"My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplaces of existence." — Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
hello  |  artworks  |  writing  |  reading  |  bookmarks  |  home

January 31, 2022

Fiction: The Hunt on Wind Breaker Island

short fiction

This month's Words for Wednesday prompts are provided by Hilary Melton-Butcher. This week's prompts are: Wellington Boot, Art, Murmuration, Sedge, Thresh, Fissure And/or Heath, Race, Cottage, Mosses, Windbreak, Ajax. This time I used all the words. Visit Elephant's Child for more takes on the prompts over here.

Fiction: The Hunt on Wind Breaker Island
Sedge Quickhand was surprised when her left arm broke off. By then, she was already on Wind Breaker Island.
    Three days ago, Sedge, her best friend, Ajax 'Boots' Wellington, and six other contestants were dropped off on Wind Breaker Island by boat. They were there for 'The Hunt' to find the buried golden tooth. But it was not much hunting as it was racing about the island and randomly digging. The only thing they were told was that the tooth was buried somewhere in the ground. As the island was the size a small city, there was no way to systematically plan to find the tooth and besides, the other contestant would try to stop you if you did. And even if you find the tooth, you have to find a way to get it off the island and go back to the city to claim your prize assuming no one tries to kill you on the way and tries to steal the tooth from you. 'The Hunt' would last as long as the contestants were alive to dig. In the last hunt, only two people survived and they both gave up without finding the buried item and that was after eight years of searching.
    Wind Breaker Island got its name by the stench the wind would blow in every few days. The stench was often vile and anyone present would have smelled it whether they were underground or up in the air. Years ago, people used to live on the island but now it was a heath, full of overgrown trees, half-dead plants and animal bones. A few run-down cottages were still scattered about and covered with moss. Fissures with puddles running through them were everywhere on the ground. They divided up the island in little sections.
    'There was no art to digging. Just take a shovel and push,' was all Sedge's father said as she was packing to leave. For supplies, Sedge brought digging equipments, some clothes and bottles for water. Food, she thought, she would find in the water. Upon arrival, she had noted the abundance of wild fruits growing on some of the trees.
    Being on the island was not Sedge's idea. Her father gave her two options: go on this hunt or go to jail. Sedge only slightly demolished her ex's ship but he insisted on charges and Sedge's father refused to pay to get her out of jail unless she go on the hunt. Sedge knew her father wanted to keep her out of trouble and out of his sight. At 27, Sedge had never felt anchored to anything or anyone, not Boots not her father nor her dead mother. The years passed her by without her having any directions to her life. Any thought she had of becoming someone's wife and mother were destroyed by her ex. Sedge thought she might as well go on this hunt which might cure some of her restlessness.
    The one thing Sedge minded was Boots being her partner, which wouldn't have been much of a problem as Boots was build like an ox and could dig but their minds were linked. It was something Sedge's father had not told her when she agreed to go on the hunt. This link meant whatever Boots thought of, Sedge would thought of and vice versa. Sedge didn't like the idea of someone knowing her every thought. And besides, Boots was a bit dumb from the time he hit his head falling out of a tree trying to catch a squirrel. The linking of minds was to make certain the partners would be one-minded which should make making decisions easier or so they were told. Sedge thought some sick idiot had thought it up as a way to drive people crazy. The linking was done by a set of old mages before the contestants were brought to the island. The link would automatically severed if your partner died or if a mage broke it for you. Sedge hoped for the latter as she didn't like the idea of Boots dying nor her own demise. Already, one pair, a married couple, was seen fighting the moment they landed on the island. Sedge guessed the man had a thought the wife didn't like him having.
    A little while ago, Sedge and Boots were digging just like the other six people on the island. Sedge and Boots had claimed a spot near the water's edge. A black hairy creature, the size of a small dog, appeared and jumped on Sedge and gripped her left arm. Boots struck at the creature with his shovel but it smacked Sedge's cheek. Sedge grunted and dropped her shovel. "Sorry," Boots said and laughed. He threw his shovel to the ground and took hold of her arm. "I hold, you strike," he said. She nodded and threshed at the creature while Boots kept tucking at her arm until he fell to the ground unconscious. Her arm had broken off and laid on Boots' chest but the creature was still clinging to it. For a moment, Sedge stared wide-eyed. The creature crawled off Boot's chest onto the sandy ground and started running. Sedge picked up her shovel and whacked it until it let her arm go. It disappeared into the water.
    The murmuration all around suddenly seemed too loud to Sedge. She looked around her. The others were far away and besides that, it had gotten dark. Torch lights were lit and placed here and there. Still, Sedge worried one of them might see her. She picked up her arm and screwed it into place and twisted. There was a click and then she was able to feel her arm again. This had never happened before but she had always knew some parts of her were mechanical ever since she got a cut on her left arm and it didn't bleed. There were many chances she could have gotten answers from her father but she didn't want to know. It was frightening enough in finding out her left arm was not her flesh but to find out more would probably drive her insane. The skin on her left arm looked as real as the rest of her and the seam was invisible. Sedge took to always wearing long sleeves just in case. At least, she could lift heavy things with her arm. Still, it was no advantage.
    Sedge wiped the sweat on her forehead and face with the back of her right hand. It was hot on the island. Even after three days, the temperature had not dropped. The stench had came by once and it brought tears to her eyes but it was still not the worst scent she had known since she once cleaned toilets. To give up was not an option for Sedge since it would be a waste to be sent here only to end up with nothing. She took out a handkerchief and wrapped it around the bite mark and pulled the sleeve down a little. A cool breeze swept pass her. She sighed.
    She picked up her shovel and gave Boots a good kick. His eyes flickered opened and he sat up. For a moment, he stared at her. She tilted her head toward the shovel near his feet. He got up, picked it up, gave her a sheepish grin and began digging. All day, Boots had been thinking about eating coconuts and going swimming. It would have been nice to be so simple-minded. If only Sedge was a little more like Boots. Nearby, a little crab was soaking in a shallow puddle. If that crab can survive, so could Sedge. She picked up her shovel and started digging until a strange cry rung out.

