MULTIPLY Pictures to Words: #22 Creative Writing Finale

I think I have read "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck at least twice, when not more. Could this be one of the houses left behind by the families in the great depression of the time.

The old house says goodbye
It’s windows shed a tear
The emptiness remains
It can no longer hear
The laughter of the children
As they play and have their fun
Those days are now long gone
When the farmer’s work was done
The earth was blown away
The crops no longer grew
The family had to leave
The skies no longer blue
A grey shadow covered the land
As far as could be seen
The families left together
To look for land still green
Many years have passed
The house had been forgot
The windows now just eyes
on a dryed up garden plot
But memories remain
when love was so alive
when songs were sung of old
the surrounding land did thrive
The house belongs to the bank
but has no financial worth
It is waiting for a family
to bring it back some mirth
Little knows the house
that the machines will come one day
It will take its heart and soul
and clear the eyes away

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MULTIPLY Pictures to Words: #21 The Film

The wind machine was churning
The effect it was so real
A feeling of fresh air
The freedom of the ordeal

The film was full of love
romantic until the end
It was bound to be a hit
Although it was all pretend

The actress felt so cold
The wind blew even more
Her nose it started dripping
Her throat was very sore

The actor had to kiss her
He took her in his arm
She sneezed into his t-shirt
This caused a great alarm

The next day the film went further
But the lady was feeling ill
The actor was also suffering
He decided to take a pill

After the week was over
The crew, they all had flu
The wind machine was silent
The film was cancelled too

They decided to change the film
The actor was dressed in white
His role was now a doctor
The film was a complete rewrite

Our actress played the patient
She was perfect for the part
although she was still sneezing
To the doctor she lost her heart

The film was the best of the year
Something new with a healing thread
Instead of windy blown dresses
The actress stayed in bed

So if you want to create a film
something romantic with flimsy dress
Then think it over first of all
Sometimes the best is less

Pictures to Words #21: The Film

MULTIPLY Pictures to Words #19 : Poetry/Prose

Floating on air, carried by proud hands
the sun shines through
illuminations of motherhood
joyful moments shared
A moment in time trapped on a day
free space for love and care
Will these be memories of child and mother
In the years to come when childhood has gone
In troubled times will they remember
the love they shared when they were young
A mother’s love is embracing and eternal
forever existing for its child
Will this be rewarded in a far distant future
Perhaps flowers on mother’s day
A telephone call, or a card
Who knows?
But the mother will always love
She will remember the day when she took her baby
and showed it to the trees
to the sun and to the world

Pictures to Words #19: Poetry/Prose

MULTIPLY Pictures to Words #18: Free to Express

Many years ago in a luscious green valley there lived two Indian tribes; the North Valley tribe and the South Valley tribe. In between there were just green fields where the buffaloes roamed and antelopes skipped. Why there were two tribes and not just one populating the complete valley no-one really knew. There was no actual reason for them to be apart. The buffaloes and antelopes were happy as it meant they had a lot of room for themselves. Of course the members of the North Valley tribe and the South Valley tribe often visited their herds of buffalo to make sure they were thriving and reproducing. Buffalo meat was the main food, as well as the hides being used for clothing purposes. A buffalo coat was nice and warm in the winter. The antelopes were another useful animal. Their meat usually being served on the Indian special days, such as tribe foundation day and everyone knew in the two Indian tribes that leather was the ideal dress to wear when hunting.

In the middle of the valley there was a fence to separate the North Valley tribe from the South Valley tribe; just to keep things in their place. One day the chieftain of the North Valley tribe took his son, White Buffalo, to the central part of the valley to show him how to look after the buffalo and antelopes. He left him there and told him he would come again in the evening to pick him up and bring him back to the North Valley. As coincidence would have it, on this day the daughter of the chieftain of the South Valley tribe, White Antelope, was also in the central part of the valley, bringing buffalo sandwiches to the men of the South Valley for their lunch who were looking after the animals. It was then that White Buffalo set his eyes the first time on White Antelope.
“Hello beautiful maiden”
White Antelope turned to see who was talking to her and saw White Buffalo.
“My father told me not to talk to boys I do not know.”
“I am White Buffalo, son of the chieftain of the North Valley tribe.”
“Big deal.”
“You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. Please tell me your name.”
White Antelope was playing hard to get, as her older sister told her she should the first time she met a boy that she liked, but on second thoughts she decided nothing could really happen. After all they were both separated by a fence dividing the two sides of the valley.
“I am White Antelope, daughter of the chieftain of the South Valley tribe. Would you like a buffalo sandwich? I still have a spare one in my bag.”

Buffalo sandwich was White Buffalo’s favourite food and so he accepted. White Antelope also took her own sandwich and they both sat on each side of the fence eating their food, washed down with a cup of antelope milk that White Antelope fetched from one of the mother antelopes in the pasture.

This was the first meeting that the young Indian brave and the Indian maiden had. As the years went past, White Buffalo decided to crawl under the fence separating the two tribes and he shared more than just buffalo meat and antelope milk with White Antelope as time went past.

One day White Antelope did not come to the pasture to bring the food for the men and White Buffalo was worried. He decided to gather his courage in his hands Mounting his horse he galloped over the lush fields to the tepees of the South Valley tribes to look for White Antelope.

“Halt” said a South Valley Indian at the entrance to their village. “You are a stranger here and smell like North Valley. What is your purpose?”
“I have come to find White Antelope.”
“White Antelope is not feeling well this morning. Her family’s tent is the first on the second row.”
White Buffalo rode to the tent and found White Antelope with her parents.
“White Antelope what is your problem. I missed you this morning at the border between our two lands. You are not feeling well?”
“White Antelope, who is this brave from the North Valley that is visiting you. Is he the reason for your illness this morning?”
“But I never harmed her. I just love your daughter and wish to marry her.”
“Of course you will marry her, she is expecting your child.”
“What about me” spoke up White Antelope “does no-one ask me if I want to marry the son of a chieftain from the North Valley?”
Her mother spoke further.
“No deal, my daughter. You should have thought about want or not want before you let him sneak through the fence from his land.”
And so the words were spoken and the North Valley tribe and the South Valley tribe were united and were from then on known as the Central Valley Tribe.

Unfortunately the pale faces were interested in the North and South Valleys, mainly for the buffalo, antelopes and good land, so they came sweeping into the Valley driving the Indian tribes away. Eventually things quietened down and the pale face settlers built their houses and no-one really ever mentioned the North and South Valley Indian tribes any more as well as the Central Valley tribe.

