marg

This is only for you, ladywhin ! .. and, of course, for mum, Doug, chel and Hazer [& indigo for reading ]

PLEASE NOTE: I fail to qualify on several counts !
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It was absolutely, totally dark.

No light. No time. No here. No now.

George was..

George, up at the chapel at Hillmans Cemetery, looking down at Harry’s face in the casket, which still bore the claw marks that the undertaker hadn’t been able to fully cover up..

George, leaving home for the night shift and kissing Marge on his way out, trying to hide his irrational annoyance that the flowers he’d bought to cheer her up after Harry died, were dying from lack of water..

George, at the base of mineshaft #D3, chancing to look around and seeing that the last charge was set incorrectly, just as Willy pressed the detonator..

George, as the eight of them that remained held hands in hope, in the dust-filled, gas-ridden darkness, and waited for Smithy to take his turn to strike a match..

George, watching them carry out the other seven bodies, when help finally came..

George, now almost becoming part of the floral tribute, mingling the sweet smell and perfect forms with the pain and loss, kissing Albert and poor Ethie goodbye, and now turning …

marg

Groan..

..before chel or someone else points it out - it was Harry's face that had the claw marks, not the casket.

[..wanders off muttering about picky readers and wondering where Qsilv, master of nurgling (rabbiting on under your breath) has got to]

Nylecoj

It was only a small box, smooth, seamless, with fine carvings etched into its sides: seven horses charging over a hill, the sea splashing on the sand with a boat in the distance, a floral arrangement, a star, a tree, and a beautiful woman, her hair scattered over the light wood. Each image signed simply with "George", all inlaid with a strange black metal that shimmered in fine lines, so carefully wrought that no one but the artist would have hope of setting the box upright without help, and yet, any way would be correct, because it was a magic box, all six sides could be opened at a different time, when the hour struck its last note, only once per day, and each lid opened magically into its own box as though it was only an ordinary box, not any bigger or smaller than it seemed. It was only a small box, but it held a multitude of secrets. A pouch of fairy dust was tucked away with an ogres fang and a ribbon under the star lid. A letter, written to a prince of England warning him of the jealousy and prejudice of an uncle, was sealed behind the charging horses. And locked behind the face of the woman was a handful of birdseed. Kept from some memory so that it would never be forgotten, and yet forgotten completely, locked away where it was never brought back into thought, and lost. Yes, it was only a small box.

marg

oh, brilliant, Nylecoj .. you must be describing the Box of delights ! [by John Masefield]

.. but be careful, because if people know that you have the Box of delights, you're likely to be scrobbled !

Doug

It was a nice read. Well done, Marg.

Doug

Nylecoj: You put a lot into few words. A very tightly woven story; I enjoyed it.

ladyhwin

Thank you so much, everyone!! What wonderful stories you've written, and I love the continuing tale you have all wrought together, extremely fascinating! And Nylecoj - I really want to get my hands on this box.... how intriguing!

I don't have the time to go into detail about every story and what I liked, but know that there was elements that I really admired in each one.

Without further ado, I pass the torch to mum, for both of your amazing tales. I thoroughly enjoy your writing. Congratulations

marg

Yippee.. excellent choice, ladyhwin.. can't wait to see what mum comes up with

Hazer

Agreed, marg...and congratulations ladyhwin for resurrecting this thread from it's near death throes. I very much enjoyed reading everyone's contributions. Looking forward to your word list, mum.

Doug

Congrats Mum! Looking forward to your word list.

mum23

What an interesting and entertaining Thinkwrite challenge this one turned out to be! Thanks for the torch, ladyhwin, and I hope that the momentum will continue with the next one.

I'll give the word list some thought... see you tonight, or in the morning, as the case may be