Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

April Fools Contest – Violet Apted

April 7, 2006

Because of space restraint this too is an April Fools submission.  It is not a special Treat per se, and should be considered as no better or worst than any of the other submissions.  Please take it into consideration when you are choosing your favourite writers for the contest.

MARSHMALLOW FOG 

Violet Apted

   There's something about Wynnum! The thick swirling fog coming in over the Bay looked ominous, a giant frothy wave of marshmallow, about to swallow us up. I have never seen anything like it before, and I felt a sense of foreboding came over me.

Since it was a beautiful day I decided to spend an hour on the beach before shopping.  Only moments before, I had sat in the sunshine watching the children playing in the wading pool. The fog had come out of nowhere so suddenly it had surprised everyone.

"What is it Mummy, I’m scared"? A small child’s question interrupted my thoughts. The little girl was pointing to the fog as she held her ragged doll tightly.

I could see many people had gathered along the waterfront, and the little girl clung to her Mother's skirt. Panic in her dark brown eyes. Lifting her up into her arms, her mother cuddled her as she said,

" Don’t worry Susie, it is only a nasty fog."

It was obvious to everyone, by the tone of the Mother's voice, she wasn't at all sure herself, what the 'nasty fog' was, or, if there was anything to be afraid of.  I watched the Mother carry Susie back to their car, and when I looked around me, I could see many others had decided to follow suit, and get the hell out of there, and away from IT!

 I was no exception, but before I made my way back into town I took a couple of photographs of the scene before me.  Looking back down to the sea from Bay Terrace a short time later, the sight was even more frightening.  The thick yellowy fog, now stretched all along the Wynnum waterfront, and it looked more condensed, like huge frothy waves descending in slow swirling motion, swallowing up everything before it.

"What is it?" A woman screamed at the top of her voice, "My God, look." The woman stood pointing her finger down Pine Street towards the sea.  "Its coming closer!” There was a mad dash for their cars, as people raced off in all directions.

 Ten minutes later I was the only person still on Bay Terrace. My eyes glued to the fog now halfway along Pine Street.  I was mesmerised by the marshmallow rolling fog. The flashes of rainbow coloured bright lights, could now be seen coming from within the mist, and added to its hypnotic beauty, yet somehow they instilled an even greater fear. I watched as a blue car drove out of a side street, and turned down into Pine Street, right into the path of the fog. The driver jammed on his brakes when he saw what was in front of him, but it was too late. The huge, swirling wave of fog engulfed him. A bright blue light flashed within the fog. The 'thing' swallowed up everything that was in its path. The realization seemed to break the semi-trance I must have been in, and I screamed as I started to run. In my haste I tripped and fell, cutting my arm as I hit the kerb. Bleeding profusely from the cut I scrambled to my feet and took one more look back.

 I could see the fog making its relentless way into Bay Terrace.  When I reached my car, I fumbled for my keys, and discovered I had lost them. Too late! The fog engulfed me and seemed to permeate into every pore of my body.

 My fear dissolved instantly as my body tingled from head to toe, and I relaxed, as a feeling of peace swept over me. I felt the flashing lights were 'giving' energy, rejuvenating me not 'taking' it away. I don't know how long it lasted as I gave myself up to the sheer ecstasy of the moment. I became as one with the fog. My body absorbed it as it permeated into every pore and I closed my eyes and felt a sensation running down my arm, which seemed to concentrate around the cut.  I could no longer feel the weight of my body I was floating deep within the fog.

  When I opened my eyes the sun was shining, and there was no sign of the fog. The first thing I noticed was my arm was no longer bleeding. Puzzled, I looked closer. There was no cut to be seen!

Spotting my car keys on the road, beside my car. I decided to get back to Wynnum Nursing home where I worked and see if everyone was all right. Nothing could have prepared me for the sight I was confronted with as I walked in. Everyone seemed to be talking at once. A group of oldies were jumping up and down in the centre of the room. Abandoned wheelchairs stacked up against the wall. I pushed my way across the room to Barbara- my workmate.”

"What’s happened here?” I asked.

 Barbara flung her arms around my neck, and hugged me.

"That fog, that fog," she had to shout above the noise. "That fog has cured everyone. Just look at them,” she pointed to the group. They were jumping up and down. "They are free from pain, and have discarded their wheelchairs. I've never seen anything like it in the twenty years I have worked in nursing homes."

Old Sarah spotted me at that moment and came running over to hug me. I stepped back in amazement. Sarah was eighty-nine years old and had been confined to a wheelchair for the past five years, yet here she was running! The once dull blue eyes sparkled, as we hugged and danced around the room together, tears streaming down our faces, as others joined us. Margaret Lucas had been in the last stages of Parkinson’s disease. She was in her fifties and prematurely gray, yet here she was hugging and kissing everyone as we danced. Her, once gray hair, now a beautiful chestnut colour. I knew I was witnessing a miracle almost too wonderful to be believed.  It was happening before my eyes.  There many questions that I would like to find the answers for, but right now, along with everyone else, I celebrated.

The next few weeks I spent investigating and researching in the public Library. Finally I managed to arrange an interview with a paranormal weather expert, which was really interesting. My findings confirmed that the strange fog that rolled in from the sea, wrapping itself around the Wynnum area was the cause of rejuvenation of the aged. Upon further investigation there were no traces of osteoporosis or arthritis to be found in the examination results.  Younger people were found to have recovered from serious illnesses.  Schools in the area have reported a great leap forward in the students understanding. Our schools are now well ahead in their education standards. There is now a rainbow coloured aura covering the Wynnum area-which can be seen from the air. The energy radiating from those flashing lights affected everyone, and has impregnated the soil for at least a kilometre radius outside of the town. Wynnum has become the 'Lourdes' of Australia. Yes! There's something about Wynnum!   IT'S CHANGED!   There is just one thing that worries me and it is never far from my mind. It all happened on April first! ‘April Fool!’

c  Copyright Violet Apted 2006

violetsrblue7@hotmail.com

Work: Freelance writer and Tutor U3A

Creative writing

I am Originally from Sussex and Kent UK.

Emigrated to Australia 27yrs ago and now

live in  Queensland  .

I can write in any genre and have many

stories and poems published in Magazines.

I self published a book of my own poetry

book, Titled `A POSY OF VIOLETS and a book

of poetry for my pupils.

I have completed my first novel a Murder

abduction story and now writing my second.

I think my favourite writing would have to

be children's stories. (Pen name Violet

Apted)

http://www.powerup.com.au/~strummer/violet

/Htmls/MainFrame1.htm