January 27, 2022

Rain Girl's B-B Party 2022: Wrap Up

table with empty plates, a baby unicorn nipping on a shoe
a baby unicorn nipping on a shoe

Well, lovely guests, it's the end of the party. It's been very delightful to have you all here. I'll maybe, probably, do this again next year but perhaps make it a two-day event instead of a five-day event. I don't know why I thought five days is a good idea. Plus I threw these posts together rather quickly. I didn't really thought any of these through. Anyway...

Thank you for coming, lovely guests. Before you go, I have bad news to announce: First, your shoes had been slightly chewed on by the baby unicorn but the good news, whomever wore the crocs shoes, those are free of bites. Second, whomever owned the red corvette must fetch a tow truck or someone with a very tall ladder as the car is now up in a tree in my neighbor Lillypod's yard. We have no idea how the car got up there or why it appeared a bit damaged but Lillypod did said she noticed the car was parked illegally in front of her driveway. But don't worry, we know some really good mechanics. If needed, we'll even recommend some nice fairies who will help you if you can't get your car down.

Here is a list of things you might have missed (click on the text to go to each post):
• January 21 - Welcome
• January 22 - Scavenger Hunt
• January 23 - Let's Play Question Tag  
• January 24 - Cat Hunt & A Giveaway
• January 25 - Alphabet This or That
• January 26 - Have your futures read

Before you go, and if you're incline, answer this question: What is the best present (for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, etc.) you have ever got?

As they say, you don't have to go home but you can't stay here. Good night, goodbye and don't forget to take your shoes.

