Mag 270 – Metamorphosis failed

Artwork by Ulrike Bolenz

I awoke with a sense of anticipation that my new life was about to begin. Cautiously I lifted my head and contemplated my body but to my consternation it was unchanged apart from two excrescences on my shoulder blades – wings I think. What good were they? They would never be strong enough to lift me aloft. Sadly I realised I would never achieve fame – I was Franz Kafka’s failed first attempt at Metamorphosis.

Thanks to Tess for this prompt. To see the interpretations of others please click here.

Mag 269

In a post-apocalyptic world Mary knew that her beliefs would cause her trouble but her mission was to proselytise no matter what the consequences. She sang, she preached, she prayed, and always she was aware that she was being watched and that reports were being sent to the authorities.  

Came the day when she was arrested and found guilty, without recourse to common justice, of sedition. Her sentence, banishment to the outer reaches of the universe, did not seem so terrible, for she could continue her work there. It was not like the dreadful punishments suffered by earlier saints, for so she knew she would become. Not for her the excruciating torment of being burned alive, or of being lowered into boiling water. She was to be sent into space, suitably garbed – it would be hard never to breathe sweet fresh air, to feel the sun or breeze upon her skin but she would survive.

A short time into her journey she was informed that her life support system would be removed from her and she would be jettisoned into the outer darkness – an unimaginable end awaited her. She closed her eyes and prayed.

Thanks to Tess for this prompt. Go here to read others' offerings.

The Entropy Gang's May 2015 blog

The Entropy Gang’s May 2015 blog (formerly Conservatory Cats’ Chats)

All change!

Herschel: It’s been very busy in and around our palace. First Paul and John came and took down the old garden fence and put up a new one. Then Paul came and put up new banisters. It was good to see the iron bars go.

Isambard: The THINKER and The MAID and Susannah took all the pictures off the walls and emptied many of the cupboards and packed up lots of things. Then Susannah painted the walls. They looked ever so much betterJ  

Jellicoe: After that some men came and took up all the flooring downstairs and put new boards down. They put new carpet on the stairs – it’s lovely for sharpening our claws. The HUMANS don’t like us doing that – I don’t know why.

Herschel: There is much talk of the Cat FENCE – rumour has it that The THINKER has decided to let someone else put it up. I hope he hurries up.

Isambard:  We were interested to see some men changing the GARDEN. They put a FENCE round the POND so that Frankie can’t fall in it. They also made a dry stream bed and laid nice fresh grass – we can’t wait to get our paws on.

garden, week one 

garden, week two 

garden, week three

Jellicoe: Susannah wanted us to make friends with Pats so she opened the door into her area so that we could go in and out. Herschel and Isambard were quite polite and happy but Pats doesn’t like me so I don’t like her.

Herschel: We were quite sure we could all be friends but Jellicoe wasn’t very nice to her – he bullied her so that’s why she doesn’t like him.

Isambard: The really interesting thing is that Susannah had kittens – well, not her exactly, but she brought two Somali kittens home one day. (Somalis are long-haired Abyssinians.) They’re brothers and they’re really fun. Herschel plays with them a lot.

Leonard, known as Lenny 

Solomon, sometimes called Solly 

Jellicoe: They spend a lot of time downstairs with us, bird-watching in the conservatory. At night they go to bed with Susannah though sometimes they end up with Bertie and us on The THINKER and The MAID’S bed. It’s quite crowded when we’re all there.

Herschel: A sad thing that happened was that Frodo, the spotted dog, has gone. We miss him because we liked cuddling up with him.

Isambard: We liked him because he had spots, like Herschel and me, and he was big and warm and gentle.

Jellicoe: I’ve got spots, too, on my tummy. Actually, we all had new spots, apart from Jenna, even the HUMANS.  Leonard and Solomon, the kittens, gave us ringworm. They didn’t mean to and we’re all better now.

Herschel: The THINKER and The MAID keep saying there will be a surprise soon.

Isambard: We know that Lolly is coming to stay for a few days when Bethan and Robert go on holiday so that can’t be the surprise.

Jellicoe: We can’t think what it will be. I hope we like it.