TIPPING POINT TALES.

A CHANGE OF PLAN, POSTED EARLIER THAN USUAL.

Events external to my Life on Substack this month have delayed my submissions to “Tipping Points”, a monthly Kaleidoscope writing project run by

Moon Arica

and

Mark

So - to meet their deadline of 31st Jan…. I have rescheduled “The Woolsack Jewel 3/3” to a later date. Perhaps you too would be interested in Submitting a brief post too, this or future months. Here’s my two for January….

Intro :- There are periods in our lives where we feel we have taken a wrong turn, and wonder not WHY we have chosen this path, but WHY we’ve stayed on it this long.

It’s often because we feel dependant on, OR, beholden to others. Soon enough we find ourself on the brink. Hallo Tipping Point.

TPT #1). KID.

Mum had hardly spoken at breakfast. He’d sensed her discomfort but hadn’t thought to ask. Coins in pocket for school dinner and the bus, he set out to walk instead, deliberately to be late. A ruse to avoid the taunting bullies. Not many kids wore spectacles in those days. Seven hundred pupils, only one real friend.

Anyway, bus pennies gave more comfort converted to chocolate treats.

Teacher hassle was easier to deal with than a crowd who’s delight in rejection was beyond his comprehension.

Sneaking into the School field presented another opportunity for delay, the long jump beckoned. Wow, Best result yet ! Have another go, take Uncle Pete’s advice, try a different style. Crikey ! that was a good ‘un !! Feeling better, he suddenly remembered that today was his THIRTEENTH BIRTHDAY !! Wow ! Teenager ! Nearly grown up now….

Mum’s Superstitious nature crept in, Friday the 13th. Oh heck ? He checked his body parts, no pain, contents of his satchel, all there, buttons, shoelaces. Hmmm, so all these weeks of trepidation for nothing. Hmmmm…. Uncle Pete had been right about that too.

Thinking about thinking Differently, maybe think differently about the meanstreak kids around……….. Ha ! Got it ! If they don’t want me as a pal…. then it’s their loss - not mine….. Hmmmm….. Oh EUREKA ! (Last week’s new word).

Hallo Tipping Point.

All fears Vanquished, he trotted happily into class, and was never late again.

Arriving home Mum smiling apologetically. A brand new Meccano Kit patiently waiting on his bed.

TPT #2). SOLDIER.

Funny how a couple of years Desert Warfare gets yer thinking.

"Wot we doin' 'ere Sarge ?"
"Protectin' British Interests, Laddie"
"Wossat mean Sarge ?"
"Stoppin' effin terrorists stealin' British Oil, Laddie"
Private Mick Bell, the unit interlectyerell chips in wiv 
"I think Sarge means Arabs taking back their Oil from British Shareholders"
Which, when considerin' all the dead comrades who wouldn't get no pension, got this Soldier thinkin' about returnin' to Civilian Life.

Hallo Tipping Point. Later… This very ex-soldier wrote Samsons Tale…..

"Join the Army, learn a trade, see the World, be a man of Action" they said.
So Samson became a military man,
Action man.
They removed his hair, his Identity,
replaced it with a piece of card.
Sent him to the Garden of Aden,
"AKA the arsehole of the World" they said,
It stinks like that, quite literally,
Stinks of blood camel shit sweat fear death,
a thousand years of war.
Military Action Man and nine of his bretheren went 717 days and 717 nights into the Wilderness, Jesus left after 40, the rest of Samson's bretheren perished,
Shot up,
Blown up,
Run down,
Cut down,
Nine lives,
Nine deaths.
Samson laid down his arms, grew his hair, Lives to Tell the Tale.

Conclusion :- Our lives are a series of Turning Points, after a few one reflects on the pattern and begins to understand the process, and thereby oneself, and glimmerings of the Human Condition…

Over on

This Creative Adventure

last Friday a short story competition, with valuable prizes, was announced. Take a Look ?

NeXt, back to previously planned Schedule by Wednesday 5th Feb.