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#Post#: 2578--------------------------------------------------
Tiny Tales
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: February 15, 2013, 6:48 am
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-Just a brand new thread for shorter than short stories-
Roll Me Away
No chains could bind us as we climbed upon his Harley, speeding
along toward a winding mountain road just a mile ahead. The wind
in my hair was almost impossible to describe, as I had felt
nothing like it before. His cycle hastened as we approached the
base of a rocky cliff, racing right around the tangled corner
and advancing upon the deserted land. A hearty laugh escaped his
throat as he tipped the front wheel up, causing me to wrap my
arm tighter around his waist and playfully slap his arm when he
dropped it down again. With a goofy grin, he turned back to look
at me, earning another playful smack, indicating that he should
pay attention to the road.
“You need to loosen up, Anouk” he said, and I heard the
amusement buried beneath his words.
“It might seem entertaining to you, Landon, but I quite like
life” I countered, my arms tightening around him of their own
accord.
Another laugh rippled from the pit of his stomach as he snapped
his head around to look at me once more. This time however, I
chose not to turn his attention away. I smiled sweetly and
pecked his lips; admiring the breeze that blew his up around his
face. It seemed to ignite a fire within me, just looking upon
how flawless he was. The only problem was that he damn well knew
how perfect he was, and that was infuriating most of the time.
It took me longer than would be expected to realise he had
stopped the bike, just so he could turn around and pull me onto
his lap. His smile was sweet, with a hint of sour buried in
there somewhere. I only grinned in return as his arms slid
around my waist, pulling me close against his chest as he leaned
in a little.
“Nuh uh” I mumbled, pressing my finger to his lips as he tried
to kiss me, “I think we should keep riding until the sun falls
beneath the horizon.”
He pouted, visibly, making me laugh like a small child.
Nevertheless, he managed to get in a long, passionate kiss,
before twisting himself around and revving up the engine. We
took moments later, at an even greater speed than before. My
heart was racing as it jumped from my stomach and right up to my
throat. I thought any second now, it would pop out to say hello,
but it didn’t. The adrenaline that coursed through my veins made
me feel more alive than I ever had, and he knew this. He took me
riding for that alone; as well as the scenary.
“I love you” I whispered, softly blowing on his ear and resting
my chin upon his shoulder; my hands clasping together in front
of him.
“I love you too, baby” he whispered back, turning his head to
the left so he could place a longing kiss upon my lips, before
he concentrated on the road once more.
We did not stop for hours, merely admiring the everchanging
shades in the sky as the sun slowly fell from the clouds, lower
and lower until it sunk lower than our eyes could follow. It was
blissful, peaceful, and felt nothing short of complete, being
able to share such a magical moment with one another, on the
back of a Harley Davidson; the wind in your face and a graceful
smile haunting your lips.
:Inspiration:
HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNeCsJNRu8Y
#Post#: 2579--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tiny Tales
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: February 15, 2013, 12:39 pm
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Where do I start?! I loved this my dear! It was perfect and I
love your inspiration. :D
#Post#: 2766--------------------------------------------------
Dying Game
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: August 15, 2013, 5:17 pm
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Another shorter than short story that I'd almost forgotten
about. It revolves around one of Oded Fehr's characters and I
hope it isn't too terrible.
---------------
I feel you Christmas
I know I’ve found you
You never fade away
The joy of Christmas
Stays here inside us
Fills each and every
Heart with love
I never was someone who could sing well, but with the lifeless
infant in my arms, it was all I could think of to do. The verse
somehow made me feel at ease over all that had gone wrong.
Despite the small baby in my arms being under my care over the
last two months, I felt a complete failure. His parents had been
given the dreadful news that he would not make it through
Christmas; and I had been the one to tell them. The pain through
their eyes was unbearable, and I had to excuse myself at the
time. Now, seeing the reality of the situation, my heart felt as
though it had been ripped from my chest. The only amount of
happiness I’d had over my first three years here was laying
without a heartbeat in the protection of my embrace.
It took me over an hour after realising the little guy had
passed that I had to tell his parents. Neither of them were
waiting at home for the dreadful news. They had built a home in
one of the empty rooms of the hospital so they could be close to
their son. I felt a huge amount of guilt on my shoulders as they
burst into the surgery. The mother, who looked at me with tears
in her eyes and then allowed her gaze to travel down to her son,
buckled to her knees. I tried my best to avoid showing such
emotion, but it was growing difficult. The father helped his
wife from the floor and they both walked toward me. I passed the
baby carefully over to them, watching in the background as they
glanced upon their beautiful child one last time. I felt myself
choking back tears as they whispered sweet nothings to him,
believing he could still hear them and would wake up smiling
once again.
I left the room in a hurry after telling them I’d prepare the
papers. Just as I closed the door behind me, I ran straight into
someones chest. As everything was currently a blur given the
tears dancing in my eyes, I didn’t know who it was until I
looked up. Seeing him there with a sympathetic look in his eyes
for once, I couldn’t control my next action. He opened his arms
to me and allowed me to fall into chest again. I clung to the
material of his uniform and tried desperately to keep my sadness
quiet.
“Shh, its alright Claire” he spoke soothingly.
I sniffled involuntarily and pulled away from him when he spoke
my name. I knew very well who he was, but didn’t realise he knew
me in return. Doctor Statler was one of the most respected and
called upon doctors in the country. I had heard rumour after
rumour that he wasn’t all that great with his patients, and even
a few rumours that he had intentionally murdered a few of them,
but despite all of that, he didn’t seem that type of person.
“Doctor Statler, forgive me. I should not lose sight of my role
here, that was very unprofessional” I said, stepping back and
wiping the tears from my cheeks.
“Not at all, only those of us who show such emotion are the
lights in this hospital” he said, smiling.
