Author Archives: Ross Mannell

About Ross Mannell

Locked in darkness for perhaps centuries, it’s easy to lose time when there’s little reason to keep it. The outside world passed me by until the day hope returned.

I sensed a presence. Something very large was nearing my prison. Whatever it was, I sensed a bump. My world tilted. I felt myself falling… CRASH!

My spirit had been freed. I’d always promised to kiss whatever released me but had to rethink when reality dawned. I decided to grant it three wishes instead.

The first wish made, “I wish I didn’t break that urn.”

Locked in darkness for perhaps centuries…

I’m an actor and heard about casting for a play. A guy has to take any chances he can so I showed up.

“Just what we want,” said casting. “What do you think about makeup, wigs and corsets?”

I thought I’d gained a role as an ugly sister in a Cinderella pantomime. Wigs and makeup didn’t worry me. The thought of wearing a corset did.

“This will just pinch a little,” wardrobe warned.

They lied.

Worse was to come. I was to be Cinderella in an all guy production. They wanted to squeeze my size 10 feet into custom size 6 shoes. Now, that’s a PINCH!

Children were gathered listening to their uncle tell of his tropical adventures. He was showing them a map.

“This is where the Tropic of Capricorn runs through Australia. As the line was crossed I was in the tropics,” he explained.

Eight asked, “Was there a line on the ground?”

Uncle replied, “No but there was a sign.”

Four, “Weren’t you scared?”

Uncle smiled, “Of course not. I even had my photo taken on the line. I had one leg in the tropics and one on the other side of the line.”

Four was worried, “Lions are dangerous. Did it bite you?”

Now uncle was confused.

“IT WAS THE SUMMER OF 1974. The sun beat down on the homestead scorching the grass. Our animals found whatever shade they could. We had hot days before but this was different. There was an intensity none had seen before.”

“How hot was it, Poppy?” asked five.

“It was so hot, we had to light the fireplace to cool the house down.”

Five pondered a thought for a short time, “I don’t believe you. If it was that hot everything would burn up.”

Poppy smiled, “It did. We had to move.”

“Where?”

“To the Earth. After the sun was lit, it was too hot to stay.”

“Daddy, Sophie’s making snow angels!”

Sophie loved snow angels. She always enjoyed making them when we visited the snowfields but today was hot and it was April 1.

Did a four-year-old boy know about April Fools Day jokes? I followed his lead to the bathroom door. He said I should look inside.

I expected some gag but, on opening the door, “I don’t believe it!”

As the white cloud filling the room settled, there was giggling three-year-old Sophie covered in talcum powder.

“Snow angel!” she giggled.

I must admit, I laughed even when trying to clean the white out on Sophie and the floor.

Her face grown old, her touch no longer strong, I watch her making her age-worn way no longer spry. Another Mother’s Day and I treasure the moments I know can’t last. It was her who now needs my hand to help her along her way.

Interviewer: E.B., looking at all of that chocolate, I must ask, how did you get the job? I mean, rabbits don’t lay eggs so why not the Easter Chicken? For that matter, why not stick to coloured real eggs?

E.B.: (Grinning) Coloured real eggs were once enough. Easter Chicken was happy her symbol of Spring was wanted by so many children but someone suggested making eggs from chocolate as well. She didn’t agree.

Interviewer: She left?

E.B.: She said it was her eggs or she was leaving. They decided to make chocolate eggs anyway.

Interviewer: You stepped in?

E.B.: Hopped in. I jumped at the chance.

There was fear at the office,

For the word had got around.

Not a chocolate or a normal egg,

In Easter town was found.

.

Some hatched a plan, a tricky trap,

It’s deviled eggs they planted.

They knew the thief would come again,

Taking sweetened eggs for granted.

.

But just one bite and he’d be done,

The eggs were hot as flame.

The thief would scream and then be caught,

He’d have none else to blame.

.

Sure enough they heard a scream that night,

And all came out in wonder.

For sitting there was Easter Bunny,

Surrounded by fiery plunder.

The unseasonal weather meant only one thing to Solana. The Cooling had come upon her people.

She summoned her council, “We must leave lest we be consumed by ice.”

Driven by ancient knowledge, they travelled north to safety from the icy world. It was the time of birth in warmer waters. In time, the Warming would return. Old and new would make the great journey south to feeding waters.

For Solana, this would be her last great journey. The ones who move on two fins would take her life.

When the Cooling returned, another would lead. So was the way of the humpback whale.

We go through lives meeting many people. From the moment of our birth, we’re part of a family. As we grow, our circle of friends bring more people into our lives. School and work further increases our circle of acquaintances.

Each person we meet has an influence, no matter how slight, no matter whether negative or positive, on our growth as a person but there are some in our lives who have a profound positive effect on us.

We shout, “Thank you Beryl!”

You have been introduced to us through the love of your daughter and, in turn, have introduced us to Tracy.

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Start March 27, 2015

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