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Saturday 20 September 2008

Saturday Wordzzle # 31



The idea is, every week Raven (View From A Raven's Nest) gives you between 8 and 10 words/phrases and you have to create a small but coherent paragraph using every one of them and the same with the mini challenge. You can do either, both or a megawordzzle using all the words, or even all three, it's up to you, you can post them on your blog or email them to Raven. If you join in go to Raven's and put your name on the Mr. Linky so other participants can come visit you.




Here are my efforts - complete with my doodles.


Words for this week's 10-word challenge: budget, news, outer space, gargantuan, brass band, Purple Rose of Cairo, polar bears, insight, innovations, mute



The ‘Innovations Brass Band’ were practising the new tune ‘The Purple Rose of Cairo’ at the community hall when Alfie, the mute, came rushing in. He was in a heightened state of excitement and was trying to convey something to them by sign language. Unfortunately none of them could understand sign language and without that insight they were at a loss as to what had happened that had excited him so. The resulting fiasco resembled a game of charades with members of the band taking wild guesses as to what poor Alfie was trying to tell them. The guesses included things like the budget bargains shop had gone out of business, gargantuan polar bears were rampaging through the streets and news reports of messages being received from outer space! What poor Alfie was trying to tell them was that tea and buns were ready in the kitchen.



And for the mini challenge: investments, purring, death penalty, mercury, convalescent home

Mrs Mercury, the owner of the convalescent home, shooed away the purring cat. She was busy checking on her investments, which weren’t doing very well at the moment. In fact her accountant had put a big black cross against a couple of them, which meant a death penalty on them they were doing so badly. Things were looking bad, there was no alternative, she’d have to ‘persuade’ a couple of her richer residents to change their wills in her favour again.

Megawordzzle



Howard sat staring at the TV as he recovered from the operation, he didn’t suppose there would be any chance of being sent to a convalescent home. The news was on the TV and he watched the report on the plight of polar bears, who would soon be extinct because of global warming and another that the latest probe sent into outer space had discovered a moon orbiting Mercury.

The chap in the next bed was telling him about his investments and budgets, Howard doubted he actually knew what he was talking about but it was nice to have company for a change. On the other side of him was a man with a gargantuan lump on his head. Howard had asked him what had happened but it turned out the man was a mute so that conversation was a non-starter. He had been in the hospital for five days now and had thoroughly enjoyed getting to know his fellow patients and getting an insight into their lives, which were so different from his own.

He was due to leave hospital today. He checked the TV pages in the paper noticing that there was a film on later, “The Purple Rose of Cairo”, and his favourite programme, Tomorrow’s World, which tested new innovations, so at least he’d have something to watch when he got back, though he’d miss the company he’d had in hospital.

Lying back on his pillows with the thermometer under his tongue, Howard felt sad. As he listened to the sounds of the ward; the clatter of the tea trolley, the gentle snoring of the old man across the way which reminded him of a purring cat, the swishing sound of what he imagined to be nylon stockings rubbing together as the nurses walked up and down the ward, he sighed. The sound of a brass band in the hospital grounds permeated through the open window. Oh yes, he was definitely going to miss all this.

“Are you ready Howard? I’ve come to take you back” said a voice.

“Yes, I’m ready” replied Howard miserably.

All he had to look forward to now was sitting in his solitary cell awaiting the death penalty for murder.

27 comments:

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

i especially like the doodles with the writing! good job!

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxo

Shrinky said...

Eeeeeeeeee! I loved the twist in the last tale. And I agree, your doodles sprinkle that extra interest and humour as we read. Lovely post.

Deb said...

WOW ~ I worked so hard as I was reading. I was determined to figure out how you would twist it at the end ~ but I didn't! I could not figure out why he liked being in the hospital - you pulled me in ~ once again. You are the Queen of Surprise Endings! I enjoyed my visit.

Raven said...

All great as usual. You hooked me in with Howard and your usual wicked twist at the end. I think the first one was my favorite, though.

Melli said...

Pooooor Alfie ... and BOO HISS Mrs. Mercury!!! SHAME! But WOW! The Howard story was the best!!! WELL DONE!!!

Dianne said...

The tea and biscuits are ready!! LOL

We both have Mrs. Mercury living at a convalescent home. Cool.

I have to find new words to describe your twist endings - I've run out of superlatives. How about Gargantuan Greatness? yeah, that's a good one.

Anonymous said...

First time I've read your work - super duper!

Anonymous said...

You always do such a great job on these! :)

Akelamalu said...

I thought you would like the doodles Bee ;)

Thanks Shrinky I'm really pleased you like them.

What am I going to do when you can figure out the endings Deb? LOL

MWM liked the first one best too Raven :)

Mrs Mercury is a nasty piece of work Melli, glad you enjoyed them m'dear.

Gargantuan Greatness Dianne? I'm blushing now! :) I noticed the similarities in our wordzzles too.

Welcome pabees I'm sorry I can't return the visit you didn't leave a link.

Thankyou Tisha x

Jeff B said...

Mrs mercury sounds pretty crafty. she and Howard would make a good pair.

Richard said...

Another great ending on the mega. You sure know how to bring it home.

Rich

storyteller said...

Hahaha … poor Alfie, the mute … doomed to be misunderstood no matter how hard he tries. Is the purple rose of Cairo anything like the yellow rose of Texas? I do love your doodles … particularly the purring orange cat! I’m a bit ‘stressed’ over the use of ‘investments’ in each of these … knowing MY investments are under siege … sigh! I suppose I could be grateful I’m not Howard ;--)
Hugs and blessings,

Lu' said...

I enjoyed that. Killer ending :)

Lu' said...

I liked the story with Alfie too.

bindhiya said...

Great job!!! i like the doodles too :))

have a great weekend...
love and ((hugs))
bindi

Akelamalu said...

Yes Mrs Mercury should definitely be in jail Jeff!

Aw thanks Rich :)

I enjoy doing the doodles as much as I enjoy writing the wordzzles storyteller, I'm so pleased you like them. :)

Thanks Lu x

Nice to see you back Bindi and thanks hon. x

Anndi said...

WOOOOOOOOOOO!

You KNOW how much I love a good twist at the end.

EXCELLENT!

maryt/theteach said...

I'm not doing Wordzzle, Akalamalu but wanted to say you're an excellent doodler and Wordzzle writer! And thanks for the music!

Akelamalu said...

So glad you enjoyed it Anndi x

Oh you're too kind Teach, thankyou.:)

Travis Cody said...

Fantastic twist on the last one!

Akelamalu said...

Thanks Trav x

Dr.John said...

All of them were good but I really loved the surprise ending on the last one.

Chatty said...

I DO love the phrase "non-starter" - so apt and so British!
And WOW - did you ever catch me with the last line of the mega! Excellent! I really liked all three...

Akelamalu said...

Why thank you Dr. John :)

Hi Chatty is it very British? So happy you enjoyed my ramblings. :)

Carletta said...

I agree with Richard that you really do know how to bring it home.
Excellent!

I'm sorry I'm so late getting here - have a laptop needing lots of attention. I have to visit sporadically for a week or so.

Akelamalu said...

Thanks Carletta, sorry to hear you've got laptop problems.

Akelamalu said...
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