I smiled right back at him. Though I had just lost the will to
live after losing such a young patient, his words had some
impact on my train of thought. He was right. Not very many
doctors or nurses within this hospital ever allowed themselves
to become so emotional. Most were tough as stone, especially
when breaking sad news to familiy members and friends. It was
hard to see how they could act in such a way.
“How about a hot chocolate?” I said, immediately scolding myself
for doing so.
Doctor Statler, though a little stunned by my request, nodded
his head in agreement. He held out his arm for me as we walked
toward the café.
“Claire, as I am on a first name basis with you, please call me
Thomas” he said.
I nodded my head in understanding and appreciated him all the
more for being such a gentleman. We sat down after ordering our
drinks and quickly delved into a deep discussion about our
careers, what we loved about them and what we didn’t love about
them. Somewhere down the line, his mood altered and his eyes
took on an almost devilish look as I told him of the gossip
swarming through the hospital about him. Of course, I understood
the reason behind such a change in mood; he almost looked angry
with me, but it was not my fault. I knew very well I hadn’t been
saying anything about him. I was simply informing him of the
things I had heard.
“Thomas, it’s not that I believe or agree with what is being
said about you. I just thought you might like to know, or to at
least know that you have someone on your side” I said, lowering
my voice at the last part.
He looked taken back by my last comment, and seemed to catch how
quietly I said it. Laying his hand upside down on the table, he
encouraged me to place mine in his. I did so, wondering what on
earth he was doing.
His gesture was rather ancient in use, but it left a blush on my
cheeks still. He turned our hands and placed a soft kiss on the
back of mine. Holding on to my hand for a moment longer, a
beeping sound interrupted what was surely about to happen. He
had started to lean forward, and I had started to lean forward
as well. As our lips were a breath apart, his beeper went off
and he jumped up to his feet, almost knocking over the table. I
laughed lightly as he had done that, and he joined in. He
informed me that he had to run and see to one of his patients,
but apologised and suggested we have lunch together again
sometime soon.
“Alright, that sounds like a plan” I said, waving him off.
As I watched him leaving the café and catching an elevator to
the third floor, the butterflies in my stomach returned. Not one
of my female colleagues had told me just how handsome he was.
All they had to say about him was how much they disliked his
practice. I wondered what could be so bad that made them hate
him so. What they had told me was difficult to believe, even
more so now that we had officially met one another.
“Nurse Meadows, one of your patients is calling for you” said a
colleague from my floor.
“Thank you, I’ll be right there” I said, realising it must be
the elderly lady I had registered only yesterday.
My summer holiday with the family had been more than enjoyable,
but the knowledge that I had even more patients under my care
since my return was devastating. I’d been looking forward to a
relaxing break from all the worry and stress they put me under.
My complaints about them made me feel horrible, and so I stopped
the thoughts before they could go any further. Ahead of me was
my patients room, and with a cheerful smile, I walked in and
greeted the lovely old dear. She sat upright in her bed with a
happy smile on her face. This woman, according to her records,
had been sent in due to a broken ankle. As I looked down the bed
and found her ankle wrapped in a bandage, I winched at the
sight. I’d only ever broken my ankle once whilst jogging, and
knew just how painful it was. Not to mention this womans age, it
must have hurt like nothing she had ever felt until now.
“Goodness, do you have any further pain in that ankle? Would you
like me to get you something?” I asked.
The old woman smiled at me as I spoke to her, clearly intrigued
by something, though I could not for the life of me work out
what. I tilted my head in confusion and she laughed gently. I
couldn’t help but smile at the situation, but when we had both
stopped, I asked her what she had called me for.
“Nothing of much importance dear. It’s just that, this new
doctor I have, the one who took over when you went away, there
is something not quite right about him. Trust me youngen, watch
your back around him” she said.
Now, it was not like me to have any kind of outburst, but her
words about my newfound friend stung. I also wondered why she
would say such a thing about the medical team who so skillfully
looked after her. As far as I could tell, Doctor Statler was
doing a good job and she was the picture of health.
“I’m sorry you feel that way, but according to your records, you
are perfectly healthy, and have remained so under his care. I’ll
return this evening to check on you, but until then, please keep
your thoughts where they belong” I said, finally releasing the
stress I’ve been holding back since my holiday.
My patient seemed worse for wear in the face as she looked at
me. My temper was rising, but I felt a small amount of guilt as
well at treating an old lady so terribly.
“Very well, I shall see you this evening” she said, turning her
attention out the window.
I sighed in regret before stepping out of the room. Not once in
my time here had a patient disrespected a doctor or nurse in
such a way. Lucky for me, I’d been the one to deal with it. That
was a first, though it was obvious now that Doctor Statler was
working here that it’d happen more often. I liked him though,
regardless.
I wandered through the narrow halls in boredrom as all my
patients had been seen to already. I had Statler to thank for
that, and I was thankful he was around to help me out a little.
As I approached the last room on the third floor, I spotted him
inside talking with one of my first patients. He was smiling as
I read his mouth, for I couldn’t hear what was being said. From
what I could make out, he was telling the patient it wouldn’t
hurt a bit and within minutes, he would be out of his misery.
The patient looked a little frightened, but regained his
composure at the thought of being pain free for once. Just as
Thomas was about to administer such a deadly dose of potassium,
I barged through the unlocked door and stood directly behind
him, as he stood before my patient.
“Doctor Statler, thank you for seeing to so many of my patients
in a short amount of time. I can take over from here” I said,
now very angry with him.
I should have realised sooner that my colleagues were indeed
telling the truth. This doctor had come from Israel and a pretty
bad neighbourhood. Though, deep down I understood that had
nothing to do with his practice. Even though families allowed
such behaviour from those treating their friends and family,
word had to be given by them in order for the procedure to take
place. I flipped through the patients records as I stood facing
them both, determined to find the answer I knew was correct.
