Long Mystery Poems
#mystery
Silent, The Beethoven Sonata
Two Years Ago, Gavin
I hadn't been back to the Grand Theatre since Sunday, two days ago, and didn't know what to expect. In the auditorium, I scanned the seats for signs of Philippa. She hadn't arrived.
I sat in between a couple of students I hadn't spoken to yet and averted my eyes when I passed Dawn. The auditorium seemed pretty empty today, unlike on Sunday morning when Philippa had got angry in class. I felt uncomfortable, knowing that Agnes Harlesden and my former Russian Coach in London were friends and had probably discussed me at length.
Paul was on stage,...
I hadn't been back to the Grand Theatre since Sunday, two days ago, and didn't know what to expect. In the auditorium, I scanned the seats for signs of Philippa. She hadn't arrived.
I sat in between a couple of students I hadn't spoken to yet and averted my eyes when I passed Dawn. The auditorium seemed pretty empty today, unlike on Sunday morning when Philippa had got angry in class. I felt uncomfortable, knowing that Agnes Harlesden and my former Russian Coach in London were friends and had probably discussed me at length.
Paul was on stage,...
#music
#mystery
#obsession #risk
#obsession #risk
98 reads
2 Comments
The Catamite
a private-eye story
Just give me another, okay? You know I’m good for it. And I’ve not driven since three months ago when that cop hauled me in for chasing a punk down a culvert in the Bay.
So anyway, I got the job - a while before the last war - sitting in my car outside Georgie’s place. Georgie’s was a speakeasy just off Main, in a house where the bigwigs went, so as long as you kept your nose clean Eliot Ness and his boys let you be.
I was counting through bills to give to the doorman when a fruity-looking guy walks up in a lime green...
Just give me another, okay? You know I’m good for it. And I’ve not driven since three months ago when that cop hauled me in for chasing a punk down a culvert in the Bay.
So anyway, I got the job - a while before the last war - sitting in my car outside Georgie’s place. Georgie’s was a speakeasy just off Main, in a house where the bigwigs went, so as long as you kept your nose clean Eliot Ness and his boys let you be.
I was counting through bills to give to the doorman when a fruity-looking guy walks up in a lime green...
#violence
#ShortStory
#mystery #ForbiddenLove
#mystery #ForbiddenLove
97 reads
1 Comment
Silent - The Girlfriend (2)
Two Years Ago, Gavin
I suppose I should have paid more attention to the signs around me, for Philippa seemed flustered and in a hurry to leave when she woke, like she couldn't wait to get away. And later, when I headed to the communal bathroom, I caught sight of the mentor Dawn staring at me with such hostility, it scared me. That was the first time I'd seen her since the party on Sunday evening and I knew I'd really hurt her.
Breakfast. Pretty quiet. No sign of Philippa, Aidan, Dawn. No sign of the blonde waitress, Lucy Harlesden. No hot plate. Just Paul, the...
I suppose I should have paid more attention to the signs around me, for Philippa seemed flustered and in a hurry to leave when she woke, like she couldn't wait to get away. And later, when I headed to the communal bathroom, I caught sight of the mentor Dawn staring at me with such hostility, it scared me. That was the first time I'd seen her since the party on Sunday evening and I knew I'd really hurt her.
Breakfast. Pretty quiet. No sign of Philippa, Aidan, Dawn. No sign of the blonde waitress, Lucy Harlesden. No hot plate. Just Paul, the...
#relationships
#mystery
#obsession #risk
#obsession #risk
85 reads
2 Comments
Silent, The Girlfriend (1)
Two Years Ago, Gavin
Someone was knocking on my door again. 'Gavin? Can you open the door, please? I need to talk to you.'
'Go away, Philippa.'
'I'm so sorry about earlier. Aidan and I aren't going out. Aidan always gets the wrong impression and thinks girls are interested in him when they're not. He has serious issues. Please open the door. I need to talk to you.' She sounded just like Lucy a few minutes earlier.
Eventually, the door knocking got too much, so I jumped out of bed and answered. 'I nearly got battered because of you,' I said,...
Someone was knocking on my door again. 'Gavin? Can you open the door, please? I need to talk to you.'
'Go away, Philippa.'
'I'm so sorry about earlier. Aidan and I aren't going out. Aidan always gets the wrong impression and thinks girls are interested in him when they're not. He has serious issues. Please open the door. I need to talk to you.' She sounded just like Lucy a few minutes earlier.
