MULTIPLY Writing Prompt #16: I fought the law

Maria Russo was sad. Her one and only Joey had died. Not her son Joey, he was in good health and was a good boy, always had a place in his heart for Mama Russo. Joey was Maria’s canary. He was a good age for a canary, almost ten years old and he was everything for Maria. He would sing in the morning and she would wake up to his familiar song. He died in the night. If an autopsy had been performed the vet would have told Mama Russo that it was his heart. It just stopped beating, but after so many years, for a canary, this was to be expected.

She put her little canary in a small box, lined with a small silk scarf and buried him in the garden in a nice sunny place. She had the feeling he could carry on singing in his little canary heaven when the sun was shining. Heavy of heart she cleaned the cage and put everything away. It was then that she noticed the remainder of the bird food. She decided to spread it over Joey’s grave. At least he would have his favourite meal growing around him. Her son Joey always bought the bird food and told her he grew nicely as it was top quality seed.

Time went on and she noticed a nice little garden growing where Joey had been buried. She was already thinking about getting another Joey when she heard the screeching of car brakes outside her door and someone pounding on the door.
“Open up, at once otherwise we will be forced to break the door down.”
Maria Russo was an elderly small grey haired lady and was quite shocked by the noise, so she rushed to see what was wrong and was confronted by two men, two police officers and a police car was parked before the door. It was then that a police van also arrived.
“Can I help you officer?” she wanted to say but was cut off midway in her sentence by the men at the door that rushed past her into the garden at the back of the nice little neat house where she lived.
“Here it is men; a nice example of evidence, all growing bushy and almost ripe for picking. The men that had arrived in the van were also now on the scene armed with shovels and started digging some plants out of the garden. Maria was shocked.
“What are you doing? Please stop, that it my Joey’s grave that you are digging up.”
“You have a dead body here as well?” asked one of the plain clothes police officers.
“Did you hear men; the case is more serious than we thought. Looks like murder is also concerned. Put the plants in the van and we will dig further.”
They were slightly embarrassed when they discovered the remains of Joey the canary, but nevertheless it did not deter them from taking the plants away in the van.
Maria Russo was taken in the police car to the station and charged. Her crime was the growing of cannabis plants with the intention of selling the finished product. Maria was shocked and said she was innocent and did not even know that the plants growing around Joey’s grave were forbidden. She found it a sweet memorial to his life and was glad that they had grown so strong and tall. Maria started to cry at the police station and a police lady asked if she would like to call a lawyer.
“I don’t have a lawyer” she answered “but if I could call my boy Joey I would be glad.”
And so Maria called her son.
“Hello mama, how are you. I was coming to see you this afternoon. Is there a problem?”
“Oh Joey, you must help me. I am at the police station.”
“Mama what are you doing at the police station. Were you burgled?”
“No Joey, the police just arrived and took me to the station where I have been charged. Something about the plants growing in my garden, you know where I buried Joey my canary. They say the plants are not allowed.”
“What plants mama?”
“You know those tall ones with the nine leaves on one stem. They say that they are not allowed. Something to do with …”
“What did you say they were called officer?”
“Cannabis Mrs. Russo.”
“Oh, Joey they say they are called Cannabis. Is that bad?”
“Mama, I will be down at the station in five minutes. Don’t answer any more questions, keep quiet and wait for me.”
So Joey called his lawyer, Alfredo Gianni, and arrived at the police station with Alfredo.
“Officer I demand you let my mother go at once. How can you arrest a sweet little old lady on the charge of planting Cannabis. My mother does not even know what it is.”
“Joey, I will deal with this” said Alfredo.
“Joey my boy, and Alfredo, nice to see you both; how is your mama Alfredo and the bambini, I have been wanting to see you for some time. I heard that Gina has just presented you with another son. Send her my best wishes.”
“Thank you Mrs. Russo, I will tell her, but first of all we have to settle the problem of the plants in your garden. Officer, I am sure that Mrs. Russo grew these plants without knowing what they were. Have they been tested for the level of THC?”
“Yes, Mr. Gianni and it seems it is quite high”
“Joey, what’s all this about THC, is that something good for you?”
“No mama, it is not good for you.”
“Do you think that is why my Joey died? Perhaps he ate too much of it.”
“Officer, I hope you are listening to this conversation between my client and her son. It is obvious that Mrs. Russo has no idea what sort of plants were growing in her garden. I am sure this is a complete misunderstanding.”
“Well all I did was to put the remaining canary seed into the garden after I buried my Joey. They made such a nice little garden in his memory.”
“The fact remains that your mother Mr. Russo and your client Mr. Gianni, was growing cannabis plants in her garden containing a high percent of THC; enough to satisfy a lot of people.”
“Joey, I want to go home” said Mrs. Russo with tears in her eyes.
“OK officer, you heard. My client is completely unaware of what is going on and would like to go home.”
“No problem Mr. Gianni, as soon as things are cleared. In the meanwhile she can have a single room in our hotel down in the cellar.” And Maria was taken to a cell.

