Blog Post 132

Tessera Trilogy Blog Post 132

       October RWG meeting Open Mike and Flash Fiction reception

No written comments were taken, but the audience response was very positive, and in the Flash Fiction category I took fifth and sixth places.  My readings were all comedic, and were a solution to writers block … and a need to do something different.  The two Flash Fiction readings follow:

War Bond Drive

I’ve taken my ideas, my characters, the settings, the actions, the intrigue - from real and imaginary life. One story survived from an older first cousin, Frank. He served at the Battle of the Bulge, probably as a result of this incident. He was the assigned driver for Captain Henry ‘Hanz’ Rittershoffer as he went through our country on a WWII War Bond drive. Hanz served in the Hat in the Ring Squadron in WWI with American Ace Eddie Rickenbacker  ... Hanz an Ace also.

There was a brief introduction on the stage of a small Episcopal seminary near Mobile, followed by gentile applause from the ladies in their day dresses lounged in the front. It was an all lady lecture today, the men away at war or the mills, shops, or factories.

He began by telling them he’d share how it was to live through it all, then said he’d end by telling of a very thrilling encounter.

He described at length the airfields in France, of flying back to his base, low … struggling to find where it was at times by following a road or from the lingering direction of the sun’s glow. He told of tents, cotton cots, mess hall meals, smelly latrines and other features which lingered live in his memory.

He next described the aeroplanes he flew, bi wings with guy wires and wooden struts, and fragile fabric covered wings. He noted that all had smaller engines with much less horsepower than the cars they drove to this War Bond Drive.

After twenty minutes of memories he recounted, as promised, a squadron aerial encounter. “It was with the squadron of the German Red Baron, Manfred Von Richtoffen. We flew our biplanes out of the fog in line abreast and encountered them over battlefields above eastern France. It was an ominous sight which made our blood run cold. There were Fokkers to our right, left, above, and below. The sky was dark with Fokkers.”

My cousin abruptly took the microphone and spoke. “I apologize ladies for what might seem crude remarks. Let me explain. Fokkers are a type of German aircraft.”

Captain Rittershoffer grabbed the mike back … and spoke. “Yes, but these Fokkers were Messerschmitts.” 

  

Sitting Ducks

 … by DP Tolan

The sky above provided the barest of light

Few stars saw what came, or what went

There were just two trails lead to where we crouched

One sleeping, one watching

Water waited nearby, a stream burbled with nature’s laughter

Beyond the leaves of a tree, a green light now flashed, unwelcome.

I saw movement there, below and to the right

It was not a small creature, not one with four legs

The figures bent, carrying something in their arms

They wore hats, and by the light I saw they wore

Clothes which blended into the leaves and brush

I could detect no scent, the wind at our backs

My chest thumped, nerves racing

My heart rate edged upwards with fear

It was felt this was a place where confrontation, even death stalked

I knew Rules of Engagement applied here … but

We were here first

It is our place. We control it … for now

We must reposition … silently, swiftly

We can move without being detected

Before they approach and detect us

What are their intentions?

My eyes scanned for further motion, there was none.

Their voices sounded, softly, clashing with the night’s silence

A twig broke … and we knew these were not creatures, but enemies

‘They’ moved closer … our pulses quickened

    

We rose, sprang forth

I sounded an alarm, signaling others that ‘they’ were near

Quack, Quack!   

Besides loud applause and audience smiles, four RWG members approached me after my performances and said very nice things about them. I gave a five minute, standup comedy routing for the Open Mike event, equally well received.