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Attic To The Past

28 Wednesday Sep 2016

Posted by stevenjohnno in poems, stories

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Tags

attic, birthday, family, ghosts, heaven, memories, the past

Today is a very special day for me.

It is my 78th birthday.

I jump out of bed as fast as i can.

But it isn’t that easy at my age.

Than i sit at the kitchen and drink a

hot cup of tea.

As i sit there my mind starts to look back

All i have now is half remembered memories.

Well i cant sit here all day.

Maybe someone will pay me a visit?

I will have to make sure that the house is nice and clean

Surely my son and daughter will bring the grandchildren

around.

I haven’t seen them in quite a long time.

The only person who visits is the nice lady from meals on wheels.

I wonder if she knows how lonliness feels?

I go from room to room tidying as i go.

Than i comb my hair and brush my teeth.

And use some aftershave.

Now all i can do is wait.

Hang on was that a knock on the front door?

I rush to open it up but there is nobody there

Just a lot of undisturbed air.

I sit on my lounge and turn on the TV

I need to calm down.

There will be a phone call any minute.

Than i hear a noise coming from upstairs.

It sounded like foot steps up in the attic.

As i make my way towards that upper room

My heart is beating fast boom boom boom.

When i enter the attic all i see is dust motes and cob webs

I haven’t been up here in more than twenty years.

Nobody is up here except maybe some ghosts.

Even though the attic is full of memories.

I am starting to have second thoughts.

Because as you know not all memories are good.

Than i notice a favourite piece of wood.

In the corner near an old possum nest is my old cricket

bat.

I pick it up and start to play some shots.

Than my arthritis tells me that i am not twenty one anymore.

I sit down on an old wooden chest and think back.

And my face does something it hasn’t done for a while.

It transforms itself and turns into a smile.

Near my feet lies an old rubber ball.

That belonged to a neighbours dog that adopted me as it’s owner.

It was old and cranky with a grey muzzle.

But to me Cass was always kind and gentle.

A black doberman Cass was the best dog in the world.

We used to run around and play in the park.

And as i listen now i can still hear him bark.

I hang my head as i think back.

Than i feel a change in the air.

I look up to see the dust motes dancing and forming shapes.

I see my late wife Cindy in her wedding dress

She was always glowing as pretty as a picture.

I start to weep god i really miss her.

About a decade ago Cindy found a lump in her breast.

She fought the best that she could.

But cancer is a really hard disease to beat.

The radiation and chemo took a heavy toll on her body.

And just three months after the diagnosis

My darling Cindy was gone.

Taken by that god awful disease.

With a heavy heart i fall to my knees.

The dust motes are still dancing and mingling with the moon

beams.

And my deceased brother and sister appear.

Greg is riding his motorbike.

While Sue is cuddling her kids.

They are both doing what they liked to do the most.

Greg rode his motorbike into heaven.

And 28 years later Sue joined him in the big sky.

Both of them were taken way too soon.

The dust motes still dance and swoon.

As i look at those dust motes.

My brother and sister sort of fade away.

I want to run into those motes and make them re arrange

How dare those motes take my brother and sister away again.

But i know that one day i will once again see my brother sister

and wife.

Because after death there is life.

The dust has finally settled.

But my memories are still strong.

The attic to the past has stirred up a lot of thoughts.

Memories of long lost souls.

Names and faces that i will never forget as long as i live.

Why do people have to die?

I head back downstairs before i start to cry.

I turn on the kettle and have another cup of tea.

Before my offspring and grand children arrive.

Hopefully they will bring beer and some chocolate cake.

I go and make myself a sandwich.

But as i eat my brain has too much time to think.

I wash my thoughts and dishes down the sink.

Three o’clock and my phone still hasn’t rung.

Maybe my family is stuck in heavy traffic?

Or they are still shopping for my present?

But deep down in my heart i know that they have forgotten

My family will not visit for my birthday.

I will just have to celebrate alone.

There isn’t any birthday cake or candles to blow out.

Nor any presents to unwrap.

So i just lie down and have a little nap.

But i cant sleep.

All i can think about is that attic to the past.

I was happy sitting there amongst the dust motes.

So i go back upstairs to that special room

I sit on that wooden chest but nothing happens

The dust motes and the magic has gone.

The attic is now nothing more than a room full of mould.

I just slink downstairs to my lonely little household.

I sit in my chair watching the sun go down.

Waiting for my TV dinner to cook in the oven.