Within seconds, it dawned on me that my concentration had
prevented me from witnessing Statler administer the fatal dose.
“How dare you, what makes you think you have the authority to do
such a thing. His family haven’t even been notified of this” I
said, raising my voice as I spoke.
Thomas stepped forward as my patient slowly began to lose his
breath. From what I could tell, he was in no amount of pain and
realisation struck me; perhaps this doctor knew what he was
doing. Still, the fact remained that family and friends must
always be asked what they wish to have happen. Without consent
from them, it was impossible and a crime to end the life of a
sick patient. Even if said patient was already fighting a losing
battle with cancer. It was most likely humane to put them out of
their misery, but was wrong nonetheless.
“Do you have any idea what you have just done?” I said, tears
falling from my eyes again.
“I am very aware, Claire. This patient had days, if not weeks,
to live.
“That still doesn’t give you the right to change his fate.
You’ve just signed yourself up for prison” I said, angrily.
With one small step, he stood right before me, his hands
gripping my arms as he spoke to me. “You will tell no one of
what just happened. It may not be the right thing to do without
consent, but if we had left him to watch himself deteriorate to
the point of unrecognition, he would have been worse off.” He
said.
I knew he was right in what he had said, but my position as a
nurse wanted me to report him.
“Still, Doctor Statler, you have made a huge mistake” I said,
pulling from his grasp and storming out.
I could hear his hurried footsteps somewhere behind me as I
rushed through the hall and to the nearest elevator. Just as I
stepped inside, he almost caught me, but the doors closed before
he could reach inside.
“You will regret saying anything when I find out, Claire” I
heard him shout.
My heart was thumping hard against my chest at his words.
Perhaps he was indeed a bad man, as much as I wanted to believe
otherwise. The elevators journey to the ground floor took far
too long, but I had calmed considerably before reaching it. I
stepped out looking like my usual self, though I received a few
questionable glances from members of staff as I walked through
to a room at the end of the corridor. On the way, I passed by
the receptionist and gave her a small wave, which she returned
with a smile.
“Miss. Jones, how are you feeling this evening?” I said, glad to
see a friendly face as I stepped into her room.
Miss. Jones was also an elderly woman, but still held the beauty
of her youth. She had been struck with breast cancer just a few
months ago, and we were doing everything we could to help her
recover. So far, I had kept her cancer at bay and was noticing
it quickly retreat as each day passed. Now, as I looked at her
records, my mouth hung open in shock. Somehow over my summer
holiday, the cancer had grown back and it had spread too far to
be treated. By the look on her face, she knew exactly what I had
read.
“Child, don’t worry about me. I’ve had my time here on earth,
it’s time for me to go” she said, as though it was nothing at
all.
I admired her courage, but couldn’t for the life of me work out
what had gone wrong. She had been very healthy prior to my leave
not so long ago. It couldn’t possibly have returned given the
concise methods of the doctors and nurses around here; those I
trusted with my own life.
“But, Miss. Jones, this can’t possibly be true” I said, baffled
as I rummaged through the papers.
“Yet, it is very true. Listen to me dear, its been a lovely
journey for me. But if I’m honest, these last few months haven’t
been all that wonderful. I don’t want this life anymore. Try not
to feel guilt, for you have done all that you possibly could for
me whilst I’ve been under your care, and that of Doctor Statler”
she said.
My ears perked up at the mention of his name and I scowled. But
of course, it all made sense to me now. Perhaps he had not
killed her in her sleep, but he had indeed begun the growth of
another tumour, which had now spread throughout all her organs
and was impossible to mend. I took a deep breath and excused
myself from the room, letting her know I would be in later on to
see her again. She smiled, waved and I left. My first thought
had been to confront him again, but as it hadn’t worked last
time, it wouldn’t work a second time. Instead, I gathered all my
anger and released it in one of the consultation rooms on the
second floor. Finding that no one was in there was a relief,
until the unwelcome sound of his voice turned me from banging my
fists against the desk.
I spun on my heel to face him, my blood now boiling. He could
see the distress coating me and slowly closed the door behind
him. I leaned back against the desk and crossed my arms over my
chest, noticing his eyes dance momentarily over my clothes. My
blouse wasn’t anything too special, though its deep purple
colour gave way for the Christmas season. I’d found myself often
wearing bland colours, so this made a nice change. My skirt,
something I would also never dream of wearing, was a black, wrap
skirt. It would be dangerous to perform any kind of exercises in
this that involved lifting my legs into the air. My thoughts had
captured my attention once more, and I’d failed to notice that
he was now standing right in front of me. His scent was the only
part of him I noticed first, as it was strong and quite pleasant
to my senses. Unknowingly, my lips curled into a smile. Not only
was he handsome and kind, but he also smelt wonderful. Alas, he
was also a doctor who people bad mouthed, a doctor who
supposedly murdered those he treated, and had a fiery temper. I
did not know which end to believe anymore. I knew he was all of
those things, but the worst of them was becoming clearer and
clearer. I’d realised only after seeing him end the life of one
of my patients that he was in some way a murderer, though he did
prefer other terms.
“You have been treating Miss. Jones” I said, tilting my head up
to look in his eyes.
“I have” he said.
“Well?” I said, tightening my arms as they were still folded
over my chest.
I knew he could see just how angry I was with him, but he made
no sound or notion to suggest this was true. All he did was
stare down at me, his eyes telling me everything I wanted to
know.
“You really are sick. Don’t think you can threaten me this time
Thomas, I will have you locked up for what you are doing to
these innocent people” I said, pushing him away from me and
walking toward the door.
#Post#: 2767--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tiny Tales
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: August 15, 2013, 5:17 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Before I reached the door however, his hand grabbed my arm as he
had done when we met earlier today. I looked up at him with a
frown, waiting for him to beg me to not turn him in, but it
didn’t come to that. Instead, he looked down at me and smiled;
though it was more like a grin.
