More Tall Stories

By Chris Raven, Adam Bigden and Connie Dalhart

Tall Stories’ is the result of a writing group that came together to share story telling within the same fictional environment. The group was set up to allow its members to tell stories that intertwine; sharing and developing their characters and locations every time a story is told.

In this second anthology of short fiction you will find a further 5 stories about the inhabitants of our residential tower block. Written by Chris Raven, Adam Bigden and Connie Dalhart, these stories cover a wide range of genres and styles and will take you on a journey where you will see the same characters through different eyes, each story adding a further layer to life to Musevary Towers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raven's Staff
• Release date: Jul 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370741861

Chris Raven

Chris Raven was born in South London some 50 or so years ago, maybe a little more. He originally started out in Local and Community Theatre in the 1980s, but became side-tracked by health and social care, where he has made his living for the past 30 years or so. More recently he has found his way back to the creative arts and enjoys writing in several forms and genres, including poetry, short storytelling and playwriting.He also performs and has contributed illustrations to other author's works. He has edited books for The Indie Collaboration and he joint coordinated the 'Tall Stories' shared writing project.

Book preview

More Tall Stories

An Anthology of Short Fiction

By

Chris Raven, Adam Bigden and Connie Dalhart

Edited by Chris P. Raven

Copyright © 2017 Chris Raven and Connie Dalhart.

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 9781370741861

Smashwords Edition

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INTRODUCTION

‘Tall Stories’ is the result of a writing group that came together to share story telling within the same fictional environment. The group was set up to allow its members to tell stories that intertwine; sharing and developing their characters and locations every time a story is told.

In this second anthology of short fiction you will find a further six stories about the inhabitants of our residential tower block. Written by Chris Raven, Adam Bigden and Connie Dalhart, these stories cover a wide range of genres and styles and will take you on a journey where you will see the same characters through different eyes, each story adding a further layer to life to Musevary Towers.

‘Tall Stories’ is work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents in all these stories are the product of each author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales are purely coincidental.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

The Case of the Six Broken Milk Bottles by Chris Raven

Where by Adam Bigden

The Prisoner by Chris Raven

Hymns Vale by Connie Dalhart

The Sham by Chris Raven

The Henry Dunston Affair by Chris Raven

About the Contributors

Also Available

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many thanks to Peter John, Adam Bigden, Mal Hod, and Charlie Dee for their contributions to the ‘Tall Stories’ world.

The Case of the Six Broken Milk Bottles

By Chris Raven

TERPSICHORE’S REVENGE

It's happened again! Henry Dunston said, as he looked back and forth between Charles and Benedict with a mixture of hope and annoyance. That's five times now in as many months.

Benedict gave the older gentleman a sympathetic look and reflected on how time could be a lot kinder to some people rather than to others. Despite his seventy plus years or so, Henry Dunston remained a dashingly handsome man for his age, with his thick wavy grey hair, strong chin, and that cheeky twinkle in his eye. It was not for the first time that Benedict found himself thinking that in the right circumstances, he definitely ‘would’.

I know Henry, Benedict commiserated. It must be extremely frustrating.

Frustrating? I should cocoa! Henry replied, uncharacteristically irritable. I brought this to you back in October but you said it was a coincidence.

I know, Benedict agreed apologetically, but it had only happened once before then.

Both occasions were on the same day of the month and it has been again every month since.

Well in retrospect, Benedict had to concede, I would have to agree that it does seem to be a pattern.

It is more than that young man, Henry insisted. I’m being persecuted. I’ve asked the other tenants, the ones Humphrey delivers to at any rate, and no one else, apart from me, has had any problems at all with their milk deliveries. Five smashed milk bottles and me at my age having to mop up the mess from all over the corridor each time. I wouldn’t mind so much but I had a house guest last month, an old friend from Germany. I was ever so embarrassed not to be able to offer her a cup of tea with her breakfast.

Mr Dunston, Charles suddenly announced, I have decided to take on your case. Benedict had all but forgotten about Charles, who had been sitting in silence, absentmindedly stroking his full groomed moustache.

Oh! Henry said, surprised. Um, thank you Charles.

Shortly afterwards, as Benedict showed him out of the flat, Henry asked what was wrong with Charles.

I mean, Henry continued, why did he call me Mr Dunston? We’ve known each other for years.

I don’t know Henry, Benedict