One day many years later, so-called civilisation had taken over the area where the North and South Valley tribes once lived. They had built factories, railroads, supermarkets, schools and even a university. In this university there was a department of archaeology and the Professor decided to examine the history of the area. He found it would be a good subject for a successful book. It was then that the archaeologists started to dig. One day they discovered the remains of an Indian cemetery. There was a grave marked with the headstone of a female and male Indian. The Professor made a photo of the headstone and decided to use it for the cover of his book. The book became a success, telling the history of Central Valley City and one of the factory owners in the town bought a copy. He then had an idea and his factory began to produce copies of the gravestone to be sold in various souvenir shops for the tourists that came to Central Valley City.

So it came to pass that many people in the country where Central Valley City is to be found, have a model of White Buffalo and White Antelope decorating their homes, or gardens.

Pictures to Words #18: Free to Express

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 Pictures to Words #16: Creative Fun

„Hi mum, dad I’m back from the pet shop“
“How did things go Billy, they said they had your new pet ready. Is it a nice little doggy?”
“Well not quite mum, there was a bit of a mix-up.”
“What’s the problem son, they called from the pet shop to say that everything was ready. They did say it wasn’t exactly the dog we wanted, but it was just as lovable and adorable; a new breed."
“Well, dad, mum it was like this. It’s something completely new, a bit different. Not quite a dog, but it was all they had.”
“Where are you son, let’s have a look.”
And then Billy entered with the new pet.
“Oh my god, Fred what is it?” Billy’s mum, Elsie, asked his dad.
“Well it is not quite a dog. Son what have you brought home?”
“It was a special offer, no-one really wanted him, and he is so lovable, aren’t you Blue?”
It was then that Billy’s new pet sort of dog gave a big smile showing his oversize teeth. He really was lovable I suppose, but he was the first Bluey to be sold and of course Billy’s parents were a bit surprised to say the least. Over the years mankind had come far, but so had the animals. Evolution was still in progress and somewhere in an isolated place, the Blueys had been discovered. At first people were careful. Perhaps they were aggressive or even poisonous, but with time they were found to be harmless. They just looked a bit different.
“The man at the pet shop said they are the newest thing as a pet. He only has one at the moment, but another one is being delivered in a month’s time. He said that we could have it for free, if we wanted it; sort of a companion for Blue”
“But he is standing up on his back legs, like a human.”
“I know mum, but he walks that way. I don’t even have to put a lead round his neck, he just follows me. I think he likes me, he smiles at me all the time and likes me to pat his head.”
Billy’s father was now looking quite concerned.
“What does he eat? Have you thought about that? He looks like a new sort of discovery and I am sure he has a special diet.”
“The man said he eats the same as us. We can let him sit at the table with us at meal times. They found him in the kitchen of a MacDonalds where he was eating a Cheeseburger complete with tomato ketchup and chips. He even washed it down with a cola. You see dad, no problem, just put an extra plate on the table.”
Billy’s mum was a little bit worried, but it was lunch time, so she did what her son Billy said and sure enough Blue ate with them. He even wiped his mouth with a napkin afterwards.
Evening came and it was time for Billy to go to bed.
“Come on Blue, time to sleep.”
“No Billy” said mum, you are not taking that creature into your bedroom. He can sleep outside, chained up on the porch.”
“But mum, how can you be so heartless. I think Blue heard that, look he is crying.”
And there were large drops of water falling onto the floor from Blue’s eyes.
“Mum, dad he is so sad. I think he is frightened to be alone outside. It is his first evening with us, and he feels a bit strange.”
“I don’t want to be on my own”
“Who said that?” asked dad
“I did” was the answer from Blue.
“Hey Blue can you speak?”
“Of course I can, we Blueys are not stupid. We have been listening to the human radio for some time now, we had one at home in our village, so there was no problem in learning the human language. My chief told me to let me be adopted by a human. It would be a good thing for our race. I can go back and report how things are progressing. If it is a success, we might move into a human city and form our own little group, that is if you don’t mind.”
“Of course not” said Billy.
“No Billy, we cannot be responsible for the take over of our human race by something blue with long fur and big teeth.”
“And wonderful big lovable eyes, mum, you must admit.”
So that evening Billy slept in his own bed and Blue slept on the nice bearskin rug on the floor. Blue was happy. Living with humans was nice. Good food, a warm place to sleep and someone to talk to. What more could he want. He was sure that his family would love to come on a visit. He knew that his girlfriend Bluette would be at the pet shop in a month and perhaps he could talk Billy and his family into giving her a home as well. Then they could have lots of Blueys together. They never arrived alone, but always in a six pack.
Meanwhile Fred and his wife were also trying to get to sleep.
“Fred, what do you think about Blue, is it a good thing to keep him?”
“Elsie, I don’t think we have a choice. Think of the neighbours. If we throw him out he will start crying and telling everyone how selfish we are. Billy seems to be happy, so let’s leave it at that. By the way don’t forget to buy an extra steak tomorrow when you go shopping for Blue.”

Pictures to Words #16 Creative Fun

MULTIPLY Pictures to Words #15 Haiku

Heart strings now broken
Memories of tunes linger
Play me again please

Pictures to Words #15 Haiku

MULTIPLY Pictures to Words #13 - Creative Writing

There they are again
I know they are talking about me
I just could not care less
What they are is plain to see

She is standing there
with her died black plastic hair
Her first husband is dead
but she really could not care

He was rich and fat
and he was such a fool
And then they found him drowned
In his own deep swimming pool

Now I would not say
That she was at a fault
She said it was an accident
I am sure she will never get caught

And so she married Jim
What a crook he is, not wise
With his delicate black moustache
And narrow shifty eyes

He married her a month
after her first was in the can
I am sure they worked together
to carry out the plan

And there we have poor Fred
With his hair that won’t lay down
That man is such a joke
even too stupid to be a clown

He is always hanging around
with her and Jim as well
They are the only people that talk to him
I just wish they would all go to hell

I think I will just ignore them
I have better things to do
My seventh husband just arrived
What they can do, I can do too.

Pictures to Words #13 - Creative Writing

MULTIPLY Pictures to Words #12 - Haiku

Cascading rainfall
Our bodies melt together
My hair is a mess

Pictures to Words #12 - Haiku

MULTIPLY Pictures to Words #9 - Creative Writing

Sitting outside the Ola Café Bistro brought quite a few memories back. Of course in the days gone bye it had an Italian name which made it even then sound more romantic. The visitors were not so romantic, but they were probably the reason why the café was still so popular. It is amazing what a dark history can do for such a place.