Than i will have an early night.

Or maybe have a few beers to drown my sorrows

Than headlights appears in the driveway.

My loving family is finally here.

I am really had any doubts.

From feeling way down in the dumps.

I am now way up in the clouds.

And they say that every cloud has a sliver lining.

And even though it is dark.

The sun is surely shining.

Hugs and kisses are exchanged.

And i confess that i didn’t think that they were coming.

That i was just about to go to bed.

My daughter pipes up ‘But dad i told you that we are taking

you out for chinese’

‘So go grab your jacket we have a birthday to celebrate’

‘I have booked a table and we dont want to be late’

The grand Kids are jumping up and down raring to go.

I grab my keys and jacket and head out the door.

Surrounded by my loving family.

But i cant resist one last look up to that attic to the past.

I know that my memories will last and last.

Memories remind you of your yesterdays.

But you cant live in the past.

You have to live in the here and now.

So i close my front door.

And we all head on our way

To celebrate my 78th birthday.

THE END

Thanks for taking the time to read one of my stories and now if you have the means could you please help me achieve my dream of becoming a fulltime writer by making a small donation i would really appreciate it. Thanks again Steven.

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Time Machine

18 Friday Mar 2016

Posted by stevenjohnno in poems, stories, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

the past, time machine

I recently moved into a new House.

And I decided to do some Yard Work.

Maybe put in a Vegetable Garden.

Or a Bed full of Australian Natives.

As I started to dig around preparing the Soil for

Planting.

My Spade struck something solid.

Thinking it was just a Rock or an old Bottle.

I didn’t think all that much of it.

But that Object was in My way.

So I kept on Digging.

And that Object is now the size of a Bucket.

So I keep on Digging.

And it is now the size of a Washing Machine.

I am getting tired from all of the Digging.

But I couldn’t stop.

I had to know what was buried in My Backyard.

So I kept Digging all through the Night.

Then I stepped back to look at My Discovery.

What I was looking at was a huge Rectangular Object.

Matt Silver in Colour.

And it is the size of one of those Old Fashioned Telephone

Booths.

I walk around it .

Trying to find a way inside.

There are no noticeable openings.

No Doors or Windows.

So I just rubbed My Hands all over it.

And it started to glow.

Are there Aliens inside this Object.?

How did it end up in My Backyard?

Then there was a hissing sound and it opened up like

a Book.

So I take a step inside.

Then I take another.

And I have a look around.

And I see that the Object is a Time Machine.

So it isn’t a Space Ship.

There aren’t any Aliens Thank God.

We have all heard the Stories about Aliens.

And their liking for Anal Probing

Plus the humiliation of Public disrobing.

So with a sigh of relief.

I check out the Control Panel.

And right in the middle is a big Green Button.

So I press that Button.

And a Sexy Female voice says ‘Welcome to Your ACME

Time Machine’

‘Please state the Day Month and Year that You wish to visit’

Plus the Location where You want to go’

So I say ’25th MARCH 1916

The Eastern Front Germany.

At first nothing happens.

Then the Door seals with a Hiss.

And My Insides do a Backflip.

Now I know what an Astronaut feels like.

Then with a thud the Time Machine has reached

its destination.

Then the Door opens.

And I cant believe My Eyes.

It looks just like Hell on Earth.

Through the Smoke and Haze.

I can see Soldiers Barbed Wire and Mud filled Trenches.

I am standing besides a English Private.

Who is struggling to control His senses.

He has His Rifle up to His Shoulder.

And He has a German Soldier in His Sights.

The Englishman goes to pull the Trigger.

But He hesitates.

He and I both look at the German.

And I immediately recognise a Young Adolf Hitler.

The Englishman begins to lower His Rifle.

But I have a whisper in His Ear.

You have a chance to change History.

Pull the Trigger.

And even though He cant see Me.

My Words seem to register.

Cause He raises His Rifle again.

And He shoots that German Soldier in the Head.

The Day is 25th March 1916

And Adolf Hitler is Dead.

I go back to the Time Machine.

And I press that Green Button again

I wish to go back to the 22nd November 1963.

I am heading to Dallas Texas.

The scene of the President John F Kennedy Assassination.

To try to achieve an ending more to the Worlds satisfaction.

The Time Machine lands in Downtown Dallas.

A perfect Day for a Killing.

I am about to meet a Man with a Head full of Propaganda.

And here He is right on Time

Lee Harvey Oswald.

On His way to commit a Crime.

