Tag Archives: eruptions

She was Magic ~ On the trail of a mastermind – #JulyWriting

11 Wednesday Jul 2018

Posted by in July Writing, short story

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Join me every day at Noon EST for the continuing adventures of the bungling detective, N. Owl, in her quest to bring the mastermind, ~M, to justice!  If you’ve  missed any episodes, you can find them HERE!


I found myself tiptoeing to the door, afraid that any sound I made would catch the attention of the stranger behind it. Then I remembered Cory’s sneeze.

I placed my hand on the door knob and slowly turned it. As the door slightly opened, I could see a brilliant light coming from a small area in the room. Pushing it a bit further, I could see a young girl, sitting on a sofa, with what appeared to be a rather mysterious book in her hands. The light that shined under the door was actually coming from a book!

Could this be ~M at a younger age? No, of course not. Perhaps this was one of ~M’s finest creations. A daughter. Or, maybe it was just one of her young recruits creating a decoy. We’d be so enthralled with the light coming out of the book, we wouldn’t even notice if ~M had come or gone. She truly was magic!

I approached the girl and realized her eyes were closed. She looked to be asleep but I think the light was probably blinding the poor child. I motioned for the others to come in, considering I could see them all gawking by the door. Cory and Fred entered the room, but Mildred didn’t. I motioned again, but she just stood there. She was caught in the glow of the book! I waved my arms frantically at her, trying to break whatever spell she was under. Fred and Cory thought I was having some kind of attack and tried to stop me, until I was able to point to Mildred, who was still staring at the light.

Now all three of us were waving our arms, trying to come between Mildred and the book. When, at last, we were able to break her gaze, she looked somewhat bewildered by what was happening. I told her I would explain later, that right now, we had to keep ahead of ~M or we’d never catch her. I knew I was kidding myself, but hey, someone has to believe it.

We walked back out of the room, deciding to try a few other doors before heading back out to the street for another chance at finding ~M. Closing the door behind us, we stood there for several seconds. Something wasn’t right. I could hear the sounds of girls giggling. Damn! She fooled us good. I ran back to the door, flung it open and…nothing. The room was empty. We had been outsmarted again.

And in the empty room, only the walls heard…

“How did I do, mommy?”

“Great job, Auti! They’ll never find us”

 

Stay tuned for more from this crime solving wordsmith…

 

July Writing Prompt – She was magic – Day 11/31

©2018 Dorinda Duclos All Rights Reserved
Photo via Pixabay CC0

In the Summer Following my Birth ~ On the trail of a mastermind – #JulyWriting

10 Tuesday Jul 2018

Posted by in July Writing, short story

≈ 16 Comments

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Join me every day at Noon EST for the continuing adventures of the bungling detective, N. Owl, in her quest to bring the mastermind, ~M, to justice!  If you’ve  missed any episodes, you can find them HERE!


Now, I couldn’t possibly tell you what happened in the summer following my birth, because I have no clue. I was only nine months old. Let’s talk about ~M then, shall we?

(cue Femme Fatale music)

She sat on the grass, always with a phone in one hand. Or maybe it wasn’t a phone. Maybe it was her way of communicating with her army of no gooders. She had the look to fool them all. Cute kid, this ~M was, dressed in a frilly dress, coat and, oh, that hat! She could knock them over with a feather. Maybe that’s when the plume infatuation began.

She looked less than enthused with the young boy sitting next to her. After all, he was encroaching on her cuteness. We would later find out that he was, in fact, Charles, although we came to know him as Brian. Another dastardly trick by ~M. She was incorrigible. You had to feel sorry for Charles, his own cuteness hidden in the shadow of his love for ~M. She, well, she couldn’t care less, she was too busy plotting her next takeover.

(end music)

Which brings us back to this unknown doorway we were all standing in. I could see a glint of light coming from a room, nudged the others to look, also, and then started walking towards it. The hallway was dim but not dark enough to have to strike a match. Good thing, too. Remember? We only had one left. I stuck it in my pocket..right…um…uh…oh, here. Phew!

