Is It Love?!

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 – New experience's

We swapped back over night and Alex said he felt much better after his break. However he was desperate for the next body and life break. We all agreed to the swap and each downed our next pills without a moments hesitation. The swap seemed to go much smoother this time.

Once again I was staring at a different part of the room. Glancing around the only person I couldn't see was Damien. Wow I had become Damien in a matter of minutes. Fully clothed but without any of his knowledge. We all struck a high five as a group and headed out for another week of fun away from home.

"Secrets & Lies" by Nemo

Mike let himself into his house. It had been a long day at work and he desperate for a beer, so he was only half paying attention as he walked through to the kitchen. He startled when he heard a voice call out as he walked past the den.

"Hey Mr. Clark." Mike, stopped and turned round, spying the young man sprawled over the armchair in the den.

"Hey Josh." said Mike "Err, what are you... I mean why?" trying to figure out why his neighbours son would be waiting in his den. He knew Josh had finished college for the summer and was back home, but that didn't explain what he was doing in Mike's house.

"Sorry if I surprised you." said Josh "Mr Cooper, found out I was back home and hired me to paint the basement for you. But then he didn't have the right paint and he asked me to wait here while he drove to the shop to get some. I hope that's OK?"

New Friends by Steve B.

Steve B. posted this in the comments for a Caption This back in Feb, I thought it was a great story and warranted a post of its own. Steve, give me a buzz if you want to post any more.

 

*Okay I have never written on this site before, and writing in an old story is probably not a good way to grab attention but whatever. I really like this pic.*

"Have you noticed anything strange about Brody and Kyle lately?" one of the underclassmen football players mumbled to his fellow team mate. The smaller guy fixed his eyes down the hall and saw them. The two most popular guys in school, ever to grace the popular scene. Brody with his short cropped blonde hair and winning smile. And Kyle with his more reserved features and more subdued brown locks. Both were popular beyond belief being not only two of the most attractive guys ever, but the best football players ever to charge through Grover High. The little guy by the lockers looked back at his friend and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know dude. They seem fine to me..." But the older one remained sceptical as he watched them pass by. Brody looked over at Kyle with a great big smile; gave a knowing look and winked at him. Unnoticed by all in the loud hallways, except by Matt by the lockers and Kyle who gave a slight blush before returning the wink with a light smile of his own. The two of them quickly strode down the hall and disappeared behind the corner. Matt shook his head and raised his brow, "there's something weird going on here..."

Caption This (29th June)

Saturdays the readers get a chance to write something, use the picture as inspiration or perhaps suggest something for others to write. Choice of three pictures this time.

**THE STORIES/REQUESTS ARE IN THE COMMENTS**

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Did you enjoy the challenge a week or so ago?
Should I add challenges in future Caption This posts?

The Carnival of Dreams – Pt. 3

Hard Hearted

George was a miser, worse than Scrooge who, by comparison, would seem like Mother Teresa. Of course he didn’t see himself that way. To him, he was just a good business man doing his job. Nothing more, nothing less. At 56, he had never found love, except the love of money. He had no compassion in him, easily sending a person to jail for missing a small payment without a second thought. Cold and hard.

One night as George was travelling back to his meager lodgings after a satisfying day of foreclosures – he wouldn’t even spend any of his considerable wealth on himself to be comfortable – he came upon a brightly lit carnival. He hadn’t been to one since he was a boy so he decided he would stop and check it out. He had plenty of time. Nobody was waiting for him.

This one was very old fashioned - no fancy rides. Better yet, there was no fee to enter. George wandered among the people, checking out the many attractions. Here was a tent with a sign saying “DESIRE”, there a booth that sold love potions. Bah. Desire and love potions. Such nonsense. None attracted George’s attention until he came to a tent proclaiming “ART”.

Caption This (22nd June)

Saturdays the readers get a chance to write something, use the picture as inspiration or perhaps suggest something for others to write. Choice of two pictures this time.

**THE STORIES/REQUESTS ARE IN THE COMMENTS**

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2.

The Carnival of Dreams – Pt. 2

Loved

James lacked for nothing in his life except one thing: love. His mother had died when he was very young and his father was a hard working CEO with little time left for James. His eighteen years had been a series of boarding schools and nannies. A decent looking guy, he was lean but in shape, had brown, stylishly long hair with pale emerald green eyes, and stood around 5’8.

One day while travelling out in the country, he came upon a carnival unlike any he had ever seen before. There were no tall Ferris wheels or roller coasters. Delicate music from a carousel wafted through the air, luring him in. As he wandered through the maze of tents and booths, he happened upon one selling love potions – and, in true carny fashion, it had Cupid on its sign.

“Ah, my young sir, how can I help you today?” asked the odd looking man who appeared behind the counter, startling James.

“Just browsing.” he answered.

“I can tell you are looking for something very special. If you could have your fondest wish, what would it be?”

