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Saturday 11 July 2009

Saturday Wordzzle # 71




The idea is, every week Raven (Views From 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's my efforts, complete with my doodles.



This Week's Ten Word Challenge is: sober, spoilage, knight, laugh and the world laughs with you, peak, blueberries, owl, drugstore, lampshade, keyboard
For the mini challenge: economy, Michael Jackson, ladder, clue, structure



Megawordzzle

As Bernard reached the peak of the small ladder he had used to reach one of the shelves, his foot slipped and he fell in a heap behind the counter. He landed with a bump and a container had landed on his head like a lampshade.


Bernard was a jolly soul whose philosophy was ‘laugh and the world laughs with you’ so it was no surprise to Minnie to see him laughing at himself.

“You need to take more water with your whisky” said Minnie his assistant.

“I wouldn’t mind so much if I was drunk but I’m completely sober” laughed Bernard.


Picking himself up he dusted himself off and told Minnie “I was kept awake half the night by that night-owl next door playing his own tribute to Michael Jackson on his keyboard. He needs a job and some structure to his life, maybe I’ll offer him a job here. I’m shattered, no wonder I’m clumsy!”

Minnie worked part-time for Bernard and took in sewing the rest of the time. Bernard was her knight in shining armour, he had given her a job and let her advertise her sewing skills in the window of the drugstore when her husband died and she was left with a two year old son and didn’t have a clue how she would manage. She was so grateful to him but he just told her he was doing his bit for the economy.


“I made you a pie with some of the blueberries you gave me from your garden Bernard. Are you sure your missus didn’t want them?” Minnie asked.

“No we have so many she was worried about the amount of spoilage we were like to get, so she’s just glad you can use them” he answered.


This Week's Ten Word Challenge is: sober, spoilage, knight, laugh and the world laughs with you, peak, blueberries, owl, drugstore, lampshade, keyboard



“I have a spare pie, do you think your neighbour likes blueberries Bernard?” asked Minnie.


“I don’t know Minnie he’s lived next door for a couple of months now but I haven’t actually seen him in that time. Tell you what, give me the pie and I’ll take it to him tonight” said Bernard.


Steven Knight was successful at what he did, he was at the peak of his career when he decided he’d had enough, better to stop now before there was spoilage because people were sick of seeing him, so he retired to the little country town. He was quite a shy, sober person and had not ventured out since arriving, having his supplies delivered to his door.


That evening Bernard knocked his neighbour’s door and waited patiently. He could see little through the window apart from the top of a lampshade and a keyboard. The door opened and Bernard gave one of his huge smiles. Thrusting the pie into Steven’s hands he said “Welcome to the neighbourhood, I thought you might enjoy some homemade pie, I grew the blueberries and my assistant, Minnie at the drugstore, made the pie”.

Steven thanked him and invited him in. They chatted for a while and Bernard mentioned how he heard him playing the keyboard in the small hours. Steven apologised explaining that he had trouble sleeping and had become a bit of an owl. Bernard laughed.

Laugh and the world laughs with you” said Steven.
“My sentiments entirely” replied Bernard with a smile.
When Bernard was leaving Steven thanked him again for the pie and promised to pop into the drug store to thank Minnie also.


For the mini challenge: economy, Michael Jackson, ladder, clue, structure

A few days later Steven, true to his word, called into the drugstore to thank Minnie for the pie, which he assured her was delicious. Minnie was quite taken with Steven and promised him next time she baked she would send him another pie, to which Steven replied “I hope you’ll deliver it yourself and we’ll share a slice with a cup of coffee?” Minnie promised she would and this eventually became a weekly ritual. Their friendship grew and Steven felt it gave his week structure, which previously it had lacked.


Months later Minnie and Steven were spending more and more time together, they were going out in the evenings and spending weekends together and Steven was playing stepfather to Minnie’s boy. Things were getting serious and Steven explained to Minnie that when he’d walked away from his profession he was at the top of the ladder of success and also told her he would now have to go back to work as his investments weren’t enough to keep him due to the failing economy.


“Would you and Bobby come with me?” he asked Minnie “it would mean a life on the road but together we could make it a good life.”


“What exactly did you do Steven?” Minnie asked.


“I’ll give you a clue” he said as he moonwalked across the floor. “I’m the best Michael Jackson impersonator there is and now Michael has died there will be more work for me than ever!”


Unfortunately for Steven, Minnie was not a Michael Jackson fan.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is terrific. I was just so into the story right from the beginning and then to have an ending like that. Bravo or is it Brava. Whatever this is excellent how you tied them all in. :) Well done Aloha

Reston Friends! said...

What a wonderful one-liner at the end! Excellently done! I'm like Thom -- I was grooving with it, and then BAM - laugh out loud!

Dr.John said...

Best I've read today. Three stories all tied together. All well written. The only thing I wish was different was the ending. I like happy endings.

Daryl said...

Millie and I share two things ...

Great job!

Batteson.Ind said...

great stuff!.... and you're spot on with the micheal jackson look-a-likes, lucrative business beckons.. :-) Cheers!

Salute said...

I enjoy reading your stories. Keep up the good work.

Maude Lynn said...

The last line is perfect!

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

awww, too bad she wasn't a fan! and i love the owl doodle!

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoox

Raven said...

I loved this three part story, though I was sad that Steven didn't get the girls. It made me laugh out loud, though, so I guess I wasn't that sad. I always enjoy your illustrations, but I thought your owl was superb.

bindhiya said...

Great story!
You have a way with words m'dear..
I have something for you at my place..
please stop by
love & ((hugs))
bindi

Travis Cody said...

Enjoyable as always.

Akelamalu said...

I'm so pleased you enjoyed it Thom :)

Thanks Reston Friends, glad you liked it. :)

I didn't say Minnie didn't go with him Dr. John, just that she isn't a Michael Jackson fan. (wink)

You're not a Michael Jackson fan either then Daryl?

Yup, they're gonna be crawling out of the woodwork now Watercats!

Why thankyou Salute :)

Cheers Mama Zen :)

Yeah, it's a shame Bee. I quite like the owl myself. :)

Thankyou muchly Raven I'm happy if it made you laugh m'dear. x

So pleased you enjoyed it Bindi. I'll pop by later.x

Cheers Trav :)

CJ said...

You always come up with such great 3-part stories, completing all the challenges.

bettygram said...

Great owl. Oh Minnie you may not like Michael but you liked Steven. Good story.

gabrielle said...

Loved the flow of the stories. Especially the kind welcome in the 10 word. I too was disappointed it didn't work out for Steven and Minnie.

Stephen said...

I enjoyed reading your story. It definitely had a surprise ending. It might be dreary for her being around him while he worked at being Michael Jackson, since she's not a fan, but perhaps he can make enough money that he can have another early retirement.

Stephen from Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
http://stephen-has-spoken.blogspot.com/