“If you so much as think about telling anyone, despite myself
being very angry with you, what evidence do you have to prove
your accusations?” he asked.
He had a very good point there. I had absolutely no evidence of
foul play on any of my patients records. All I could do was make
my claim and hope the board would believe me. It wasn’t much to
go on, but I couldn’t allow him to keep travelling from one
hospital to another, killing off those he knew were dying
anyway.
“It’s worth a shot” I said, bitterly.
Again, as I tried to reach for the door, he pulled me back
against his chest. The impact caused a loud thud, but he didn’t
let me go. I growled at him as I tried to free myself. I might
be attracted to him, but his attitude was only starting to make
me hate him as much as my colleagues did. He was definitely
getting on my nerves. Thinking stupidly, I raised one of my legs
up to knee him where I knew would cause him the most pain. Only,
I wasn’t quick enough and he had reflexes like a cat. He grabbed
my leg, or my thigh rather, as it came up to do damage.
“Let me go” I said.
“I don’t think so” he replied, all hint of a smile gone.
“I said, let me go, now” I said, lowering my voice.
That smile came back, and it was sickening now more than ever.
He pressed my back up against the wall, all the while holding my
leg to his side and standing closer to me. Despite the wave of
anger that seeped through my veins being very much in control, I
felt another wave of something much more friendly beginning to
seep through them as well. I only hoped my anger toward him
would outshine this new need to want him this close.
“You are a very bright nurse Claire, don’t make me regret liking
you” he said, lowering his head.
I looked off to one side as my chest rose and fell with each
inch that he neared. Before I knew it, his nose had bumped
against my cheek, and he had allowed himself to inhale my subtle
perfume. Like a vampire who was sniffing out the coursing blood
through its victims veins, he smelt from my shoulder, right up
to my ear. It made me tingle involuntarily, and I knew he was
going to make me cave.
“Thomas, enough” I said, catching my breath as I opened my
mouth.
In a flash, he pressed himself even closer against me and I felt
what could only be described as a rather huge arousal in his
pants. The pressure made me release an unwelcome moan, and he
noticed. With determination written all over his face, he began
to grind his lower half teasingly against mine.
“Thomas, no” I said, a little louder this time.
“I am surprised no is still part of your vocabulary” he said,
grinning like the cheshire cat.
I frowned in annoyance, but couldn’t help making ridiculous
faces at the feeling he was enticing between my legs. He knew
exactly what he was doing, and I knew why he was doing it. Just,
I could not work out what made him think my mind wouldn’t soon
change once we had parted. As I turned my head and allowed
myself to look at him up close, a spark of lust in his eyes
jolted me from reality. I felt a sudden urge to kiss him take
over my entire body, and before I could stop myself, I grabbed
either side of his face and slammed my lips against his. The
impact was almost bruising, but he didn’t seem to mind much as
he returned my kiss as quickly as our mouths had connected.
#Post#: 2768--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tiny Tales
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: August 15, 2013, 11:26 pm
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Good lord where do I begin?!? This is utterly fantastic and I
adored it. I loved the dynamic between Claire and Thomas and
then the complete 360. I cried and then I went into shock I
just... Words. I'm blown away. Have you thought about adding on
to this and selling in through Amazon? I's amazing don't ever
sell yourself short my dear.
#Post#: 3041--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tiny Tales
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: April 11, 2015, 8:18 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Save Yourself
Theme:
HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDsxeIo8fy4
June
“You know it doesn’t have to be this way, Jackie.”
I said as we lay there together in his bed, sheets crumpled
together in one huge heap. Funny how a pair of thread bare
sheets could sum us up as a couple. I gave him a small smile
before laying my head on his chest and listened to the thrumming
steady beat of his heart. The sun would be up in a few hours and
mid town Manhattan would buzzing with life.
“I know…I know. Just one more job and then I’m done. I swear.”
This is how it would always be, days, weeks, even months could
go by and I wouldn’t hear from him. Then all of the sudden he’d
roll back into town totally wild and half crazed from whatever
his brother had sent him off to take care of and he’d stop by my
place. Two or three days together and then he’d be off again to
do Frank’s bidding like a loyal lap dog. It was this endless
cycle of together and apart and it was driving me crazy. I loved
him and wanted nothing more than to be with him but the fierce
loyalty that coursed through him just wouldn’t let it happen. He
felt that if he let his big brother down he’d be marked as a
failure. I held on because that’s what girls like me did, we
waited…and waited…and waited. Each time he said “Just one more.”
A little piece of my heart broke and fell into the abyss.
July
“ Just one more, Colleen…It’s a short one. I’ll only be gone a
few days.”
That was a week ago and the plans I made for the little rental
place in the Catskills ended up falling through. I locked myself
away and tried so damn hard not to be mad at him that I ended up
crying for the better part of the long fourth of July weekend.
When he finally did manage to show up on my doorstep it was two
in the morning and he was his usual wired self all bright eyes
and floppy hair with a boyish grin.
“Miss me?”
“What the hell do you think?”
I ended up calling in sick just to spend two extra days with him
until he breezed out of town on business again. How could I
possibly stay mad at someone I loved that much?
August
“One more.”
“Yeah, sure.”
This time I changed the locks while he was gone. I didn’t have
the heart to ask him for the key I’d given him. He always lost
it somehow anyway. A month later he came back and damn near
pounded the door down until the super let him in with the master
key.
“Why’d ya lock me out, doll?”
“I didn’t. I just changed the locks.”
We went to bed that night curled together listening to the sound
of the box fan haphazardly set in the window.
December
Four months passed before I heard a peep from him, he showed up
just as I got off of work loaded down with boxes.
“Don’t tell me, your landlord kicked you out?”
“How’d ya know?”
“Oh..I don’t know. Maybe it’s the boxes marked Guinness with
your skivvies hanging out that gives it away? Come on in, I
don’t have all night, roomie.”