Jack Green entered the restaurant and all eyes turned to him.
“Morning Mario” he greeted the restaurant owner. “Someone seems to be sitting at our table.” And Mario would go to the table and ask the intruders if they would mind taking place at another table as this particular table was reserved for Jack Green and his brothers. There would be no discussion, no arguments. The people sitting at the table would leave the table for the Green family, muttering apologies as they left.

Soon Fred and Morris Green would enter. They were actually identical twins, but the resemblance stopped at their faces. Their characters were completely different. Fred was an easy going sort of person; if you left him in peace he would be fair and cause no trouble. It was just better if you did not cheat or double cross him, the he could show the dark side of his character. His brother Morris was a different story. He did not keep out of the way of trouble, but usually went looking for it and if there was none, he made sure there was. Their mother was proud of all three sons. She was convinced they were good boys, always being generous to her. They never forgot her birthday and there were always flowers for mother’s day. Up to now the boys had all managed to keep out of prison, but most of the local police officers were on their pay list in any case.

The brothers ordered three cups of tea and some cheese sandwiches. Then the conversation began.
“Fred, Morris, the South bank gang have started making attempts to invade our territory; any suggestions?”
Morris hit the table with his fist. “Jack, I think we should send them on a nice little trip down the river. Tie a few stones around their ankles to make sure they stay in the water.”
“Morris, such solutions are not always the best” Fred joined in. “You cannot just get rid of people you don’t like. I would suggest we sit down together and have a talk.”
“Sit down and have a talk, you must be kidding. The South Bank gang have been trying to take over for some time. Get rid of them for good. That’s the solution” and Morris was convinced his idea was the best.
Being the eldest brother, Jack decided to say a few words to keep the family peace. “Morris your suggestion does have a ring of logic about it, but even we have to be careful, even if the police are on our pay roll and Fred I also think that having a drink and a chat might be getting too friendly and arise suspicions.
“So what do you suggest” asked the twins.
“I think a mixture of both would be a good idea. We have to get the gang together in one place so it might be an idea to organise a conference. What happens after the conference, we will wait and see” and so the brothers carried on their discussions and eventually left together. They paid Mario like any other customer and gave a good tip. Mario had no problem with the visits of the Green brothers. He too had grown up in the area and went to school with the brothers and knew that at heart they were probably good boys, but now and again misunderstood.

A few days later Morris came into the café but seemed to be quite annoyed. “Have you seen my brothers?” he asked Mario.
“They were here this morning, but since I have no idea where they are.”
“I am sure they are meeting up with that South Bank gang, I told them to ask me first.” And Morris stormed out of the café. Mario tried to hold him back as he knew when Morris was annoyed he was completely out of control. Unfortunately the boss of the South Bank gang was just walking along the street as Morris left the café. Morris saw him, pulled out his gun and fired three shots. The leader of the gang went down on the pavement. Mario saw what happened but Morris just ran away. The problem was there were too many witnesses to the murder. This time neither Morris older brother Jack nor his twin brother Fred could help. Even the money being paid to the police inspectors was of no advantage; Morris was seen by too many people. He was caught and sentenced to life imprisonment.

The years went past and the other two brothers eventually also received their just rewards and were put into prison for the crimes they had committed.

Mario was getting older, but still owned the café although the name had been changed and it was now the Ola Café bistro. He often had visits from journalists or television people asking about the Green family and the memories he had. Mario even wrote a book about the past history of the gangster visits in his café which became a best seller. The Green family never became free men again and they died in prison. Mario attended all three funerals which were held in the part of town where they had lived. The funerals were gatherings of gangsters and crooks, even some of the surviving members of the South Bank gang attended. The processions came along the road where Mario’s café was situated and they were accompanied by an abundance of flowers and wreathes. Even Mario was asked for an interview for the local newspaper.

It was a few years ago that Mario died and the café was taken over by his son. Things are now a lot quieter around the Ola Café Bistro today, but sometimes one of the Green sons might pay a visit for old time’s sake and would have a nice cosy chat with Mario’s son.

Pictures to Words #9 - Creative Writing

MULTIPLY Pictures to Words #7 - Creative Challenge: Love on a Parking Lot

She was peeping round the corner
hit me like a bolt from the sky
The majestic shining of her armour
My feelings climbed so high
She was red and so refined
I could only stop and stare
My love for her was blind
Her shape so curvey and fare
So day for day we watched each other
For many hours she was left
And so was I in a parking lot
Until the day of the theft
I saw the crook approach my beauty
and climbed inside her body
He pulled her wires and twisted them
Oh how so very shoddy
What can I do, my dials were turning
I made a beginning to warn
My breaks were fixed, the wheel was locked
It was then that I turned on the horn
Then people came running from near and far
They saw the crook doing his best
The noise I made was enough for all
My beauty he should not molest
When all was finished, the crook was caught
He was arrested on the spot
How happy I was, I felt so content
on my tiny parking lot
She was a beauty, a princess of the cars
in the evening we left with a blink
She looked at me, I am just a mini
But she gave me a wonderful wink
I could not wait until the next day
I was parked again as ever
And so was she behind her gate
her motor said I was clever
We cars are man made, it is a fact
Are not made of flesh and bone
We may not show our feelings much
but our motor is not of stone

Pictures to Words #7 - Creative Writing: Love on a Parking Lot

MULTIPLY Pictures to Words #6

The old house was empty, its soul was now gone
The curtains are torn, were of finest chiffon
Once filled with laughter from children long ago
now just sounds of bees coming from a near bye meadow
Seasons had come and had passed in a flight
doors hanging on hinges, no longer fit tight
The spiders moved in, they just felt at home
Their webs spun securely, they needed no comb
A mouse scuttled over the floor on its way
to a hidden quiet place with a nest made of hay
Where a family once was with their ancestors and kin
was now an empty shell, no-one dwelt within
Perhaps ghosts from the past moved in silence through the air
Thinking of days when they lived here, before they were rare
Then one day came some children, inquisitive to know
if they could play in the house, and some stones they did throw
The old house cried out in a silent weak way
A glass pane was broken, for the children it was play
But the house was injured, it suffered a while
the pain was soon forgotten, and the ghosts they did smile
They could see at the window the blue sky through a hole
Perhaps the house was just sleeping and still had a soul

Pictures to Words #6

MULTIPLY Pictures to Words #5: An Ad Campaign

Got a headache? - an aspirin will cure it

Buy white socks and forget your problems

Your local tattoo shop has the answer to everything


As a waste disposal unit goats are perfect - you throw it away, they eat it

Something to fill an empty place on the plate



An apple is versatile, it can be eaten and used as a weapon

You are never alone with a beer

Pictures to Words #5 An Ad Campaign

MULTIPLY Pictures to Words #4: Tales to Tell

„Look granddad, there’s an old sofa at the edge of the river bank, wonder who put it there“
“Well there is a bit of a story to that sofa Johnny.”
“Granddad you always know stories to lots of things, so tell me please.”
“OK Johnny let’s sit down on this fallen tree trunk and I will tell you all about it.”

