Drunken soldiers
Photo prompt from Dawn M Miller
A dark silhouette appeared out of the mist, soon joined by assorted tomb stones standing in rows. They looked just like drunken soldiers on parade. A layer of freezing air descended and engulfed Buster. With caution Buster moved forward, passing between stone anchors and laurel leaves. He had entered a military grave yard, strangely he felt comfortable and his pace quickened. A well built porch appeared out of the mist, who’s door stood slightly ajar, offering access to a church. “You can come in old chap”. So Buster entered. “Are thee hungry, thee looks so”. “You want to share a railway man’s beef paste butty”.
Footnote: Link to prompt is traveling, sorry it is a bit tenuous this week.
Printed
This Post Has 23 Comments
I’d be wary of food offered by mysterious strangers in a misty graveyard. Ghost food can’t be good for the digestion.
ha ha !!! I’m curious to know what a railway man’s beef paste butty can be? any recipe?
Beef paste butties are a sign that the railway man is on hard times. A butty is a sandwich, beef paste is rather like pate, but not as good
Many thanks.
I wondered if Buster had joined the ranks of the dead and perhaps was having a last supper. Loved the descriptions – it gave it a surreal eerie atmosphere.
So pleased to read your comments, Buster tells me that he is still very much alive
I don’t think your link to the prompt is tenuous at all, Michael. You’ve written a lovely atmospheric piece and at the opening of it I was straight away reminded how objects seem to appear through the mist when I’m looking out of a train’s window. Whether Buster has passed away or is just temporarily in the past, it seems he is guaranteed a warm welcome. Lovely.
So pleased to read your comments, Jilly
This is a delightful story, It reminds me of a story by James Lee Burke “In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead”.
Now that’s a story that I will have to read. Thank you Alicia
Buster is seeing ghosts now perhaps? Still, if they’re offering food, that’s a good sign.
No ghosts, just a engine driver down on his luck.
Atmosphere is everything in this story. Good writing.
Thank you very much granonine
Buster is on the move. Good that he is not going hungry.
He is certainly on the move, thank you Abhijit
Dear Michael,
I thought Buster was a ghost until someone asked if he’s hungry. Interesting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
A little misdirect by me perhaps. So pleased to hear from you Rochelle
Excellent atmospheric write. I think I need to get better acquainted with Buster, seems I’m the odd man out here that isn’t familiar with him..
Buster is a character who has grabbed my muses attention. I have to admit that I have enjoyed thinking about his adventures
I just noticed that today and look forward to many more adventures with him .
Quite atmospheric indeed. I shall choose to be positive and not worry about people offering food.
Thank you Dale, I am pleased that the atmospheric conditions can over, there are some very isolated churches in the Yorkshire Dales