Four loads of wash and one good meal later Jackie was finally
settled in enough to inform me that I was lacking a crucial
piece of holiday decor.
“What the hell’d ya mean you ain’t doin’ Christmas?!
That’s…that’s…it’s a fecking sin, Colleen!”
“Oh, and digging up a sapling from Central Park isn’t?”
“Not if you don’t get caught.”
So, by the light of moon and bundled up to ward off New York’s
frigid bite we did just that, but I had to admit it was a lovely
little tree. Not to mention sinning with him was always way too
much fun. We were basking in the afterglow as the sun peeked up
over the horizon of the meat packing district when the phone
rang.
“Just one more, Colleen, I swear.”
Something in his voice told me so but I didn’t want to believe
it. We’d been going down that road so long that it seemed too
good to be true.
March
He’d come back battered and bruised two days after New Years and
jumped when the phone rang. After a month’s recuperation he and
I both knew he couldn’t avoid Frank. So he went. Valentine’s Day
was almost perfect with the exception of a busted heater. It’s
amazing how much heat two people can produce when the mood
strikes.
A month later spring came and the city prepared to truly come
alive. We’d finally made plans to officially settle down. Had I
known that the phone was going to ring I would have yanked it
from the wall. But I didn’t.
“This is the last time, Colleen. I swear.”
His eyes softened and he smiled that stupid goofy smile. My
heart stuttered for a second and something told me to hug him a
little longer. I did, enveloping myself in his scent. That boozy
heady scent that was him. Cigarettes, whiskey, gun powder and
soap. The steady beating of his heart and sound of his exhale.
“When?”
“Tomorrow morning, early down at Pier 84.”
I felt him shift a bit as he ran a hand through my hair, almost
stroking me like I was the most precious thing to him.
“If something happens, which it won’t, I swear. But, if
something does Terry’ll call and I want you to go to Rhode
Island. There’s a guy there that’ll take good care of you. His
name is Mike. I want you to go and start over. You save yourself
and don’t worry about me.”
Tears welled up into my eyes and my heart fluttered again. All I
could do was nod and keep that promise. He left me that bright
spring morning as the streets were decorated to celebrate
Ireland’s patron saint. No one would hear the gun shots as that
fight broke out. No one would see him fall, that childish man
with the strong lion’s heart and goofy grin. In my heart I knew
that my Jackie wasn’t coming home because the clock stopped at
half past eleven that morning. I waited. At exactly one in the
afternoon Terry Noonan called. My bags were already packed and
my last words to him were simply this.
“Kill him. You kill him or I will, Terry. Then run and save
yourself, you get...take Kathy and run.”
There was a pause.
“Save yourself.”
#Post#: 3042--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tiny Tales
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: April 11, 2015, 9:00 am
---------------------------------------------------------
It's been so long since I read one of your Jackie stories but
the magic remains and this piece is the best story I've read in
a while. I don't know how you get it so spot on with that Irish
wildcard, but it reads so much like how Gary portrays him in the
film and I can't.. I just, you're wonderful and this did make me
cry buckets. I love the bond the two of them have— and the
ending— tears everywhere.
#Post#: 3043--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tiny Tales
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: April 11, 2015, 9:57 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I'm so so sorry it took me forever to reply. You made me cry!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, I was hoping I did Jackie justice. (
He and Michael Caffee seem to be hanging around, I could slap
both of'em but I love them too much, ha.) I feel so bad about
making you cry though, I'm working on a fluffy piece especially
for you to make up for it, cross my heart. *hugs tight*
#Post#: 3070--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tiny Tales
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: August 5, 2015, 6:49 am
---------------------------------------------------------
HTML https://farm1.staticflickr.com/440/20121975370_647ccc1910.jpg
Love Hurts But That's Alright
Love hurts,
Love scars,
Love wounds and marks
Any heart not tough or strong enough
To take a lot of pain, take a lot of pain
Love is like a cloud, it holds a lot of rain
Love hurts,
Ooo-oo love hurts
His words to her were simple yet they cut her to the bone.
“It’s over.”
After six years together it was done - they were done. They’d
come home from dinner with his parents, like they did almost
every Sunday and he walked into the bedroom they shared and
packed a bag and told her that they were done. He’d met someone
else at a conference in Glasgow and wanted only her.
“What’s her name?”
She’d asked trying to keep the pieces of her shattered heart
together but failing miserably as he looked at her with cold
steely eyes and told her.
“Wendy.”
That was it, not even a so long or hang in there. Just the new
girl’s name and that was it. The man that she thought for sure
she’d end up marrying and having a family with had gone and
traded her in for some little tart named Wendy. There was no
remorse in his voice, just coldness. She felt sick and dizzy her
heart pounding in her chest and her mind racing to try to put
itself to rights. She wobbled to bathroom and retched into the
toilet the next thing she knew she was being rudely awoken by
the new neighbors moving in across the hall. She blearily opened
her eyes and tried to stretch from her spot on the cold while
tile floor that had served as her bed the previous night.
“You’ve been full of bad ideas but sleeping on the bathroom
floor? That takes the damn cake.”
She muttered to herself as she found her legs and looked at
herself in the mirror - God she looked like she’d aged ten years
over night. Makeup that had been tastefully done the previous
evening was now a wreck, her hair once full of bounce and life
was now a molted brown rat’s nest. Something in her mind
switched to auto pilot and she went about her day, preferring
not to think about the ruins that her otherwise happy life had
become seemingly overnight. Her mind ticked away - Shower. Then
breakfast. Then a run. For God’s sake call your sister! Her
brain screamed at her. So, she went about her day, a numb
feeling settled in her chest as she checked things off of her
mental to do list. Little did she know that she would repeat
these actions for the next six months.
