Storytime Tapestry E-zine

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

Halloween Contest

November 10, 2007

Today’s Announcement

Happy Birthday Kun Leng ghoul324@hotmail.com, from your friends at Storytime Tapestry: 

We welcome Terrence Marshall as our 447th writer for Storytime Tapestry today.  Please email him and welcome him to our wonderful Storytime Family.

Please say a prayer for a friend of mine. He is just a poor fellow. I have know this couple for a long time. Just simple poor people.  He had his voice box removed about 6 months ago.  It has been a slide down hill ever since. He is in the hospital once again. Last night turned for the worse.Ralph [Butch] Elwood is the name. God knows him I am sure, if you ask for Butch. God will understand. His wife, Mary is in tears, she just called me. I am going north to Lincoln to be with her in her time of need of a friend. 

Bill Walker

missourisage@yahoo.com

 The Poetry Contest submissions have all been submitted.  There are just a few more days to go to run the prose submissions.  There are two separate contests, so I am sending out the rules for the poetry contest since it is completed first.  Please vote, as members you enjoy reading the poems so vote to keep this contest going, and as writers you enjoy writing these poems so vote to keep the contest going.

If your poem was submitted and published yet does not appear on this list please let me know immediately, the contest voting for the poetry contest starts November 10 and finishes November 15^th.

Halloween Stories

~**~**~

A Nice Lady

Terrence Marshall

First off, understand that I am not Catholic, not overly religious and in no way superstitious. I'm a realist and I have to see proof before I believe anything. OK? Right, I'll begin my story and let you come to your own conclusion.

My daughter Therese married an Italian, Gino, who she met whilst on work experience in Italy. They married and were blessed with two lovely little girls Rosie and Patrizia, It is with the latter that my story is concerned. Patty, was born with a defect in her urinary tract. This caused her to
retain urine which would become infected. Sad to say, she suffered many infections which ravaged her little body. Many hasty visits were made to the hospital.

When she was two and a half years old she was admitted to a hospital just outside Naples with a very high temperature and delirium. The doctor's were worried that this time it would be fatal. She had suffered so much during her young life.

The doctors laboured to bring down the high temperature as quickly as possible, fearing brain damage. Eventually, it started to go down and Patty was given something to sedate her. Naturally, we were all devastated by the fear that we may lose our little darling.

The doctor came in on his periodic visit, bent over her, examining the little figure with his stethoscope. Straightening up, he gave a sigh, shook his head and looked at us as if to say there was little hope. We prayed fervently for God's to save our little one.

A tearful hour or so passed. Suddenly, Patty stirred and sat up!

" Aqua Mama!" She was asking for water! The doctors were called and they were astounded by her recovery.

" I played with the other children and the nice lady Mama."

Hugging her baby close, Therese asked, "Oh that was nice darling but which lady was it?"

"The nice lady that shines Mama. She asked if I wanted to stay with her and the other children but I said I wanted to play with you."

Patty was “Nice Lady.”

Patty was discharged from hospital the next day and has had no further problems.

One Sunday we took her to Mass for the first time. It was a novel experience for her. It was the annual Festa Della Madonna when the Madonna from the church is taken down, her beautiful silken clothing changed and then paraded through the streets, borne by volunteers.

Then, finally, everyone gathers in the church to await the entrance of the Madonna.

"She's here!" many excited voices could be heard to whisper.

As she entered and everyone began to applaud one little voice could be heard above everything.
 That's her Mama! That's the nice lady that shines!

  "She's here!" many excited voices could be heard to whisper.

As she entered and everyone began to applaud one little voice could be heard
above everything.

”That's her Mama! That's the nice lady that shines!”

Terrence Marshall

terencemarshall@hotmail.com

~**~**~

My deepest regrets to Terrence Marshall, it seems I cannot post any words that indicate drinking, or it will not pass the spam filter.  I have had to change the name of the story and those words, please realize that the establishment means the English place where you consume these beverages.

The Establishment  Quiz

 "GRAND QUIZ TONIGHT!

ENTRANCE FEE ?1 ONLY!

?500 JACKPOT!

            Pulling his thin, well worn jacket around him against the biting wind, the old man stooped toward the poster with its crazy, brightly coloured lettering.  Squinting, he fingered the few coins in his trouser pocket, mumbling under his breath.

             “That would do me a power of good!” Taking the money from his pocket he did a quick check and found to his delight that he had just enough for a pint of xxxx and his entrance fee.

            He shuffled into the pub lounge which was almost full to capacity, everyone drawn by the large prize which had built up at ?5 per week due to there being no outright winner. Many had come close only to fail at the final question which was always a stinker.

            Jack, the old man, took one of the few available seats just as the quizmaster began his preamble, repeating all the details of prize money etc. There was an air of expectancy in the room, electric, with many flushed faces and hearts pounding like so many trip-hammers.

            Question papers were handed round and each recipient tendered his or her ?1 coin. There were twenty general knowledge questions in all.

            “Everybody ready?” called the quizmaster. At calls of, “Aye get on with it! A few vocal strains of “Why are we waiting?” wafted across the room as everyone, with pen or pencil in hand, waited nervously for the “Off”. All except John who found he hadn't either but the lady next to him kindly offered one from the multicoloured bunch she fetched from her handbag.

            “Ready, steady -- off!” Heads bowed over their papers, everyone began making the best job they could of answering the set questions. John proceeded slowly, leaving a question if he didn't know the answer straight off, with the intention of going back to it if there was time. There was many a blank face and paper to match for the quiz was, by no means, a simple task.  Still, eventually, John had answered every question. He sat back, watching the other contestants. There were a few confident faces but many papers had been thrown, unfinished onto the table.