Joey was furious and Alfredo Gianni told him not to worry. Alfredo phoned his brother, Nuncio, who was a well known judge in the town and told him what had happened. An hour later Maria Russo was in her son’s car on her way home.
“Thank you son, for the help. If it had not have been for you and Alfredo I would still be at the prison. Please son, the next time that you have no room left on our family plantation just don’t bring the plants to me. I have too many nosy neighbours who see what grows in my garden. I just cannot bring that story with the bird seed any more.”
“Don’t worry mama, in future we will keep the weed to ourselves.”
“I knew you were a good boy Joey. By the way I have invited Alfredo and his family to dinner on Sunday. You should come as well with the children. It is such a long time since the family have been together, and I am sure we will have a lot to talk about.”

Writing Prompt #16: I fought the Law

Swine Flu

I know we should take it seriously, although I did hear that in Mexico it was not as bad as first thought. Conditions in Mexico are a bit different perhaps to other countries. We all have pigs somewhere or the other in our countries and as usual it is the old people and children that are most vulnerable.

Anyhow sitting in our "safe" little countries in Europe we are naturally all worried that we might be affected from a pandemy (or whatever it is called today - when I was a kid we only had epidemics but that was in the old days). So we were all waiting for the first plane to arrive from Mexico at the Swiss airport yesterday since the break out of the flu. I do not think they found anyone suffering and everyone went home, but were told if they did get a cold to stay at home for a week just to make sure.

Anyhow we did have a case of swine flu in a town about 30 minutes down the railway line to where I live. It was a 19 year old student that had come back from Mexico and really did have the swine flu. He was naturally put into hospital, but as in the most cases where treatment is available, the young man started recovering quite well so they decided to send him home. Unfortunately the Swiss made a small mistake. Although he was recovering, he was still able to contaminate others. Of course this is known, but somehow this fact seemed to have escaped the knowledge of the Swiss doctors at the hospital. A day later they realised their mistake so put him back into hospital. Unfortunately in the meanwhile he had contact with 28 other people, so they are also now under observance for pig flu symptoms. What a world we live in. I feel fine at the moment and luckily so do my cats. No symptoms, no sneezing, just a bit of back ache from working in the garden.

MULTIPLY United Friends Challenge #140: May Day and the Plumber

Mystydragon's Challenge

Write a story or a poem from the viewpoint of a suppressed emotion.
It might be rage, love, happiness, fear - you choose the emotion.

05.00 a.m.
Early in the morning after a good night’s sleep and the question is shall I stay in bed or the usual early morning visit to the bathroom. I will settle for the bathroom, there are still a few hours to enjoy the rest of sleep afterwards. Back to bed and eyes closed for another couple of hours. Oh life is so satisfying when you do not have to rise and today is a free day. No shopping to do and just please myself.

Now what do I hear. I am just sinking into oblivion and I hear the sound of rushing water. It cannot be raining outside, I hear the birds singing and I can even catch a glimpse of early morning sun through the blinds, but there is running water and it seems to be coming from the bathroom. So pull yourself together and go and have a look. You can always go back to bed afterwards.

I switch the light on in the bathroom and notice the Niagara Falls similar sound is coming from the toilet. Well I suppose Niagara Falls is a bit exaggerated, but early in the morning with no real sense of being conscious, it just seems like it. I lift the lid of the toilet carefully, not knowing what lays behind and yes, we have a sort of mini Niagara Falls. I push the flushing mechanism once again and everything is perfect. There is no rushing water. Breathing a sigh of relief, I am on my way back to my bed, still warm from the night rest and I hear it again; fresh water running down the pan of the toilet. Oh what fun on a free day. I now have a funny feeling inside, imagining a flooded bathroom and an enormous bill for water as it will be three days until the world starts functioning normally.

