Cheryl Burman's Blog: Blog posts for readers and writers, page 24

‘You know why I’m here?’

‘You know why I’m here?’ He stood in the open doorway, lit by the moon, staring hard at her.

She screwed up her eyes, peering at the silhouette she had watched grow from child to man. It wasn’t like him to come to her. Unless he wanted something.

‘No.’ She pulled in her lips, opened them with a smack. ‘But I bet you’ve bought some gold with you.’

He frowned at her heavy sarcasm, smirked. ‘I thought you might make me a gift, old woman.’

‘And why would I do that?’ She bristled. Since when did she have...

Winter forest: picture prompt

The road can be as straight as it wishes. The faster he gets out of this forest the better. He peers ahead to where a white sky broadens, opening light-filled wings to embrace him, comfort him, speak soothing words.

Not your fault, not your fault.

They’re the soothing words he’s desperate to hear, from someone other than himself. An objective assessment. He clings to the hope, like he clung to the tree, helpless with fear, with horror.

They’re the soothing words he’s desperate to hear, fr...

He looked at the wall as if expecting to find an answer there.

Eliot puzzled over the question all day. On his way to work, standing on the crowded tube platform, crushed between the sleepy commuters, ascending the elevator and finally pushing out into the London wintry sunshine to hurry to the tall glass building and snatch a desk where he could.

It ran round and round his brain like an out-of-control toy racing car. And with just as much resolution.

His schedule had been hectic, one call after another, even an actual face-to-face which was, he dec...

Someone was dead. And she was supposed to do something about it?

I am following on from Monday’s prompt response which you can find here and which ended thus:

The footsteps closed in. Warm breath raising the fine hairs on her neck. Courage. She stopped, turned.

I am here, she told the whispering darkness. Tell me your task.

Death came too early, the warm breath murmured. See, I am not yet cold in the grave. A young woman, dressed in a summer nightgown, thick dark hair falling uncombed to her shoulders. She bore the opaqueness of recent death.

Someone – this young...

Resented Quick Sleep: use these three words

Quick footsteps sounded behind her. She didn’t dare glance over her shoulder. Best not to see what stalked her through the trees’ midnight shadows. She resented being here at all, called from her sleep by a power she had no knowledge of.

A task, a simple task, a silken voice had whispered in her dreams.

Who are you? she asked from the depths of unconsciousness.

One who needs you.

And with that, she was here.

A familiar place, this forest, this path. Walked in daylight it could just be born...

Maid Stumble Branch: use these three words

‘Why did you let Julie be your maid of honour? She’ll mess it up somehow, I know she will.’

Sue’s question buzzed in my ear. As my best friend since forever, she’d expected the role, but she was eight months through a difficult pregnancy and I hadn’t wanted to add pressure. Or be left with no one if she had to spend the last month with her feet up being waited on.

The daughter should understand. Sad, that she didn’t, given … Edith sighed and filled the kettle for a cup of tea.

So here was...

Her hand went to her mouth when ….

Edith stumbled as she got off the bus. She grabbed the rail to steady herself and made it safely to the footpath. The snow here was brown slush, thanks to a slight rise in the temperature and the boots of dozens of bus passengers all through the day. Nevertheless, Edith trod carefully in the waning light of dusk, carrying her over-large handbag in the crook of one arm, the other held out to balance herself.

She was supposed to have stayed home today. Her daughter’s harping tones rang in her ears ...

Mini berry cakes

The first baking I did in my new kitchen, and using the little electric oven we had during the extension build, and which I loved!

Makes 24

150 gms caster sugar
150 gms butter at room temp
2 eggs at room temp, beaten
1 tsp vanilla essence (optional)
150 gm plain flour (yes, plain)
2-3 tbsp milk
24 berries – I used raspberries, or do mixed
icing sugar for dusting

A mini cupcake tray, greased

Preheat oven to 180C fan

Cream butter and sugar, gradually add beaten eggs and vanilla essence if us...

Glimmering Bird Hasty: use these three words

‘What is it?’ Ada squinted into the woods at the edge of the field where she and her mother gleaned corn, following the swathe of the harvest and the glint of the scythes ahead.

The hot sun scorched her back as she bent to the task. Ada was hungry, but more than that she was thirsty. And wanting the long day to be over. She had taken a moment to stretch, and that was when she caught the glimmering of … something … in the trees.

Her mother unbent, one hand easing her lower back, and peere...

He swore it was the truth

He held his hand on the black book and he swore it was the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help him God.

The schmuck. Of course he did it. Never trusted him. The whispers from the gallery, from the pious outraged faces, the grieving eyes, floated through the hot, thick air, whirled their mocking dance before resting in his ears. He reached up a manacled hand, scratched, glared upwards.

They didn’t know the truth. He was there, from the beginning. From the first days when ...