Johnny loved going for walks with his grandfather. He always took time to explain everything and he was now looking forward to the story about the sofa at the river side. It really looked in a bad way. The metal skeleton of its insides was poking through and the once shiny leather was covered with green slime and torn in places. The water washed over it in rhythm with the wind.

“Ok Johnny it all started a long while ago. Just here along the river was a wooden house. No-one really knew who built it and how long it had been there, but a man lived in the house, Jack Marsh. We did not know when he moved in, he was just there. He was well known in the town as he was very gifted with repairing things. If you had a roof that needed some new slates, or windows that were rattling in their frames, you just had to ask Jack Marsh and he would come and repair them. He did not ask for as much money as the business’s in town and so people were glad for his help. He was a man of few words, and would never tell anything about his past life. Some said he was once a sailor and had visited more countries than you could imagine, others said he served a long prison sentence for murder, had been released and now preferred to keep himself to himself, but despite all the stories that were circulating no-one really knew who he was and where he came from. The only reason his name was known was that he always signed a receipt after he had done a job for someone.

So life went on in our little town and Jack Marsh was just part of the town. One evening we had a bad storm and there was a lot of work to be done afterwards. Clearing away the tree branches that had been scattered and soaking up the water everywhere. Mrs. White needed help with some broken windows and was on the lookout for Jack Marsh, but Jack was not there for once. There were a few other neighbours that were missing his help. No-one really trusted themselves to go to his house, but soon word got to the authorities and they sent the local policeman to see what had happened.”

“But granddad, that must have been you, you used to be our policeman in the village” said Johnny.

“That’s right Johnny, I had to go and knock at the door to the house where Jack Marsh lived. I stood outside the door for some time but heard nothing in the house. I then went back to the police station and took one of my colleagues with me. You have to be careful on you own in such a situation. Jack Smith came with me and we both knocked again at the door. After waiting we had to break the door down to see what had happened.”

“Oh granddad, what did you find?”

“Well it wasn’t such a pretty site Johnny. You see Jack Marsh was not so young any more and his time had come. We found him lying on the sofa you see in the river. It was then a lovely black leather sofa. It was there that Jack Marsh had taken his last breath in this world.”

“But granddad why is the sofa now in the river.?”
“Wait Johnny, until I tell you the rest. Jack Marsh had a burial at the town cemetery. Although he had no real family, there were a lot of people at the funeral as he had helped us all at one time or another. We all had a collection and together paid for his burial and gave him a good farewell. As no-one wanted to live in the house any more, and it didn’t really belong to anyone, the town decided to demolish the house. The workmen moved in with their tools and started to take things apart. It was then that they found it.”

“What did they find granddad?”
“When they picked up the sofa to put it outside in the garden the bottom of the sofa gave way and, well, it was full of gold bars.”
“You mean the gold bars they have in the banks.”
“Yes, Johnny, there must have been at least fifty of them. They were just too heavy and they had been stashed away in the sofa. The leather just tore when the sofa was lifted. Of course there was a lot of excitement. The sofa was left outside of the house in the garden on the river bank and the gold bars were taken to the bank.”
“But granddad, where did the gold come from?”
“Well, we found that out some time afterwards. When we sorted through the papers belonging to Jack Marsh, we found his discharge certificate from prison. After looking into his records it seemed he was involved in a bank robbery. The stolen gold was never found, but it seems he had it all the time. I suppose he had served enough time in prison and decided to let things be. He took his last breath laying on his gold.”

“And the sofa granddad?”
“Well what with all the excitement about finding the gold everyone forgot about the sofa. It was just left at the side of the river, and I suppose one evening there was a storm, the river rose and took the sofa with it.”

“Granddad you can really tell some good tales” Johnny said and Johnny’s grandfather just smiled to himself.

Pictures to Words #4: Tales to Tell

MULTIPLY Pictures to Words - Poetry/Prose: The Dog

Hello Mr. human, If you want, you can pat me on my head
I am not exactly pedigree, more a sort of half bred
My human likes me very much he takes me out for walks
He thinks I understand him, that is why he gives me talks
Of course the basic command to comprehend is the one that just says sit
And every dog knows that is the one to which I will submit
Today we had some special fun, it really was a pleasure
We took a walk out in the snow and that was our good leisure
I met a friend and we romped around the enjoyment was really great,
I now feel fresh and wide awake, being a dog is just my fate
That is why I look a bit dishevelled, but I do not really mind
It is just the part of my goal in life, my nose is wet you will find
So stroke me and pet me and make me feel good, don’t worry about the snow
My human says we are going home and in the car I must go
You probably think it’s a dog’s life, and perhaps you might be right
I am always well behaved, and with you I will not fight
Now if you had a stupid cat, that might make me mad
But usually they run away and that could make me bad
And now for home, a nice warm blanket, a plate of food and sleep
A dog’s life can be really good, so please you don’t have to weep
My human loves me and I love him, I really cannot deny
He knows I obey and follow his commands, on me he can rely

Pictures to Words - Poetry/Prose: The Dog

MULTIPLY: Pictures to Words #2 - Captions

No, if you can't sleep I am not going to come and put you to bed. You are nicely sharpened for the night so go to bed like a well behaved green pencil.

You know about two thousand years from now the archaeologists will be arguing why the one in the middle fell down.

It's always the same story. The humans are arguing again about who is going to dry us up and in the meanwhile I am getting a headache.