I check again in the bathroom, water still flowing, not so strong so back to bed and hope for the best. At least I might be able to call a plumber when the day starts. Lying in bed trying to have a rest I feel frustrated and annoyed, almost angry. These things always have to happen on a free day. Either it is Christmas, Easter, Whitsun or today is Mayday, the day when all socialists go marching celebrating the freedom of the working man. I am now secretly hoping that plumbers are not involved in this freedom day. I try to get back to sleep, offering a prayer to the god of plumbers that he might send one to me in the morning.

06.00 a.m.
How do you sleep when you know that the toilet might play a trick on you. I turn over in bed and what do I hear (besides running water) Fluffy the cat is bored. He decides that it is time his human arises. Not that he will have a conversation with me, or that I should play with him. He just wants some company. Now if I go and see what Fluffy is doing, the other two cats will decide it will be time for a walk outside and I will have to spend time looking after three cats. So to summarise the situation, I have the Niagara Falls in one ear and a cat in the other. I do really try to forget my frustration and anger and the sorry predicament that I am in, so I close my eyes and try breathing exercises, but it does not work. Now the bird population are wide awake and start their morning chorus. Usually I like to hear it, but not accompanied by running water, especially if it is not raining.

07.00 a.m.
Shall I try the plumber or is he still sleeping. Probably he has gone away for the day and might make a long week-end of it. I know I will have another look at the toilet to see if there is an improvement. This is a mistake. The water is merrily running in streams down the side of the bowl and does not want to stop. I try to dismantle the flushing bit, but it seems these new toilets were made with a fully qualified plumber in mind and not an ordinary housewife surrounded by all modern conveniences (when they work). I get up and decide to have some breakfast. These things are always better settled after a meal.

07.30 a.m.
With a trembling hand I take the telephone and dial the number of the local water works. This has to be done with a psychological touch. It is no good screaming out that the toilet is kaput and we will soon be flooded if no-one bothers to come. Even if it is a holiday, exceptions should be made. I think this would be the wrong approach.
I hear a voice on the other end of the telephone.
“Good morning”
It is always good to start with a polite few words, so I answer.
“Good morning. I have a problem and was hoping that you could perhaps help.”
“What is the problem madam.”
“After operating the flush on the toilet, the water is still running. Do you think it would perhaps be possible to send someone to have a look?”
This is the bit where I started perspiring and sort of standing with fingers crossed. I also have to bite on my tongue and lips when talking to make sure I do not lose my composure.
“No problem madam, name and address please.”
Now I breathe a sigh of relief and bless all plumbers wherever they might be on this morning of Mayday.
I give the information he needs and slowly a relieving feeling comes to me when I hear the magical words
“Our plumber is just a few streets away from you at the moment on another job, he will be along in about thirty minutes. I will contact him and tell him to visit. I will also give you his mobile no. If he does not arrive by 09.00 a.m. you may call him to find out when he will be coming.”

Shall I go back to bed? No I do not think so. I can no longer sleep. I think I have just spent the longest hours of the day wondering how things will work out. The moral of the story – sometimes it is better to stay cool and just let things happen. Perhaps it is better that I do not explode with anger and frustration. Oh dear, I do feel tired.

United Friends Challenge #140: May Day and the Plumber

Another Week Gone Bye

As you can see I was busy a bit in the garden this week. We had some nice weather and things started to sprout and grow. Unfortunately this also included the weeds, so I was pottering around on my hands and knees pulling them out. Why do I have to be so tall and the ground so far away? In this photo you can see my Japanese Maple Tree which I bought about four years ago in a sale (most of my garden is bought in a sale). I have moved it around at least three times, but now I think it has found its firm place. Next to it is a special offer from the supermarket. Cannot remember what they are called but they were 50% cheaper than the normal price. On the extreme left some seedlings which I hope will develop into fully grown French Marigolds all being well. The problem with the French Marigolds is that when the slug population notice that they have arrived they organised their knives and forks and come in groups for a feast. Luckily there is something known as snail pellets (don't know the proper english name and neither did Wikipedia). They are small blue corns which you can throw amongst the plants. Unfortunately they are the last meal that a slug has in his life. I am animal friendly but after sowing seeds and watching them germinate, I do not like the idea of them being a banquet for the slugs. I told my cats not to touch the blue pellets and they nodded in accordance.

