Our Quicky Update

I was exhausted, too dizzy to stand or walk so I went to bed early. After just 4 hours I awoke. Why? There were banging noises (I was going to make a joke about sex, but I’m not in the mood), almost like someone thumping on a door. One eye open: I don’t want to investigate. 5  minutes later: John is sleeping, I better look. Ah. It was simply my bedroom door gently hitting the doorframe – except it was loud enough to waken me. At 3.05 a.m.: I may as well take the dogs out for a pee…

So, I’m up, writing this blog post.

I normally write the next ‘The Hotel Unicus’ the very day (Sundays) the latest installment is published. Sometimes I get carried away and write 2 or 3 more in the same week. I wasn’t able to write the Epilogue for today. Blame it on the extra stress of late and the long-term illness (chronic pain); however, those things aren’t the only reasons because I’ve written, so far, 4,000+ words on another short story! And, the good news is, you’ll get this one, all in ONE go – when it’s done. It’s called Red Shoes. Here’s a peek…

My sister asked if I was possessed. My mum expressed her concern. My Aunt Nicky tried stealing them off me. Things were not the same; I was not the same.

“Have you heard of the story, The Red Shoes?” Gran said, giving my beauties a shrewd look.

“The original tale by Hans Christian Andersen tells of a girl who behaved disobediently. She was told not to wear the red shoes she was fond of, to church, but she did. Someone ends up cursing the red shoes and so the girl almost dances to her death. She’s only saved by begging the axe-man to cut off her feet – as the shoes do not come off. There is a ‘happy ever after’ though, when she is redeemed by her good behaviour and then goes to Heaven. The film – of the same name – is very loosely based on the original tale, telling of a ballerina who is torn between her career and her lover. In the end it is implied that the red ballet shoes danced her to her death, in the path of a speeding train.”

“No wonder you’re so happy, Gran, reading and watching stuff like that.”

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It’s another horror/mystery type story. Completely fictional (I hope). It might be ready this week.

Back to The Hotel Unicus. Since I’m up and feeing guilty about it, I’m going to attempt to write the whole thing – polished (grammar and word-checked) – now. So you may get it today, Sunday, at the usual time. If not, you can blame it on the Tall Man (yes, he is an evil bastard. I warned you).

Oscar’s Update (fleas, fatherhood and Feptember) –

Poor Oscar and the others had a terrible time this summer with fleas, despite being inoculated. It turned out the fipronil ingredient just wasn’t doing what it used to and should. I can tell you, I was very busy with the flea-comb. I kept a glass of water nearby – after a couple of days it was named The Flea Glass – in which to drown the nasty buggers. I used up a lot of Germolene antiseptic and soothing cream on the sore areas, poor dogs. Even John wasn’t immune. He got one stuck in his mighty chest hair. The creature had bitten off more than it could chew!, struggling to climb out of the coarse strands – this wasn’t what it had ‘signed up for’. Paradise being a place, warm and soft with silky fur to bed in and a number of friends to keep company whilst sipping the blood on tap. The dogs were all regularly bathed in anti-flea-shampoo. Also, areas inside the home were sprayed with flea-killing-spray. Hopefully the worse is over now with the cooler autumnal weather and another type of medicene. I don’t remember fleas being this tenacious for 24 years!

Oscar is not too sure about fatherhood. He’s not even sure where the pups came from! Whilst Bearix Grace, their mother, is a relaxed kind of mum, Oscar is quite strict. Which is understandable since one of them accidentally poked him in the eye months ago. He reluctantly suffers having his eyeballs licked, though, by CreamScone, Twiglet and Maxi – don’t ask, it’s a Chihuahua thing.

Dear blogging friends, if I haven’t paid you a visit yet, I soon will. I’m not one to just ‘like’ a post; I always read it and try to add to it with an adequate (I attempt) comment.

 

 

 

 

All the best, have a lovely Sunday

Faith + Oscar Dandelion (+ co.). 

 

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Copyright Faith McCord 2016

Story and artwork belongs to Faith McCord who is the author and artist holding the copyright. This is not a public domain work. Worldwide rights.

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