Pictures to Words #2 - Captions

MULTIPLY Pictures to Words #1 The Wall

„What do you think, Hilda Bug? This is really the ideal place for a nice comfortable home for the Summer. My mum and dad always said if you can find one of those walls constructed with loose stones, it is the best you can have; shelter from the rain, fresh air circulation, but plenty of nooks and crannies for keeping the food supply.”
“You are right Fred, I am glad I met such a nice intelligent bug as you are. I had to organize the earth to make a comfortable nesting place for when the children arrive, but that was no problem. It is so nice to live in peace and quiet in our own home with no interference.”

And so the bug family was happy. As summer went on, other families found the wall was a solution to their home problems much to Mr. and Mrs. Bug’s dismay.

“Hilda we must really do something about that ant mob. Things cannot go on like this. There we were living alone with no bother from outside and Queen Ant had to move in with her tribe. At the beginning I could put up with a few ants. They are tidy creatures and clear the mess away that the others make, but now things are getting out of hand.”
“You are right Fred, the family gets bigger every day. They have now completely taken over the stones in the middle of the wall and with only one queen. I hate to think what would happen if another queen and her groupies moved in. I even found two ants in our food chamber yesterday. You will have to have a word with them.”

So Fred Bug made his way up the wall, as he was living on the ground floor, to talk with the ant colony.

“Excuse me ant, but I have a problem.”
“No time for solving problems” said the ant “I have to milk some aphids and gather food for our queen to keep her strength up.”
“Ant, I think your queen has enough strength. Since she moved in with the tribe she has been producing infinite amounts of children and we will hardly have any room for our children eventually.”
“Mr. Bug that is your problem. We ants are not here to look after the worries of a common bug, but we are here to reproduce, grow and make sure that everything is under control and well organised.”
“Ant, it will become your problem eventually when the ant family expands so much that we other bugs and insects will have to defend ourselves.”
“Well said bug” and Mrs. Snail arrived. “We may not be the most agile insect, but we like to take some shelter in a stone wall such as this, especially when it starts raining; makes all my sticky stuff come undone, the rain. But this wall is getting more crowded every day; can’t sleek anywhere without an ant blocking the way. I had two of them stick to my foot yesterday and that was a mess until I got rid of them. Ants do not belong in this wall, so find somewhere else to live.”
“Snail this is our wall, just ask any other ant you might meet and he will say the same.”
Mr. Bug was getting annoyed. “Of course he says the same, that’s the trouble with you ants. Many ants have one opinion; you just cannot think for yourselves. Mrs. Bug is expecting our eggs any day now, but you do not see over a thousand bugs waiting for them to arrive and feed them. At least our children are independent when they arrive.”

These remarks made no impression on the ant and he turned round and went back to the nest. The snail slithered off and Fred Bug went back to Hilda.
“Did you manage to get rid of them Fred?” she asked.
“No chance Hilda. I spoke to an ant but he wasn’t interested in our problems. Selfish people they are, mumbled something about milking aphids as if that was the most important thing in the world. “
“Well I have a surprise Fred, while you were dealing with the ant problem I laid my eggs. Looks like it will be a nice bunch for the first time. “
“That’s wonderful Hilda. Our children are so beautiful, much nicer than a baby ant, and they are so independent.”

So time went past in the crevices of the wall and the families grew. Then one day in Summer it started to rain. Not just a few drops but a deluge. Mr. and Mrs. Bug managed to take cover under a large stone in the wall. The ant family had now grown to such proportions that they hardly had any room and had started moving into other parts of the wall.

“Look Fred, some of the ants are getting washed out of the wall.”
“And about time too, now we can spread about a bit.”
“But leave some room for us as well” piped up a squeaky voice.
“Oh big deal” said Fred, “now we have a centipede family moving in as well. Just keep your legs to yourself. I remember the last time I had centipedes living next door, crawling all over the place. Couldn’t relax anywhere without standing on someone’s feet.”
“Typical bug” said the centipede. “At least we don’t stink.”
“I beg your pardon” said an irate Fred Bug. “We bugs do not stink, we have our own perfume that we tend to spread around sometimes and my Hilda is the best smelling bug you could meet.”
“I think we centipedes will move towards the top of the wall in that case, we don’t want smelly bugs trampling all over us” and the centipede family moved upwards.”

Suddenly Hilda turned a bit pale under her black coat.
“Look, Fred what’s coming. A mouse.”
“OK Hilda, now just keep quiet and go to the back of the wall. Hide between those two stones over there. Where are the children?”
“They are back on the leaves on that plant over there. I think they will be ok as the leaves are quite high. They are now independent enough to find their own way around.”
“Good Hilda, I will hide with you. Mice are so unpredictable. You never know when they want to improve their diat with a good looking bug like us.”
This time Fred and Hilda managed to hide themselves from the mice and so life continued in the stone wall. The ants decided to move into the ground and build themselves a hill. The centipedes were happy on the top floor and even the snail slimed past now and again. She would just cling to the wall as she had her house with her and did not have to build one in between the stones.

Soon Winter came and one by one the insect families left their homes. Fred Bug made sure that his children were settled in for the Winter near the wall. He himself would not be around for the next year and him and Hilda would be in the etnernal bug hunting grounds, but he told his children that there was nothing more suitable for a Summer home than a wall constructed with loose stones.

Pictures to Words #1 The Wall

MULTIPLY - Pictures to Words - Segments 6: The Neighbours

„She’s doing it again Fred, come and have a look“ and Frieda Black was quite excited.
“Who’s doing what” answered Fred and went over to the window where his wife was looking out through the binoculars.
“The neighbour in the ground level apartment, she’s digging up the garden again and we know what that means.”
“Show me Frieda” and now Fred was getting interested “planting another bush or tree to spoil the view from our window. If only Mrs. Goodall would hold herself to the rules and regulations where we live, it would make life a lot more enjoyable for us all” and Frieda nodded in approval – the word “all” applying to only the Blacks of course.

Fred and Frieda Black found that if you buy your own apartment you should still ask the neighbours for their permission before doing something different. After all the front gardens should all look alike, each one with a nicely kept lawn and not with bushes and trees in between like the Goodalls always seem to be planting. Why they even have two hazelnut trees growing in the garden, apart from the walnut tree in the big pot. It just does not fit into the organised pattern of the estate. Basically most of the neighbours found Mrs. Goodall’s garden admittedly something different, but not a disturbing feature and some neighbours even found her taste quite good. Only the Blacks were not satisfied.