He is looking real nervous as He makes His way to the Book

Depository.

Lee Harvey Oswald wants to be Famous.

He wants to be the Front Page Story.

Even though He cant see Me.

He seems to feel My presence.

And He gives a nervous glance in My general direction.

And in the Storefront Window You can see My Reflection.

And Oswald jumps like He has seen a Ghost.

I have to finish this now.

Or this could be My last Post.

So I stick out a Leg.

And Oswald falls to the  Sidewalk.

He looks up all frightened.

Like He heard a Ghost Talk.

He knows that He has to reach the Depository

And He has to get there fast.

And just then a Motorbike Cop flashes past.

Closely followed by President Kennedys Car.

He and Jackie Smile and wave to the Crowd.

Kennedy will never know how close He came to Death.

So near yet so far.

Then He looks over His Shoulder.

And He gives Me a Smile.

And I tell You right now.

That Smile will stay with Me for awhile.

Back to the Time Machine.

And I am feeling like Nostradamus.

But in reverse.

I cant see the Future.

But now I can change the Past.

But I am feeling all washed up.

I don’t know how much longer I can last.

But I press that Green Button again.

And all I have to say is 9/11

And the Time Machine knows exactly what I mean.

And we land in New York City.

I feel the tension because I have Thousands of Lives

in My Hands.

I look up at the Twin Towers

As the Sun reflects off the Glass

Then I hear the Sound of an Aircraft approaching

I Scream even though I know the Pilot cant hear Me.

They keep on coming

A Two Plane Frontal Assault.

I have had enough of this Shit.

It is time to call a Halt.

I use the Power of the Time Machine to Channel the

Cockpit of the lead Plane.

And I scream ‘This is your Supreme Leader Abort Mission

Abort Mission’

‘Land safely and let all of the Passengers go free.’

I look up at the Towers again.

And I have a nervous Finger up to My Mouth

Just like Austin Powers

Then the Two Planes veer off and disappear into the

distance.

The Twin Towers are still standing in place.

Right where they belong.

I am mighty glad that I have been able to prevent a wrong.

But enough of World Events.

I want to be selfish.

And use the Time Machine for My own Personal needs.

So o press that Green Button.

And I go back to the 18th October 1986.

The Day that My  Brother Greg Died.

Greg died young he never got the chance to grow Old.

Forever Twenty Four.

Greg Died in a Motorcycle Accident

And I hope to change the outcome.

I don’t wont Greg to take that Fatal Ride.

I remember we were both at the Race Course Hotel

on that fateful Afternoon.

But Greg left early  because He had to attend a Party that

Night.

So We said our Goodbyes.

See You in the Morning.

But the next Morning .

Was a Morning of Mourning.

This I hope to change.

So before Greg and His Girlfriend Rhonda leave for the Party

On that fucking Bike

The Motorbike that I detest.

I hope that I can stop Greg from laying down for His final Rest.

So Greg rides to the Party alone.

Because Rhonda was running late.

If Rhonda had been on time.

Maybe the Accident wouldn’t have happened.

So before Greg gets on His Bike to pick Rhonda up

I whisper in His Ear ‘Greg don’t do it get Rhonda to call

a Taxi’

So Rhonda calls a Cab and She arrives at the Party safe and

sound.

Greg doesn’t need to take that Fatal Ride.

So  my Brother Greg is still Alive.

I rush back to the Time Machine.

Is I can save One Sibling.

Maybe I can save another.

So I travel back to 14 April 2013.

The Day before My Sister Sue was Diagnosed with Cancer.

And as She Sleeps.

I travel through Her Bones until She is Disease free.

Sue opens Her Eyes and starts to speak.

Her Bones are now so clean they squeak.

Mission accomplished.

I go back to the Time Machine.

And I press that Green Button for the very last time.

And I tell it to take Me Home.

So with a thud the Time Machine lands in My Back Garden.

What will the Neighbours think?

Then that Sexy Female Voice says ‘Thank You for using the ACME

Time Machine’

‘This Machine will self destruct in Thirty Seconds’

So if I was You I would Run very Fast’

‘Oh and by the way Thank You for visiting the past’

Of course this is just a Story.

My Brother Greg and My Sister Sue

Are both still Dead

And One Day i will join Them.

And We will be together Forever.

THE END.

Thanks for taking the time to read one of my stories and if you have the means could you please make a donation so i can achieve my goal and become a fulltime writer. Thanks again Steven.

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