A mixture of Absinthe and Laudanum now was my only saviour, releasing me from pain all but completely. The cold was running havoc upon my old injuries, and I was beginning to wonder if some wretched fever was folding me within its unwelcome wings. ♠ My days in Fremantle Public Hospital were seemingly…
I know you.
From there I slept without dream or movement, opening my eyes some nine hours later, feeling as though I had not slept at all. Once more from the breach unto the fire, I moved off into the day. Again, following my routine path to the Fremantle Public Hospital, this time for a later shift….
She was the chlorine to his gene pool.
♠ One night in the August of 1919, at about three of the clock in the morning, Mrs. Fox and I had finished aiding in the delivery of a stillborn to a twelve year old mother in a lean-too rudely built against a farriers fence on William Street. Whilst Mrs. Fox was in the…
Hell’s Teeth
The months, like Napoleon’s troops fleeing Russia, marched on with a cost. The performance of surgical procedures was reduced generally to two or three times a week. The apparent nocturnal popularity of the team that was Mrs. Fox and Dr. Peel found us, bag in hand, committing anywhere up to ten hours every night…
Rumble and dice
One evening six months after the sharing of our lodgings began, Mrs. Fox, exposed me for my gender correctly through the art of deduction, and her inimitable ability observe. My pragmatic landlady informed me in a direct and matter of fact manner that I was, indeed, a woman. Her rather accurate rationale was attributed…
Vinegar and Razor Blades
‘An account of time served in Fremantle Public Hospital, and the greater Fremantle area; 1919 – 1920; Dr. Jean (John) G. Peel, Surgeon-Major (retired).’ ♠ It had become apparent at age 12, that if I were to remain for all the world to see as a woman, never would I progress further into meaningful…
Face full of head
I am standing in cold driving rain. I am drenched. I am happy. This day has bought much joy to my heart; well it would at least, if I had one. Those stupid folk, so easily deceived, so easily led astray! How they quail before the beautiful, beautiful rain! Dashing hither tither in search…
Strain the glass through your teeth.
Through the dust of the glass box, papers could be seen within it, filling it completely. Yellowed with age, and on casual observance, ink all but faded beyond legibility. More phone calls were made, and a Mrs. Heather Fuchs the Western Australian Museum arriving within an hour. The vehicle she arrived in containing everything…
I couldn’t hurt an animal, I’m more of a people person.
The vacant space beside the kitchen when finally opened, contained a series of the most macabre and grotesque oddities ever unearthed. Thick dust coated piles of tanned and meticulously folded human skins, stacked one upon another atop a Persian rug lining the floor. Black, white, asian, and what may have been mediterranean in origin. A…
Bare knuckled fun
I proceeded along with a swagger in my step. Life was finally moving in the direction I had sorely desired for so long. Mentally ticking off the procedures that awaited me in the next few hours had removed my attention from the task at hand. One should never blame another for one’s own actions,…
Devil’s High Heels
“Indeed dear. Sorry, Miss Couture was it? I’m Mrs. Fox, do come in.” said in a lilting Scot’s accent. Adeline followed Mrs. Fox down the short polished floorboard passage. Taking in those things that people adorn walls with as she did so, yet nothing was so eye catching that she slowed her progress for…
Cocaine & Champagne
On more than one occasion my heart was to skip a beat that night as my fiancé Jack was about. We were fortuitous as the evening had offered occasional moments of respite; thus enabling us to converse about everything and nothing, as those in love are want to do. On the side of…
The Liebster Award
The Liebster Award and Random Facts About therebemonstershere.com Jan, the groovy writer at strangegoingsonintheshed.wordpress.com nominated me for the Liebster Award, a simply marvellous gesture. Before I go any further, Jan’s blog lays out a mixture of folklore, myth, legend, humour, the gothic and shamanism. Her musings have a brilliant leaning toward mysticism and esoterica. She…
Fun with knives
“Shhh, settle down. Now kids, just remember, even though you may sleep, do not forget the fact that your end of the house was built over a burial ground. A burial ground of the people that were here before the current aboriginals. A people so terrifying that their evil was not just physical,…
Bastard
My two bit office was emptier than the head of the kid that packs my groceries on the corner. Everything was gone. Desk, couch, the rug off the floor. Even the God damned corkscrew and ash tray was missing. Everything! I had gone out for cigarettes and three bottles of rough red wine….
Knuckle splitting laughter
South Perth and the Winchester Hotel flash by on Tilly’s right, she hated any hot dish served cold. Gearing down, the surrounding 3am darkness enveloped her like a black velvet glove as she rode quietly up Mill Point road. Letting the bike get near to the top of the hill, she…
Straight razor of love.
Click the picture above, then come back and read the story. I am toying with notion of adding music to the page, so you have something to add to the emotive underbelly of the yarn. Let me know what you think. As far as cellars went, the cellar beneath the Winchester Hotel wasn’t…
Happiness breathing
An experiment before you begin the story. Click the picture above, and then return to this page. The idea is that whilst you are reading, you have a backing soundtrack to add to the impact of the yarn below. I would be interested in your opinion as to whether music enhances the story. Oh, only have…
Rage and the eclectic.
The shoulder high grass tickles my nose as I creep through the hedge. As far as hedges go, this is a large one, the concealment it offers is magnificent, and the view it offers me of the cottage is fantastic. I must be about twenty cat paces from the gate to the green yard…
Midnight Rambler
She had not realise she had moved. Touch, not movement nor sound alerting her to it; fourteen inches of bread knife magically filled her hand, taking control of its own movement alone, leaving Gentle Annis somewhat out of the picture as it did so. She watched the elderly lady lean further forward deliciously exposing…
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