fiction

“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.

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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.

Gilham’s End 1: the gods must be crazy (Humpbuckle Tales 17)

Bruce Gilham, humpbuckletales, Molly, The Kings Head , , , , , , , , ,

According to Gilham, the world was created in an asylum for crazy gods.

“The universe makes sense,” he says. “When you realise it is simply the ravings of insane deities.”

“Drink up, foolish old man,” Molly chuckles. “Go home. Take that smelly coat with you.”

Gilham drains his pint, smiling.

…


This is the seventeenth 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 27. 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 1st November.

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

“musk ox” a fifty-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 16

Bruce Chloe, Gilham, Molly, The Kings Head , , , , , , , , ,

“Can we throw this away?”

Chloe stands in the doorway holding Gilham’s old coat.

“No.”

“It smells like rotting flesh.”

“Put it back.”

Gilham loved that old coat.

“My grandmother killed this musk ox with her bare hands,” he’d boast.

Gilham was World Champion of Bullshit.

Molly misses him desperately.

…

This is the sixteenth 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 27. 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 1st November.

“circus performer” a fifty-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 15

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

Judy wanted to be a trapeze artist or a nurse.

Acrophobia dashed her circus performing dreams.

Nursing, then.

Discovering she was also hemophobic she specialised in psychiatry.

After a patient slashed his wrists, a handsome psychiatrist suggested treating her fear of blood with hypnosis.

Cured, his powerful voice enraptured her.

…

This is the fifteenth 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 26. 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 next author reading is scheduled for 1st November.

“knee problems” a fifty-word story (Humpbuckle Tales 14)

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

John’s old knee injury usually doesn’t bother him, but today he can barely walk.

From the window of the osteopath’s waiting room, he spies his boss kissing a woman.

It’s not Mrs Simmons.

John snaps a photo.

He feels guilty, uncomfortable.

But having something on Mayor Simmons might be useful.

…

This is the fourteenth 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 more Humpbuckle Tale there (so we are up to number 24). 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

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