Lily Lawson's Blog: Lily's log, page 17

The Kingdom of Juanville

More and more people were refusing to obey the laws of the land. Of course, knowing what they were might have helped that.

King Juan was an exuberant soul who had unexpectedly become King at 11.

His parents had been tombstoning together when they hit the rocks and died. Being made King and Queen as teenagers convinced them they were invincible.

King Juan changed the laws of the land on a daily basis as if he were in a game.

His advisors tried to keep him in check, but he repeatedly fired them. The current ones were all under ten.

It was currently illegal to go to church or school. Random roads were closed to traffic to allow skateboarding. Dogs were not allowed be kept on a lead. (This was the most flouted and resulted in then owners being fined in boxes of crisps, or chocolate or slabs of pop).

There was no tax to pay, healthcare was free and contributions to charity legally required before you were paid twice the going rate.

Juan had made his grandparents joint Prime Minister and they oversaw the home schooling of the population as well as educating Juan himself.

The charity confers overflowed and if anyone needed help all they had to do was ask and it was granted.

It was a happy if confusing kingdom.

The legend of Brinkley well.

There was a legend about the well in the garden. Mrs Storey, aptly named as she always had one, told me in the Post Office queue.

‘You bought the old Brinkley house then, you’re braver than me. Well, at least you’re not that pretty, you might be ok, depends on his definition of pretty I suppose.’ I’m not vain but I didn’t expect an assessment of my appearance from a stranger on a Tuesday morning as I stood in line to send a parcel.

‘Whose?’

‘Don’t you know?’

‘No…’

‘Not my place to tell you.’ she turned away.

I put my hand on her shoulder and pulled her back. ‘I think someone should’

‘Perhaps, you’re right, better to be prepared in case he does take a fancy to you’ she folded her arms.

‘Who?’

‘Lord Brinkley’

‘The man who built the house. Well, that was over a hundred years ago.’

She reached the counter.

‘Exactly’

I reached the counter, and she was heading for the door.

‘You have to tell me now’ I caught up with her.

We began walking down the street to the bus stop.

‘She died you see, his wife. Drowned she was, in the river. He was broken-hearted by all accounts, well you would be, wouldn’t you?’

‘Yes, I guess you would.’

‘He wanted to be with her, couldn’t bear being parted. Had this idea that the well in the garden led to the river. So, he climbed in. Never been seen since.’

‘Ok. That’s all very sad. But what’s this got to do with me?’

‘He never found her. So, he takes young women like yourself to make do I suppose. Mind you he might think they are her; he was a bit batty towards the end. Handsome devil, though, I wouldn’t say no. Before he went batty like.’

‘Takes them?’

‘Yeah. Comes out the well and gets them from their beds, takes them back with him. Nobody ever finds them. Not sure if he, er you know, has his fun first. He likes the pretty ones, had his pick back in the day I would say. As I say, you might be ok, you’re not that pretty.’

My legs won’t hold me up, I sit in the bus shelter.

‘Er, how often does this happen?’

‘Oh, only once a year like’

‘When?’

‘The fifteenth of this month. Their wedding anniversary you see and a man well, he likes to get his leg over on an anniversary, well my Cyril likes to get his leg over whenever he can but then, who can blame him?’ She puffed herself up and tidied her hair.

‘The fifteenth but that’s tomorrow’

‘That’s why I told ye honey, best to be prepared.’

Competitive spirit

She had to find the necklace, before Leon. The race was on.

The reward for this scavenger hunt was £5000, small fry to some folks but lifesaving to Meena.

There had been 9 rounds, each time the slowest contestants were eliminated. Meena and Leon were the last ones standing, the first one to find the necklace won.

Leon did this stuff for kicks.

Meena needed the money to buy into the salon she worked at. The owner was selling up unless she could find an investor. Meena was a single parent to five-year-old Jack, she needed job security.

Leon and Meena raced through the streets of Kepner, in and out of buildings. The clues had got progressively harder and this one led them to the town but that was all.

Kepner was a small town and after two hours they both collapsed on a bench outside the town hall.

‘I’m beat. I’m going home. I don’t care about the money; you can have it.’ Leon picked up his rucksack.

‘That’s not how this works. If I don’t give them the necklace, I don’t get the cash. I need the money. I have to find the necklace’

‘Good luck’ Leon started to wander off.

‘You could help me.’

‘What’s in it for me?’

‘Free haircuts.’

‘No thanks.’ He ran his hand through his hair.

‘Do it for him.’ Meena showed Leon a photo of Jack.

‘Oh man, you play dirty…. Ok.’ He sat back on the bench. ‘Let’s go through everywhere we’ve been and see what we’ve missed.’

***

‘I give up. There’s nowhere left.’

‘There must be’

‘Have you been in there? Leon pointed to the town hall.

‘It’s closed on a Sunday.’

They both stood up and walked over to the entrance.

‘Come on’ Leon bounded up the steps.

He tried the door and it opened.

A uniformed man stood at reception.

‘Can I help you?’

‘We’re doing this treasure hunt…’

‘Are you looking for this sir?’ the man held up the necklace.