Mrs. Pamela Goodall was happy with her garden. In Spring the bushes were flowering and throughout the Summer they attracted all sorts of wild insect life. The butterfly bushes were a colourful contrast for all to see; after all they were not called butterfly bushes for no reason. There were at least four different sorts of flying beauties searching for their nectar on the flowers. Pamela actually had no suspicion that she was being observed constantly when she was in the garden by her neighbours on the top floor. There were six apartments in the house and Pamela and her husband, Michael, never had a problem with any of the other neighbours. Even the Blacks never let any suspicion fall that they found Pamela’s garden improvements were not approved of, they preferred to keep it a secret for the time being.

Mr. Black was a retired insurance man and was used to having things in organised patterns in his life. He had trained his wife to think the same, and if Fred Black did not notice that things were not going to his plan, his wife quickly brought him up to date. It was Mrs. Black that was talking to one of the neighbours and heard that this particular neighbour now had a special machine attched her water supply for the reduction of the lime in the water. Mrs. Black found she should have known this before the neighbour organised it. Mr. Black made further investigations and found that already three neighbours had this machine and he was not informed. That was a problem and was one of the items on the list for the next meeting of the owners of the apartments. After all before the neighbours organised something Mr. Black should be asked. Fred Black found that this lime removal machine would only work properly if attached to the washing machines in the cellar as well. Actually this did not really matter, but gave him a reason to have it discussed with the other neighbours. Perhaps he could even ensure that these machines would be forbidden. He knew nothing about them, his wife found it out by chance, and that could not be. Only on the approval of the Blacks should anything be fitted into the homes.

He had also made sure that Mrs. Goodall’s garden would be discussed. Mr. and Mrs. Black also had disciples in the estate, Mr. and Mrs. Grey. They found that what Mr. Black said was always good, and so Mr. and Mrs. Grey always nodded in approval at their suggestions just to keep on their good side.

It was now two weeks before the annual meeting and the list of things to be discussed was sent to all the owners of the apartments. When Mr. Goodall saw that his wife’s garden was on the list he was furious. First of all he found his wife had perhaps gone a little bit too far with her agricultural creations, but on the other hand when he read about the objection to the lime removal machines made by the Blacks, he transferred his anger to the Black family. It was then quite clear to him that they were being observed most of the time.

“What do you propose to do with your garden now” Michael Goodall asked his wife.
“Well, Michael I must say this whole thing has become a bit of a shock. We have been living here almost ten years and I started my gardening scheme eight years ago. When the good Mrs. Black had told me that it was not in line with the estate I would naturally not have done anything, although I must admit I have had so much pleasure from the garden. Now I suppose I just have to dig everything up to suit their taste.”

“Let’s not handle without a fight, dear” said Michael. “What annoys me is that the Blacks are now starting to tell us and others what to have in their own four walls and what not. I would say we wait for the meeting and see what happens.”

“You know Michael, the nicest time we spend living here is when the Blacks are away in their holiday house in Spain. Then everyone seems to be able to live in peace with everyone else.”

The evening meeting soon arrived and all the apartment owners met for their discussions. The chairman was a neutral person who looked after the finance concerning the communal arrangements, such as the gardening of the surroundings, the finance of the heating and water which was shared by all. It was to be a long meeting starting at seven in the evening and only at ten in the evening did the subject of the gardens come onto the agenda.

Mr. Black opened the discussion and stated that the gardens should all be alike but there were some people that just went against the rule.
“Let us say it clearly Mr. Black” Michael Goodall spoke up. “Do you mean my wife and me in particular” and then the argument started.

Eventually Mr. Black decided there should be a commission formed for approval of the gardens. The chairman called for the vote but Mr. and Mrs. Grey were the only people that agreed, all others were too tired and found it so trivial they turned it down. The debate concerning the acceptance of a suitable lime removal appliance according to the wishes of the Blacks (and naturally the Greys as well) was also declined. Mr. Black was particularly disappointed in this respect as one of the other neighbours had told Mr. Black he would also support Mr. Black in this respect, but had changed his mind at the last moment. The remarks uttered by Mr. Black to this neighbour are here not to be repeated. It suffices to say that Mr. Black found yet another neighbour who was not on his side.

Unfortunately Pamela Goodall could not attend the meeting to the end as she had to go to work the next day. Her husband was already in retirement and so he told his wife of the decisions made.

One evening late the Goodalls were standing outside in the garden. They had got used to looking at the garden late in the evening to make sure they were not being observed.
“Well what do you think, Michael? What shall I do with my garden now.”
“Pamela it seems that only the Blacks are really against it, so I would say just carry on. I noticed you have dug two rather large holes in the garden. That seemed to be the reason for Black’s disapproval. What do you actually want to plant in them?.
“Well you know Michael, I though an apple tree would be quite suitable, the problem being that you really need two apple trees for a good harvest”
and then the Goodalls heard someone shout down at them from the window above “before anything more is planted in that jungle we have something to say” and Mr. Black was shouting from the window. Pamela and Michael were glad it was late in the evening and that the other neighbours were not around to hear.
Suddenly Mr. and Mrs. Black appeared in the Goodall’s garden and an argument broke out.
“What did I hear. You are planning to plant two apple trees. Over my dead body said Fred. Black.”
“And over mine as well” said Frieda Black.
“Did you hear what they said” said Michael.
“Only too well” answered Pamela and so the argument went on.

This argument did clear the air. It seemed that the Blacks left for their house in Spain shortly afterwards and Pamela and Michael planted their apple trees. Actually they had a lot of success with the trees and a fantastic harvest every year.

The Black problem looked like it had been resolved and the Blacks were never to be seen again at the estate, everyone assuming they were in their holiday home in Spain.

Of course Pamela and Michael did have a couple of problems. Cleaning the blood stains off the shovels was one, but eventually they decided to thrown the shovels in the near by river and buy something new. Of course they were proud of their wonderful apple trees which seemed to grow stronger year by year. Pamela was often asked what she used for fertiliser to make them grow so well.

Pictures to Words - Segments Week 6: The Neighbours

MULTIPLY Pictures To Words - Segments Week 5: Uncle Tom and the cats

„Well, here we are Robert at last.“
“Yes, it seems funny to visit the house now that Uncle Tom is not longer amongst us.”
“Well it certainly has a big garden” and Carol was not so sure that taking over a house with so many trees and bushes to look after was exactly what she wanted.

Carol and Robert had been living long enough in the city where they were confronted with air pollution and untidy streets every day. Robert’s uncle Tom had disappeared and Robert was his only heir to the house and fortune. After all Uncle Tom was a millionaire. Although officially he was not entitled to taking over the heritage yet, he decided to stay a few days in the house with his wife. They also took their dog, Trixie with them, as she was part of the family. .

