Local Characters

The Psychiatrist (4 of 6): a fifty word story (Humpbuckle Tales 8)

Bruce humpbuckletales, Psychiatric Hospital, The Pyschiatrist , , , , , , , , ,

The Psychiatrist (4 of 6: rain maker)

“I’m a rain maker!” the patient screams.

“I could have used your talents, earlier,” the psychiatrist says.

He smiles, directing the nurse to give the man something to calm him down.

The nurse’s smile is warmer than it should be.

His frown drives her away.

He will punish her later.

…


This is the eighth 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 a little bit more colour to the overall picture – 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 the 14th Humpbuckle Tale there. 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!

I plan to post an author reading of the first 10 stories. It will be available here, on youtube, as a podcast and on Hive. If all goes well I plan to post author readings of 12 episodes at a time every other Monday.

Thanks for reading!

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

The Psychiatrist (3 of 6): a fifty word story (Humpbuckle Tales 7)

Bruce Psychiatric Hospital, The Pyschiatrist , , , , , , , , ,

The Psychiatrist (3 of 6 : great support to the community)

He’d known the patient’s mother since he was five years old.

“Look at you!”

He squirms, uncomfortable in her embrace.

“You haven’t changed!”

“Neither have you,” he lies.

She fingers the scars on her face, subconsciously.

“It comforts me. Knowing you are his doctor.”

He smiles.

If she only knew.

…

This is the seventh 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 a little bit more colour to the overall picture – 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 the 13th Humpbuckle Tale there.

Thanks for reading!

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

The Psychiatrist (2 of 6): a fifty word story (Humpbuckle Tales 6)

Bruce humpbuckletales, Psychiatric Hospital, The Pyschiatrist , , , , , , , ,

The Psychiatrist (2 of 6: interactions)

She hated herself for being a stereotype : the nurse sleeping with the doctor.

He was stuck in a loveless marriage (another cliche) but he wouldn’t leave his wife .

It wouldn’t play well with the press.

She should end it.

She should do the right thing.

But she knew she couldn’t.

…

This is the sixth 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 a little bit more colour to the overall picture – 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 the 12th Humpbuckle Tale there.

Thanks for reading!

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

The Psychiatrist (1 of 6): a fifty word story (Humpbuckle Tales 5)

Bruce humpbuckletales, Psychiatric Hospital, The Pyschiatrist , , , , , , , ,

The Psychiatrist (1 of 6: witchcraft)

The patient first accused his mother of witchcraft when he was sixteen.

At first she thought he was joking.

She ignored the growing signs of psychosis: she wasn’t trained to recognize them.

Until one night she woke to find he had soaked her bed in petrol.

“Time to burn, witch!”

…

This is my fifth 50 word story in my series of Humpbuckle Tales, stories set in the fictional town of humpbuckle-on-sea.

I always publish the stories first on my blog on Hive. You can find the most up-to-date Humpbuckle Tales by checking out the HumpbuckleTales blog on Hive

“fatal” a fifty word story (Humpbuckle Tales 4)

Bruce Brian, Dave, humpbuckletales , , , , , ,

“It was just a game. “

Brian is shaking.

Dave coughs. Thick smoke rises from the burning car below.

“We should go.”

Throwing things off the bridge was his idea.

But Brian’s tomato, splattering red on the truck’s windscreen, caused it to swerve.

Watching television, later, Dave learns three people died.

…

This is my forth 50 word story in my series of Humpbuckle Tales, stories set in the fictional town of humpbuckle-on-sea.

I always publish the stories first on my blog on Hive. You can find the most up-to-date Humpbuckle Tales by checking out the HumpbuckleTales blog on Hive

Written by Bruce Arbuckle (@felt.buzz on Hive)

“Blue Bicycle” (Humpbuckle Tales 3): a fifty word story

Bruce Chloe, Margot , , , , ,

Chloe was six when Margot received a shiny blue bicycle for her ninth birthday.

It was beautiful!

Envious, Chloe stole, then abandoned her sister’s present.

Margot was punished for not caring for her missing gift, and for lying (accusing her little sister of the crime).

Chloe had never been forgiven.

…

This is a fifty word story written by Bruce Arbuckle. It was first published on his Hive blog (@felt.buzz). You can find all his Humpbuckle Tales here)

“rain maker” a fifty word story (Humpbuckle Tales 2)

Bruce Funeral, John, Mayor Simmons , , , , ,

“Rain!” Simmons barks.

“Sorry sir?”

“A funeral needs rain! It looks better on the evening news.”

John is the Mayor’s “fixer”.

He feels more like a punchbag: given impossible tasks, slapped down when he inevitably fails.

The sky is stubbornly blue.

Not one cloud.

“Can’t fix the weather,” he whispers.

…

Written by Bruce Arbuckle (@felt.buzz). Originally posted on my hive blog.
My stories are always posted there first. Click here to find the latest story

“great support to the community” : a 50 word story (Humpbuckle Tales 1)

Bruce Funeral, Mayor Simmons, Molly, The Kings Head , , ,

The hearse creeps past The Kings Head pub. The Mayor follows, head bowed, a large crowd behind him.

Molly shakes her head.

“They’re all talking about what a great guy you were.”

She frowns.

“Never said nowt when you were still breathing, did they?”

She turns away.

“Goodbye, my friend.”

Originally published on the Hive blockchain (same author – felt.buzz = Bruce Arbuckle)