smartylenora-blog

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The Bells pt. 2

The bells ring. They ring as the children walk through the city, followed closely by their caretaker. She holds the largest bell, which rings louder and less often than the children’s small bells.

One began ringing away from the group. Their caretaker, as their guard, immediately sprang into action.  

The children left on the sidewalk sat down and began drawing on the concrete. They drew happy faces, pretty rainbows, and eerie creatures peeking through the cracks.  

A passing mailman noticed them first. He had lived in the town since he was born on a cold winter’s day. Therefore, he knew to leave the children be.  

The second person to walk by them was a clerk at the bank. She had not been born in the town but knew the rumors of the children. Therefore, she knew to leave the children be.

Next came a cat. An older cat that knew instinctively not to go near the children. Therefore, the children were left alone.  

Lastly came a new resident, who had heard about the children and thought how peculiar rumors in small towns could become. She pushed her child’s stroller closer to where the children sat. The tiny infant began crying once the stroller was six feet away from reaching the children. Upon hearing the baby’s wails, the children stood up. They exchanged looks among themselves as the mother stopped her approach to hush the baby by pushing the stroller back and forth. Before the mother could speak to the children, a man cutting the hedges ran in front of her. He didn’t hesitate to take the mother’s hand with the stroller and guided them away from the children.  

“We leave the children be,” he said as he crossed the street as fast as possible.  

The children watched with no particular sentiment other than perhaps mild curiosity. Would the mother and child welcome them with open arms if they were to follow?  

Well, there was only one way to find out. The problem was the caretaker. She would be back any minute. Any minute now, she would bring the stray bell back, and if she found them not waiting where she left them, there would be trouble.  

She would not be happy.  

The children hesitated as a car that should have passed by momentarily slowed. Inside sat two police officers. One was an old coot who knew to leave the children be, and the second was a new transfer who began to shift the car to park.  

“We leave the children be,” the old cop said to the newbie as he placed his hand firmly over the gear stick and returned it to drive.  

“They are children!” Exclaimed the young man, who barely began to tolerate the break room coffee.  

“In this town, we leave the children be.”  

But the rookie refused to move his foot from the break despite the scowl on his partner’s face.  

One had to give before an action could be completed. They were delayed long enough for the children to take an interest in the lights above their heads.  

Clank, crack, the car sunk as many little feet climbed on top.  

“What’s happening?!” yelled the inexperienced cop.  

“Keep quiet!” The old veteran hissed, “if we leave them be, they’ll let us be.”  

Clang, a loud bell rings from somewhere. The children crawl down from the car, leaving tiny handprints on all windows. One child stands right outside the newbie's window and taps. A small hand pressed to the window, and a little face peeks through.  

“Don’t look,” warns the wise policeman too late.

The window shatters, a soft grunt, and then silence follows.  

A bell rings once more, and little feet patter away before the bell rings again.  

The policeman sits in silence for as long as he can stand it. He needed to be sure, the children were all gone. If they weren’t, then it meant it wasn’t safe.  

An hour passed before he glanced at the empty seat next to him. He had made the rookie drive to make him used to the streets. Now, he regretted his choice.  

It was rare to see the children out without their caretaker. Usually, it would be just one, sometimes two, never three. Whenever a resident saw them, they were to inform the police, who would call the caretaker immediately. Meanwhile, those who encountered the children knew to ignore them.  

The old-timer cop sighed before he got out of the cruiser. He cleaned the broken glass before he sat and shifted the car to drive.  

“We leave the children be, and they will let us live.” He muttered to himself as he grabbed the radio to call dispatch.  

[smartylenora-blog]

The Abyss is never empty. It's full of all the nightmares that hide in the dark, which lurk under beds and under creaky stairs. It's the forest when the dawn in it's splendor has long died.

But the void, the void is different. There is nothing there. Never was and never will. You can walk for eternity there, heading nowhere, and getting nowhere.

[smartylenora-blog]

Dialogue from a novel I'll someday finish:

Dad: let me give you some advice son.

Son: it's fine, I'll manage on my own.

Dad: humor me, I'll start with a question. What would happen if your friend there, gets approached by another?

