Submissions by Lozzamus
POEMS AND SHORT STORIES
Poet Introduction
I compare poetry to painting, believing that I lack any drawing/painting skills but believing my imagination and training in writing has enabled me to transfer my love of visual art to the written word
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
24th Sep 2023 7:32pm
24th Sep 2023 7:32pm
Silent, Confrontation With The Ogre
Two Years Earlier, Lucy
A total disaster.
'I've had my eye on you ever since last night when I saw you and one of my students together in the garden shelter,' the Ogre said. 'I assume you were on your way to see the student just then.'
'No.'
'It would be better all-round if you were honest.'
'I am being honest.'
'I hope so,' the Ogre said. 'For your sake. Wandering around student accommodation is a very serious matter.'
She didn't respond to this, unsure of which answer would bring about greater consequences....
A total disaster.
'I've had my eye on you ever since last night when I saw you and one of my students together in the garden shelter,' the Ogre said. 'I assume you were on your way to see the student just then.'
'No.'
'It would be better all-round if you were honest.'
'I am being honest.'
'I hope so,' the Ogre said. 'For your sake. Wandering around student accommodation is a very serious matter.'
She didn't respond to this, unsure of which answer would bring about greater consequences....
#memories
#mystery
#obsession #risk
#obsession #risk
33 reads
0 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
18th Sep 2023 7:00pm
18th Sep 2023 7:00pm
Silent, Digging For Answers
Two Years Earlier, Lucy
She waited for Veronica to go, then slipped into the office behind the main desk in the entrance foyer, having planned the moment all afternoon. It was there on the rack, just like she'd known it would be. Left for the cleaners.
A copy of the key to the apartment on the top floor where the Ogre was currently staying, Agnes Harlesden.
***
Earlier:
I'm being stalked by your son, she'd texted Arthur Harlesden before the evening shift. He's been following me in his car and he's paid someone to come into my room at the bungalow...
She waited for Veronica to go, then slipped into the office behind the main desk in the entrance foyer, having planned the moment all afternoon. It was there on the rack, just like she'd known it would be. Left for the cleaners.
A copy of the key to the apartment on the top floor where the Ogre was currently staying, Agnes Harlesden.
***
Earlier:
I'm being stalked by your son, she'd texted Arthur Harlesden before the evening shift. He's been following me in his car and he's paid someone to come into my room at the bungalow...
#memories
#mystery
#obsession #risk
#obsession #risk
41 reads
2 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
11th Sep 2023 6:33pm
11th Sep 2023 6:33pm
Silent, After The Party
Two Years Earlier, Gavin
What next? I don't remember fully...we were in Dawn's room back at Lyme House, although I don't remember any more of the walk in the early hours of the morning. Everything disjointed, like when you've had too much to drink. We were fully clothed, and Dawn was crying and pushing me to the door, saying I was a user who'd treated her like a slag… the door slammed and I went back to my room.
Slept.
I woke up late in the morning, groggy and disorientated.
Quarter to eleven. It took a while for me to work out the day....
What next? I don't remember fully...we were in Dawn's room back at Lyme House, although I don't remember any more of the walk in the early hours of the morning. Everything disjointed, like when you've had too much to drink. We were fully clothed, and Dawn was crying and pushing me to the door, saying I was a user who'd treated her like a slag… the door slammed and I went back to my room.
Slept.
I woke up late in the morning, groggy and disorientated.
Quarter to eleven. It took a while for me to work out the day....
#mystery
#obsession
#risk
55 reads
5 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
28th Aug 2023 7:51pm
28th Aug 2023 7:51pm
Silent, Dawn Betrayed
Two Years Earlier, Gavin
Philippa and Aidan disappeared pretty early on. Paul too.
Just me, Jace and his mates from the expensive school. Dawn and a group of local school kids dressed in hoodies, hanging around a deserted fairground. Everyone had forgotten about Jace and me and the railings by the sea.
Now that Philippa and Aidan had gone, the whole thing with Dawn seemed like a bad idea. Making out with Dawn would prove nothing to anyone, but it was too late to back out. I'd already given her signals, dishonest ones. She'd read them correctly…she was...
Philippa and Aidan disappeared pretty early on. Paul too.
Just me, Jace and his mates from the expensive school. Dawn and a group of local school kids dressed in hoodies, hanging around a deserted fairground. Everyone had forgotten about Jace and me and the railings by the sea.
Now that Philippa and Aidan had gone, the whole thing with Dawn seemed like a bad idea. Making out with Dawn would prove nothing to anyone, but it was too late to back out. I'd already given her signals, dishonest ones. She'd read them correctly…she was...
