Local Characters

Kelly (1 of 6): Humpbuckle Tales 149

Bruce Kelly , , , , , , , , ,

Kelly is nine years old.

She calls an ambulance, even though she knows her mother is dead.

She waits in the kitchen, watching Frankie swim around the fishbowl.

She won the goldfish at the arcade. He’s her only friend.

The social worker says Frankie can’t come to the foster home.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the one-hundred-and-forty-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

“her eyes seemed closed”: a fifty-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 148

Bruce Kelly

Her eyes seem to be closed.

Thinking her mother is asleep, Kelly lowers the mug quietly onto the bedside table, tiptoeing out of the room, pulling the door closed.

Later, seeing the tea untouched, Kelly notices her mother’s lifeless eyes are half-open, her pale skin cold to the touch.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

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

…

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

“tea leaves”: a fifty-word story written. Humpbuckle Tales 147

Bruce Janet, Mayor Simmons , , , , , , , , ,

The cup crashes to the floor.

“Opps,” Janet says. “Butterfingers.”

“I was so looking forward to having you read my fortune,” the mayor says. His mouth smiles but his eyes do not.

Janet shivers. He scares her.

Kelly, a young volunteer, clears up the broken crockery and spilt tea leaves.
…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the one-hundred-and-forty-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

“long fingernails”: a fifty-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 146

Bruce Blanche, Lilly , , , , , , , , ,

Lilly always envied other women’s long fingernails.

Whenever she attempted to grow them, they would split, or break because of the work she did.

When she took over The Gazette, after Jack died, she hired Blanche, a young woman with an incredible typing speed despite her two-inch polished nails.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the one-hundred-and-forty-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

“out of the car”: a fifty-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 145

Bruce Hooper , , , , , , , , ,

It’s dark when the vehicle pulls onto the drive, the electric gates closing silently behind as the garage door rises with a shudder.

Hooper gets out of the car. He feels different, stronger, now.

Above, the moon sits high in the sky: a blood-red witness to their deadly deeds.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the one-hundred-and-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.

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

“laundry day”: a fifty-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 144

Bruce Lilly , , , , , , , , ,

When Lilly was a child, laundry day was a big part of her week.

She would help her mother wash, scrub, squeeze and hang the laundry.

As she grew older the washing machine became affordable to her, cutting the work substantially.

A days work was reduced to a few hours.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the one-hundred-and-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.

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

“a bowl full of water”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 143

Bruce Janet , , , , , , , , ,

After her mother’s visit, Janet sells the crystal ball along with the rest of the psychic paraphernalia.

Her gifts don’t require props: all that stuff is just pantomime.

It does help to focus on something.

She pours water into a clear glass bowl, stares into it and clears her mind.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

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

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

Cloak of Normality (6 of 6). Humpbuckle Tales 142

Bruce Hooper, Humpbuckle Festival, Psychiatric Hospital, The Pyschiatrist , , , , , , , , ,

Hooper feels less alone now.

Although the psychiatrist is a teacher, not a friend, Hooper can share his thoughts and desires.

He doesn’t need to live in his head anymore.

“The night of the Humpbuckle festival,” the psychiatrist says. “Meet me on the clifftop path.” He smiles. “We’re going hunting.”

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the one-hundred-and-forty-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

Cloak of Normality (5 of 6): try not to offend. Humpbuckle Tales 141

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

The psychiatrist teaches Hooper how to wear a cloak of normality.

“Try not to offend,” he says. “If someone irritates you just smile, put them at ease. You’ll deal with them later.”

“You seem better,” Hooper’s father says.

Hooper smiles.

In the back of the Lexus, he plans his revenge.

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the one-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

Cloak of Normality (4 of 6): global struggle. Humpbuckle Tales 140

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

By the fourth session, Hooper finds himself discussing his anger and his desire to be a part of something important.

“How did skinning your cat fit into these plans?”

Hooper says nothing.

“You remind me of myself,” the psychiatrist says suddenly.

Hooper looks up.

“Only, my father never caught me.”

…

 Humpbuckle Tales on Hive

This is the one-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