Local Characters

“icon” a fifty word story. Humpbuckle Tales 28

Bruce Greg, Old Bert, The Kings Head , , , , , , , , ,

“He was hardly a style icon,” Old Bert says, slurping his Guinness. “But he knew a lot about Humpbuckle history.”

“There wasn’t much Gilham didn’t know about folk round here ” Greg, Old Bert’s usual drinking companion chuckles. “Nosy bastard! I told him it would get him into trouble one day.”

…

This is the 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 – at the time of posting this I have just published number 49. 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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Written by Bruce Arbuckle (@felt.buzz on Hive). Find the latest in the Humpbuckle Tales series on Hive

“a good thing”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 27

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

Gilham checks his watch.

Molly is late.

He pulls an envelope from his pocket and scrawls a note.

Molly,

I’ve given up, can’t hold on. Forgive me!

Gilham

Molly rounds the corner, breathless.

Gilham stuffs the note into his coat, smiling.

“Good thing you’re here! I was about to go!”

…

This is the 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 – at the time of posting this I have just published number 48. 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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Written by Bruce Arbuckle (@felt.buzz on Hive). Find the latest in the Humpbuckle Tales series on Hive

“bird poop” a fifty-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 26

Bruce clifftop, Holbert , , , , , , , , ,

Gilham left neither relatives, nor will.

The suicide note – discovered in his coat pocket – bears Molly’s name.

After giving Molly the coat, Holbert sits on the clifftop bench to think.

Something isn’t right.

It isn’t only the seagull shit, he wipes off his shoulder with a tissue, that smells fishy.

…

This is the 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 – at the time of posting this I have just published numbers 41-46. 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 10 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast. The 2nd author reading will be published later today.

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“It’s a crazy world” a fifty word story. Humpbuckle Tales 24

Bruce Holbert, police station , , , , , , , , ,

“I don’t know boss. He didn’t seem the suicidal type.”

“It’s a wild world, people kill themselves. He left a note, in that smelly coat, Holbert. The shrink confirmed it’s suicide. Drop it.”

Holbert nods.

He doesn’t agree, but he knows when not to argue.

He’ll work the case.

Unofficially.

…

This is the twenty-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 number 40. 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 10 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast. The 2nd author reading is scheduled for Monday 1st November.

…

“TrapDoor”a fifty-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 23

Bruce Molly, The Kings Head , , , , , , , , ,

You think you are walking on solid ground.

Until the rug is violently pulled from beneath your feet.

Hearing of Gilham’s suicide a trapdoor opens in Molly’s mind.

She tumbles into darkness.

How did she miss his depression?

Her last words to him – “Foolish old man” – echo around her brain.

…

This is the twenty-third 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 number 38. 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 10 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast. The 2nd author reading is scheduled for Monday 1st November.

…

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Gilham’s End 6: musk ox (Humpbuckle Tales 22)

Bruce Brian, clifftop, Gilham , , , , , , , , ,

Regaining consciousness, Gilham’s besotted brain doesn’t register immediately that he is being dragged to the cliff edge.

He tries to shout but the alcohol and concussion work against him.

He barely whimpers.

The last thing he thinks before his body smashes onto rocks below is:

“The bastard stole my coat!”

…

This is the 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 – at the time of posting this I have just published number 38. 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 10 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast. The 2nd author reading is scheduled for Monday 1st November.

…

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

Gilham’s End 5: circus performer (Humpbuckle Tales 21)

Bruce Brian, clifftop, Gilham, humpbuckletales , , , , , , , , ,

In his youth, Gilham could backflip like a circus performer.

These days he might pull a muscle simply getting out of bed.

“What did Dave say?” Brian asks. In his hand, a rock.

“I know what you did,” Gilham says.

“Shame.”

Gilham’s reaction is slow. The rock cracks his head.

…

This is the twenty-first 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 number 37. 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 10 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast. The 2nd author reading is scheduled for Monday 1st November.

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

Gilham’s End 4: knee problems (Humpbuckle Tales 20)

Bruce Brian, clifftop, Gilham, humpbuckletales , , , , , , , , ,

If he wasn’t so old, drunk, and beset with knee problems, Gilham might have considered fleeing.

But he’d never run away from danger before.

Why start now?

Brian was younger, fitter, less intoxicated than he.

But Gilham would fight if he had to.

He steps forward.

“What do you want?”

…

This is the twentieth 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 number 35. 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 10 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast. The 2nd author reading is scheduled for Monday 1st November.

…

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

Gilham’s End 3: gopher (Humpbuckle Tales 19)

Bruce Brian, clifftop, Gilham, humpbuckletales , , , , , , , , ,

There is, what at first looks like, a pile of clothes on the clifftop bench overlooking the ocean.

He squints.

A head pops out, gopher-like, from the bundle.

“Hello Gilham,” it says.

It takes his fuddled brain a moment.

“Brian.”

Gilham suddenly wishes he’d taken the long walk home.

…

This is the nineteenth 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 number 35. 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 10 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast. The 2nd author reading is scheduled for Monday 1st November.

…

Gilham’s End 2: dye pot (Humpbuckle Tales 18)

Bruce Chloe, clifftop, Gilham, humpbuckletales, The Dye Pot , , , , , , , , ,

Chloe is locking The Dye Pot door as Gilham stumbles past.

They chat for a minute before she heads home to Molly.

He meanders on.

The walk along the windswept clifftop path is sobering.

The waves crash against the rocks below.

He wonders what it would feel like to fall.

…

This is the eighteenth 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 stories on Hive (numbers 29-34). 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 10 Humpbuckle Tales on YouTube or you can listen to it as a podcast. The 2nd author reading is scheduled for Monday 1st November.