#relationships
#mystery
#obsession #risk
#obsession #risk
29 reads
0 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
25th Aug 2023 10:48am
25th Aug 2023 10:48am
Silent, The Wrong Decision
Two Years Earlier, Gavin, The Promenade
Better still, Philippa had seen it all. Seen me run to Jace's rescue. She'd fancy me now. Correction, she already did fancy me, but she'd fancy me even more after my attempt to help Jace.
For a short time, I enjoyed playing the hero. High fives. Banging fists. Some of the little kids jumping on me and pestering me to give them piggybacks while loads of girls hugged Jace and sobbed dramatically.
Awesome atmosphere.
Then I caught sight of Philippa and Aidan.
Not so good. Time to get out of...
Better still, Philippa had seen it all. Seen me run to Jace's rescue. She'd fancy me now. Correction, she already did fancy me, but she'd fancy me even more after my attempt to help Jace.
For a short time, I enjoyed playing the hero. High fives. Banging fists. Some of the little kids jumping on me and pestering me to give them piggybacks while loads of girls hugged Jace and sobbed dramatically.
Awesome atmosphere.
Then I caught sight of Philippa and Aidan.
Not so good. Time to get out of...
#relationships
#mystery
#obsession #risk
#obsession #risk
65 reads
5 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
17th Aug 2023 7:27pm
17th Aug 2023 7:27pm
Silent, The Pier Stunt
Two Years Earlier, Gavin
I couldn't cope with Philippa and Aidan. They were sitting together on one of the disused fairground horses, deep in conversation, and they definitely looked like boyfriend and girlfriend, regardless of what Philippa had told me. Dawn and Paul stood around uncomfortably, like parents at a teens disco. School kids in hoodies swigged back vodka and cider and/or danced to loud music.
I was about to make another exit from the party when Jace turned up with three lads about my age. 'Yo, Gavin, where are you off?'
'Heading back.' ...
I couldn't cope with Philippa and Aidan. They were sitting together on one of the disused fairground horses, deep in conversation, and they definitely looked like boyfriend and girlfriend, regardless of what Philippa had told me. Dawn and Paul stood around uncomfortably, like parents at a teens disco. School kids in hoodies swigged back vodka and cider and/or danced to loud music.
I was about to make another exit from the party when Jace turned up with three lads about my age. 'Yo, Gavin, where are you off?'
'Heading back.' ...
#mystery
#obsession
#risk
76 reads
6 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
5th Aug 2023 7:18pm
5th Aug 2023 7:18pm
Silent, Aidan
Things always go wrong.
One moment, I was outside the theatre, happily drunk and searching for Philippa; the next, I was heading down the pier, unable to walk straight, Dawn and Paul either side of me.
'Aren't you staying for the second half of the concert?' I said, slurring my words.
'We're going to Jace's party,' Dawn said.
'Philippa asked us earlier.'
'Did she?' Philippa hadn't mentioned that to me.
'At the classes,' Dawn said. 'So we thought we'd join you.'
'Keep you company,' Paul added. 'You'd like a bit...
One moment, I was outside the theatre, happily drunk and searching for Philippa; the next, I was heading down the pier, unable to walk straight, Dawn and Paul either side of me.
'Aren't you staying for the second half of the concert?' I said, slurring my words.
'We're going to Jace's party,' Dawn said.
'Philippa asked us earlier.'
'Did she?' Philippa hadn't mentioned that to me.
'At the classes,' Dawn said. 'So we thought we'd join you.'
'Keep you company,' Paul added. 'You'd like a bit...
#mystery
#obsession
#risk
73 reads
2 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
3rd Aug 2023 8:34pm
3rd Aug 2023 8:34pm
Silent, The Concert
Two Years Earlier, Gavin
I received Philippa's text just as I was about to call at her room: hi, going 2b late. Go on without me. cu outside theatre at 9? x P
The time was quarter to eight. I searched round for Paul in case he was driving, but I couldn't find him, so I got a taxi to town and paid the extra. When I arrived at the Grand Theatre, businessman Terence Harlesden stood in the foyer dressed in an expensive suit, greeting people.
'Ah, our star performer from the classes,' he said when he saw me. 'I told my father Arthur about you and he hopes to...
I received Philippa's text just as I was about to call at her room: hi, going 2b late. Go on without me. cu outside theatre at 9? x P
The time was quarter to eight. I searched round for Paul in case he was driving, but I couldn't find him, so I got a taxi to town and paid the extra. When I arrived at the Grand Theatre, businessman Terence Harlesden stood in the foyer dressed in an expensive suit, greeting people.
