruce Anabel, Sebastian , , , , , , , , ,

Anabel is livid.

“You agreed to what?“

“It’s for Queen and country, darling.”

“We’ll be the laughing stock of the Home Counties! You’ll lose your pension!”

“It’s a drop in the ocean. The terms are really very good. A lump sum, monthly payments and a Manor house by the coast.”

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the one-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.

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

…

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

The Arrangement 1 of 6: “can of worms”. Humpbuckle Tales 125

Bruce Sebastian , , , , , , , , ,

The Ambassador calls Sebastian into his office.

“Whisky?” the Ambassador waves a glass in the air.

Sebastian makes a show of checking his watch. Ten in the morning.

“Why not?”

“Look, old boy. Bit of a situation. Can of worms and all that…”

Sebastian sips the single malt and listens.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

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

…

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

“Ambassador”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 124

Bruce Helen

Helen spent her early teens in Paris.

Her father worked as a diplomat in the British embassy.

He was sent home by the Ambassador after “an incident”.

She never learned the details.

If asked, her father would wink.

“Can’t tell you, dear,” he’d whisper. “Official Secrets Act, and all that.”

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

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

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

…

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

“seaweed”: a 50-word story. Humbuckle Tales 122

Bruce Chloe, Margot , , , , , , , , ,

Chloe and Margot are playing by the sea.

They scoop wet sand from the tide line, dumping it further up the beach.

Shaping the sand into the form of a mermaid, they use pebbles for the tail scales and seaweed for her hair.

“We make a good team,” Margot says.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

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

…

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

“Salad plate”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 121

Bruce Jack, Lilly , , , , , , , , ,

Melissa gifted them an ugly salad plate for their wedding.

“She’s done it to spite me, ” Jack tells Lilly as she examines it. “I hate salad!”

“Don’t be ungrateful. It’s a nice thought.”

“You don’t know my sister. She rarely has nice thoughts.”

Years later, Lilly learns what he meant.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

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

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

…

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

“can of worms”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 119

Bruce Gilham, Lilly , , , , , , , , ,

Lilly never understood why Gilham stayed at the Gazette.

It was her paper and she was proud of it.

But it was only a small local rag.

Gilham had real talent, a nose for a story.

If there was a can of worms to be found Gilham would open it.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the one-hundred-and-nineteenth 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.

…

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

Katie (6 of 6): bullfrog. Humpbuckle Tales 118

Bruce Janey, Katie , , , , , , , , ,

The woman, homeless by the look of her, appears terrified.

Other passengers look away as the ticket inspector – an officious bullfrog of a man – tells her to pay up or he’ll call the police.

Katie, remembering Lena, pulls a note from her purse.

“I’m paying.”

She smiles at the woman.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the one-hundred-and-eighteenth 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.

…

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

Katie (5 of 6) : developing now. Humpbuckle Tales 117

Bruce Katie , , , , , , , , ,

Katie takes her mother to a dementia specialist in London.

“The illness is developing more slowly now,” the doctor says. “The new medication is working. It’s still early days, but I’m hopeful we’ll prevent further deterioration.”

They enjoy dinner and a show, stay overnight, then catch the morning train home.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the one-hundred-and-seventeenth 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.

…

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