The suitcases were carried into the house from the car. It was mid autumn and the steps to the front door were covered in leaves of red and brown hues. Robert opened the door with the key he had received from the lawyer’s office. A smell of dust and stagnated air hit them from the house interior.

“Robert, the first thing we are going to do is to open all the windows and air this place out a bit” said Carol and she went to work opening windows and doors in all the rooms.
“Carol come here and take a look, I think we can use this room as our bedroom. It’s nice and big and it seems this bed here will be just ideal for the both of us.”
“I am sure it is, Robert. Look at the mirror in the wall over there, it is enormous.”
“Well at least we can see ourselves full length in it. I quite like it” said Robert, although Carol was not of exactly the same opinion. Having such a large mirror opposite their bed was a bit scary to her.

Suddenly they were interrupted by a loud bark and the noise of dogs feet. Trixie the dog had decided to enter the house and do some exploring. The mirror seemed to particularly interest her and she kept sniffing and barking at it.
***********

“No Mrs. Human, I don’t think that is a good way to start the story.”
My big black cat Nera is at the computer again and reading my “Picture to Words.”
“Nera, you don’t know what is coming next.”
“Mrs. Human, I don’t think you do as well. You have been looking at this picture for three days without having an idea for something to write.”
“She’s right, Mrs. Human,” said Tabby her sister.
“And I object to putting a dog in the story” piped up Fluffy, the smallest of the cats.
“Cats, this is my story and I will write into it who I want.”
“But not a dog, Mrs. Human” they all said together.
It was true, I was having a problem with this picture. It just did not inspire me in any way, but I had now started and was hoping that the ideas would come as I write.
“How comes a room with a large mirror is going to be the bedroom. I would write the mirror out of the story or put it in another place.” Said Nera “mirrors are stupid things anyhow; they confuse us cats and we think we are being watched by other cats.”
“Now you have given me an idea” I said to Nera, so I will continue writing my story.
“Well I hope something exciting is will happen” said Tabby, “up to now it is a story for falling asleep.”
**********

That night Robert and Carol spent their first night in the house. Carol did not sleep so well. She just could not get it out of her head that somewhere Uncle Tom might be watching them. She was glad that Trixie decided to make herself comfortable on the floor in front of the mirror. Carol just felt a bit safer.

The next morning Carol made some breakfast.
“Carol I think I will like living here. I slept like a log last night and you?”
“No Robert, I did not sleep well at all. I just don’t like that bedroom with the mirror opposite the bed. Thank goodness Trixie decided to stay there.”
“I was going to mention that Carol, I don’t think it is a good idea that a dog sleeps in our bedroom. In future she can sleep in the downstairs rooms.”
***********

“You call that exciting Mrs. Human and Nera spoke up again. “So we have a dog that has to sleep in another room which should have been done in the beginning and a Mrs. Human that had a bad night. If humans slept like us cats, they would never have a bad night.”
“Nera you cannot compare a human sleep to a cat nap, and there will be a surprise coming soon in the story.”
“Nera, I think I will have a sleep. There is nothing in this story to interest a cat up to now” and Tabby curled up and closed her eyes.
“You know what I think” said Fluffy
“What you think does not interest me” answered Nera “little white cats with curly fur should be seen and not heard.”
“Yes, but I just wanted to say there is something with the …..”
“Still now Fluffy – let Mrs. Human get on with her story.”
“Thank you cats, then I will continue.”
**********

“You know Robert, I quite like the house, but despite opening the windows and letting fresh air in, there is just a peculiar smell around and it seems to be strongest in our bedroom. I think that mirror has something to do with it, after all Trixie keeps scratching the floor in front of it.”
“Well ok, Carol I will have a closer look” and Robert went up to the bedroom followed by Carol and Trixie who went straight to the mirror.
**********

“You see Nera, that is what I wanted to tell you. There is something wrong with the mirror.”
“OK Fluffy, so big deal. Whatever has happened I am sure the dog did it.”
“Cats, leave the dog alone. If I had put a cat in the story it would have just slept through the whole thing.”
“Mrs. Human we cats need at least 12 hours sleep per day, and we certainly would not have bothered scratching in front of a mirror.”
***********

Robert had a closer look at the mirror and found it had hinges on one side.
“Carol I don’t think this is an ordinary mirror. It is more like a door; and sure enough he found a lock on the other side. By now Trixie was sniffing and scratching and jumping towards the mirror.
“There is only one thing to do Robert, either break open the lock or break the mirror.”
“Now don’t let’s be so drastic Carol. This door has probably not been opened for years.
Carol just felt uneasy about the locked mirror door and called the locksmith in the village. He arrived in the afternoon and went to work on the door.
"What do you think you are doing" said Robert when he saw what was happening and turned quite pale.
"Robert, I called the locksmith to find out what is behind the mirror. It was disturbing me."
The locksmith opened the mirror door and what did he find?
**********

“That is exactly what I meant Mrs. Human. I know what he found, but Nera and Tabby wouldn’t listen to my wise words.”
“OK Fluffy, so what did he find.”
“That is quite simple Mrs. Human. Are you listening Nera and wake Tabby up? He found a chair behind the mirror and who was sitting on the chair.”
“I know” said Tabby “a dog. That was why the other dog kept scratching at the mirror. She smelt dog.”
“Stupid tabby cat; of course, she didn’t smell dog. She smelt meat, well sort of. Uncle Tom was sitting in the chair of course.”
“Bravo Fluffy, now you have spoilt the ending to the story.” I said
“Well not exactly Mrs. Human. You could write about Robert having debts and no money and had visited uncle Tom a week before to ask for money. Uncle Tom got annoyed, they had a fight and Robert hit him on the head with something heavy. Uncle Tom was dead and Robert hid his body on a chair behind the mirror. Tht was why he got worried when the locksmith was opening the mirror door. Then the locksmith called the police as it seemed a bit suspicious and Robert was arrested and put into prison. “
“Brilliant, Fluffy, but you forgot something” I said “Carol knew what had happened, but she didn’t know that Uncle Tom’s body was behind the mirror. She thought Robert had buried it in the garden. She didn’t really care, but just wanted the inheritance. She kept quiet about the murder of course and inherited the house and fortune and left Robert to his prison sentence.”
“That was exactly what I would have written” said Nera “writing stories is really not something difficult. You just have to have a few good ideas.”
“You know what cats, in future write the stories yourself – I give up.”

