If you’re a regular to my blog you’ll know I have a generally optimistic view of the world. I’ve always preferred to err on the side of giving people the benefit of the doubt, but on a few occasions this has led me into situations where my trust was misplaced and I’ve paid the price. … Continue reading Nottingham Knockers: the conundrum of trusting the Universe in a world where not everyone got the ‘we are all one’ memo.
Black Widow
Another short story for you. This one was published on Gobblers/Masticadores some time back but I didn’t share it on here because it has s-e-x in it (yes I am stereotypically British), but I’m also over it. Hope you enjoy the story.
by Rae Cod
He watched her from a distance as she sat on the front step of her porch, staring with eyes that were somewhere else. Her beautiful dark hair was piled up in a head scarf. A tangle had broken free, and he was surprised to see it shot through with white. Maybe not so surprised. Brutal way to go.
They were friends once. He hadn’t liked that. Maybe he wasn’t as stupid as he looked. But he wasn’t here anymore, perhaps they could be friends again.
He worked up his swagger and approached the house.
‘Hi Dee.’
Her dark eyes registered confusion as they drifted back from that faraway place, then surprise as recognition dawned.
‘I didn’t think you’d ever come back here,’ she said, in that voice as smooth and dark as treacle.
‘I saw his obituary in the paper,’ he said simply.
She nodded.
Finally, wearily…
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Thoughts?
The you inside your head is less you than you might think Thinking is the problem and it’s causing quite a stink I think therefore I am, yet thoughts are products of the brain I fart therefore I am could be said in similar vein Our thoughts become the soundtrack to this awe-filled, wondrous life … Continue reading Thoughts?
Time to Fly
The fly flew from the ointment and landed in my drink Its lifeless body floated there gave me time to think Did I really want the comfort those bubbles would provide? Liquid gold within my veins Euphoric rush to downward slide In a memory my mind hides: The chasing of a high that can be … Continue reading Time to Fly
‘The ultimate, hidden truth of the world is that it is something we make and could just as easily make differently’ – David Graeber
We all saw it during the pandemic, didn’t we? Our ability to quickly and, relatively easily, adapt to new ways of doing things: children didn't go to school, people didn't go to work and loungewear became the season's must have attire. Yet now normality has resumed, so the possibility of doing things differently also seems … Continue reading ‘The ultimate, hidden truth of the world is that it is something we make and could just as easily make differently’ – David Graeber
All You’ll Ever Need
Moving in a spiral to a point of purity Ever decreasing circles ‘til you get where you should be The other myth: a straight line traditional trajectory Avoiding all the pitfalls ‘til you get where you could be At the centre, lies the answer the one each of us seek “Keep climbing to pure happiness, … Continue reading All You’ll Ever Need
Matters Much
There is a negative Nelly living deep within my brain His complaints are always different, yet they’re really all the same The soundtrack he lays down is one of cacophonous strife A circuitous litany on the grievances of life He cannot see the awe in scudding clouds through window panes All he sees are heavy … Continue reading Matters Much
We got the van, man: let the van life adventures begin
Eighteen months ago we had our first camper van adventure and I convinced myself van life was the family holiday life for us. I began the search for a van and we had a couple more rental adventures, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to commit to any of the vans I saw, and if … Continue reading We got the van, man: let the van life adventures begin
The End of Mankind
This is December’s offering to Gobblers/Masticadores, a strange story inspired by an infection called Wolbachia which is found amongst anthropods and isopods. When infected, male woodlice can turn into female woodlice who then only produce female offspring. The world is a weirdly wonderful place!
by Rae Cod
“How long has he been infected with the parasite, Mr Kant?” asked Doctor Fenton, keeping her face as neutral as possible. This was the tenth case presenting with intensive acceleration they’d had this week. The patient – the host – was under sedation in isolation; isolation to supposedly protect others from the parasite, sedation to protect the patient’s own sanity: the National Health Service just didn’t have the resources to deal with something like this.
“He was infected in the first wave, so I guess about six months ago, we’ve been really careful since then, followed the guidelines not to touch…except…”
Dr Fenton’s ears pricked up, “except?”
“His birthday, three months ago, it was just the once…it’d been so long since either of us…and his symptoms seemed under control…”
“Did you use protection”
“No,” said the husband – Mr Kant, Doctor Fenton reminded herself. She must remember to…
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Use Them Well
There’s nothing makes me buoyantlike words that can engageReading them or writing themseeing them on stageHearing them in musicor watching them on screenDiscourse dished directlyfilling spaces in-betweenSaid or read within a momentthey have power to spark a changeFor good or ill they’re physicalimbued in each exchangeThe magic found within themwon’t need incantations or a spellLike … Continue reading Use Them Well
Rae Cod’s Writing 