‘Yes!’ Leon punched the air. He went to put in his pocket.

‘Congratulations Leon. You’ve won. Hand it in at the stadium and you get the money.’

‘It’ll drop out of my pocket. Why don’t you wear it, and we’ll go back together?’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Lift your hair up’ Leon fastened the necklace round Meena’s neck.’ Ready?’

‘Ok.’

They ran to the stadium.

***

The organiser greeted them at the door.

‘Well done, Meena. If you let me have your details, I will transfer the money.’

‘It was Leon.’ Meena removed the necklace.

‘Oh sorry, with you wearing the necklace.’ She handed it to the organiser.

‘The necklace is for the winner, it’s part of the prize.’ The organiser gave it to Leon.

‘Then she shall wear it. Lift your hair up.’

‘But…’

‘Just do it, then give the man your bank details.’

‘But...’

‘The money’s yours. I don’t need it remember.’

‘How can I thank you?’

‘I saw a pizza place round here somewhere. Buy me dinner?’

‘You’re on.’

The House of Justice

Moon kept all-night vigil on the House of Justice.

The Planets were taking People to court for their abuse of Earth.

‘What happened while I was sleeping?’ Sun looked into his friend Moon’s sad face.

‘They are still in there; this could be one for the record books.’

***

Earth yawned as she sat in the gallery of the House of Justice.

Venus put her arm round her. ‘You should get some rest.’

‘Mars is up next; he will want to destroy People. I know he wants justice for this.’

‘You are very beaten up. We left you in their care and they abused our trust.’

‘I’m ok. This is all a bit much. If the ruling goes in my favour, it’s The complete Chaos punishment. People don’t deserve that’ She hung her head.

‘Justice is fair. They want all sides of the story. I don’t think it will come to that.’

‘You will speak up for them?’

‘Of course. But I think Justice will put the army on double time. Rain, Sleet, Hail and Snow are up for it. Wind and her family are in training already. Sun has agreed to join in if that’s what Justice decides.’

‘People won’t like that.’

‘Better than the alternative. Moon will be in charge, make sure they don’t get out of control. Why don’t you take up her offer? Better than sitting here listening to all this. It can’t be good for you.’

There was a knock at the door. Moon waited outside.

‘Earth, come and sit in my fishing boat on the Sea of Tranquillity till all this is over. Sun will let us know what happens before she goes to bed.’

Venus hugged them both.

‘It will be ok. They just need a few sanctions, so they know we mean business, to protect you.’

***

Sun called in on Moon on her way to bed.

‘Has Justice reached a decision?’

Earth woke in the fishing boat.

‘As we expected, double time for all the army in rotation. Justice is keeping the situation under review. The complete Chaos punishment with full free for all is not out of the question in the future.’

‘What did People say?’

‘There was some remorse and they have started training to improve their performance. There are many weaknesses to overcome. They have goals to complete and further sanctions if they fail. I think their acceptance of the situation tempered Justice’s response for now.’

Earth hugged her.

‘Let’s hope their punishment is enough to stop any future incidents. I don’t like to see them punished.’

‘Earth, what they did to you, we had to do something. I’m hopeful.’

Justice went to bed leaving Moon in charge. Moon promised to wake her if she was concerned for Earth’s welfare again.

A Touch of Drama

The pink glove lay on the ground, almost covered. It caught my attention, not being what you would expect to see on an average Saturday night down The Dog and Duck.

Orchid Street was in the restaurant quarter so whoever owned it might have been at some kind of celebration. Unless it had been lost in Rosalie Street, some of their legal firms had rich clientele so I am led to believe. It could have blown here, given it was only round the corner.

I didn’t see Mark coming until we collided.

‘That’s mine, thank you’

‘What?’

‘I’m busking as a wardrobe assistant for a bit. Rita Gabor is having a meltdown over the loss of her glove. I’ll tell her you found it, free tickets for opening night for sure. Must rush, we’ll do brunch and catch up at the weekend, I’ll ping you’

Before I could speak, he was gone. That was Mark, in, hit ‘em up, gone. I loved him!

Writer's block

She sat in the chair, staring into space. I tried the usual methods. I couldn’t reach her with my voice or waving my hands in front of her face. My touch did not bring her back to the world either. I really started to worry when gin and tonic didn’t shift her.

It comes and goes. She’s been like this since she started writing. We like to call it writers block.

The fragility of trust

The attack was over in seconds. The wounds would take years to heal. I shouldn’t have fought back but regardless the physical wounds are, in some ways, the least of the issue.

His lean frame made a grab for my bag.

My right fist connected with his shoulder.

‘Stupid bitch’

He kicked my legs out from under me, my head hit the pavement. His punch to my stomach his final blow.

‘I didn’t want to hurt you.’

I grabbed at his mask, and it came off.

He ran tossing my belongings as he went. The breadcrumb trail stopped when he’d extracted my purse.

I crawled along in the wet retrieving what I could.

A young mother stopped to help me. Her children clung to each other as he rushed past.

‘I’ll call an ambulance.’ She got out her phone, her free arm round her girls.