'Ah, our star performer from the classes,' he said when he saw me. 'I told my father Arthur about you and he hopes to...
#music
#mystery
#obsession #risk
#obsession #risk
60 reads
2 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
23rd Jul 2023 7:42pm
23rd Jul 2023 7:42pm
Silent, By The Picnic Table
Two Years Ago, Gavin
After lunch, I skipped the rest of the master classes and walked back to Lyme House. I needed time to think.
When the others returned from the Grand Theatre at about four thirty, Philippa came to find me. We took a walk through the surrounding fields, across a stile and through a rusty gate. We sat down at a set of picnic tables close to a cluster of trees in the shade. Rummaging in her bag, Philippa got out a couple of cartons of juice and handed me one.
'Cheers,' I said. 'Needed that.'
She gave me a brief update on the...
After lunch, I skipped the rest of the master classes and walked back to Lyme House. I needed time to think.
When the others returned from the Grand Theatre at about four thirty, Philippa came to find me. We took a walk through the surrounding fields, across a stile and through a rusty gate. We sat down at a set of picnic tables close to a cluster of trees in the shade. Rummaging in her bag, Philippa got out a couple of cartons of juice and handed me one.
'Cheers,' I said. 'Needed that.'
She gave me a brief update on the...
#mystery
#obsession
#risk
56 reads
0 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
14th Jul 2023 12:08pm
14th Jul 2023 12:08pm
Silent, Katie
Two Years Earlier, Lucy
She hurried out of the bungalow and raced to the main House where she phoned for a taxi.
She asked the driver to take her to the village halfway between Lyme House and the town.
Twice in a day. The house with the grand piano again, set in a cul-de-sac.
A woman answered the door to her, tall and beautiful with long black hair, like a model from Elle. The woman she remembered from ten years ago. Dad's other woman. Terence's ex-wife.
'Katie Whittaker?' she said, weak and clammy again.
'Terence phoned to warn me about...
She hurried out of the bungalow and raced to the main House where she phoned for a taxi.
She asked the driver to take her to the village halfway between Lyme House and the town.
Twice in a day. The house with the grand piano again, set in a cul-de-sac.
A woman answered the door to her, tall and beautiful with long black hair, like a model from Elle. The woman she remembered from ten years ago. Dad's other woman. Terence's ex-wife.
'Katie Whittaker?' she said, weak and clammy again.
'Terence phoned to warn me about...
#memories
#mystery
#risk
98 reads
4 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
7th Jul 2023 6:51pm
7th Jul 2023 6:51pm
Silent, The Car
Two Years Earlier, Lucy
A figure stood by a tree, watching her.
A stationery figure in a light blue anorak, staring directly at her, like a crow perched on a fence. For a second or two, she thought of Ash, always wearing blue. But Ash was in bed in Yorkshire, sleeping off a hangover. The figure remained still, like the silence around her.
Blue, blue, blue.
The next second, the figure had gone.
She ran as fast as she could.
A car approached then. Slowed down. Stopped.
She was about...
A figure stood by a tree, watching her.
A stationery figure in a light blue anorak, staring directly at her, like a crow perched on a fence. For a second or two, she thought of Ash, always wearing blue. But Ash was in bed in Yorkshire, sleeping off a hangover. The figure remained still, like the silence around her.
Blue, blue, blue.
The next second, the figure had gone.
She ran as fast as she could.
A car approached then. Slowed down. Stopped.
She was about...
#memories
#mystery
#risk
85 reads
0 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
30th Jun 2023 7:36pm
30th Jun 2023 7:36pm
Silent, The Boy (2)
Two Years Earlier, Lucy
In a daze, she started the walk back to the House.
Dad and Katie Whittaker and their son, a little boy with brown eyes and a dimple under their chin.
Dad and Katie Whittaker and their son, a little boy with brown eyes and a dimple under their chin.
Dad and Katie Whittaker and their son, a little boy with brown eyes and a dimple under their chin.
The words spun round and round, like a train speeding along track. Was the dark haired woman from the music room Katie Whittaker, the former wife of Dad's cousin and best friend? If so,...
In a daze, she started the walk back to the House.
Dad and Katie Whittaker and their son, a little boy with brown eyes and a dimple under their chin.
Dad and Katie Whittaker and their son, a little boy with brown eyes and a dimple under their chin.
Dad and Katie Whittaker and their son, a little boy with brown eyes and a dimple under their chin.
The words spun round and round, like a train speeding along track. Was the dark haired woman from the music room Katie Whittaker, the former wife of Dad's cousin and best friend? If so,...
#memories
#obsession
#risk
90 reads
4 Comments
DU Poetry : Submissions by Lozzamus
