Pointing by Walt Ireton
Friday, October 31, 2014
Hallowe’en Fun - by Lillian Morpork
Two young ladies were out for some fun,
The sun was setting, the day’s work done,
So first they set out for a refreshing run.
It was Hallowe’en.
The sun was setting, the day’s work done,
So first they set out for a refreshing run.
It was Hallowe’en.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
The Vibrant Vampires – part 4 – Lillian Morpork
The Vibrant Vampires – part 4 – Lillian Morpork
“Well, guys, lets load up the van and go!” Vanessa called to the laughing, playacting group of vampires. They were all in costume, and trying to act as scary as they could, though that was hard, since they were all laughing too much. Still laughing and giggling, they all gathered up jackets, music and instruments and loaded them into the van, while Vanessa watched and checked everything off on a list. She said she didn’t want to get to the Atlantis Pavillions and find they had left something essential behind.
“Well, guys, lets load up the van and go!” Vanessa called to the laughing, playacting group of vampires. They were all in costume, and trying to act as scary as they could, though that was hard, since they were all laughing too much. Still laughing and giggling, they all gathered up jackets, music and instruments and loaded them into the van, while Vanessa watched and checked everything off on a list. She said she didn’t want to get to the Atlantis Pavillions and find they had left something essential behind.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Vibrant Vampires – part 3 – Lillian Morpork
It was two weeks later, and nearly everyone had gathered for rehearsal. Blaize had called to say he’d be a little late, and was bringing a couple of guys to balance out the numbers. There was a cacophony of sound as some ran through this piece or that; some did voice exercises and other chatted. There was an almost unheard rap on the door, it swung open, and Blaize appeared with two other young men, matching in general appearance the Busy Bees.
“Hi, people!” Blaize called out, “meet Dennis and Darcy, brothers who are really good singers and they play several instruments. With them, we have an equal male female balance, and no matter how noisy the party is, we will still be heard!” He laughed and moved on in, followed by the two newcomers. Soon they were all set and rehearsal began.
“Let’s try It’s Hallowe’en,” Vanessa said. They played a short introduction and then they all sang. (me singing a bit) with Vanessa singing solo on the sister Jane part. When they finished they all broke up laughing, and complimenting each other on how well it had gone.
“Now” Barry said, “if we can get the rest down as well as that one, we will wow them at the party. We may even earn a bonus!” They all agreed, and the rehearsal went on.
Three hours passed and they stopped for the night. “I am really happy with our progress,” Valarie said. “With two weeks still to go, we should have all of the pieces as nearly perfect as man or woman can get.”
Can we run through Ring Around a Rosy one more. Please? I’d like to sing it just once more. I’m not completely satisfied, and maybe once more will do it.” Velma said
The others willingly settled down and they went through it again. (me singing)
“Ring around the rosie,
Pocket full of posie,
“Ashes, Ashes,
We all fall down.”
“Velma, there is no way you can improve on that!” Dennis exclaimed. “I have never heard it done creepier. But what in the heck is it about?”
In the 13th century, the Black Death (also called the Black Plague) killed so many people, many thought it was the end of the world. The nursery rhyme "Ring around the Rosie" came about during the time of the Black Death.
Here are what the lyrics mean:
Ring around the rosie is a reference to the black sores that would appear on your body as part of the plague. Your "rosie" is around the center of the back of your hand.
A pocket full of posies is a reference to people would carrying posies (flowers) around to not smell the sickening scent of dead bodies everywhere.
Ashes Ashes signifies the ashes from all the bodies being burned on pyres. Bodies couldn't be buried or else the infection would spread.
We all fall down signifies death or people falling down to hell because of their harsh and cruel ways.
“The second comes from Snopes – ‘The earliest print version was in Kate Greeaway’s “Mother Goose or The Old Nursery Rhymes” of 1881. Since folklorists had been collecting and putting into print bits and pieces of oral tradition such as Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales for hundreds of years, some version of Ring around the Rosie should have been in print before 1881. But in a span of five hundred years, no one had done so. If it had been from the 1347 plague it would be older than Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and there we would have examples in Middle English and Modern English forms.’
“But the Plague explanation is much more in keeping with Hallowe’en, so I vote for it!” Benji laughed, holding his hand up.
There was agreement all around as they gathered instruments, jackets and such, and headed out into the chilly night. Vanessa turned off the lights and locked the door. “That was a great rehearsal!” she said to Valarie, who agreed. “The addition of the seven guys really makes us sound great.” They turned to follow the others to the sidewalk, and wave them goodnight.
“Maybe we can stay together as a band after the gig. It does sound good, and it’s more fun having guys around.” Valarie giggled. “Lots more fun”
“Hi, people!” Blaize called out, “meet Dennis and Darcy, brothers who are really good singers and they play several instruments. With them, we have an equal male female balance, and no matter how noisy the party is, we will still be heard!” He laughed and moved on in, followed by the two newcomers. Soon they were all set and rehearsal began.
“Let’s try It’s Hallowe’en,” Vanessa said. They played a short introduction and then they all sang. (me singing a bit) with Vanessa singing solo on the sister Jane part. When they finished they all broke up laughing, and complimenting each other on how well it had gone.
“Now” Barry said, “if we can get the rest down as well as that one, we will wow them at the party. We may even earn a bonus!” They all agreed, and the rehearsal went on.