            All submissions, fifteen in all, were collected and taken to the quizmaster for checking. Thirty minutes was set aside so that drinks could be replenished and for a discussion about the quiz and other items of interest to the establishment clientele.

            The allotted time passed and the quizmaster got to his feet, calling for order.

            “Ladies and Gentlemen, here's the result of tonight's hotly contested quiz. Two papers were submitted. Each had nineteen correctly answered questions. The place erupted noisily to calls and shouts of surprise and congratulation. “The names are Fred Tomlinson and someone who styles himself as “old Jack. Will the two successful contestants step forwards to answer the tie-breaker?”

            To rapturous applause the two approached the front of the room.

            “Congratulations, both of you. Are you ready?  Fred and Jack nodded nervously.

            “Right! Here we go then. The question is in three parts.” Old Jack wished he'd brought his pint of brew with him. His mouth was as dry as chalk.

            “On December 31, New Year's Eve 1949 West Brom played Plymouth Argyle in the final of the County Cup. What was the final score? Who scored the winning goal? What happened next? Those are your three questions, gentlemen and the best of luck.” It was obvious by Fred's face that he had no idea but there was the biggest smile on Jack's face. He was confident.     

            Any answers?” Fred didn't make a move but Jack held up his hand.

            “Go ahead Jack”

             “Well, the result was 1-0 to West Brom. The goal was scored by John Ferris in the eighty - fifth minute. Unfortunately, John Ferris fractured his leg just before the final whistle and was carried off. He never played again.

            The room was as quiet as a graveyard, stunned, and all conversation snuffed out. Could it be? Had he won?

             The shocked quizmaster turned to face the hushed crowd. Pausing for effect he cried out,

            “We have a winner! Tonight quiz winner is Old Jack!” Uproar broke out in the room. It was finally over. The quiz that so many had tried to win and failed was at an end!

            Jack shoved the check into the inside pocket of his old jacket, wondering what Shiela would say when he told her of his win. He drained the dregs of his pint then called out as he reached the door,       

            “ Goodnight all!”

            “Just a minute Jack” shouted the quizmaster, “what's your full name? I have to enter it into my accounts of monies paid out.”

            “Oh! You frightened me for a moment. I thought there was a problem. My name? Yes it's John Ferris!”

THE END

Terrence Marshall

terencemarshall@hotmail.com

Published Stories and Poems to date; only works that have been published already will appear here.

If you would like to review some the entries before voting please go to this link:  http://archives.zinester.com/98907

Story Contest

Name:                          Title:                                                                Date:

Tanja Cilia                    Present Tension – The Novel                            Oct 30

Violet Apted                 Whatever Happened to Grandma?                    Oct 30

Bill Walker                   The Devil’s Night                                              Oct 30

Hart Dowd                   I’m Alive, I’m Alive                                          Oct 30

John Pagan                   Fury In The Garden                                          Oct 31

Janice Marler                Pandora’s Box                                                 Oct 31

David Wainland            Bullet Hole View                                              Oct 31

Hart Dowd                   Evangeline Your Neighbourhood for

                                    Halloween                                                        Nov 1

B.J. Cassady                The Other                                                         Nov 1

Corina Carrasco           Pumpkin Head                                                  Nov 1

Vance Agee                 Demon                                                             Nov 1

Arthur Levine               Staring Into the Face of Death on Halloween Nov 2

Mary Ann Reed            Halloween was a Serious Matter                       Nov 2

Mary Ann Reed            The Basement Steps                                         Nov 2

Cheryl Williams            The Night the Devil Came to Visit: A True

                                    Story                                                                Nov 2

Rosanne Catalano         Mystery at Shatick Estate                                 Nov 3

Earla Hollon                 The Weeping Ghost                                          Nov 3

Earla Hollon                 Rattling Chains                                      Nov 3

Earla Hollon                 Can You Hear the Baby Cry?                           Nov 3

Earla Hollon                 Who Was That Woman?                                  Nov 3

Lynne Stevenson          The Doctor’s Wife                                            Nov 3

Bruce Cornely              The Ghosts of Baskerbeagle Hall                      Nov 4

Surinder Jandu  Shradh                                                             Nov 4

Surinder Jandu  Chudel The Female Ghost                                 Nov 4

Michael Smith               The Painting Talked                                          Nov 5

Sharon Bryant              Jaime                                                                Nov 5

Lisa Westerfield            A Victim Speaks                                              Nov 6

Joan Hobernicht           Bad Move                                                        Nov 6

Joan Hobernicht           Bea and Ben’s Halloween                                 Nov 6

Hart Dowd                   Footprints in the Snow                          Nov 7

B.J. Cassady                The Fear                                                          Nov 7

Carol Roach                 Old Man Jack                                                  Nov 8

B. J. Cassady               Illegal Aliens                                                     Nov 8

Sharon Bryant              Fairyland                                                          Nov 8

Mary-Ellen Grisham  Night Adventure for Laddie and the Little

                                   Flower                                                              Nov 9

B.J. Cassady                Killing Them With Kindness                              Nov 9

Dr. Harmander Singh    Ghost in the House: Happy Halloween Day       Nov 9

Sharon Bryant              The Boogie Man                                               Nov 9

Terrence Marshall         A Nice Lady                                                    Nov 10

Terrence Marshall         The Pub Quiz                                                   Nov 10

Poetry Contest – Now Closed, rules for contest voting to follow in a separate email