Just don’t think about it. She had adopted that as her personal
motto and had tried to put on a brave face. No one asked and she
didn’t say a word. She simply woke each morning went for her run
came back home showered and went about her day at the office as
usual. Her sister had tried to broach the elephant in the room
but the subject was soon changed to something else.
“The least you could do is find a dating website or something.
Have you even changed the bedding yet?”
Her sister asked one evening when she’d stopped over with take
away and a bottle of wine.
“No.”
“Good lord! Why the hell not, Shel?”
“Because…because I don’t sleep in there anyway. I - I can’t.”
“Then where in the world do you sleep?”
“The couch, Ev.”
“Jesus, that’s it I’m spending the night and tomorrow we’re
getting up bright and early and getting you a new bed. Then I’m
signing you up for that hook up site. You need some sort of
release, Shel this whole ignoring the problem isn’t healthy.”
So, bright and early Saturday morning the sisters found
themselves exploring the big bag world of mattresses and then
delved into the world of online dating.
“I really don’t know about this, Evie. I mean isn’t this just
one of those wham bam thank you ma’am sites?”
“Yes, but think of it this way if you like one of the hookups
you can still ask them out on a legitimate date. It’s not like
you’re going to go on the prowl in Piccadilly at midnight and
screw the first person you meet. Just let your hair down for
once. Besides, Mark didn’t seem to have any qualms about
screwing around behind your back. I bet this is the same site he
found that Wendy girl on.”
Her sister has struck a nerve.
“Evelyn, do shut the hell up. There’s a bottle of zinfandel in
the fridge, be a dear and pour me a glass while I try to think
up a screen name.”
Evie looked at her wide hazel eyes and gave her a wry smile.
“There’s the Shelley I remember.”
“Oh, and Ev, he met her at a conference in Glasgow.”
She didn’t even look back to see the look of horror tinged with
shame that had etched itself into her younger sister’s features.
“Don’t be sorry. He wasn’t.”
After a few minutes of thought it came to her and her new
swinging single care free life came into fruition. A few well
placed clicks and all she had to do now was wait.
And wait. And wait some more.
Two weeks into signing up her personal email pinged on her phone
from deep within the recesses of her hand bag one evening when
she was working late. The ever wonderful of insurance adjusting
would have to wait a moment while she tended to her personal
life. Who would notice? She was the only one left on the floor.
PxVeritas : Meet me in front of the Dog and Bull for a drink in
an hour? 35 Grange Road Kingston Upon Thames.
Brown_Eyed_Girl72: Sounds good see you there. I’ll be wearing
red.
Her heart, which had otherwise been numb for the past six almost
seven months skipped a beat. She hailed a taxi and hurried home
to change and call her sister.
“Ooh well tell me all about him when you get home. Don’t do
anything I wouldn’t do.”
Was the advice she was left with as she finished putting on her
makeup and grabbing her purse. The entire ride to the Dog and
Bull she had worked herself into knots. Part of her was excited
and the other part was terrified, it certainly didn’t help that
her driver had a bit of a heavy foot when it came to taking
corners a bit too close for her liking. Soon enough she found
herself sitting at the bar ordering a glass of wine and waiting.
Maybe he took a look at you and figured you weren’t worth it.
The small nasty voice in her head said as she sipped at her
white wine. She checked her phone to find that was well past
nine. Maybe this whole fling thing wasn’t such a good idea after
all. Perhaps she was just better off going back home alone and
cuddling up with her cat to watch the weather channel or another
Midsomer Murders marathon. Just as she was about to pack it in
and will herself to keep a stiff upper lip someone tapped her on
the shoulder.
“Brown Eyed Girl 72?”
She turned and that’s when she saw him, high cheek bones and sad
soulful brown eyes. A hint of a small smile playing at his lips.
“Only if you’re PxVeritas.”
She gave him a warm smile as he ordered a drink, bourbon on the
rocks, she noted and genuinely apologized for his late arrival.
“I got a bit tied up, there was some sort of incident just
outside my apartment building. Not sure what exactly happened
but it can’t be good news if the ambulances show up.”
A shiver went up her spine and her brows knit themselves
together, she was never one to curb that worry she held when it
came to life or death situations. Her drinking companion and
would be date seemed to pick up on this.
“Oh, but maybe a neighbor’s had a baby or something? Here I am
mister doom and gloom. I’m sure it’s nothing. So, if you don’t
mind me asking what is it that you do..”
“Shelley. I work for Southwark Insurance, chances are if you’ve
called the hotline between nine and eight you’ve spoken to me.
I’m usually the one that reviews new holders and answers run of
the mill questions. How about you?”
“Paul. I’m one of the bookkeepers with Waterloo Action Centre.
Nothing glamorous or fun but it’s good honest work. Not that I
can say that it’s hard work but I volunteer when I can.”
They talked until the closing time and ended up back Paul’s
place, chatting still until the sun came up. Human connections
were forged that night and would delve deeper still over the
next few meet ups. They both refused to call them “dates” or
“hook ups” because they just weren’t. They were simply two
people getting to know one another better and better as time
went by, they also occasionally met up for dinner or tossed a
coin to see who’s place was up for a movie night. Not once did
either of them even think of sleeping together, both were too
gun shy when it came to taking the relationship to a physical
aspect. Until right around spring the following year.
“So, what you doing for your birthday, Paul?”
She’d asked curiously as they both sat lounging on her sofa
picking at the remains of the Chinese take out they’d ordered
one evening as the first official spring rains pattered down.
She’d remembered when she’d flipped her kitchen calendar that
birthday fell on the fifteenth of this month.
“Not much, I’m afraid. Probably just work. I’ll probably just
stay in.”
Something in his voice pained her and she looked at him, for the
first time realizing that maybe she was only person in his life
that actually spent time with him besides his colleagues and his
mother, who he’d said had gone away on holiday. It was then that
she decided to plan the mother of all surprises.