Otherwise the rains came some time on Monday and it is still a bit gloomy . It has also got colder. On Monday morning I had a nice little job. My neighbour has a six month old baby boy, but she had a problem on Monday morning as she had to go to work early and her husband was on a business trip. She asked me if I would take her little boy to the day nursery in the morning. When she left she brought over the baby phone. This is really quite good. Her baby was sort of sleeping but I could hear everything that was going on in his room. Suddenly he made a few baby "I am now awake and ready to start crying" noises which I heard so I went over to the apartment next door to see how it was going. It was nearly time for us to go. Changed his nappy and got him ready and deposited him in the pram and we were off. I think the last time I pushed a baby in a pram was at least 32 years ago when my youngest was a toddler. I quite enjoyed our little walk to the nursery and he did as well. I don't think I would like to go through the process of bringing up babies again, but now and again it is quite fun.

Thanks to face book I noticed that my youngest son has been travelling again. I think it is one of the only reasons I look in regularly to see what he is getting up to. He is stationed in Brussels, but in the last month was twice in Prague and this week in Talinn. I had to look on the map for that one, but it seems to be the capital city of Estonia. I am not very happy about him being in so many airports at the moment, but as long as he does not have to wander off to Mexico I am glad, although pig flu seems to be getting nearer every day. We had a couple of cases in Switzerland in Aarau which is about 30 minutes on the motorway from where I live. It seems to be a 19 year old student that had just come back from Mexico.

I used to like travelling to other countries on holiday but have somehow lost the appetite for such journeys. I know a lot of people that look forward to their annual holidays in other countries, the further the better, but I am happy to be at home. In Mexico you get pig flu, in China the chicken flu and what lies in between also has its dangers. Switzerland is not so perfect, but at least you know what you have.

I had a pack of flaky pastry left in the fridge. They always come in two's and I used one pack for a cheese tart last week, so I decided to make a lemon tart with it. My grandmother used to make wonderful lemon tarts and the recipe died with her, so I am always experimenting. This evening it seemed to be a success when we ate it. So put the pastry in the tin and prod the bottom. I then grated the rind of the lemon over the pastry (my idea). Then I mixed 2,5 dl of cream with milk until I had 4 dl (dl = deciliter). Put two eggs in it and the squeezed juice of one lemon; added sugar to taste and a spoon of cornflour. Then mixed it all with the electric mixer and poured it into the pastry in the tin. It was then baked for about 30-40 minutes and now there is only half left. Mr. Swiss found I could make one of those again. While it was baking I cleaned a few windows (retirement hobby). So leaving you with my lemon tart, I will now depart.

MULTIPLY Visual Aid #7: The Bathing Hut Murders

Sandy Bay Daily News 10th May 2007
Two Bodies discovered in Bathing Hut

As reported in last weeks issue, all the bathing huts on our beach are being repainted. The weather and the salty air had made their impact over the years on the wooden constructions. Much to the surprise of the workmen the skeletal remains of two bodies were found in one of the huts. According to police investigations the bodies had been there probably only a short time after the huts were built. The bathing huts belong to members of the town population and are in popular usage, being handed down in the owner families from father to son. It seems that the hut in question had remained unused for the past years. No questions had been asked and it was assumed that the owners just wanted to keep it in the family. Amongst playing children and families enjoying their holidays on the beach, the fifth hut from the left hid its own secret.

Investigations are now being carried out by the police department to discover the origins of the bodies. We will keep you informed.


Extract from Police Report No. 161: Discovery of two bodies - Detective Brad Lucarelli
After examination of the bodies found in the bathing hut on Sandy Bay Beach, a conclusion has been reached that they were the result of a murder, the skulls of both bodies showing massive injuries caused by a heavy object, most likely an axe. The bodies were male and female. Remains of clothing were found and duly searched for further clues. It was found that the male corpse belonged to the original owner of the bathing hut, Jack Green. The female body is that of his younger sister, Joan Green. Jack Green’s only other relative is his wife Mary who seems to have disappeared. Measures are being taken to find her whereabouts.