January 26, 2022

Rain Girl's B-B Party 2022: Have Your Fortunes Read

Rain Girl's B-B Party 2022

Lovely guests, gather around this little round table. See this lovely crystal ball? Can you guess why it's here?

table, crystal ball, card deck, candles
Okay, no need for guessing. We have a very special guest today. Please give a nice round of applauds for the notoriously grumpy, sometimes fierce, always artful, possibility mad, the famous fortune teller and sometimes psychic, Lady Fortuna, also known as Tina Jane Fatuna Smother but we are not to call her that unless you are planning to pay her a large sum of money.

table, crystal ball, card deck, candles, woman fortune teller
Today Lady Fortuna will predict a fortune for you completely free. All you have to do is give her a word or two and she will predict a fortune related to or something to do with those words. Remember this fortune might or might not happen depending on many factors but believe Lady Fortuna is telling the truth even if nothing happens. Leave your comments and I will convey Lady Fortuna's message for you as she is rather picky who she talks to and also, she finds it undignified to speak to peasants such as all of us, including me but I am paying her with a lifetime supply of chocolate so she has deemed me worthy just a tiny bit.

Please note: This is just for fun and not to be taken seriously, unless you want to. You probably know this but it's just me making up stuff and picking out random numbers.

January 25, 2022

Rain Girl's B-B Party 2022: Alphabet This or That

Rain Girl's B-B Party 2022
Lovely guests, it has be quite delightful to have you here. I hope you have been enjoying yourself. Just one thing to announce - the person who left the baby wolf fish in the upstairs bathroom, please remember to take it home or else it will become part of our family and you will not have any visitation rights, thank you. Here are some choice questions for you in alphabet format. You may choose to answer all or a few or just one or none and make up your own.

Alphabet This or That
A. Attached or Single?
B. Blue or Black?
C. Cats or Dogs?
D. Down 10 flights of stairs or Up to 2 flights?
E. Email or Snail mail??
F. Fairytales or Nonfiction?
G. Gain a pound or Gain some money?
H. Hop on one foot or Jumping jacks?
I. Ice cream or Ice cones (aka snow cone)?
J. Juice or Water?
K. Kiss a frog or Hug a bear?
L. Lose your heart or Lose your mind?
M. Music or Silence?
N. Nuts or Chips?
O. Oatmeal or Cereal?
P. Pizza or Spaghetti?
Q. Queen for a day or Quiet for a day?
R. Rain or Sun?
S. Steak or Salad?
T. Talk to a stranger for a minute or talk to your enemy for an hour?
U. Unicorns or Unicycles?
V. Vanilla or Chocolate?
W. Walk or Run?
X. Xray vision or Power to fly?
Y. Yoga or the Gym?
Z. Zipper or Velcro?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
For Cat Hunt answers, go here to see the image with the cats in circles.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

January 24, 2022

Rain Girl's B-B Party 2022: Cat Hunt

Rain Girl's B-B Party 2022
Lovely guests, come over here and take a look at this picture. The woman here was one of my distance relatives who lived in a castle-like house full of turret yards where she resided with her cats. It was said that she was a princess once but none of us knew if that was true nor are we certain she wasn't a witch that turned people into cats if they trespassed her place without her approval. But let's not dwell on history. In this picture, can you find the cats that are (mostly) hidden? (Click on the image to view the larger version.)

woman reading in backyard with plants
backyard nook

Lovely Giveaway
Lovely Giveaway

Today, the 24th, is my actual birthday, so here's a giveaway. Three (3) winners will get to choose from one of these prizes:

Option 1: An original art/creation from me. Just give me a theme or an idea or something to draw but no portraits unless you want to take the chance. It will completely be digital so you'll get a high resolution file large enough to print or use it for any purposes but you may not sell it. Satisfaction with the art piece is not guaranteed and it may take a month to complete.

Option 2: A design for your blog such as a header or sidebar item or a design such as a logo or some graphic for something but know you will a digital file in the end.

Option 3: A book of your choice from Book Depository for 20 (U.S.) dollars or less.

