Halloween

They came in droves, wave after wave of them in neat rows. The sky was black, the sun obscured and the stench was unbelievable.

We ran at full tilt trying to make it to the safety of the house before the bat shit landed on our heads.

Reaching the relative calm of the house, my first thought was of Hendra Virus, then reminded myself that a bat would have to bite me before the virus would be passed on.

My next thought was for the ripe mangoes which were now in danger. Our annual income was about to be decimated by this plague of fruit bats.

Checking the phone book I came across several Bat Busters and chose a local number.

“Help, “I shouted down the phone. “I need a team here immediately. We’re under attack from a plague of fruit bats. My entire mango crop is under siege. Please hurry.”

“OK, ma’m. We’re on our way. Just watch out for the Batmobile.”

The Batmobile arrived within 5 minutes and a team of overall-clad young men, my rescuers, proceeded to lock down the whole farm. Swathes of netting were laid over every tree and the smoke machines began to pump out their anti-bat mixture. The sky was black with fleeing bats and I felt my breathing begin to return to normal.

“Now ma’m. About our payment,” began the leader of the Bat Busters team. “How would you like to pay?”

“Well,” I began. “I have no cash on me but I can give you a cheque now. Would that be OK?”

He smiled slowly, and for the first time I noticed his large incisors and as he removed his mask I shuddered at the sight of his pale, waxy complexion.

“We usually ask for a small downpayment, but we do take cheques for the remainder……………….”

(Creative Writing 3.8.12 Exercise 2)

Dialogues

Overheard conversation

“Is this seat taken?”Eli asked of the blonde girl next to the window.

“No”, she replied.

Five minutes of silence ensued.

“Do you mind turning down the volume on your iPad?”he asked politely.

“Why? Is it bothering you? “Lily said as she dragged her attention away from the movie she was watching.

“Yes. It is. Bothering me, that is,” Eli said with a smile.

“OK, OK, I’ll turn it down. I left my earbuds at home this morning, rushing out the door after the alarm didn’t go off,” confided Lily smiling back.

“Thanks for that. I really do hate leaving home in a rush myself.”

Another ten minutes of silence elapsed with occasional sounds coming from Lily’s movie.

“Could you wake me if I’m asleep when we get near Gymea?”asked Eli.

“What? Oh, OK, I’ll try and remember, “replied Lily in a distracted tone.

The train sped on, stopping and starting at various stations.

“Wake up! Wake up! I think you missed your stop.”

“What! Where are we?”Eli snapped.

Internal monologue

“Why has this blonde bimbo spread herself out on two seats?”

“Oh bugger off, Dreadlocks Boy. I wanted this time for myself before I get to work.”

“Christ! I can’t stand another minute of that inane giggling in her movie!”

“Huh! Stop interrupting me while I watch my favourite movie ever, Legally Blonde, again!”

“Smile, smile, smile. She might listen if you’re sweet to her.”

“Oops, suppose I’d better be decent to him. It is a long trip after all and he is kinda cute.”

“Smile, smile. She’s doing you a favour.”

“Wonder if I should risk falling asleep and ask her to wake me? I’m so tired and it’s worth a try. Keep on smiling sweetly at her.”

“For God’s sake. Why can’t he just shut up and let me get on with my movie. Yeah! Yeah! OK…”

“Oh shit! Look at the time, look at the station we just passed through! Oh well, I only said I’d try and remember, didn’t I?

“Bloody hell! Why did I think I could ask this dimwit to look out for me? Now I’m really screwed, that big contract out the window. Thanks for nothing, bitch!”

(Creative Writing 20.7.12 Exercise 2 & 3)