“Oh.”
Before she could say anymore he left with a hug and said that
he’d best get on home. He’d left a bedroom window open and he
didn’t want his mattress soaked through.
“Alright but be careful and remember, April showers bring May
flowers.”
“Showers? Hell, this is a full on downpour, Shel but keeping
thinking that way and maybe you’ll get your wish.”
He called as went out into the dark rainy Waterloo evening
leaving her with nothing but her beloved cat for company as she
hatched the perfect Birthday surprise.
The following week was a busy one for her, not so much in the
office - that the was the easy part. It was the covert planning
she had to do on the sly, more than once she’d almost run into
Paul in the street as she was coming out of the the few shops
she knew flat out that he shopped in. She’d had her fair share
of close calls when it came to trying to figure out which cake
flavor he liked best. She couldn’t ask him, he’d know something
was up. She’d enlisted Evie’s help to try and crack him but when
her sister met him she was so shocked at the fact that they had
yet to sleep together that she refused just out of spite and
told her to stake a claim on the poor man before someone else
did. So, she left it up to fate and dug through her recipe box
and found the perfect vanilla cake recipe to present to him on
his special day. It only took her two days from start to finish,
day one was dedicated to the cakes and the second was icing them
and then on to wrapping his gifts. She’d arranged to meet up at
his place under the pretense of fixing him dinner, nothing
special she’d told him just a roast chicken. He’d sounded quite
down today and she hoped that her little surprise would lift him
out of the funk he’d fallen into. She showed up at four on the
dot and gave her usual knock only to find that he wasn’t home
yet so she let herself in with the spare key he kept under the
mat and went about setting things up. Two hours later dinner was
officially on the table as was the cake and she heard his
familiar footsteps coming up the front walk from the street.
He’d shrugged off his coat and threw his bag down in the front
hall and heaved a sigh. Now was her chance.
“Happy Birthday!”
She exclaimed as she turned the corner from the kitchen into the
living room where he stood leafing through his mail.
“Holy shi..Shelley!”
“I know you said you’d probably stay in but it’s your birthday,
Paul. No one should ever be alone especially on their own
holiday.”
She held out a gift bag with the few gifts she’d brought over
for him and smiled and that’s when she noticed he was crying.
“Oh no..you’re not upset with me are you?”
He shook his head and pulled her in for a hug all but crushing
her.
“Jenna never did anything like this on my birthday.”
That the was first time he’d spoken her name, before that he’d
always called her ‘ The Ex ‘ or ‘ my ex.’ but never Jenna.
“Well, I’m not her.”
“No, you most definitely aren’t her, Shel. At all.”
“Well, good. Now, lets open some gifts and then we can have
dinner…and then I’ve got one more surprise for you.”
Her gifts were quite the hit, even the bow and arrow print tie
she’d picked up on a whim for him. She saw it and thought of him
immediately for some ungodly reason. The dishes were soon
cleared and she turned the lights off as she finished lighting
the candles on his cake. A rousing yet slightly off key
rendition of Happy Birthday and he was a mess again.
“Was my singing that bad?”
“No, it’s just…no one ever’s really done this sort of thing for
me, especially not a girlfriend.”
Did he just say girlfriend? He did. But technically they were
friends and she was a girl. Were they together now? No! nope. No
they weren’t. They were just Paul and Shelley, friends and
nothing more. Right?
“Shel..are you okay?”
“Y..n..Nupp, I’m fine. Totally fine. How about some cake? I
wasn’t sure which flavor you liked so I played it safe and went
with vanilla, hope you don’t mind.”
“Vanilla’s actually my favorite so it’s perfect.”
She felt a blush creep up into her cheeks as she cut the cake
and passed him his slice. They both watched as slid off the
plate and landed in a great white heap on the floor. Then both
leaned over with napkins at the ready to clean up the mess when
their heads connected painfully. Just as Shelley put her hand
down on the table she felt the knife she’d used to cut the cake
slice into the palm of her hand.
“Dammit! This isn’t going how I planned it at all.”
She muttered as she grabbed a clean napkin and tried to stop the
bleeding while Paul went to get the first aid kit and get a good
look at her hand.
“You my dear may need stitches.”
“Oh please no. I can’t do the whole stitches thing.”
“It’s deep, Shel I’m good but not that good.”
“Promise you’re not to going to up and leave me?”
“Cross my heart.”
Tears welled up Shelley’s eyes as she choked out an apology for
bleeding on his carpeting.
One seemingly endless cab ride and Emergency check in later they
sat in a tiny triage cubicle that was reserved for what the on
call nurse called “ walking wounded.”
“Such a nice young couple.”
She’d remarked as she assessed Shel’s hand before popping back
to gather the necessary wound care items.
“How many girlfriends would actually bake a cake for their
fellow?”
She tutted as she came back and cleaned out the soft tissue
carefully before going about setting up the local anesthetic
needle. It was at that point when Shel’s fear of needles came
into play, she hadn’t even known she’d had one until that very
second. Before she could blink she’d gone down and was brought
back around with a dose of smelling salts as Paul gently stroked
her hair and tried to reassure her.
“Word to wise my dear girl, put off having kids if that’s how
you do around needles. You’ll need about ten stitches from the
looks of it. Brace yourself.”
Twenty minutes later they were released to catch the first
glimpse of the first spring night without rain. Walking with
arms entwined past The Cut she was the first to break their
comfortable silence.
“Thanks for staying with me back there…the last time I ended up
in the ER Mark ditched me to wander the halls. Said he couldn’t
handle my constant hand grabbing.”
“The last time? What happened?”
“Walking pneumonia. Ended up staying over night because he had a
business trip. Come to think of it that’s when he met Wendy.”
She went quiet for a moment seemingly lost in her own thoughts.
“You know…you were too good for him.”
“Nah, not really.”