As I got closer to the door with the light coming through the bottom, I could hear the faint sound of papers being rustled. It had to be ~M in there, probably working on her next installment of “How can I drive them crazy in August?” writing prompts. She was so good at what she did, and everyone knew it. Still, it was hard to figure her out, but I was determined.

Deciding whether or not I should open the door and surprise whomever was on the other side of it, Cory decided for me. He sneezed. Understand, Cory’s sneeze could wake the next state over. There was nothing quiet about it. I knew it. We were doomed. But once he had settled back down, I heard the familiar rustle again. How could this person not hear Cory? There was only one way to find out, and I had to be the one to do it.

 

Stay tuned for more from this crime solving wordsmith…

 

July Writing Prompt – In the summer following my birth – Day 10/31

©2018 Dorinda Duclos All Rights Reserved
Photo via Pixabay CC0

Cobblestone Passages ~ On the trail of a mastermind – #JulyWriting

09 Monday Jul 2018

Posted by in July Writing, short story

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Join me every day at Noon EST for the continuing adventures of the bungling detective, N. Owl, in her quest to bring the mastermind, ~M, to justice!  If you’ve  missed any episodes, you can find them HERE!


I continued my way down the winding streets, trying very hard to keep the sound of my footsteps to bare minimum. It was way too quiet around here. The fact that I had no idea where I was kept playing tricks on me. I could swear the windows and doors were constantly changing. That stopped me dead in my tracks.

That was her plan all along! To keep me guessing so I couldn’t find her! How stupid could I be not to have realized it when I first saw this? (Don’t answer that). Stopping had made the scenery stop also. So, if I moved, it moved. Clever. But not clever enough for me. I began walking again, heading back to the team and hoping I would still find them where I left them. The doors and windows started their spiral along the path. Changing colors and shapes, but never opening. A very interesting point, if I do say so myself.

When I finally reached the team, I found them sitting around, playing with the rest of the matches. Cory was about to strike the last one. I quickly grabbed it from his hand and shoved it in my pocket. What if we needed it to get back through the tunnel?? Why did I bring these three into this? I was so sure they could handle ~M. I was beginning to realize I had, perhaps, made a mistake.

Grabbing them by their collars, I pushed them out onto the sidewalk and whispered to watch the doors and windows. Especially watch for one that never changed. That would be the door to ~M’s other lair. I was sure of it. Finally turning the corner, Mildred, bless her heart, spotted the one we were looking for. We stopped walking, the swirling came to a rest, and we stood in front of the door to only God knows where.  Fred opened it and entered.  The others followed.

Looking back at the street, I couldn’t help wondering about ~M and her childhood, and what made her this way. I may have to look into that. I entered the doorway, bid the street goodbye with a sullen wave, and closed the door behind me.

 

Stay tuned for more from this crime solving wordsmith…

 

July Writing Prompt – Cobblestone Passages – Day 9/31

©2018 Dorinda Duclos All Rights Reserved
Photo via Pixabay CC0

Powerful and Persnickety ~ On the trail of a mastermind – #JulyWriting

08 Sunday Jul 2018

Posted by in July Writing, short story

≈ 10 Comments

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Join me every day at Noon EST for the continuing adventures of the bungling detective, N. Owl, in her quest to bring the mastermind, ~M, to justice!  If you’ve  missed any episodes, you can find them HERE!


The tunnel seemed to go on forever. At some point, Cory burned his fingers and dropped the match. We were stranded in this hollow metal casket for what really did seem like an eternity. He finally stopped whining and found the other matches. Thank goodness for small favors. Striking them on the side of the tunnel, because of course, he didn’t take the entire book of matches, he couldn’t get them to light. Fred, took the matches and struck one against the cobblestone walkway. Ah, light, at last, but not at the end of the tunnel.

We gathered our wares and began the trek once again. Cory decided to become persnickety, going on and on about how he could have lit the match, and Fred always getting the credit, blah, blah, blah. I think I would have accomplished more with the Ringling Circus, I know that whip would certainly come in handy. Ooops, sorry, trailing off here. When I finally got Cory to shut up, we could see that we were nearing the end of tunnel.