Sandy Bay Daily News, 15th May, 2007
Further details in Sandy Bay Bathing Hut Murders
It seems our quiet little seaside town now has a murder on its hands. After examination of the two bodies the police informed of the identities. Jack Green and his sister Joan seem to be the victims of a cold blooded murder. They were members of a well known family in the area twenty years ago. Mary Green informed neighbours and acquaintances that her husband Jack had decided to move away from the area, being offered a new job in another town and that his sister did not want to remain alone in Sandy Bay and she would accompany him. The Green family were known to be wealthy, the parents being business people. After their death their fortune was inherited by Jack and his sister.

A search is now being carried out for Jack Green’s wife, Mary.


Extract from Police Report No. 162: Murder Case Green – Detective Brad Lucarelli
Whereabouts of Mary Green now discovered. After leaving the Sandy Bay area she moved to the town of Great Metropolis. Her name was altered to Mary Baldock after marriage to Jason Baldock, grounder of the Baldock Cotton Mill Company.


Great Metropolis Gazette, 20th January, 2008
Jason Baldock found dead
One of the most prominent business men of our town, Jason Baldock, was found in his office dead on Sunday morning victim of a crime. According to his wife Mary, he had to pick up important documents. It seems he did not return home in the afternoon and his wife Mary found him in the office. The police inform he had been attacked from behind and hit on the head with a heavy object, most likely an axe. Further investigations are being made. We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the widow.

Great Metropolis Gazette, 30th June, 2008
Mary Baldock tried for murder
After only one week Mary Baldock was found guilty of murder on her husband, the well-known cotton mill owner Jason Baldock. The jury needed only a few hours to reach their verdict. It seems Mary Baldock had been stealing from the company for some time and her husband discovered this. Mary Baldock killed her husband in cold blood, pretending that he was the victim of an unknown murderer.
She was sentenced to death on the electric chair.


Extract from Police Report No. 163: Murder Case Jack Green – Detective Brad Lucarelli
The whereabouts of Mary Baldock found. Her remains are resting in the Great Metropolis Prison Cemetery. The case is now closed.

Visual Aid #7: The Bathing Hut Murders

MULTIPLY Creative Challenge #50: Soft

Soft luscious green grass waving in the breeze
conjuring dreams of summer days
silky threads of spiders webs
reflecting in the haze

A warm summer rain giving the earth to drink
seeds exploding with life
Butterflies flying through the air….

“Just a minute Mrs. Human, wait, this is not good” and up comes my fluffy long haired black cat Nera.
“Nera I am writing a poem depicting the softness of life, so please do not disturb.”
“Yes Mrs. Human, well I was sort of watching you thinking and scratching your head like you do when you have creative problems so thought I would try to help” and she grinned showing her collection of sharp menacing teeth, but she meant it in a friendly way I suppose.
“So what’s wrong Nera, I found this a good description of the softness of a Summer day.
“Well all this stuff about the green grass is not very realistic.”
“Why not”
“Green grass is in the way and you can’t see the mice running around. It is just an obstacle for mouse hunting. I would say it is not very feline friendly. As far as the spiders webs are concerned, they are a real nuisance. They stick to my paws and I have to lick them clean.”
“Where are spider’s webs Nera, I hate them” Nera’s sister Tabby arrived.
“You see Mrs. Human” Nera continued “even Tabby says the same and I know for a fact that she prefers the fields when the grass is cut short.”
“Of course I do Nera, much more convenient for a successful mouse hunt.”
“So what do you suggest cats?”
“Mrs. Human, just strike the first verse, it is not very logical and politically incorrect when you have cats. Am I right Tabby and Fluffy.”
“What you say is always right Nera.”
“You see Mrs. Human even Fluffy agrees with my ideas.”
“Where did you get this thing about being politically incorrect?”
“Mrs. Human the newspapers and television are full of it on their news programmes. It is just discrimination to let the grass grow and then we come to the “warm summer rain”; Mrs. Human how would you like to walk through wet grass, most uncomfortable.”
“Not really Nera, it can be very pleasant.”
“Typical human” said Tabby. “Mrs. Human imagine you have paws with fur in between your toes. That is really irritating. After a walk through soggy grass we cats spend valuable time cleaning our paws until they completely dry.”
“And think of me Mrs. Human with my long white curly fur. I have to spend hours preening my fur until it is perfect.”
“Of course you do Fluffy. Now if you had long silky black fur like mine, the wet grass just ruins my appearance. I have a reputation to maintain as the most beautiful cat in the neighbourhood; after all Fluffy, your dreadlocks don’t really look a lot different whether wet or dry. Now my luxury fur really looses its gleaming attraction when wet.”
“Nera, I do not have dreadlocks. I am a Selkirk Rex and our curls have been developed over the years.”
“Ok, Fluffy. Now your breed is just an accident of nature, whereas mine is a development of royal inheritance.”
“Am I glad that I am a normal average tabby cat. We don’t have these problems.”
“Cats I think we will end this conversation. I am still writing my poem and have no idea how to continue. Now what rhymes with “life”?”

