The Mysterious Mr. Mitchell pt. 2 - The Workaholic

The Mysterious Mr. Mitchell pt. 1

There’s nothing worse than a life lived by a workaholic. Gary worked nights at a grocery and general merchandise retailer, usually doing 10 to 14 hours at a time. He would be all knackered out and sleep all day, only to have to get back up again to go to work. That was about to change. Gary started a chat with Mr. Mitchell.

Gary: Sean, are you there?

Sean: Yo. Not toiling at the grindstone tonight?

Gary: Lol. Have a night off.

Sean: U work too hard.

The two talked for a while until…

Gary: Just got a call to go to work. Somebody called out and they…

Not this time, Gaz.

Gary found himself suddenly sitting in a pub holding a bru. Where am I? What am I doing with this?

Holiday Shorts; The Job Vacancy

My mobile rang, I glanced at my clock--6am--are you kidding me?

The display showed my work number; the head office. I groaned and sent it to voicemail.

Five minutes later it rang again. "Yeah?" I groaned.

"Hello? Mr. Labat. Brian Labat?"

"Yeah, that's me. Look, it's just gone six, it's my day off--so call me later. OK?"

"I'm sorry, but it's Mr. Pecosky."

Pecosky was my manager at the shop where I worked. "Yeah, and?"

"There's been an accident, he's in hospital. He's stable but we need you to open the shop," the voice was hesitant.

I was suddenly awake. "But he's OK right?"

"Yes, stable for the moment. Would you be able to open up?"

"It's my day off, Jake Hanson's working today."

"Yes, we have the schedule. We tried his number but there was no reply." There was a silence, "We'll pay you double time," they added.

"OK, I'll open up." They thanked me and I got ready for work. I had nothing better to do, my flatmate was away for the week which left me home alone, and bored.

Caption This (3rd May)

Saturdays the readers get a chance to write something, use the picture as inspiration or perhaps suggest something for others to write.  Two pictures, but check in the new comments section you can add pictures now so post your own stories/pictures!

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Holiday Shorts; Special Purchase

I was at Tony's house, a little down as it was my birthday and everyone jokingly kept reminding me that I was getting older. Sitting in the kitchen I sipping on a beer when Tony popped his head around the corner. "There you are, I've been looking for you." I looked up, his cheerful smile lightened my mood--but only slightly. "You know I ask you what you want for your birthday, and you always say 'surprise me'. Well, I think I've got something that you'll love."

He poked his head into the lounge and called out to someone. I was surprised when Devin Barton, the local universities offensive line confidently strolled in. Tony put a hand on his shoulder and smiled, "Like your birthday present?"

Holiday Shorts; Superhero's

Saturday night again, and I'm about to be banished to my room--yet again!

My brother Chad and his buddy Jonas always have a games night on Saturdays. It's just because Chad doesn't want to be embarrassed by his younger brother. I always thrash him on the PS4, and I expect I'd have no problems beating Jonas as well.

Tonight-- tonight's going to be different. I'd swore to myself that I wouldn't use my powers on my family but Chad's just pushed me around one too often, and I want some time on the console.

Caption This (26th Apr)

Saturdays the readers get a chance to write something, use the picture as inspiration or perhaps suggest something for others to write.  Two pictures, but check in the new comments section you can add pictures now so post your own stories/pictures!

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1.

2.

How to Make a Man

I’d had enough of city living. I wanted to move somewhere peaceful but still close enough to visit my friends and associates occasionally. I made some inquires and eventually settled on what one might refer to as a “gentleman’s estate”. Surprisingly the house had been on the market for a number of years so it was extremely cheap, which was great considering my limited bank account, and came completely furnished.

I explored each of the many rooms in closer detail as soon as I moved in. I immediately felt like I belonged in this place with its treasure trove of antique furniture and secret panels. I happened upon a recipe titled “How to Make a Man” in one of the old chests I found in the attic.

