Bart spun the chair to see the killer. “Sure I did it,” the victim’s wife said. “He should have told me quints run in his family!”
Month: June 2013
Fiction: Hansel and His Visit to the Enchanted Part of the Forest
Once upon a time, in a little town in a beautiful valley, there lived a boy named Hansel. No, not that Hansel; it was just a common name. He lived with his father, a cobbler; his mother, a life coach, or busybody as they called them then; and his older sister, Hilde (see, not that Hansel), whom Hansel was convinced was the apple of their parents’ eyes as she was never compelled to do a lick of work around the house but helped out anyway.
The valley was surrounded by a deep forest, part of which was enchanted. There were signs clearly marking where the enchanted part was, and everyone entering the forest kept well to either side of the signs just to be safe. All the adults of the town and the nearby farms warned their children, and sometimes each other for good measure, to stay out of the enchanted part of the forest.
One day, Hansel’s father sent him out to chop wood for the fire. Hansel grudgingly shouldered the heavy axe and trudged toward the door.
“Remember not to enter the enchanted part of the forest,” his father said, and Hansel said it along with him in the insolent manner of children everywhere. His father threw a boot sole at Hansel’s butt, which made Hansel yip in an undignified manner and spoiled his insubordinate mood.
Continue reading “Fiction: Hansel and His Visit to the Enchanted Part of the Forest”
Quotable 157
Simple English is no one’s mother tongue. It has to be worked for.
– Jacques Barzun
haiku 269
back porch noise –
small possums
stare back at me
#quikfic 56
“No!” Tom screamed. “Spare me! Take my wife, please!” The vampire said, “All the people I could bite and I get Henny Youngman.”
Quotable 156
It’s very hard to write about that which is always beautiful and pleasant and good. You don’t get anywhere with it. There’s no friction in it. There’s no trouble. You have to have trouble. Somebody’s got to get in trouble, or no one wants to read it.
– Paul Bowles
haiku 268
late-night storm
lightning strips the shadows
from the trash cart
#quikfic 55
Scientists thrilled to see a house of cards intact in the rubble. After several theories, the thin layer of glue was found.
OT: Another New Look
Yes, I’ve already changed the blog theme despite how recently I’d done that. The other one just wasn’t working for me. How do you like this one? (Realizing that I’m probably not done tinkering with it.)
UPDATE: Yeah, that one didn’t last a week. How about this one?
Quotable 155
Tell a story! Don’t try to impress your reader with style or vocabulary or neatly turned phrases. Tell the story first.
– Anne McCaffrey