To enter in this giveaway, simply leave a comment. Last day to leave a comment is January 31.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
For Cat Hunt answers, go here to see the image with the cats in circles.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

January 23, 2022

Rain Girl's B-B Party 2022: Let's Play Question Tag

Rain Girl's B-B Party 2022
Lovely guests, are you feeling sleepy? Don't worry, if you like to take a nap, just go lay down on any of the cushions and a blanket will be provided for you if you care for one.

Answer A Question, Ask A Question

For those still awake, let's play a question tag game. How it works is, one person (which will be me) starts with a question, someone answers that question but then they also have to ask a question and so on. If the question is answered and you want to answer it, feel free but you'll have to ask a question with your answer. Simply put, answer a question and then ask a question. My question will be posted in the comments.

January 22, 2022

Rain Girl's B-B Party 2022: Scavenger Hunt

Rain Girl's B-B Party 2022
Lovely guests, today, we are going on a scavenger hunt. Find the items listed below that somewhat represents the descriptions. If you like, you can take a photo and post it on your blog (leave a link in the comments if you do) or skip that all together and list the items you have found in the comments. I trust you not to lie about finding these things. And no need to do this in one day, take the time until January 27th. Let the hunt begin!

Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger Hunt items to find (you may combine some of these into one item):
01. something with numbers on it
02. something that sparkles or shines
03. something that is heart-shaped
04. something that is a varieties of colors
05. something with eyes or two circles that looks like eyes
06. something that has a triangular shape
07. something made of ceramics or looks like it's made from ceramics
08. something with NY written on it, the letters does not have to be together
09. something that has an animal shape
10. something smaller than your fist
11. something long and narrow
12. something orange
Scavenger Hunt items to find
Here's a handy graphic for you to download and print out.

January 21, 2022

Rain Girl's B-B Party 2022: Welcome

Rain Girl's B-B Party 2022
Welcome, lovely guests, to my birthday bash.

I'm your host, Rain Girl. Please place your coat/hat/outer wear on your left and on your right, your shoes. Wear shoes, no entry. Grandma's rule.

I have good news to report. First, there will be cake served. I do not know what kind so I'll just say it's a mysterious flavor that might tasted like the best cake you'll ever have or it could taste like rubber boots but we can be certain, you'll taste some something. The cake and all the other sweets you see here on these tables are made especially by the kind gnomes who lived in the tunnels beneath the city. Don't worry, it's not at all poisonous. Unless you drink milk after eating one of the pieces. Sadly, there are no drinks but there is tap water if you're thirsty. The second good new is, no one will be arrested for trespassing or making too much noise. I am assured by my neighbor, Lillypod, she will not call the police even if someone steals her glass eye. Do feel free to roam about the space and even check out some of Uncle Jack's bus stop knickknacks he swore he got by legal means.

table with cake and sweets and party decor
So, tell us something about you, anything at all so we can all get to know you better and if you're incline, use your name to describe you. For example, Lissa, can turn into Listless, Insolent, Stubborn, Slightly-Mad, and maybe Adventurous.

Let the party begin!

(Oh, by the way, do not feed the baby unicorn in the backyard. He's in a bad mood and will bite. Only go near him when he has turned any other color but black.)

January 18, 2022

Top 7 reasons why I will no longer participate in Top Ten Tuesday

reading nook
reading nook
I didn't like this week's Top Ten Tuesday's prompt (2021 Releases I Was Excited to Read But Didn’t Get To) so I'm not going to do that or any more of Top Ten Tuesday in the future. I'm not saying I'm never going to participate, just not right now. Here are 7 reasons why I will no longer participate in Top Ten Tuesday (Top Ten Tuesday is hosted at That Artsy Reader Girl over here.)

01 | I rarely like the prompts — I see the list of future prompts and I have no interest in them. If I do them, I would probably change them so what's the point of doing it?

02 | I got sick of looking at lists of books that I can't stand — Not to say that is true a lot of times but most lists I have seen are like 'books I don't want to read' list. I guess people's tastes in books rarely matches mine. I know we are to appreciate people having different tastes but sometimes I just don't care.