What would be my fondest wish? That is easy – to be loved.

The man cocked his head a bit, as if listening to some inner voice. There was a gleam in his eye as he said “Come with me. Let me show you what I have. I can help fulfill your dreams.”

He beckoned to a room behind a curtain. James felt a strong compulsion to enter come over him. Before he knew what he was doing, he was inside, looking at row upon row of bottles containing many different colored potions: bright green, vibrant blue and some that seemed darker than night among them.

The man went to one of the shelves, looking through the bottles to find exactly the right one. When he came back to James he held a bottle filled with a blood red potion. “Drink this and your dreams will be realized.”

Caption This (15th June)

Saturdays the readers get a chance to write something, use the picture as inspiration or perhaps suggest something for others to write. Choice of two pictures and a video this time.

 

Plus a challenge for the more adventurous

OK, here’s something a little different for the budding writers that fancy stretching their creativity. Write a short piece (couple of paragraphs whatever you like) to describe the experience of a body swap, but when you wake up it’s in the body of someone that’s blind. The body can be muscular, slim, with someone or alone (you don’t have to use the pictures). The trick will be the initial confusion that you can’t see, but then the discovery of your new body through touch, smell or maybe taste.

Interested? Try it out-that includes the authors as well.

 

**THE STORIES/REQUESTS ARE IN THE COMMENTS**

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Welcome to a new author

People, just a quick note to say welcome to Bill Rowan, who you might know as BR.

You've already seen some of his posts, and I think you've enjoyed them. So put your hands together and say "Hi" in the comments :)

The Carnival of Dreams – Pt. 1

Story by Bill Rowan (BR.)

Welcome to my carnival, stranger. Here dreams and nightmares can become reality. Once you enter you may never be the same. Are you brave enough to step into my world?

Olde Days
Robert was a very average man in all respects. He was neither classically handsome nor profoundly wise, just average. At 45, he lived an average life with an average job making an average wage. Like most men stuck in mediocrity, he dreamed of a life better than the one he had. His fondest desire was to be a knight of Camelot and have great adventures with Arthur.

One day Robert happened upon a travelling carnival. Sweet sounds from a carousel floated on the gentle breeze. He could not resist the lure.

As he walked the grounds, he saw tents and booths proclaiming a myriad of wonders – oracles, worldly treasures, love potions, and more. There were no fast roller coasters or rides to spin you into oblivion. All around him were people having a good time, enjoying all that life had to offer if only for a short while. Robert chanced upon a brightly colored tent with a single word hanging over its entrance “DESIRE”.  Intrigued, Robert entered.

Once inside, the noise and bustle he had come from were no longer heard. The tent was dimly lit by candles in standing tripod sconces and an intoxicating scent of sweet jasmine wafted on the air. Thin drapes of silk and lace fell from the upper nether regions, seemingly suspended in midair. Sitting in the center was a very old, very great round table, encircled by a multitude of high-backed chairs. Strange, Robert thought, how could something so large fit in what appeared from the outside to be a small space?

Robert walked closer. Odd markings adorned the surface, almost like letters or words in an old forgotten language. Feeling rather tired from roaming around, Robert chose a chair from the circle and sat.

Much to Robert’s surprise, the interior morphed into a great hall, made entirely of stone with large wooden doors at both ends and one side. The tripod sconces still stood along the walls but now colorful banners also hung nearby, suspended from poles. Sunlight streamed through the windows of the room. Robert looked down at the table. No longer did it appear old. In fact, it looked like it had been made only a short while ago. Robert could read the markings. They were names! In front of him where he sat, was “Galahad”. To his right was “Gwayne”, to his left “Lancelot”, and the last one he could see - “Arthur”.

Sphere of Change by BR.

Prologue

Slaves were working in a field, guarded by Roman soldiers. By chance (or possibly Fate), one of the slaves came upon a crystal sphere. The sphere was small, not much bigger than a marble, but glistened in the sun like a rare jewel.  When he picked the sphere up, it began to grow and the slave became entranced by the myriad of colors swirling within it. He found he could not move and time seemed to stand still for him. He was being drawn deeper and deeper into the sphere… and then he fell into unconsciousness.

He awoke, disoriented and confused; looking around, he could see the slaves working, although from a different perspective. He looked down upon himself, only to find he was wearing a soldier’s uniform. He gasped, realizing he had swapped bodies with one of the soldiers! No one - other than himself - seemed to be aware that anything had occurred. He somehow knew he had bonded with the sphere and was now its keeper. He looked at the crystal; it had returned to its original small size, and he realized it had travelled with him to his new identity. 

 

Caption This (8th June)

Saturdays the readers get a chance to write something, use the picture as inspiration or perhaps suggest something for others to write. Choice of three this time.

**THE STORIES/REQUESTS ARE IN THE COMMENTS**

 

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