Son: it's her choice-

Dad: what if they're persistent? If they force it, like how you know who approached your mother -... You're growling.

Son: it's fine, she can handle herself...

Dad: then why are you still-

Son: is not that simple!

Dad: maybe it doesn't seem like it, but think son. I chose your mother and there's not a day I regret it... So many here live wishing for another life, you have to think what am I willing to live with or without. What war will you raise and what peace will you foster?

[smartylenora-blog]

It took me awhile to discover this amazing show and the book!! But no regrets, i enjoyed the ride.

It's nice that it's starting to feel real.

[smartylenora-blog]

STORY IDEA:

Boy: thank you for telling me to work on my stamina.

Someone: oh no problem! You'll be able to run even further next time.

Other boy: Thanks for telling him too.

Someone: ??? Why are you thanking me?

A devilish one: *whispers the answer*

Someone: oh 😲

[smartylenora-blog]

I’m back!

After a long period of being inactive, I’ll be trying my best to post things about my new novel! A witch, a wolf, and a prince... has become my outlet to escape the world and finally write. 

[smartylenora-blog]

She cries. Inside she cries every day. 

Silently, because no one should hear. 

It’s a secret shame, how weak she truly is. 

Hide it under a smile, a polite gesture, but all an act. 

What she truly wishes to do, set aside for another. 

One day, she’ll bare her fangs and all will know.

How easy it is to fool prey. 

[smartylenora-blog]

[smartylenora-blog]

Even when I am alone, I have real good company - dreams and imaginations and pretendings.

L.M. Montgomery, Anne’s House of Dreams (via books-n-quotes)

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I must have this on my timeline, no regrets!

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Khaled Hosseini, A Thousand Splendid Suns

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Stories before bed:

The children follow her. They follow her as she rings her bells. Enchanted by the sound, they follow orderly in two neat lines. 

In the town, no one knows these children. They belong to no parent, though that does not make them orphans for no parent can have these children. Only her, she alone stands as their guardian. She protects them against everything and anyone so they can be at peace. 

Their daily walks begin with a thorough examination of their crisp clean white clothing. White is preferred for their walks, no one in town really knows why. Not that anyone has bravely asked any of the children nor their guardian. 

Once their clothes pass their inspections, they leave through the front door and hop down each of the six steps that lead down to the front yard. Ahead of them is her, ringing her bells. They are to follow her and the sound exclusively with no exceptions. 

They turn the corner around the high fence of their home. None of the children stare back, nor even glance, they know they’ll return just as the townsfolk know their routine. 

First, they will walk to the library, read precisely five books each before she reads them a story. Then they will exit the library and head to the park where they will feed the pigeons, blue jays, canaries, and any other little bird near-by. Next, they will have lunch under a big tree where after eating they will gather their things and begin their walk back home. On weekends once a month they stop someplace extra, where they will take out their easel or notebook and paint the scenery.  It’s rare for them to err from their routine but, when they do... it truly is a sight to behold. 

These children are special because they are, so she has to be as well. After all, what she protects are not just the children. However, that’s a story for another day, another time perhaps. 

As for now listen to the bells guiding them home. 

To be cont...? 

[smartylenora-blog]

I spread my wings and hope to fly but the fear of falling stops me before I try.

(via forever-deep-in-thought)

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Oh , Alice!

How deep does the rabbit hole go? 

How far down will you follow? 

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Currently enjoying their music! 

[smartylenora-blog]

My point is this: the more you have to lose, the braver you are for standing up.

Craig Silvey, Jasper Jones (via books-n-quotes)

This reminds me of the quote: “Those who stand for nothing, will fall for anything.” 

[smartylenora-blog]

A Poem in Progress:

I killed a little girl.

And I did it in the most terrible way.

What can I say?

There was nothing else to take.

 I began by taking her happiness and joy.

Seeping it away, while she sat at home alone.

Infecting her with longing,

She would never be able to quench.

 One thing I did give, were dreams.

In her slumber, she thought to escape.

However, many don’t know…

Nightmares are dreams too.

 Next, I moved in on her hope.

I caressed it, how beautiful it shone.

Innocence and purity, those make the best pieces.

In a special concoction to her undoing.

To be continued...