With a bit of hesitation, we slowly made our way out into what appeared to be a small village. Well, not a village exactly. It was more like rows and rows of just windows and doors! The powerful ~M had no desire to have anyone find her easily. She made things look appealing to the eye, when deep down inside, her nefarious ways held very wicked thoughts, much like the whip I mentioned. Oh, sorry, again.

Trying to get somewhat of a grasp on the whole situation, I told the three stooges to stay behind, and I went ahead to check out the street. I was careful to keep to the side as much as possible, but the windows made it impossible to stay completely out of sight.

I turned to signal to the others to follow, but something struck me rather oddly. Looking around, things had changed. Maybe a figment of my imagination, or not enough coffee in my blood stream? I blinked a couple of times, but it was still happening. I made sure the others stayed where they were. I didn’t need any more of their stupid antics distracting me.  I needed time to figure this out by myself.

 

Stay tuned for more from this crime solving wordsmith…

 

July Writing Prompt – Powerful and persnickety – Day 8/31

©2018 Dorinda Duclos All Rights Reserved
Photo via Pixabay CC0

Jiggled and Joggled ~ On the trail of a mastermind – #JulyWriting

07 Saturday Jul 2018

Posted by in July Writing, short story

≈ 6 Comments

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Join me every day at Noon EST for the continuing adventures of the bungling detective, N. Owl, in her quest to bring the mastermind, ~M, to justice!  If you’ve  missed any episodes, you can find them HERE!


We stood on the deck, staring at the back door, blank looks on our faces. Mildred, who jiggled and joggled the lock to no avail, was creating a lot of unnecessary noise. Shaking my head at her, I snapped my fingers but she ignored me. Then Cory motioned to me to show me he had found what appeared to be a small door. I looked down and saw this wooden door with a latch, which actually reminded me of the doors they had on “Laugh In’. I couldn’t help wonder if there was enough space behind it to fit a person. Maybe Goldie was back there. Or maybe…oh right, I’m wandering. So sorry. Getting back on track, I nudged Mildred, again, to get her attention, and to stop her from making such a racket. This time she stopped.

Cory jumped off the deck and made his way below to investigate the door. Signaling up to us, we all climbed down to find out exactly what he had discovered. There was no lock, just a small latch that turned easily downward, allowing one to open the door. The hinges creaked, eerily sounding like a spirit being awakened from its tomb. I stooped down, and fully opened the door. It was pitch black. I couldn’t see anything in front of me. I asked for a lighter, but since no one smoked, no one had one. Great group I have here. Always at the ready. Pfft.

Clicking my walkie, I asked Fred if he had matches or a lighter. There was no response. I radioed again, still no answer. I had no doubt, he had fallen asleep. We had no way of knowing if ~M was still at her writing desk. Deciding I needed to take care of this personally, I told Cory and Mildred to stay where they were, and for God’s sake, be quiet!! I headed back to where we had left Fred, by the big oak tree, where I found him sound asleep next to it. I jostled him, finally waking him up and pointed upward to show him ~M was nowhere in sight. The house was dark and shades had been drawn. He said nothing but hung his head down, knowing he had really screwed up.

We both headed back to the others, only to find Cory missing. Mildred was standing there with that “I told him not to do it” look on her face. Cory had gone through the door. It seems he found a stash of matches inside a fake rock, which was right next to the door. At least he had enough sense to not go in blindly. I called to him, but only created an echo of my own voice. I waited. Nothing. Then Cory called back, in a whisper as to not deafen himself that it was safe to come in. Come in? Where, exactly, were we going in to? I sent Fred first. He struggled to get his large frame through the entrance but eventually made it. I could hear a low “Wow” through the opening. Mildred went next, I brought up the rear and closed the small door behind me.

We were standing on cobblestones that lined a long metal tunnel. Cory was holding a match that dimly lit the way. I prayed he had taken more than one with him.  Unsure of where we were headed, we began our journey into the tunnel, with only the sound of our breathing, echoing off the walls.

 

Stay tuned for more from this crime solving wordsmith…

 

July Writing Prompt – Jiggled and joggled – Day 7/31

©2018 Dorinda Duclos All Rights Reserved
Photo via Pixabay CC0