Eventually, the door knocking got too much, so I jumped out of bed and answered. 'I nearly got battered because of you,' I said,...
#relationships
#mystery
#obsession #risk
#obsession #risk
68 reads
6 Comments
Silent, A Tense Encounter (2)
Two Years Ago, Gavin
Too much. Jace, Steve, Aidan howling like a child, and now the girl in the hood shouting at me too. I pretended I needed the toilet and climbed through the window space again, cutting my finger on the nail, conscious of the hoodie screaming more obscenities after me from inside the building. It was pretty light outside, breezy but muggy. My heart was hammering in my chest. I tiptoed round the back and climbed over a fence, tearing through hedges and branches on all fours, into a field, my jeans and trainers getting plastered with mud, my hands getting stung...
Too much. Jace, Steve, Aidan howling like a child, and now the girl in the hood shouting at me too. I pretended I needed the toilet and climbed through the window space again, cutting my finger on the nail, conscious of the hoodie screaming more obscenities after me from inside the building. It was pretty light outside, breezy but muggy. My heart was hammering in my chest. I tiptoed round the back and climbed over a fence, tearing through hedges and branches on all fours, into a field, my jeans and trainers getting plastered with mud, my hands getting stung...
#mystery
#obsession
#risk
85 reads
4 Comments
Dupin in London
fan fiction based on characters created by Edgar Allan Poe
It was in the year 18—— that my friend Dupin and I set sail to London to stay with a sponsor for whom Dupin had rendered a most invaluable service when they were caught in a “cooping” incident, a most disreputable practice whereby a man is plied with drink and then forced to visit polling stations to vote for his assailants’ chosen candidate. The sponsor was a wealthy but naive young dandy from New York, visiting New Orleans just as Dupin had also gone to sample the local culture for a piece to be published in Blackwood’s....
It was in the year 18—— that my friend Dupin and I set sail to London to stay with a sponsor for whom Dupin had rendered a most invaluable service when they were caught in a “cooping” incident, a most disreputable practice whereby a man is plied with drink and then forced to visit polling stations to vote for his assailants’ chosen candidate. The sponsor was a wealthy but naive young dandy from New York, visiting New Orleans just as Dupin had also gone to sample the local culture for a piece to be published in Blackwood’s....
#Fanfiction
#ShortStory
#prose #mystery
#prose #mystery
114 reads
6 Comments
Silent, A Tense Encounter (1)
Two Years Ago, Gavin
It was awful. I kept trying to leave, but each time I walked to the empty window space, Jace or Steve got me in a friendly headlock and sat me down again while the hoodie cackled in the corner, muttering before laughing out loud. I couldn't believe I'd tried to help Jace the previous night when he'd done his stupid walk along the sea railing. I should have let him fall into the water.
Meanwhile, Philippa and Aidan were bickering in another corner of the building. Aidan rolling around on the ground and crying like a little kid. Throwing up everywhere...
It was awful. I kept trying to leave, but each time I walked to the empty window space, Jace or Steve got me in a friendly headlock and sat me down again while the hoodie cackled in the corner, muttering before laughing out loud. I couldn't believe I'd tried to help Jace the previous night when he'd done his stupid walk along the sea railing. I should have let him fall into the water.
Meanwhile, Philippa and Aidan were bickering in another corner of the building. Aidan rolling around on the ground and crying like a little kid. Throwing up everywhere...
#mystery
#obsession
#risk
108 reads
6 Comments
Silent, A Disclosure (2)
Two Years Ago, Gavin
I skipped dinner, unable to face Dawn after last night. I managed to persuade Veronica to sell me a sandwich and some crisps from the light refreshment counter, and I ate the snacks alone in my room. I thought a bit more about the Lucy girl. It all seemed mad and over the top, although plausible to a point…the whole thing of the former Mayor chasing after her…not exactly normal. I slipped on some clothes that were less scruffy than the ones I'd been wearing. I had a shave. Prepped back my hair with gel. Nice one. Yes! I brushed my teeth. Imagined kissing...
I skipped dinner, unable to face Dawn after last night. I managed to persuade Veronica to sell me a sandwich and some crisps from the light refreshment counter, and I ate the snacks alone in my room. I thought a bit more about the Lucy girl. It all seemed mad and over the top, although plausible to a point…the whole thing of the former Mayor chasing after her…not exactly normal. I slipped on some clothes that were less scruffy than the ones I'd been wearing. I had a shave. Prepped back my hair with gel. Nice one. Yes! I brushed my teeth. Imagined kissing...
