stories from the Indies

Mr T was sitting in the Batan Orchid Teagarden with young Mangel and Worzel. As always,they asked for a story with their dinner.
'I only have a sad story today-is that alright?'
'Yes Daddy,better than no story.'

Alice was a plain girl, rarely noticed by the boys and she rarely took any notice of them. But one morning the kitchen door bell rang and she answered it. When she opened the door she found a red-haired boy with sticky-out ears who smelled of fish.
'Haddock' he said offering her some fish in brown paper.

She put the fish into the cold store and the boy had gone by the time she had returned. She thought he looked gentle and kind, if not handsome. She waited a week until it was again fish day.

When the boy rang the bell and held out the haddock, he was most surprised to find that he had had his first kiss. He ran off down the street, stopped for a second, thought, then ran back as fast as he could for a second.

And so Alice had a boy. They kissed each fish day for a year until the war came and the boy felt it his duty to volunteer. Perhaps he had had enough of being the fish-boy. Perhaps he had had enough of Alice? I think not, as he wrote every week. Until the letters stopped.

Alice cried for two weeks. She went to see the boys parents who ran the fish shop. The window was lined in black paper and a tiny picture of a boy was inbetween the cod and the eel. But when she tried to speak to them they called her a lying hussy and denied, violently at times, any connection between their heroic son and a plain kitchen maid.

Alice got a job in a haberdashers and her lack of outside interest lead to her being given a senior role in the company's office staff. Every fish day, once she earned enough, she bought a small piece of haddock and for a moment let herself think about what might have been.

The years passed and even a second war came and went, but nothing seemed to leave an impression on her, except time itself. Eventually she became aware that something was wrong, very wrong, deep inside. She never thought about visiting a doctor, because there was no treatment that would cure her, instead she thought about visiting her boy for the first and last time.

Alice abonded the conducted coach tour at the first cemetery. The guide had been very upset at the thought of losing one of his flock, but she was free to go, so she did.

She had cried at the first cemetry, just from the enormity. She thought of all the other Alices who had been left behind and wondered how many married in the end, how many remained true and those who were never given the choice.

On the third day at the third cemetery she knew she was close - the surnames were familiar, other boys from home. It had been drizzeling for days and she was chilled through. The ground was becoming mud, just as had done so long ago.

She almost walked past it, there being such a cold fog in her mind. It was such a small cross and such a tiny patch of grass. She knelt down and felt the dampness. She lay down on the grass, curled up. I must look ridiculous, she thought but she did not care. She had not cared since she had seen the fish shop in black.

She closed her eyes and wished herself to sleep, to sleep forever on his grave. She waited, listening to her heartbeat and breathing.

She woke with a start, feeling cold as stone. It hadn't worked. She felt a suffocating sense of failure. She opened her eyes, looked up at the blue sky through the tears - a blue sky that seemed infinite and eternal. She sniffed - 'haddock' - she smiled and turned her head to greet him.


so who's for icecream?

I'm not sure how to reply to your story except to say it had me gripped from beginning to end. Very interesting and most intriguing.
I don't suppose you'd believe me if I said my story is in rhyme! I wrote a few of these for a couple of children that I knew - therefore it is a children's rhyming story!This first one is very long so I will post half of it.

Are you as brave as adventurous Pip,
Who sailed stormy seas in a Viking Ship?
He stood at the prow, his sword in his hand,
Ready to explore after finding dry land.

Many miles of ocean, Pip had crossed,
Over crashing waves his boat was tossed
With his sister, Bean, always by his side,
Tales to tell round a warm fireside!

They planned a brave quest, to a distant shore
Not only two of them, they needed more.
It wasn’t long before they had enough.
Stalwart sailors who said they were tough

From the beach they sailed in a new longship,
One hundred people, led by Pip,
The ship sailed smoothly as it headed West,
With brave young Vikings on an unknown quest.

Out of turbulent sea, in darkest night,
Reared a huge monster, what a dreadful fright!
Sleeping men knew nothing of the danger,
Snoring beneath that threatening stranger.

One young man crept from underneath the sail
Difficult to stand in a force ten gale
Waves pounded and crashed over his head
The huge sea-dragon filled his heart with dread.

Brave little Pip found his trusty sword,
Lifted it high, as dragon thrashed and roared,
A mighty wave struck, the dragon lifted high,
Taking to flight across the midnight sky.

Bean had witnessed what her brother had done,
Shouted so loud, woke sailors, every one.
‘Wake idle creatures, Pip has saved your hide
From a hungry dragon who likes food fried!

With sail hoisted high, wind kept them on course
Guided by stars, a pace they couldn’t force.
Pip stayed on watch, they voyaged through the night,
At last land ahead, a welcome sight.

To be continued - if anyone interested - put back in the archives if not!

Lin
xx

Dear Turnip
Please can I have an ice cream now!

a raspberry ripple with a flake. kept seeing pictures of noggin the nog!

Turnip what a lovely story. I can think of several older ladies from my past that this could have related to.

It's a bit too early for ice cream I'll just pour myself another cup of tea.

glad you enjoyed it pebble. when i was telling the story to the children (that bits true) i couldn't finish it (embarrassing to be affected by one's own story), so i am glad to have been able to post it here. one of the many (?) advantages of having pd!

Today's story, said Mr T, eyeing his Nasi Goreng lustily, will be short. As the last story was about lost love and fish, so this story is about lost love and spicy pork soup.