Three hours passed and they stopped for the night. “I am really happy with our progress,” Valarie said. “With two weeks still to go, we should have all of the pieces as nearly perfect as man or woman can get.”
Can we run through Ring Around a Rosy one more. Please? I’d like to sing it just once more. I’m not completely satisfied, and maybe once more will do it.” Velma said
The others willingly settled down and they went through it again. (me singing)
“Ring around the rosie,
Pocket full of posie,
“Ashes, Ashes,
We all fall down.”
“Velma, there is no way you can improve on that!” Dennis exclaimed. “I have never heard it done creepier. But what in the heck is it about?”
In the 13th century, the Black Death (also called the Black Plague) killed so many people, many thought it was the end of the world. The nursery rhyme "Ring around the Rosie" came about during the time of the Black Death.
Here are what the lyrics mean:
Ring around the rosie is a reference to the black sores that would appear on your body as part of the plague. Your "rosie" is around the center of the back of your hand.
A pocket full of posies is a reference to people would carrying posies (flowers) around to not smell the sickening scent of dead bodies everywhere.
Ashes Ashes signifies the ashes from all the bodies being burned on pyres. Bodies couldn't be buried or else the infection would spread.
We all fall down signifies death or people falling down to hell because of their harsh and cruel ways.
“The second comes from Snopes – ‘The earliest print version was in Kate Greeaway’s “Mother Goose or The Old Nursery Rhymes” of 1881. Since folklorists had been collecting and putting into print bits and pieces of oral tradition such as Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales for hundreds of years, some version of Ring around the Rosie should have been in print before 1881. But in a span of five hundred years, no one had done so. If it had been from the 1347 plague it would be older than Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and there we would have examples in Middle English and Modern English forms.’
“But the Plague explanation is much more in keeping with Hallowe’en, so I vote for it!” Benji laughed, holding his hand up.
There was agreement all around as they gathered instruments, jackets and such, and headed out into the chilly night. Vanessa turned off the lights and locked the door. “That was a great rehearsal!” she said to Valarie, who agreed. “The addition of the seven guys really makes us sound great.” They turned to follow the others to the sidewalk, and wave them goodnight.
“Maybe we can stay together as a band after the gig. It does sound good, and it’s more fun having guys around.” Valarie giggled. “Lots more fun”
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Vibrant Vampires – part 2 – Lillian Morpork
Vera was playing Bach’s Fugue in D Minor as she and the others waited for Valarie to return from an emergency meeting with Mrs. Palmer, the organizer of the Hallowe’en gig. The others were talking and giggling as they tried to sing at a masculine pitch. The door opened, and Valarie stepped in. There were figures behind her, but it was dark outside, and they were too dim to see.
Dark Shadows The Umbrella Killer...All Directions by Destiny Anwyl Mowadeng
A voice from what felt like inside a dream said Its A Girl and i opened my eyes. I glanced around the room and saw a doctor standing at the end of my bed but was shocked by what I saw standing next to him. It was me...but...How was that even possible ? I looked to the side of the bed and Caleb was holding my hand with one hand and had his face buried with the other. I tried my hardest too squeezes my sons hand but he just sat there as if not to feel me. I remember being home on my beloved island of Mowadeng the night of the storm and it being one night of the year our underworld opened up but then things got a little foggy.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
The Vibrant Vampires – part1 – Lillian Morpork
The Vibrant Vampires – part1 – Lillian Morpork
Vanessa and Valarie Von Bleut walked into the revamped shed where their group rehearsed, bubbling with excitement. “We have a gig!” Vanessa shouted, grinning, with Valerie echoing the grin behind her. The other ‘Vees’, Velma, Vera, Veronica, Victoria and Vivian, all jumped up, shouting and doing a silly happy dance. They were all cousins, the Von Bleut sisters were identical twins; Velma and Vera were sisters, as were Vivian and Victoria. Their fathers were brothers and had married sisters, so the family resemblance was strong.
Vanessa and Valarie Von Bleut walked into the revamped shed where their group rehearsed, bubbling with excitement. “We have a gig!” Vanessa shouted, grinning, with Valerie echoing the grin behind her. The other ‘Vees’, Velma, Vera, Veronica, Victoria and Vivian, all jumped up, shouting and doing a silly happy dance. They were all cousins, the Von Bleut sisters were identical twins; Velma and Vera were sisters, as were Vivian and Victoria. Their fathers were brothers and had married sisters, so the family resemblance was strong.
"Average" by Llola Lane
"Average" by Llola Lane
Sarah is average. She can't complain... Average is ok... Right??? She is of average build, of average height. Her features are average... Average nose.... Average mouth with lips painted crimson red... Her eyes are dark... Nothing really stands out on her exept for the clothes she wears. She always wears the best. Sometimes she had on pants... sometimes a dress... sometimes even, on special occasions, she wears a gown.
Sarah is average. She can't complain... Average is ok... Right??? She is of average build, of average height. Her features are average... Average nose.... Average mouth with lips painted crimson red... Her eyes are dark... Nothing really stands out on her exept for the clothes she wears. She always wears the best. Sometimes she had on pants... sometimes a dress... sometimes even, on special occasions, she wears a gown.
Galatea - by Sven Pertelson
How could I have not been attracted to her? She stood out from every other girl in the lecture theatre. Most of my fellow students, male and female, looked as if we had just been dragged unwillingly from our sleep, which was true for me, while others looked as if they had not had any sleep at all. She looked as if she was ready to walk down a fashion show cat walk.
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