Iain Kelly's Blog, page 53

THE PICTURE ON THE WALL

Another motel, another room, another picture on the wall. This one a broad wearing suspenders changing the tyre on a car. It wasn’t the worst one I’d seen. Too many pillows on the bed. I picked one up and sat it on my lap, my back sat against the huge cushioned headboard. The bedside lamp … Continue reading THE PICTURE ON THE WALL

ARMY OF SHADOWS

Private Michael Boyd was not cut out for war. Or for a life in the army for that matter. He was too slight in build, too short in stature and too vibrant in spirit. But when war was announced he signed up, caught up in the fervour of patriotism. He had never met a German … Continue reading ARMY OF SHADOWS

HER FIRST TIME

She thought the first time would have been an epiphany, a glimpse at paradise. Instead, here she was underneath the overpass, among squalid dirt and mud. The climactic moment had come with a rush of adrenaline, but it was over too quickly. Her breathing returned to normal, she fixed her rucked top and smoothed her … Continue reading HER FIRST TIME

DIGGER!

‘Digger!’ he shouted from the back seat. Where did it come from, this fascination with any construction or agricultural machine? Tractors, cement mixers, dumper trucks, combine harvesters, even bin lorries – all of them elicited a squeal of joy upon sight. And so we all joined in with my son’s enthusiasm. ‘So it is, that’s … Continue reading DIGGER!

THE KELPIE

He appeared naked, emerging from the mist hanging over the loch. Mhairi stopped scrubbing the shirt. His torso was chiselled, the hair a dark mane, his eyes a piercing green. When the water no longer covered the top of his legs she knew she should look away, but she stared, as in a trance. He … Continue reading THE KELPIE

A SENSE OF CALM

She deserved this. Work could be put on the back burner for a couple of weeks. The children were with her parents. The tail end of summer was just warm enough to wear a sleeveless top and a short skirt, while around her the countryside was turning from lush green to golden yellow and orange. … Continue reading A SENSE OF CALM

PERFECTION

Gustav sat on his foldout chair, staring at the carved tree trunk. The gathered crowd waited for his next movement. The Monterey Wood Carving Festival had finished two weeks ago. The other sculptures had since been removed. Gustav had become a local celebrity. He would leave when he was sure it was finished. He picked up … Continue reading PERFECTION

THE YARN SPINNER

‘Let me spin you a yarn,’ said the storyteller to the girl. ‘Once there was an young lady who sat with needle and thread,’ she began. ‘She sat all day darning all sorts of items from socks to sheets. ‘She took no money, but was grateful for gifts of thanks. ‘None of the villagers knew … Continue reading THE YARN SPINNER

FINISH THE STORY – THE OPEN ROAD, Part Four

Teresa, the Haunted Wordsmith, tagged Fandango to write part 2 of her latest Finish The Story challenge, titled “The Open Road.” Then Fandango tagged KeithsRamblings to write part 3, and Keith has tagged me to continue the story. Here’s the story so far, with my contribution at the end: THE OPEN ROAD Part One by Teresa It was Spring … Continue reading FINISH THE STORY – THE OPEN ROAD, Part Four

SOMEWHERE

The wind whipped her loose hair around her face as the small fishing boat chugged slowly out of the bay. It was calm in the sheltered harbour but ahead in the wide open vista they could see billowing clouds and showers of rain. A rainbow arched over the skyline where the contrasting weather fronts met. … Continue reading SOMEWHERE