Pin and Pan were two warriors of the Blue Horde during the time of the third unrest. They were the greatest of friends and were entirely inseperable. Many times Pin rescued Pan from death in battle and many times Pan rescued Pin.
For years the Blue Horde criss-crossed the land, fighting the other armies, killing peasants and generally enjoying themselves.
The lived well off the land and had a large following of kitchen-waggons, the most famous being the hot pork wagon of Mr Sun which only appeared on campaign and was gone during the winter resting.
One day Pin and Pan were in a scouting party looking for a band of Heavenly Monkeys that had been harassing their supply lines. The commander misjudged the enemy and he and Pan were separated from the others. The monkeys fell on the two men and tore than to pieces. Pin ran to help but was held back by his comrades. He scratched and bit at them desperate to reach Pan, even though his friend lay strewn in pieces on the ground. In his despair, his legs gave way and he was dragged from danger, his comrades turning their heads away from his sorrow.

Pin lay on his side of the tent leaving Pan's half empty, as if he could return at any moment. For two weeks he ate nothing, turning pale and sickly. His comrades tried to tempt him with all sorts of delicacies but nothing worked.

Then one day a young soldier burst in and said that old Sun had said that he could bring the dead back to life and Pan could be re-united with Pin.

For the first time in days Pin reacted to a visitor.
'Take me to Sun' he asked in a dry voice.

Pin lay on Sun's couch.

'Can you bring back Pan to me?'

'That foolish youth should not have said such a thing. No-one can bring back the dead.'
Pin collapsed back onto the couch sobbing.
'But here, have some pork soup. Then I will reunited you as best I can with your dear Pan.'

Pin took the soup in trembling hands. It smelled divine, and he gobbled it down. He felt his strength returning and his mind clearing.

'Have some more.'

The second bowl was even better, the cubes of pork soft and spicy.

Pin stopped eating, the spoon motionless, his eyes staring at the piece of pork. On the pork was a piece of skin, and on the skin was his name in faded blue ink.

He tore open his own shirt and there was, above his heart, the name of Pan, tattoed in exactly the same way.

The old man coughed. He was holding a very large knife.
'So, in a way, Pan is now united with his dear Pin, his sinews will become yours, his blood will flow through your viens, what more could you want ?' he said smiling.

Pin's mind leapt to the correct deduction -
'All these years you have been feeding us our dead comrades?'
The old man smiled again.
'You are a monster!'
The smile dropped, a severe frown replaced it.
'It is your glorious general who is the monster. It is he who ended a million lives. I, on the other hand, have saved a million lives.'
'Whose lives have you saved?' sneered Pin.
'The pigs's' the old man's smile returned.
'A pig's life is not worth a man's.'
'No it is worth much more. A pig does not kill or steal or rape. Pig's are most moral creatures. They don't deserve to end up in soup.'

Pin reached a second deduction -
'So you are going to put me in the soup too.'
'That was my plan...but you are such an intelligent, loyal and, I believe, good man that if you promise me on Pan's soul that you will not tell anyone about my, err, supplier and promise not to harm me in anyway, then I will let you go.'

Pin lowered his eyes, what he had to do was clear to him now.
'I solemly promise on Pan's soul not to tell anyone nor to harm you in anyway.'

The old man put down his knife and turned away.

Pin drew his sword and cut of the old man's head with one instanteous movement.

'The soup will be a little chewy tonight.' he hissed as he set to work.

Now can I eat my dinner?

Lin, if little Pip can put up with such dubious company, can we have part 2?

yes please Lin I also want to know what happens to Pip & Bean

Dear turnip
I will never eat soup again without thinking of your story! In fact, I don't think I will ever eat soup again! I laughed and cried in equal measure!
Pip and Bean don't come anywhere near your standard of story telling. But, as I have nothing spoiling at the moment, I will go and find them.
They will be here shortly!

Lin
xx

Pip and Bean continue for ab and turnip.

The longship was beached high up on the sand.
How good it felt, to be back on dry land.
Deep in thought, strange sounds reached their ears,
Hollering and drumming increased their fears.

In less time than it takes to blink an eye,
The ship was surrounded, couldn’t see sky.
Circling around them, looking sly and mean,
Strangest set of people they’d ever seen.

‘Stop this now!’ cried the hungry Pip and Bean.
‘Is this behaviour part of a routine?
You look quite fierce, but we are not afraid,
We come in peace, friendships to be made.

The natives were amazed at no attack,
Ceased their awful noise and took a step back.
They couldn’t believe that here before their eyes?
Were two fearless Vikings of miniature size.

It has to be said that when Pip and Bean smiled,
Even the fiercest would turn meek and mild,
Laughter in their eyes, natives knew they couldn’t win,
When two cheeky Vikings began to grin.

The sailors were led to a place nearby,
A banquet was ordered; the food was piled high.
They ate and they drank, they had a great time,
Dancing, singing, telling stories in rhyme.

Though language was strange and not clearly understood,
They clapped and cheered to pretend that they could.
Full to burst, they lay their heads down to rest
Dreaming they had reached the end of their quest.

Early next morning the old native chief,
Was up and about, his chat was brief,
Told Pip and Bean this was a special place,
Must be kept secret from the human race!

This New World had welcomed Pip and Bean,
Long before Columbus hit the scene,
the youngsters called for everyone to board
Making sure their many treasures were safely stored.

The longship launched, strong wind filled the sail,
Some of the sailors began to look pale,
Through spray of the sea, the journey was quick
No-one on board was the slightest bit sick.

Back to England, they raced with the tide,
Returning home, the longship was spied,
With Bean at the stern and Pip at the prow
They landed quite safely, but what happens now?

Well this was the tale of young Pip and Bean,
The bravest of Vikings that you’ve ever seen,
It won’t be long before they set sail again,
And if you are lucky you can go with them then.

Lin
xxx