#mystery
#obsession
#risk
89 reads
4 Comments
Silent, A Disclosure
Two Years Ago, Gavin
Someone was knocking on my door again. Philippa, this time.
'We need to talk,' I said. 'Who are you really? You aren't from Tunbridge Wells, are you?'
A smile played around the corner of her lips. 'How did you find out?'
'It doesn't matter. Just tell me. I can't deal with anymore of this.'
***
'I'm from Exeter in Devon,' she began, after pulling up a chair and sitting opposite me. 'Don't let the accent trick you. Years of practice and private schooling. I'm seventeen, not eighteen like I...
Someone was knocking on my door again. Philippa, this time.
'We need to talk,' I said. 'Who are you really? You aren't from Tunbridge Wells, are you?'
A smile played around the corner of her lips. 'How did you find out?'
'It doesn't matter. Just tell me. I can't deal with anymore of this.'
***
'I'm from Exeter in Devon,' she began, after pulling up a chair and sitting opposite me. 'Don't let the accent trick you. Years of practice and private schooling. I'm seventeen, not eighteen like I...
#mystery
#obsession
#risk
84 reads
4 Comments
Silent, A Nasty Prank
Two Years Ago, Lucy
She sprinted back to the bungalow to collect the remainder of her clothes. When she went in, she heard Veronica on the phone in one of the bedrooms, music playing in the background. The other girl Michelle was drinking wine in the kitchen with a boy. They stopped talking when they saw her. Stared at her, looking her up and down.
She ignored them and hurried to the bathroom to freshen up and dry off, burying her face and hair in a towel. How stupid of her to trust that lad, Gavin. She should have known he wouldn't believe her. He was just like the...
She sprinted back to the bungalow to collect the remainder of her clothes. When she went in, she heard Veronica on the phone in one of the bedrooms, music playing in the background. The other girl Michelle was drinking wine in the kitchen with a boy. They stopped talking when they saw her. Stared at her, looking her up and down.
She ignored them and hurried to the bathroom to freshen up and dry off, burying her face and hair in a towel. How stupid of her to trust that lad, Gavin. She should have known he wouldn't believe her. He was just like the...
#mystery
#obsession
#risk
73 reads
2 Comments
Silent, A Revelation
Two Years Ago, Gavin
The storm had stopped, but not the downpour. Back at the House, I went up to my room and got out of my wet stuff. I took another shower and put on a fresh t-shirt and trousers. Afterwards, I checked the times of trains from Preston on my phone. I'd had enough of Steve. He'd taken an immediate dislike to me, and now I wanted to go home.
'Gavin?'
A voice, definitely female.
***
'How do you know my name and room number?' I said when I opened the door.
'I looked you up in the Register,' the girl said. 'The...
The storm had stopped, but not the downpour. Back at the House, I went up to my room and got out of my wet stuff. I took another shower and put on a fresh t-shirt and trousers. Afterwards, I checked the times of trains from Preston on my phone. I'd had enough of Steve. He'd taken an immediate dislike to me, and now I wanted to go home.
'Gavin?'
A voice, definitely female.
***
'How do you know my name and room number?' I said when I opened the door.
'I looked you up in the Register,' the girl said. 'The...
#mystery
#obsession
#risk
96 reads
0 Comments
Silent, The Confrontation
Two Years Ago, Lucy
'You're mad, I'm afraid to say,' Arthur said, stepping out of his car and striding towards her. 'Coming back like this and calling on my former daughter-in-law.'
'I'm not mad,' she shouted back at him. 'It's you and this family with all its secrets.'
She glanced at the taxi, now part of the way down the driveway. The taxi had come out of nowhere, taking her by surprise. The lad from two nights ago had seen her and he would soon work it out. She needed to get back to the House and talk to him.
Although it no longer mattered,...
'You're mad, I'm afraid to say,' Arthur said, stepping out of his car and striding towards her. 'Coming back like this and calling on my former daughter-in-law.'
'I'm not mad,' she shouted back at him. 'It's you and this family with all its secrets.'
She glanced at the taxi, now part of the way down the driveway. The taxi had come out of nowhere, taking her by surprise. The lad from two nights ago had seen her and he would soon work it out. She needed to get back to the House and talk to him.
Although it no longer mattered,...
#memories
#mystery
#risk
103 reads
2 Comments
DU Poetry : Long Mystery Poems