“Just a minute Mrs. Human, if you start talking about the seeds and the butterflies, this will lead to nowhere. Seeds get tangled up in my fur and are a big problem.”
“That’s true Mrs. Human, I remember when Nera had grass growing in her fur once.”
“Thank you Tabby, but you don’t have to tell everyone. Yes that was most embarrassing, but that is what happens when the seeds start exploding with life from the warm summer rain.”
“OK Nera, then we forget that part of the poem.”
“Mrs. Human, Tabby and Nera have not yet mentioned the butterflies.”
“What’s wrong with that cats, they are such a beautiful insect.”
Well it is a matter of how you look at it. Now for me they are a tasty delicacy and I am sure Tabby and Nera agree.”
“Of course we do.”
Mrs. Human” spoke up all three cats “strike the butterfly bit.”
“But now I have no poem left.”
“So cats, let’s help her out of her dilemma. Now how is this Mrs. Human?”

Who has the softest fur in town?
Who is the most beautiful cat?
So Nera you are showing off
You are not fluffy but fat.
But my fur is so natural
Just white and silky like pearls
They are not dreadlocks, it is a natural state
My wonderful shiny curls
So Fluffy, Nera this is enough
I know I am not shabby
I don’t have such wonderful silky fur
but am satisfied to be a Tabby.

Creative Challenge #50: Soft

MULTIPLY United Friends Challenge #139: The Film

Shadowlight1's Challenge

Use the following prompts in a scene or short story. Order is unimportant, but all must be included.


1. En garde, you swine!

2. Mabel, the mystic marvel.

3. Enraptured by a madcap wind

4. Beowolf

„OK, now let’s get this film rolling. It’s a low budget thing, so we don’t have money to throw out of the window. Where is Paul Love, the leading man. Come here we have to discuss a few things.”
Director Dag Schmidt (actually Don Smith, but he felt it sounded better) was organising the film crew. He only had a couple of weeks to complete the film, time was money, so filming days were few and everything had to be concentrated.
“I’m here Dag” answered Paul. “What’s this film about anyway, some guy called Beowolf who had a little misunderstanding with a dragon” and the rest of the team started laughing.
“This is not funny Paul, he killed the dragon and that is the part you are playing.”
“Fine with me, but where are we going to get a dragon?”
“That’s one of the advantages of films; you can play around with them. Is Mabel, the mystic marvel here?”
“You mean our tea lady?” said Paul
“I’m here sir” and Mabel appeared on the scene. She was known as the mystic marvel as her tea was really something out of the ordinary. She never told anyone how she made it, so it remained a mystery and it just had a marvellous taste.
“Can I help you Mr. Dag, perhaps a cup of my special tea?”
“No Mabel, but someone told me you have a wonderful cat at home.”
“Oh, you mean Tinker. He is my pride and joy Mr. Dag. He loves my mystic tea and has grown into a lovely cat. The vet says he is a little bit overweight, but he has big bones.”
“Yes, Mabel, I have heard that he is almost ten kilo heavy. Isn’t that a bit on the fatter side.”
“Mr. Dag, he is not fat, just fluffy and he is big boned.”
“Someone said he has quite large jaws and his teeth are able to crush a mouse at one bite.”
“Oh yes, sir, no problem. He kills anything that moves, providing he can eat it afterwards.”
“Ok Paul did you hear, we have our dragon. Mabel bring him to the studio tomorrow. With a bit of makeup and fluorescent paint we will have our dragon. Just have to fix a spiky tail to his body and the dragon is born.”
“Well I am not sure Mr. Dag. Will he have a mention on the credit titles of the film””
“Of course Mabel, anything for our favourite tea lady” and Dag was pleased that this small problem was dealt with, but the next was already looming on the horizon.
“Listen Dag, there is a bit in this script that I don’t understand.”
“Tell me Paul, I thought the text was quite clear.”
“Well I have this sword fight with some sort of rival for my girl and before we start I have to say “En garde, you swine.”
“So where’s the problem.”
“I don’t speak French.”
“But everyone knows what a swine is, and when someone steals your damsel, then you have a right to call him a swine.”
“That’s no problem Dag, but this “en garde” bit is a bit funny.”
“Paul, they all say that in the films before they start a sword fight. Don’t worry, Errol Flynn said it, so you can say it as well. I am damned sure that Errol didn’t know what he was talking about either. This might be a low budget film, but if you want to carry a wage packet home with you afterwards, then just read the text. OK?”
“OK Dag, you’re the boss” but Paul somehow had the feeling that Dag also did not know what this “en garde” bit meant.
“Sorry everyone, I am a bit late” and Marilyn Fantastico arrived.
“OK Marilyn, as a leading lady I suppose it is your right to be the last one here, but don’t make a habit of it, otherwise the film might get a little too expensive and we won’t be able to afford you.” Somehow Dag knew that she was perhaps the wrong choice but she was out of work at the moment. Her last film “Enraptured by a Madcap Wind” just was not the success she had hope for. Somehow the Madcap Wind got too strong and it blew her wig off as she was kissing the leading man. Marilyn was not the youngest any more and her grey hair showed up too much on the final take.