Pictures to Words - Segments Week 5: Uncle Tom and the cats

MULTIPLY Pictures to Words: Segments Week 4: The old white house

At last Sylvia had been able to leave her old life behind her and found work in another town. She had got away from her husband Jeff. He was lazy, drank too much and now and again lost his temper with Sylvia. She was a qualified nurse and had a well paid job, but decided that enough was enough. The evenings when she came home from work to find the floor littered with empty bottles and her husband lying around in the house hardly able to see straight were enough. When she told him to pull himself together, he did, but combined it with an attack on his wife. She had tried until she had no longer patience with him. Eventually she packed her case and left. She took the train West and decided that it was time to turn her back on life as she had known it.

In a way she was sorry to leave their house. It stood on its own in a suburb of the town; a white wooden house, looking neat and tidy from the outside. Sylvia thought that in her life everything was neat and tidy on the outside; only on the inside things were not so good. In her luggage she had a photo of the house standing in its beautiful surroundings. The sky was showing itself from its best side in summer. The clouds were just wisps reflecting the sun in colours of red and gold. When she and Jeff found the house they were so happy. At least she thought Jeff was happy. They were newly weds and life was beginning for them both. The sunny side of life only existed for a few months and then Jeff started to drink heavily. That was what she thought, but she eventually realised that Jeff had been able to hide the drinking from her when they met. Living with him constantly showed his true character. He worked in an advertising company. His life seemed to be filled with lunches and evening meals with customers, that was more liquid than solid. Many were during the evening and Jeff would arrive home late. In the beginning Syvia would wait for him, but she soon realised it was not worth it. She was glad when she could work nights, when she arrived home in the morning and Jeff was sleeping out his alcoholic dreams, she did not have to be confronted with his moods.
She arrived in her new surroundings and took a hotel room to begin with. The next step was to apply at the local hospital for a job.

“Good morning” said the receptionist at the hospital “can I help you”.
“I am new in town and am a qualified nurse. I have my documents here and was wondering if you would have a job for me in the hospital.”
The receptionist took the documents and told Sylvia to wait whilst she spoke with the manager of the hospital. She came back to Sylvia accompanied by an older man who introduced himself as Dr. Smith.
“I hear you would like to have a job at our hospital. We really do need qualified personnel at the moment and with your documents there is no problem. Just take some time and fill out the application forms please.”

Sylvia was pleased. She was in a new town and had found work and was ready for a new beginning. She told the hospital she could start working straight away and the following week she was employed. She looked around in the town for somewhere to live and found a small house just ideal for her. This time it was not white but red. She had had really enough of living in a white house and had only bad memories. She had put all her furniture into storage where she lived before and called the moving people to deliver at her new address. She still owned the old white house but thought one day she would sell it. At the present she was earning enough money to be able to pay rent for her new house, so did not have to hurry.

In a way she hung onto her old house and had taken a photo with her showing it on one of its best days. It was surrounded by the most wonderful green bushes and trees and she missed the surroundings just a little bit. If only Jeff had been more caring, this would not have happened and she would have stayed. She bought a frame for the photo of the house and garden and put it on the cupboard in the living room; just a little something to remember her old life.

Her first evening in the new red house was accompanied by a storm. It rained as if the heavens had opened and there were crashes of thunder resounding through the house. One clap of thunder was so loud that she heard the window spring open downstairs in the living room. She decided that it would be sensible to close the window otherwise she envisioned everything being wet in the morning. When she entered the living room she noticed that the wind coming through the window had swept her photo to the floor. She picked it up and put it back on the cupboard and went back to bed. In the morning she had a look around to see that nothing more had happened and found the photo again on the floor. As she picked it up and looked at it, it seemed a little bit different but did not realise what was different. She went to work during the day and forgot about the photo.

Sylvia was now really satisfied. She had a new home in a new town and a new job. She had got to know a lot of new people at the hospital and decided to invite some of her colleagues home in the evening for a drink and a meal.

“You have a very nice place here” said Christine, one of her fellow nurses.
“I just love your taste in furniture” joined in Marion “and I just love that photo of that old white house.”
“That is where I used to live” answered Sylvia.
“Why on earth did you leave such a beautiful place” added Christine “It seems that you had quite an interest in gardening.”
“Why gardening?” asked Sylvia
“When I look at the garden at the side of the house it seems you were preparing to plant a tree or something. There is fresh earth showing on the photo just under the window.”
Sylvia had a closer look at the photo and there was really a patch of fresh earth to be seen.

She decided to change the subject and served the meal. It was a successful evening and they enjoyed their selves very much and left around midnight. Sylvia cleared away the dining room table and when everything was in its place she had another look at the photo.
“I don’t remember seeing that earth on the photo yesterday” she thought, but was so tired she soon went to bed and forgot about the photo.

The next day she did not have to work and decided to use it for cleaning her home. She again looked at the photo, but noticed that there was now a hole dug under the window and a pile of earth next to the hole. Sylvia was just a little bit disturbed by the photo. It really seemed it was changing all the time.

Imagine the shock she had when she looked at the photo a week later. There was no pile of earth under the window and no hole in the ground. Everything was nicely levelled and grass was growing where the earth was. There was just something a bit strange in the middle of the photo. It seemed that a single flower was growing out of the place where the pile of earth was. She looked at it closer and was a little bit worried.

Sylvia decided to take a week off work. She told the people in the hospital that she had decided to sell her house in the town where she used to live and would need some time to tie up the dealings. She needed at least two days by car, but soon arrived at her old house. A lot of bad memories came back to her as she walked round the house. She had never forgiven Jeff for the way he had treated her. The old white house looked exactly as it was on the photo and even the sky was showing itself from its best side. She arrived at the window where the photo had been playing tricks on her and had a close look at the earth below. Everything seemed normal. There was no earth disturbed, and the lawn was in one piece. There was even no strange flower growing where she had seen it on the photo.

She got down on her knees to take a closer look.

“Looking for something Miss,” said a voice behind her“ and before she could turn round to see who it was she felt steel bracelets being put on her wrists.

“By the power given to me by this State I am arresting you for the murder of your husband Jeff ……” and Sylvia found herself surrounded by police. “We found his body yesterday. One of the neighbours dogs kept sniffing around and his hand was sticking through the earth” the police said, so we decided to keep an eye on the place. It seemed he didn’t want to stay where you put him and one hand was showing through the earth.”

Pictures to Words - Segments: Week 4: The old white house