‘Thank you’

‘I better go, they’ll be here soon’

She hurried them away from my unappealing sight.

Saul wasn’t the man I knew any more. The man who shared my bed last night seemed to have vanished without trace. In his place stood a hooligan who beat me up to take what money I had on me. The irony is if he had asked, I would have given him all I had.

As I lay there bleeding waiting for an ambulance, grateful he didn’t take my phone, I wondered if I would ever trust again.

My Delilah

He had an hour to get home. If he didn't make it, he’d never see her again. Not that he wanted to and after he had finished with her, she would likely feel the same way.

It was all pretty standard boy meets girl stuff to begin with. They got engaged in

their favourite restaurant and moved in together.

But after that weekend he wondered if he knew her at all. Good job he found out before they got married. She was wearing some other sap’s ring now. At least Delilah couldn’t take him for half of everything, well half of what was left after she’d helped herself.

On the Friday she’d taken his car to the garage for its MOT allegedly. When he called the garage, they made ‘we are backed up’ noises and promised it would be ready the following day. Jon thought nothing of it.

All Saturday morning while Delilah was having her spa day Jon kept trying the garage. The phone kept going to voicemail, he left a message. By lunchtime he decided to go down there. It was all locked up.

When he got home Delilah was there showing people round his house with an Estate Agent in tow. He kicked everyone out.

The next day he decided to take Delilah’s name off the joint bank accounts. That’s when he saw it. Their credit cards were maxed out and there was about 1k left in the bank. He rang the police, but they couldn’t do anything.

On the Monday, he finally got hold of the garage. They had sold his car. Again, nothing could be done.

***

For the past six months, while Delilah got her hooks into her latest money ticket, Jon had been asking everyone he knew about Delilah’s past. He’d been tipped off she was in the airport waiting to go to Dubai, but she wanted her family heirlooms she had left at his place. He had played nice and agreed to meet her there.

He had managed to gather all her past lovers together and in less than an hour they were all going to confront her. He had found someone to record it and post it live on the internet.

He knew it wouldn’t get her prosecuted, but it might save anyone else from being lured in by her charms.

Aadi and the wolves

The farmers burned all the kindling they could find trapping the wolves on three sides. The remaining side was too close to the houses.

‘Let’s finish them all off, teach them to prey on our stock’

Jack raised his torch, his friends followed suit, cheering.

‘Yay!’

‘Death to the wolves!’

Aadi saw the flames from his window and hurried to the forest.

He found the wolves and ran to them shouting

‘RUN. THE FIRE WILL GET YOU!’

‘It’s a trap’ Dolph wandered in the opposite direction.

‘Would you rather burn to death?’ Gonzalo followed Aadi.

The cubs stood in between them looking from one to the other.

Lovato moved towards Gonzalo.

‘Let’s go’

The cubs followed Lovato.

Dolph pushed past them and ran ahead.

Gonzalo was at the back of the pack nearing the edge of the woods when Jack and his friends started firing their guns. Dodging the bullets, he caught his legs in a barb wire fence. Aadi saw the blood and ran towards him.

He tore a spare t shirt from his rucksack into strips and wrapped round the wolf’s legs.

***

The Wolf looked at Aadi and his food offering

‘Wolves don’t eat nuts’ he said.

‘What do you eat?’

‘You can bring me some fruit.’

Gonzalo thought it best not to scare the boy. He had possibly saved him from being devoured by the pack if the winter was going to be as harsh as his intuition detected. The boy might be a good food supplier which didn’t hurt either.

‘Ok I will see what we have.’

‘Aadi most people are afraid of wolves. Why aren’t you?’

‘I’m a scout’

‘um’ Gonzalo looked back at the pack a short distance away in the trees.

‘There are so many of us.’

‘You are their leader and you’re my friend. Are you afraid of me?’

‘No. You had the opportunity to let me die, and you chose to help me live. In the chaos of the fire, it would have been easy to let us all die, but you alerted us and tended my wounds. We owe you Aadi, we don’t forget such loyalty.’

If I were invisible ...

If I were invisible, I wonder what I’d do?

I would stand on rooftops so I could see the view

I’d wander through the park and push the children on the swings

If I were invisible, I could do all kinds of things.

I could stay out in the garden till its too dark to see,

and no-one could stop me and call me in for tea.

I would have no-one to tell me to put my things away,

I could leave my room messy and have lots of time to play.

I could run around for hours, go dancing in the rain,

Stay up till I felt sleepy, and no-one could complain.

Watch everybody’s fireworks and live on chocolate bars,

Lie down in the tall grass and look at all the stars.

I could make buildings with my Lego and not have to take them down,

Go on buses on my own, and travel round the town.

I could go on roller coasters, go swimming in the pool,

Wear anything I wanted, I’d never go to school.

I could be really noisy, play my music very loud,

shout at football matches and get lost in the crowd.

I could go to loads of parties and never take a shower,

I think that I would love it, imagine all that power!

If I were invisible someone nobody could see,

Would I really find it special? Would it feel like I was free?

Would I miss my family? Would I miss my friends?

What would it really be like if being invisible never ends?

Copyright © 2023 Lily Lawson

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