|
Post by chocofan on May 4, 2012 21:35:05 GMT -5
My Town Georgie jumped on his skateboard and skated out of the school grounds - even though he wasn't allowed to. It was another one of those stupid school rules that he was always getting in trouble for breaking. Tonight he didn't care. It was already late and he was almost the last person left at school, apart from the grumpy school teacher who, he supposed, lived there. He couldn't imagine her living in a house, with a television, a bed and a cat, no matter how hard he tried. She was so old and crinkly and dusty he imagined that one day she would just disintegrate into a huge pile of dust and crumbs and echoing, empty voices. He was quite sure that at the end of the day she just 'powered off' in the corner, and 'powered on' again in the morning when the kids came back in. In fact, for a moment, Geordie was tempted to go back to school and check. He was already skating down the back road, despite being forbidden to by his dad. His dad had weird ideas, including the fact that the big towers down the back road were dangerous. Geordie didn't see how they could be. They just sat there, spinning, all day and all night. No one knew what they were there for, although some of the older people in town claimed that the original residents in town, the city fathers so to speak, had made money from them. No one was quite sure how, and Geordie didn't really believe it. When he was a bit taller he was going to go and climb up one. The big kids at school had dared him, and he had really tried, but he wasn't tall enough to reach the bottom level. They'd laughed at him and told him he was too scared anyway. He'd show them. He wasn't scared of any spinning old tower. He'd better not let his dad catch him down that way though, and Geordie quickly checked his watch. He should be ok. His dad wouldn't be finished at the Water Treatment Plant for half an hour yet. His dad was pretty harmless but he did have some strange ideas. He reckoned that in the beginning all the buildings looked the same. Geordie had just smiled at him, and he'd felt kind of sorry for him. Clearly he was losing his mind. Geordie supposed he'd end up having to look after him. He just hopped the old geyser could hang in there long enough for Geordie to finish school and get a job. Geordie took a shortcut around the edge of the park, even though he thought the weightlifter statue was creepy, it wasn't as creepy as going past the military base. None of the town residents hung around there, even the tossers at the big school were afraid to go down that way. Rumor had it that people went in there and never came out again. The whole area was in constant lock down, and had the nickname 'Forbidden City'. Whenever anyone went to the subway station they always went around the other way. The adults didn't talk about it - they just went the long way around whenever they could. Any cars driving down there just went a short distance and then turned around and went back the other way. There weren't any shops down there, just some empty sections with a few trees. The closest most people ever got was the park really. Geordie cut around the park, even though it was much harder on his skateboard on the grass. Almost home. He'd be able to feed the cat and get settled at the kitchen table with his homework spread around before dad got in. With any luck dad would never know he'd had a detention again. Where does Geordie live? What will happen next? Share a story about a resident in your village. Who lives where? What is their back story? Why are your houses and buildings where they are? Bring your town to life. Exalts for good stories, and a few bucks too
|
|
|
Post by newzealander on May 5, 2012 5:52:10 GMT -5
As he tied his fedora under his chin, Clive wondered, not for the first time, why a former ranch hand like himself had ended up living in a town where the only horses were the iron ones dancing around a fountain. Even stranger, the town was in New Zealand where they don't even have ranches. Just one of life's small mysteries, thought Clive as he closed the ranch house door behind him and walked out onto Oriental Parade. Besides...today he had a purpose.
Passing the tennis courts, Clive was run over first by the school bus, and then by a long white limousine. This didn't seem to bother him in the slightest, as Clive is a country boy, and country boys are tough! In fact, when a cheeky young boy on a skateboard tried to knock him over, Clive just walked straight through him as if he didn't feel a thing.
Looking longingly at the tall hedge that encloses the Playboy Mansion, he wondered if the rumors were true about the 24 hour pool parties, and the women in bikinis that play on the front lawn all year round. Clive looked across to where they were building a new military base, and thought to himself, bet it doesn't take long for those testosterone filled recruits to figure out the way through that hedge!
A taxi drove past at speed with smoke billowing from the exhaust. Clive thought, this town needs a good auto shop. All these vehicles that go unserviced, clocking up huge miles; it can't be healthy! As he turned and carried on past the skate park, Clive could hear the squeals of delight coming from the children flying their kites. He wanted to know where their parents were, and why they weren't at school at this hour, but then again Clive really had no idea what time it was. Big Ben had chimed 7pm, although the Town Clock said 3pm, and never the twain did meet.
Clive walked like a determined man. If this new business that had opened really was everything he had heard, Clive would be back on horseback in no time, and would once again feel the wind pulling against his hat. He looked over to see that stupid dog running up and down through the dog park, and ignored the crazy detoxing drug addicts standing outside the open-air theatre. Judging by the shaking, they were well into their detox programme now, and really should be in the hospital, but since the damn ambulance never stopped to pick anyone up, that wasn't likely to happen.
Clive spotted his destination across the road. His eyes lit up; so far everything he had heard was true. The big wide gates, the open spaces, the green grass out front. No one had warned him that there would be a small green leprechaun standing between him and the gates, but as was Clive's way, he just pushed past him, and ignored his drunken request for directions to the Pot Of Gold.
When he was asked for 2 bucks to enter through, the gates, Clive was a little put out, especially as he was only paid 106 coins for every job he did, but knowing the chance to ride again was only yards away, he handed over the green stuff. And his reward was soon standing in front of him; a large white steed, raised up onto its back legs, circling around and lifting itself up and down almost as if it was dancing. Clive felt the rush of exhilaration that only another rancher would understand. He waited patiently for the horse to come to a stop, then as the voice called "Next up for King Arthur's Carrousel", under his breath Clive thanked Walt for bringing Disneyland to town.
|
|
|
Post by chocofan on May 5, 2012 10:13:41 GMT -5
+1 Kiwi
You made me smile, and that's not easy at this time of night!
|
|
|
Post by newzealander on May 5, 2012 13:29:38 GMT -5
Thanks choco...I love the idea for the thread. Meet Clive...
|
|
|
Post by licat on May 5, 2012 15:14:27 GMT -5
Chocofan: Great idea starting a storytelling thread all its own!
Chocofan and Kiwi:Both your stories were fun to read!
I need to sharpen my pencil. awwk! Did I say "pencil"?
|
|
|
Post by chocofan on May 5, 2012 21:21:01 GMT -5
Thanks Licat. For ages I was wishing there was a way to share with others why some things are placed where they are. Thought it would be fun to create personalities for some of these crazy residents who walk through walls and cars randomly.
Kiwi - good idea about the snap. I'll have to try to catch Geordie, but he's pretty elusive. Plus reactivate photobucket or something.
|
|
|
Post by newzealander on May 7, 2012 0:46:28 GMT -5
If I bump this, will we get some more stories? Worth a shot!
|
|
|
Post by chocofan on May 7, 2012 8:18:33 GMT -5
Might have to check out another resident... There's that librarian...bet she's got a secret life... Plus the aforementioned school teacher...wonder which one she is ;D
|
|
|
Post by Raven on May 7, 2012 9:02:50 GMT -5
Might have to check out another resident... There's that librarian...bet she's got a secret life... Plus the aforementioned school teacher...wonder which one she is ;D I'm waiting with bated breath says the ex librarian
|
|