03 | I rarely find new books to read — I must have terrible taste in books because I rarely find any new books to read reading other participants' lists. The main reason why I participate in Top Ten Tuesday is to find new books to read but these few years, I haven't found a single book to read from those lists.

04 | I find I have no interest in commenting on people's lists — I have to confess that I often visit participants but don't leave any comments because what they lists are books that are already on everyone else's lists. I guess everyone seems to be reading or anticipating the same books except for me.

05 | Just listing books is not fun — Maybe it used to be fun but now, not so much. I can't just list books or show a bunch of book covers, I have to have reasons and I have to tell them. The main thing with Top Ten Tuesday is that, you do just list books that fits the prompt and the prompt is your explanation but  just seeing a bunch of covers or titles is kind of meaningless to me because most of the time, I know nothing about the books that are being listed.

06 | Too much like work — I feel like I do a lot of work on my lists even though I can simply just show a couple of covers, I don't have to explain anything but I can't do that. I prefer to explain my choices and that takes work. I do tend to write on the long side and maybe it's why if feels like work.

07 | I often cannot come up with 10 anything — I don't know why it's so hard to come up with ten so maybe I think too much or change the prompt too much or I simply can't make list of ten. I know I don't have to list ten things but it seems kind of silly to call the list Top Ten if you're not going for ten. I don't know. I find it's easier to follow that rule or any rule when it comes to prompts and memes and challenges because that's how it's done, right?

What about you? Do you often participate in Top Ten Tuesday? If not, why not?

January 14, 2022

You're Invited...

card text: You're Invited to Rain Girl's Mostly Delightful, Slightly Zany, Slapdash Birthday Bash January 21 — January 27, 2022 Where: Here on this blog (Postcards from the Bookstore) Time: Whenever I put up a post
You're Invited to
Rain Girl's Mostly Delightful, Slightly Zany, Slapdash Birthday Bash

Join me for a slapdash birthday bash (aka blog party) celebrating my 27th (don't ask if I'm actually that age) birthday. It begins on Friday, January 21 and ends on Thursday, January 27 and will be right here on this blog.

No need to RSVP or get dressed up, just come as you. There will be no cakes, candies or drinks but feel free to consume any caffeinated drinks you have on hand. There will be presents (aka giveaways) and miscellaneous things & games that I throw together because I'm too lazy to plan. So mark your calendar for January 21 through January 27. I'll see you here until then.

P.S. Since we all love acronyms, I'll shortened this event's name to Rain Girl's B-B Party (B-B as in Birthday Bash). I used to be or perhaps I still am, a rain girl though I no longer take rain photos or aim my thoughts at rain. (So maybe bash means the same as party but don't bother to correct me.)

P.P.S. Here's the list of posts which I will add the link as they are posted. The question marks will be filled once I decided what that post is about.
• January 21 - Welcome
• January 22 - Scavenger Hunt
• January 23 - Let's Play Question Tag
• January 24 - Cat Hunt & A Giveaway
• January 25 - Alphabet This or That
• January 26 - Have your fortunes read
• January 27 - Wrap Up

January 04, 2022

What are your blogging goals for the new year?

Tell Me Something Tuesday

This week's Tell Me Something Tuesday is What are your blogging goals for the new year?

You think after all the years of blogging I've done, I would have some type of idea what I am going to post or maybe some sort of schedule or structure but no. I never make blogging goals. I prefer the lazy approach - just blog what I want and when I want. I might do another Draw Something month like last October where I draw every day and posted those drawings. I might also do the Blogging from A to Z challenge in April but I haven't make any decisions. But if I have to answer, I guess my blogging goals for this year is simply to post something once a month and that's that. (If you know of any challenges/memes or events I might participate as a blogger, let me know.)

What are your blogging goals for the new year?

[ Tell Me Something Tuesday was originally created by Heidi but is now hosted by Berls, Jen, Karen, Linda and Roberta. ]

January 01, 2022

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! 2022
May 2022 bring you joy, health, luck and everything new and exciting. Happy New Year!