So the filming began and everything seemed to go well. Mabel’s cat did not like having a jagged tail assembled on his back or having smoke blown around him to make it look like he was breathing fire. He was also allergic to fluorescent paint. Mabel’s cat also did not like to be told what to do. There was plenty of blood drawn in the fight scenes, but mostly where Tinker the cat had pulled his claws across Paul's face. At least the fight scars were genuine. Paul had never heard of this Beowulf guy, but was sure he did not have the nickname of scarface after his fights. Marilyn Fantastico overslept on three mornings and when she finally arrived she still had the after effects of the bottle of Vodka she drank on the evening before. Dag changed the text to make sure you only saw her and did not hear her as she forgot her lines most of the time.

Eventually after a month, the film was finished. It was not exactly a success, but everyone concerned in the film business saw the film at least once and many copies were sold all over the country. All film institutes bought at least one copy to show their students how not to make a film.

United Friends Challenge #139: The Film

MULTIPLY Rita's "Riting" Challenge #19: The Bench

“Well here I am an no-one around; stupid idea really, carrying a red rose. It really cost a fortune. I am sure a daisy would have done just as well, or a copy of the daily newspaper. This bench is so uncomfortable, the wooden slats digging into my back. I am slowly thinking this was a bad idea. Sun is beating down between the spaces in the roof. This is definitely not my sort of thing. Time to go I think, but no, here he comes. At least I think this must be him, complete with red rose. He is coming nearer, but something is wrong. He is not making an attempt to sit down; he is walking faster and not even looking at me. No, please no, this is wrong.”
And then he pulled out the gun and fired one shot through her head. She was dead immediately. Her handbag was lying next to her innate body on the bench. He took it and emptied the contents onto the seat, he had little time.
“It must be here somewhere. She was going to hand the blueprints over to her contact. Good thing we got the contact before he had a chance to meet her. I just hate this job sometimes. I did not even know the dame, just another beginner wanting to make a fortune selling secrets to other countries. She was a pretty lady, why do they have to fall for this spy game. She could have met someone, got married and had a few kids, but no, she decided that doing this was a more lucrative side of life.
What do we have here; a double bottom in the handbag, these women get cleverer every year.”
He ripped the lining of the bag open and the blueprints fell out.
“Bingo, my boss will be pleased this time. He did tell me only to shoot if I had to, but sometimes its better this way. I will have to call the cleaners to do the rest of the work”
and he put the plans into the inside pocket of his jacket and made his way to the car. On the way he made a call to get the details organised. They would soon arrive with the fake ambulance and dispose of the nasty details.
The ambulance people did their job and all that remained on the seat were two red roses, although they had started wilting in the hot sun.

