The Old Gang – Lillian Morpork

The Old Gang – Lillian Morpork

Alex Mitchell sighed and looked around. All the old gang were here, just the way they had been that New Year’s Eve so many years ago. Older yes; many white haired, some bald or balding; not as slender and agile, but still the same group as had gathered here forty five years ago. He smiled contentedly, and sipped his drink. Nancy looked over and smiled, too, lifted her glass and glanced around at the people, then took a sip. Yes, she understood how he was feeling; all of them together again to celebrate yet another new year.

Christmas is: by Lillian Morpork

Christmas is:  by Lillian Morpork


Christmas is: candles and candy canes, cookies and carols, Christmas cards and chocolates.
Christmas is: holly and happiness, high jinks and holidays, hopefulness and handicrafts.
Christmas is: red bows and red noses, reindeer and right poses, ribbons and red roses.

"A Candle in a Window" by Lillian Morpork

"A Candle in a Window" by Lillian Morpork

The young woman stumbled through the snow, shivering, exhausted, but struggling on for the sake of her unborn child. It was so cold the snow squeaked under her feet. The young woman's coat was thin and frayed, and she wore a thin scarf over her head. Her face looked frost bitten, and she could hardly feel her hands and feet. She was weighed down by the large bag that hung from one side, strap crossing from right shoulder to left hip. ‘Please, please, let me find shelter, a warm place for my baby,’ she prayed. ‘You provided a stable for Jesus and my baby is as free of sin. He deserves to live. Just let me find a warm place and kind people, and I will die willingly, if that is your will.’

"The Totem Tree" by Lillian Morpork

"The Totem Tree" by Lillian Morpork
Pictures: both bridges- also the trees at the end of the gallery

Lucy Brightstar walked for miles through the snow, crossing bridges and fields, until at last she stood at the edge of a forest clearing, staring at the pine tree. She had seen it in the summer, and noticed how it seemed to have faces, one above the other amazingly like a totem pole. Now, covered in snow, the faces stood out clearly. First, from the bottom up, were three old man faces, shaggy beards and mustaches, mouths not quite smiling. The middle one’s eyes seemed to twinkle, and they all looked like someone’s favourite grandfather, the one you would be willing tell all of your secrets, and know they would be safe.

"An Unusual Journey" by Lillian Morpork

"An Unusual Journey" by Lillian Morpork

Alex Martin sat in his usual place by the window. He liked sitting there, because he could see out and watch the people, animals, butterflies and birds going by.  As he watched, he made up stories about where they were going, what magical things would happen to them, and how they would cope. Only today, he couldn’t see anything. Jack Frost had been busy during the night and had painted a truly magical scene on the window. 

"A Time Travel Tale" by Lillian Morpork

"A Time Travel Tale" by Lillian Morpork

I was just arriving home from work, admiring the Christmas decorations on the house when I thought I heard a voice cry out in the back yard. I walked around the house and waded through the snow, heading for the back fence, and looking around for any disturbance or even a body in the snow, but there was only smooth, unbroken snow. When I was almost at the gate I noticed that it was open, and the snow was disturbed and a patch of red startled my eyes. It looked as though someone had fallen and gashed their head on something, but there was no body, and the snow all around was undisturbed. It looked as though the body had fallen in the snow, and disappeared into thin air. 

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 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.

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”

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.

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.

Sabbatical – Fall – part 2 – Lillian Morpork

Laura sat looking out the train window, watching the world go by; city, country, town and village, everything bursting with summer. The nice old gentleman, Isaac Goldberg, was an amateur historian and Rabbi, and had told her a lot of the history of the places they passed. He had changed trains at the stop after ‘Heaven’, and she missed him. She had chatted with other passengers, but he had been so informative.

Sabbatical- Spring and Summer– Lillian Morpork

Pictures Bluebell Woods and Bridge to Heaven

Laura took one last look around the apartment, gathered her bags and walked out. As she locked the door, she was chanting “No more pencils, no more books, no more students’ dirty looks!” She giggled as she walked to the elevator. It was early May, her classes were over and she had a whole year to herself. She really needed it; this last two years had been a strain with the stupid new curriculum the board had foisted off one her.

Cold Case – part 3 – Lillian Morpork

Cold Case – part 3 – Lillian Morpork

Ronan sat at his desk chewing the end of his pen and frowning at the papers in the file on his desk. Nothing yet from forensics, no word from the hospital…he was getting very frustrated. Where had Laura been for all those seven years? Who was her abductor, imprisoner, and why was she place in the river on the lifebuoy? He threw the pen down and swore just as the phone rang. “Hello” he tried not to growl, but failed.

Cold Case – part 2 – Lillian Morpork

Cold Case – part 2 – Lillian Morpork

Ronan knelt beside the body of the young woman and felt her neck, searching for the carotid artery. He found a faint irregular pulse. She was cold from the water, but alive, though only just. He checked over her body quickly, finding no injuries except her left shoulder. It was broken. He stood and went to where he had dropped his coat, reached into the pocket and got out his phone.

Cold Case – part 1 – Lillian Morpork

Cold Case – part 1 – Lillian Morpork

Detective Inspector Ronan Alister Walsh drove out of the city and soon turned off onto a little used road that ran beside the river. It was his favourite place to go when he needed peace and quiet to think, and there was a cold case that was bothering him. He had led the team in the first investigations, and worked with the second team until it had to be declared cold and shelved until or if new clues were found.

Dreams – Lillian Morpork

Dreams – Lillian Morpork


Drifting, dreaming dreams now dim

Where Olympians used to swim,

Death Comes – part 5 – Lillian Morpork

Death Comes – part 5 – Lillian Morpork

Ricardo Urbani pounded his fist on the table and shouted “Two years! We’ve been searching for two years and still no viable antidote! Millions of children dead, more dying, and now it’s attacking the older ones, even up to seventeen! It’s hopeless!” He slumped in his chair and, elbows on table, dropped his head into his hands and sobbed.

Death Comes - part 4 - Lillian Morpork

Death Comes - part 4 - Lillian Morpork

“I know I’m behind on the news, but was this a known comet?” Mai Lee Sun asked.

“No, it wasn’t. According to David Levy of the Jarmac Observatory in West Virginia, it was a non- periodic and came through the solar system some 35 Million years ago, about the time meteor impacts created the Chesapeake Bay crater in the U.S., and the Popigai crater in Russia. The latest news from them is that they think it had a collision or very near miss that changed its orbit just enough to hit Earth. The event also weakened the core so when it got close to the sun, it broke up. That’s why the debris was scattered over such a wide area.”

Death Comes - part 3 - Lillian Morpork

Death Comes - part 3 - Lillian Morpork

One end of the laboratory was blocked off with a frame covered in a heavy plastic sheet. From behind it comes the almost deafening sound of demolition as that wall is demolished. The team of researchers and support people has grown to the point of overcrowding, but all are busy. Two more electron microscopes had been added, and six more were in storage awaiting the end of the demolition and expansion of the lab.