My twins clasp each other. Peas in a pod in lifejackets. Blood trickles from Jez’s ear. Another wave smashes into the dinghy, another reminder of our peril. Joe disentangles himself, his gaze now on a far shoreline. Then with a final glance at me, he’s gone. Swimming for all our lives #WriteCBC
Jo rang.
'Sorry, can't make party tonight - crazy busy. You go though.'
Lou replied with well-practiced chirpiness.
No. That's ok Jo.To be honest I'm so behind with my wrapping.'
Lou slumped on her bed, pushing aside her new sparkly top, the shiniest thing in her dull, dreary bedsit. #WriteCBC
#WriteCBC task from @jessicabull.bsky.social: Write an exchange in which a character says one thing but communicates something else entirely. Allow your narrator to draw their own conclusions as to what is really being said. Extra points if you make it festive!
What a bargain! 50% off a room at Seaview hotel! I threw my bag on the bed, then pulled open the heavy curtains. But it was a window onto nothing: a dark void. No sea view, no carpark, no light. Just a greyness, a thick fog, and a sound like the tide carrying something hideous towards me #WriteCBC
The shiny little medal saying 'You Survived!' still made me smile when I held it. A warm feeling I realised. Not the dreaded pain of loss. We’d missed the coach home as a result, which Izi thought was hilarious. A precious moment well worth the white lies and the almighty kerfuffle it had caused.
It’s the kid. She stares past me as I hold the door ajar.A damp patch grows round her boobs, almost as if she can smell baby.
“Can I help Mia?”
Her fingers clench the skateboard she wields; scared, I hope, not violent. She's so young.
Still,I'm relieved. Mia's baby's gone, already sold #writecbc
I can’t look at mum, so I turn to the dresser and grab the best plates.
She notices me. I feel her watching and start to hum.
I should be excited for my special tea, after a day out.
But I picture Fred's gaunt face, behind bars in that awful place, and now I know my mum put him there. #WriteCBC
Near Amsterdam? It looks like somewhere I stayed. Great photo!
Not sweat, not water; something wet and sticky caresses my toe, my foot, which sticks out over the end of the bed. I dare not move. I dare not look, as a fetid, damp hiss envelops me with each shallow breath I take.
Then beneath me, the bed springs seem to soften and the writhing begins. #WriteCBC
Wind screamed and rain lashed me as I fought my way across the heaving deck of the schooner Brenton. Monstrous waves tossed the ship around mercilessly, like a cat playing with its prey. A sliver of moon appeared then vanished; just long enough to view the harbour lights, or so I thought. #WriteCBC
A great prompt which took me to places I hadn’t expected. Wouldn’t have wanted to be a lodger in any of them!
I try not to catch the eye of the stags on the wall as I gaze around the huge hall, wondering why this guy wants a lodger.
‘Alexa light oven’.
The deep baritone sets my heart thudding. I look up but there’s no-one, just a speaker.
Clicks emanate from a kitchen, drawing me towards it.
#WriteCBC
My goal is to make ‘The Baby Trail’ so gripping to read that I’ll be fighting off the publishers. I’m just loving how my characters are taking the story in unexpected directions. But they need a little guidance!
Thank you for the shout out! I loved taking part - it has such a good festive feel. Also really enjoyed reading everyone's contributions to the story.😍
Thanks for the shout out! Such a lovely festive way to get into Christmas! I loved reading all the entries. 😍
Thanks to everyone who joined us for Act V! Shout-outs go to: @cing56.bsky.social, @rachaelc215.bsky.social, @kimwritesstuff.bsky.social, @biagioarancio.bsky.social, @sarah-writer.bsky.social & @suzanne75.bsky.social.
A steaming mist arose, ice met fire; Ella faced her long-lost brother.
‘Jack. You’re back.’ She cried joyfully.
But Ella’s mum roared. ‘No! Don’t touch each other. Or you’ll both die.’
Tears turning to icicles, Jack nodded, stepped back and disappeared waving a frosty farewell. #5ActFestiveStory
A steaming mist arose, ice met fire; Ella faced her long-lost brother.
‘Jack. You’re back.’ She cried joyfully.
But Ella’s mum roared. ‘No! Don’t touch each other. Or you’ll both die.’
Tears turning to icicles, Jack nodded, stepped back and disappeared waving a frosty farewell. #5ActFestiveStory
Ella gazed into the fire as a log crackled. Two bright sparks stared back at her as the ice tightened its hold, rising, crushing Ella as it spread. The sparks! The memory of the blaze she made all those years ago surged through her, and laserlike, her eyes focused on the task ahead #5ActFestiveStory
Ella pressed the lift button taking them swiftly down to the railway below their home.
‘Met office quickly’, mum said as they boarded the train.
‘Boreas will destroy us unless we name a storm after ...'
But mum paused, because Boreas was heading for them like a force 9 gale #5ActFestiveStory
‘Your dad didn’t die. He was glaciated.’
Ella’s jaw dropped as she realised the implications.
Her darling dad was out there, with his sleigh-racing dream, clad in a shimmer of ice. If the ice melted, he’d be gone.
Ella stuffed herself into her wellies and heading out said
“I know how to save him’
Tom grinned with relief.
‘Look! Pa’s said sorry. Can he come now?’
But the look on aunt J’s face was so sour, Tom knew she wouldn’t let his pa take him home for Christmas.
Aunt J snatched the postcard, ripping it up as Tom watched, wondering how to escape and find his pa.
#5ActFestiveStory
Tom grinned with relief.
‘Look! Pa’s said sorry. Can he come now?’
But the look on aunt J’s face was so sour, Tom knew she wouldn’t let his pa take him home for Christmas.
Aunt J snatched the postcard, ripping it up as Tom watched, wondering how to escape and find his pa.
#5ActFestiveStory
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers!
Day 3/20
#skybooks
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 2
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days in no particular order.
No 1
For my first post I'm proud to present my just made Raspberry, Almond and Ricotta cake, with thanks to Desert Island Dishes. It tastes great too!