The recipe seemed to show how to make a gingerbread man except there was a very unusual ingredient I had never heard of before. My curiosity aroused I decided I would make the man. I had most of the necessities already in the kitchen but had no idea where to find the missing strange component. I was about ready to give up when I had an urge to look in the attached pantry. Sure enough stuffed in a back corner was the last piece of the recipe. After the prerequisite cooking and cooling time had elapsed I bit into my treat, savoring the spiciness then greedily wolfing the entire cookie in quick order, wishing I had another one.

As I was unpacking my belongings in my new bedroom later on my insides began to churn. The room started to spin wildly and fortunately I fell backwards onto the bed as I passed out into a deep dreamless sleep.

Caption This (19th Apr)

Saturdays the readers get a chance to write something, use the picture as inspiration or perhaps suggest something for others to write.  Two pictures, but check in the new comments section you can add pictures now so post your own stories/pictures!

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Seanday Special: Second Chance

Special Commission for Nothing But Fiction

Devin has returned from an assignment; with a three-day gap in his memory--a stutter they called it. He'd been working with the Chula on one of their warships. Strictly as an advisor, he'd identified a volatile thread in time. While in the field, he saved the life of another solider but almost got himself killed. The Chula had done their best to save him, but their nanogene technology was unstable on alien species. It caused some issues for Devin--skin blemishes, blue and in his opinion disgusting.

He stared at the mirror, and it flickered into life. A red circle in his reflection traced his eye and faded to green. His name flicked up in the mirrors surface, "Agent Devin Reineke." Data scrolled through the display, red lines of redaction etched the stutters in his memory.

Caption This (12th Apr)

Saturdays the readers get a chance to write something, use the picture as inspiration or perhaps suggest something for others to write.  Two pictures, but check in the new comments section you can add pictures now so post your own stories/pictures!

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Glasses Make the Man

“Hey geek man how’s the weather down there?” Jerry taunted his victim while burying him up to his neck in sand. “Read any good books lately?”

Poor Stan could do nothing but struggle against the sand that held him down. Jerry was a bully. He was very intimidating and he knew it. He also let other people know it, too. Brash and very egotistical, he enjoyed picking on guys smaller than him. It came as no surprise to any of the local beach goers that he was torturing a 90 pound weakling just for the fun of it. Stan, a mild mannered young man, had the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Good ol’ Jer’s girlfriend had just brushed him off for some, get this, nobody runt of a guy, preferring the guy’s gentleness to his perfect body. That’s her loss. Stan became the target for his frustration.

“Ah… poor wittle baby gonna cry? You’ll never be a real man loser. And those glasses… what Coke bottle did you get those from?” Jerry sneered, venom dripping in his voice as he swiped Stan’s oversized glasses from his face, leaving him squinting blindly as well as stuck.

“Look at me. I’m a geek. My glasses are just so cool.” He just couldn’t stop taunting his captive, putting Stan’s glasses on and prancing around the beach. When he tried to take them back off they wouldn’t budge. Try as he might they just would not move.

To a Tee

“Harold. Harold it’s time to get up for breakfast. You hear me Harold?”

Harold groaned as he rolled over in his bed. Another day had begun and with it another summoning by his mother. The seventeen year old reluctantly dragged himself from his nice warm cocoon into his bathroom. He sighed heavily, remembering the dream from which he had been so rudely awakened by her nagging. In his own fantasy world Harold wasn’t the typical nerd picked on by all the cool guys. Instead he was the most popular and handsome jock of his school, adored by the girls and envied by the guys. Everyone wanted to be his friend.

“Harold. Stop dallying and get down here for breakfast. You’ll be late for school.”

“Yes, Mother. I’m coming.” Plucked out of his reverie, he quickly got ready and glimpsed in the mirror. He was about as far from cool as anyone could possibly be. After downing his breakfast he headed off to his high school, not eagerly anticipating the day ahead but glad to get away from his overbearing mother.