Rita's "Riting" Challenge #19: The Bench

MULTIPLY Poetry Posse - Week 28 - The Perfect Baby

Little feet, little hands
A little mouth as well
But if I wanted something
Then I knew how to yell

Mum and dad were always there
to care for all my need
I was the first the only one
Like a book they could me read

Feeling lonely in the night
All I had to do was cry
And then mum came a running
Oh I was very sly

I was not always a good girl
I was fussy with my food
I just left what I disliked
Yes I was very shrewd

But mum told me what was good
Although I did a pout
I decided to eat it all
And then I spit it out

My dad was pleased with his daughter
perhaps he wanted a boy
But when he saw I liked football
I was his pride and joy

So you see I was an ideal baby
The best you could have had
But one thing was so certain
I had a perfect mum and dad

Poetry Posse - Week 28 - The Perfect Baby

MULTIPLY Pictures to Words #17 Free Expression

The annual trip of the scouts was due
Their leader was quite keen
To show them the tricks of life in the open
In nature what was to be seen

They met with rucksack and plenty to drink
And also had plenty of meat
The leader said to wear sturdy shoes
For protection of the feet

They marched for a day, the sun was high
But the walking they did not fear
Now Fred the oldest of them all
Brought plenty to drink, it was beer

Their trusty chief knew nothing of this
He thought they were drinking some coke
It seemed to him quite strange on the way
When the boys also had a smoke

Now that was Jim, he had plenty of grass
Not the green stuff that grows in the fields
It had feathery leaves and smelt quite strange
A light head it also yields

Then evening came and it was time to eat
First of all they lit a fire
There were problems deciding who would cook
The boys began to transpire

Little Johnny felt very weak
He collapsed and wanted to die
The leader was feeling very worried
He did not know that Johnny was high

The others said just let him sleep
Tomorrow he will be fine
It was then that Fred began to be sick
He had just drunk too much wine

The scouts were sent to find some wood
To build a bar-b-que
Three got lost and fell in a bog
That was a motley crew

The leader found the three quite late
And brought them back to the pack
Unfortunately he also fell into the bog
And his clothes became quite black

When all were ready the fire was lit
Around the fire they did lurk
It was then that Jack had a brilliant idea
and lit a firework

The explosion was loud and very bright
The leader had a shock
He fell down and hurt himself
He hit his head on a rock

The boys were worried and wanted to help
So they gave the boss some drink
The leader recovered and felt much better
The beer did the trick in a wink

Twas then that Jim offered the boss a joint
He thought it was a normal smoke
But the taste appealed to the leader quite well
So he started to tell the boys a joke

The fire was burning well and bright
The scouts they started singing
The problem was it was just to loud
And the police they came a winging

Oh dear, I am afraid things did not go well
They spent the night in jail
The parents came to fetch their boys
Who were really looking quite pale

The leader was condemned to a fine
They found he was not the right sort
To take a group of scouts on a trip
And he had to go to court

It was the last time that this trip was made
The scouts were very sad
They found the day was a big success
And the drink was not so bad

Pictures to Words #17: Free Expression

MULTIPLY Mono Monday Plus #42 (MM #56)

Sometimes I just have no idea what to bring for a subject. So I just sort of pointed my finger and said that one. This photo shows one of our local buses in town, at the bus stop for the main square. I was waiting for my husband on the other side of the street so snapped around. As you can see the buses are full of advertisements for all sorts of things. I then put this photo into Piknik, did a sepia version and twiddled around with the contrasts. I kept the name "Ladendorf" in red. I then gave it a Piknik frame and a name and here is the result.

Larger Size

Now for a plus. I worked with photoshop and put the photo of the bus in again. I had made the background monochrome and kept the colours of the bus. I then did a second layer of a photo of aluminium foil. The foil is always laying around as we use it to keep the cats away from places where they should not tread. They do not like walking over the foil. Anyhow I removed the sky from the original layer and the aluminium foil came shining through. Somehow it was not surrealistic enough for my tastes, so I took another photo of a flower. I cut the flower out with the magic wand and imposed it onto the photo. Not very imaginative, but we now have a bus with an aluminium sky and a flower. I did a mirror frame around it in Piknik.

Larger Size

Mono Monday Plus #42 (MM #56)