Author Archives: Ross Mannell

I finally understood the phrase ‘a deer in the headlights’. Momentarily stunned by the lights, I stood on the stage before my fellow students.

“Today is the day we must cry out to the world, ‘NO MORE LIVES RUINED.’”

On cue, others came onto stage hand-in-hand.

“Let us all stand and join hands. Let us cry out to the world, ‘WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE BULLYING ANYMORE.’”

As the hall lights came up I could see all, even teachers, standing hand-in-hand, repeating the words.

“Bullied into suicide, there will be no more like my friend, Michael. To this I dedicate my life.”

A roar of voices erupted, “FOR MICHAEL!”

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“So this is a cook off for the inheritance?  Is that what you’re saying?” asked one amongst gathered relatives.

An eccentric, rich uncle had passed.

The lawyer continued, “Sam wanted his estate to go to the one who knew him best. You all have one hour to buy or make a meal. Closest to what is written in this envelope will win.”

There was a scramble to the door. I walked out calmly.

Within the hour, all had returned with assorted foods, each assessed privately. When I was announced the winner, others asked what I had brought.

“A rotten egg and burnt toast. He always did like the Three Stooges’s joke about a tapeworm.”

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For those unfamiliar with the Three Stooges gag, Moe asked Curly, “Burnt toast and a rotten egg? Whatta ya want that for?”

Curly replied, “I got a tapeworm and that’s good enough for him!”

The gag appeared in their 1934 short, “Punch Drunks”

Info Source: The Three Stooges Online Filmography

Another shot through me like daggers. The pain was excruciating yet I managed to keep smiling. How could I do otherwise when my daughter was watching intently?

This had been a long process but the results had been worth the effort. The pain was now much less, apart from the occasional. For that matter, spending time with my young daughter had made the experience tolerable, even in the initial painful stages.

“How was that, daddy?” my daughter looked on expectantly.

“Beautiful, sweetheart, hardly a note in error.”

Learning had been an adventure. At her young age, I could see a violinist future for her.

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Ten year-olds repeated the calendar rhyme, “Thirty days hath September… April, June, and November.”

“Minesh, why not join us?” the teacher asked.

The class, listening intently, stopped their rhyme.

“I was considering an alternative calendar, something regular to fit our year. If we were to have 13 months with 28 days we’d have no need for rhyme,” Minesh explained.

“…the extra day, two in a leap year?”

“They’d be International Unity Days where children have opportunities to link globally online, the leap day a Children’s World Congress Day.”

“…for adults?”

“…a chance to listen to our voice.”

Minesh’s teacher had no doubt he’d be a leader one day.

Schools and students have permission to use this graphic for non-commercial, educational purposes.

What darkness treads the world this eve of All Hallows day? The ghouls in costumed splendour trick or treat their way door to door.

A shadowy figure watches the passing scene, its eyes intent on possible prey. Many pass. It pays no heed then a twinkle is seen in its eyes.

Five children, older than the others, stop some smaller and steal their treats. The bullies laughing, the figure steps from the shadows.

“Trick!” it calls.

Five little pumpkins touched by dawn’s first light, the spell is broken. The bullies, a lesson learned but no one would believe their tale.

The photo prompt from the Centus site.