“Yes, really, Shel.”
“Well, you were too good for her.”
“Nah, Not really.”
“Yes, Paul really.”
“You know, someone once said that love hurts. But did they ever
think that maybe the pain caused by the wrong ones is just a
test to let the right ones into our hearts?”
Paul mused as we walked along back to his apartment, I smiled at
the senitment. He was a poet and wasn’t even aware of his words
at times.
“Yeah, I can get that.”
“So, that nurse back there, she thought we were quite the
couple. If she thought it was official maybe it’s the universe
telling us something?”
“Telling us what?”
Her heart hammered in her chest and he wrapped an arm around her
and guided her up the front steps.
“Why don’t we get together? I’ve got all this extra room and I
have been thinking of getting a pet or two. You’ve got that cat
of yours…and your sister seems nice. Movie in with me?”
“Are you sure? I mean I snore..and I’ve got cold feet…a- and I’m
a blanket hog.”
“I know and it doesn’t bother me, I’ll buy you socks and I get
too warm at night anyway.”
Came his reply as he opened the front door and reached into his
coat pocket and handed Shelley her copy of the apartment keys.
“Alright, you’ve got deal. Just hold it against me when you’re
pulling your hair out because I’ve kept you up with my snoring.”
“I can deal with that, besides, love hurts..but that’s alright
since I’ve got you.”
Shelley gave him a smile before wrapping her arms around him and
planting a soft kiss on his lips. She knew he was right and
neither would be alone when they had the other. For
relationships, true lasting relationships - were built on love
and trust and they had that in spades.
#Post#: 3079--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tiny Tales
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: September 6, 2015, 1:17 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Oblivion
HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbtqgc2cthk
When you fall asleep
With your head
Upon my shoulder
When you're in my arms
But you've gone somewhere deeper
He looked like an angel nestled there in the tangled heap of
sheets beside me. The misty spring morning rising amidst the
hustle and bustle that was the heartbeat of the city.
Construction was what woke me, jostled out sleep I woke to find
the room still darkened. The man that quietly slept next to me
was one it’s finest not only in my eyes but in half of the
residents that made up Hell’s Kitchen these days. Depending on
who you spoke to the name Jackie Flannery either meant nothing
or something. To me though, he was everything. Sure, he had a
wrap sheet a few miles long but with him it was all in good fun.
No one ever suffered more than a bloody nose when things truly
did get out of hand and they could count on Jackie to patch them
up afterward. He has a true heart of gold. He always slept this
way, soundly - so much like a child. I reached out carefully to
gently touch his face, my fingers ghosting over the freckles
that looked like the sky on a summer’s night. I couldn’t help
myself as a I leaned a bit closer and kissed his forehead.
“I love you.”
I whispered as I settled in next to him once again finally able
to drift off once again. I was in dreamland when he awoke
slightly and told me that he loved me too.
Are you going to age with grace?
Are you going to age without mistakes
Are you going to age with grace?
Or only to wake and hide your face
Well, oh, oblivion
Is calling out your name
You always take it further
Than I ever can
“Hey Terry! C’mere I want ya to look at something for me.”
I could hear Jackie sing song from the other side of the bar to
his best friend. They disappeared up to the roof and about ten
minutes later I heard a scream over the music that was playing.
“Jesus, Jackie are those…are they real?!”
“What do you think, genius?”
Jackie always one to really push the envelope when it came to
those types of things although I never did find out what was in
that freezer, not that I really wanted to know.
When you play it harder
And I try to follow you there
It's not about control
But I turn back when I see where you go
“Come on Col, run faster!”
Against my better judgement and Jackie’s prodding I decided
against taking a cab home and we ended up getting stuck in a
downpour in the middle of central park. The scent of spring was
all around us as we ran and chased one another like children
through the lush newly green grass of the park. I cut to the
left and assumed he’d got to the right only to find myself
alone. A rumble of thunder off in the distance jolted me and my
eyes grew wide before I felt two arms wrap around me.
“I got ya!”
In Jackie’s eyes life was a game that was meant to be won. That
was what drew me to him, like a moth to a flame. I couldn’t help
but be pulled into his world. He was the only person I’d ever
trusted entirely and with my whole heart.
“I love ya, Col.”
“I love you too, Jackie.”
Are you going to age with grace?
Are you going to leave a path to trace?
But, oblivion
Is calling out your name
You always take it further
Than I ever can
When oblivion
Is calling out your name
You always take it further
Than I ever can
“You ever think of leaving the city?”
We’d curled up together on the ancient couch back at the
apartment and he looked at me like I’d grown a second head.
“No, why?”
“I don’t I was just thinking of a change of scenery. Might do us
good to get away you know?”
“Nah, we’re too used to the noise and feel of the city to live
anywhere else.”
I was quiet for a moment before another question tumbled out of
my mouth.
“Well, what if we had a family…would you consider moving then?”
Jackie fixed his gaze one me and was quiet for a moment.
“Are you..”
“No! It’s a hypothetical question is all, Jackie. Calm down, you
got all intense there for a second.”
“Maybe…yeah. I think I would. This place ain’t like it used to
me when we were growing up, Col. I know I always used to say
that I wanted my kids to be living on the same block I grew up
on but it…it’s just not safe. Not now.”
I gave a wistful sigh as I settled back against his chest
finding that familiar comfortable spot.
“It’s true, the world’s changing. But if we did have kids they’d
miss out on all the great things you and I grew up doing.
Visiting Santa at Macy’s and ice skating at the plaza. The
masses at St. Patrick’s. The fireworks on the Hudson in the
summer…and we can’t forget the St. Patrick’s Day parade can we?”
Jackie smiled as he smoothed my hair and kissed my forehead.
“All very good and very valid points, hun. But we’ve got time,
Col. We’ve got all the time in the world.”
But we didn’t.
*****************************************************
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