Chris Armstrong's Blog: CuratedLines, page 4

Short Stories #20

Chris

Two-thirds of the way through my collection of thirty short stories, When I Am Not Writing Poetry, is another short tale of the sea, ‘The Guests in the Crew Bar’. In overseas ports after weeks at sea, some of the crew would invariably meet ladies in bars and invite them back on board. Some captains turned a blind eye… others most certainly did not! Again, a short story means a short introduction!

This Captain was devoutly religious and had very fixed ideas about the crew’s women st...

Short Stories #19

Chris

The nineteenth story in my collection of thirty, When I Am Not Writing Poetry, is ‘Ladies of the Port’ – another tale from my time at sea. An encounter in a foreign port and a misunderstanding quickly rectified! A short story means a short introduction!

One Saturday afternoon in Port Melbourne, where they were moored while waiting for a berth, a smart young man was to be seen standing at the foot of the gangway. He was accompanied by two very attractive young ladies. On spotting th...

Short Stories #18

Chris

The eighteenth story in my collection of thirty, When I Am Not Writing Poetry, is ‘Cargo’ – another tale of the sea, drawn from my time in the merchant navy. I still have in my possession the cargo plan with its macabre stowage. But a tale of a haunted ship? I don’t believe that I ever sailed on one!

The Third Officer was busy making copies of the cargo plan. It was the Second Officer’s job to decide where everything went, but as a part of his preparation for the time when it would...

Short Stories #17

Chris

The seventeenth story in my collection of thirty, When I Am Not Writing Poetry, ‘The Poet’  – almost an autobiography, almost a teaser for The Dark Trilogy: a parallel story of the Svengali-like friend who – it is suggested – was responsible for a literary career. The scholar, the academic, the writer who explained a poem!

Twenty years ago my friend asked me to write a book…

To be more precise, he asked me to write a commentary on one of his poems and, in that small commission, ...

Short Stories #16

Chris

The sixteenth story in my collection of thirty, When I Am Not Writing Poetry, ‘Her’ is one man’s awakening – literally – a time when he cannot quite tear himself from the past nor face the future that the day will bring. His dreams of his life so real; until…

It was not unusual for him to lie there awake. The heat of the day remained, trapped in the small room under the eaves; trapped in his body which was damp with perspiration; trapped in his mind. He had long since thrown back t...

Short Stories #15

Chris

Half way! The fifteenth story in my collection of thirty, When I Am Not Writing Poetry is another story following one of the characters – three children – briefly introduced in The Dark Trilogy: ‘Simon’ – the young man who also featured in #12 ‘The Bookbinder’s Daughter’ – here we find out a little more about him. He is a publisher, there is an overseas trip to Frankfurt and Hamburg, there are new colleagues to get to know, and there is time by himself in a foreign city.

He had bee...

Short Stories #14

Chris

The fourteenth story in my collection, When I Am Not Writing Poetry is another very brief story drawn from life: ‘The Tenements Bus Stop’ is a snapshot of innocence. Of knowledge so nearly gained. Once again the brevity of the story means an all too brief taster and once again the reader of When I Am Not Writing Poetry is offered a glimpse into another life.

She told me she loved me. She whispered it. She breathed in my ear…

‘The Tenements Bus Stop’ can be found in When I Am No...

Short Stories #13

Chris

The next story, the thirteenth, in my collection, When I Am Not Writing Poetry is ‘The School Friend’ – the second very brief story drawn from life: a snapshot of two boys, perhaps in the school summer holidays. Once again the brevity of the story means an all too brief taster and once again the reader is offered a glimpse into another life.

There were four of them in the fifth form; four who shared an interest in building and flying model planes. But it was Pete that came over mos...

Short Stories #12

Chris

The next story, the twelfth, in my collection, When I Am Not Writing Poetry is ‘The Book Binder’s Daughter’ – the second story in the collection to revisit three friends who received brief mentions in The Dark Trilogy. This time the focus is on the second of the two boys and the girl, and once again on the connection – supposed connection, perhaps – between them.

Simon could not quite believe it. He spent the first few minutes after recovering from the shock of that sudden and imme...

Short Stories #11

Chris

Moving on through my collection, When I Am Not Writing Poetry and we come to the eleventh story, ‘The Call’. One of several very brief stories drawn from life: a snapshot of an evening. A snapshot of a generation gap… and because the story is so brief – less than a page – it is difficult to describe it without telling the story! There is a dance and a telephone call…

It was two minutes past one in the morning when the telephone rang.

Of course none of them had heard it above the...