≤140 Characters, or Tweet Repeat: 5

The Government knew for sure they were doing something wrong when the children stormed Parliament demanding free healthcare for teddy bears.

250 Words: Tales from the city: Turtleneck

A great affinity for water has always been in me.  If my skin is not wet it will itch and I become increasingly anxious, my breathing quickening.  

Growing up I would cure this by spending hours in the bath, sleeping in it even-  possible because I have gills as well as lungs.  Situated on my neck, I gained my nickname from the pullover I wore perpetually to hide my shame.  

In addition I was home-schooled by my parents and went on to run my own business from the family home, always wearing damp clothes under a wetsuit to help me concentrate.  

As a result I have always been a recluse and kept myself away from everyone, even now, because I was born a bit wonky and would be labelled a freak: albeit one superior in at least one respect.

It’s perhaps little wonder, then, that I stood out so much when I started to appear in public.  This happened soon after I moved into my own place.  Having gained more independence, I would walk through the city, going wherever I wanted and soon discovered the river.  

I would swim in it, jumping off the bridges (naked sometimes), for hours, feeling the water, the freedom of having so much to move in.

But I attracted attention, became a myth, then an attraction.  My parents shouted, I became scared my secret would be discovered and swam in my turtleneck.  I didn’t know what else to do until the Navy came to call.

≤140 Characters, or Tweet Repeat: 4

For revenge, he burned the place down and destroyed 2000 years of academic history, ensuring the flames started with his own brother's name.

250 Words: Improv, aka Ramblings 4

Whatever happened to Steve?  I remember the last time I saw him was in the Wetherspoon’s on Grape Lane, the one that all the slags hang out in, that drag guys to kiss in the alley down the side.  And maybe more, I don’t know, I’ve never been a random.  Anyway, I saw Steve in there three, maybe four years ago, I remember cos it was the night I last went out with Nicki; she dumped me the next morning (though I didn’t breakdown into her naked breasts, Los Campesinos! fans; I did that on her doorstep having left with my head held, reasonably, high).  God I loved her at the time.  It was only later I found out she’d been screwing right around town.  Probably in the alleyway down the side of the Wetherspoon’s on Grape Lane. 

Hmm.

Anywho, I saw Steve last then.  You remember him too, don’t you?  Not even that night?  It was also the night that you fell down drunk, smashed your head up real bad.  That’s why you might not remember that night so well but you must remember old Stevie Steven!  He cleaned you up someone told me (I missed the whole thing, arguing with Nicki no doubt, I only found out at closing time, hadn’t noticed you were gone).  Well that was the last I saw of him, in the Grape Lane Wetherspoon’s the night before Nicki ditched me and you smashed your head up badly.  Whatever happened to him I wonder?  

≤140 Characters, or Tweet Repeat: 3

As the earth tore asunder, separating the population between new lives in heaven or hell, Steve wondered, "Where is the jury of my peers?"

250 Words: I was his personal homework diary (or Day Book, didn’t our school call them? Day often pronounced “Gay”: hilarious, I'm sure you'll agree)

He’d ring up every evening shortly after six when his parents’ phone rates changed.  It annoyed my parents immensely as this was the time we sat down to tea back then.  I wasn’t so bothered, though, was pleased to help.  And, anyway, we weren’t having cooked dinners at that time so nothing was getting cold.

He’d ring up and ask what homework we had to hand in the following day and I would stand in the kitchen and run through our timetables in my head, working through the day from 1st to 8th period, stating each lesson then saying what, if anything, we had to do that evening.  Maybe an essay or problems from the textbook. 

This was, mostly if not entirely, during the GCSE years, Years 10 and 11, when I wasn’t in all his classes, so I’d have to either jog his memory for Maths, Business Studies and Geography- I’m sure he would often tell me!- or perhaps he had other go to guys for those…

It was certainly a mutually beneficial relationship as I mostly did my homework the night before it was due and so these communications must have helped remind me of pieces of work I might have forgotten about, helped eliminate my own need for a homework diary. 

I was his personal homework diary and I was happy to be so for my neighbour in so many lessons, the boy with many of the whispered words that helped get me through the schooldays.

≤140 Characters, or Tweet Repeat: 2

Naturally it was after he decided to tackle his problem with Derek that he died.  Unnaturally.