CHALKBOARD STORIES
Proposition 1: It is possible to determine everything that was ever written on a chalkboard from the traces of dust they leave behind.
The hard chalk squeals in pain as the young man drags it across the board. He stops for a moment, then writes a second:
Proposition 2: It is possible to reconstruct a life from the traces they leave behind, the ways they affected other lives.
Yes, he thinks, that's it. Stretching, he adds an underlined title above the two sentences:
The Chalkboard Proposition
-date-
The big ship sails on the ally-ally-oh,1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7pr42XF38
The ally-ally-oh, the ally-ally-oh,1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GCMT8123m
Oh, the big ship sails on the ally-ally-oh,1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aJfIs5KdK
On the last day of September…
"Oh, come on, you've got to tell me who you're taking to the social!" Esme titters, throwing her luscious blonde hair back with a flick of the head.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OGG0BqZ8A
"Just someone." David was an unusual person; quiet, introverted, and the secret crush of nearly every girl in his year (not to mention ones younger and older). He had well defined features – piercing blue eyes, observant, brown curls hanging over his forehead and the faintest hint of facial hair sprouting beneath his tall nose and under his chin.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JFMw5qVh3
"Don't tease me, Dave. Give me a name." Esme pouts in what could be considered a sexual way, and a few distant onlookers wolf-whistle. It took a lot to get the self-proclaimed beauty of the school to give that face.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCg921lteb
"May, I'm not going to tell you that." He sits down on the grass oval and opens his chemistry book.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJqgweObWN
"Okay then. First letter."1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vbHE1MWJ6
"May –" Her bottom lip sticks out even further, and she bends over, batting her eyelids. Shit, David thinks. If I don't say anything soon she's going to be undressing for me right here.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqvh5rqqW6
"Okay. It's an B." He sighs.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhgWxPvlSK
Immediately, Esme straightens herself, and pulls up her dress which had casually fallen a centimeter or two during her maneouvres. "B for bitch?" She adds, helpfully. A hysterical laugh.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡos4G89x9G3
"No, what the hell, May?"1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkn0JQKCOan
She puts on a young, girly voice: "It was just a joke, mummy, no need to get so uptight!" Another laugh. "Ohhhhh my god, it's Bronte, isn't it. That SLUT!" She gasps theatrically.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkdQa29EIW
"No, it's not Bronte. You wouldn't know who it is." He takes out and puts on his glasses and focuses on the book on his lap.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ac5eYSlBt
Esme smiles conspiratorially. "You're quite the puzzle, aren't you?" A more sophisticated person might have used the word 'enigma' instead.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbU0Hg7ZbH
David looks up. "Only if you want me to be."1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPq1rYgBIy
"Haha…" He can tell she doesn't understand him, as he expected. No one would.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOceaGbicK
Esme's group of friends appears suddenly, as if sprouting out of the ground like unwanted weeds; dandelions, pretty at first sight, but as you blow all the frills away you see the filth underneath that spreading over your garden.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwjXzq7ce1
"Well, Dave, I've gotta go. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!" She giggles, and her friends follow suit with an irritating chord of nervous laughter.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfKPz2Lt8X
As if in reverse mitosis, they form one impenetrable cloud of gossip that slowly walks away, emitting the occasional 'No way!' or 'Oh my god!'1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1gEOCG94Z
David sighs, and closes the book.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6dskCq5Ws
He can't concentrate now.
-impurities-
There was a crooked man and he walked a crooked mile,1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMrgzm6BZn
He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJseMxrXEB
He bought a crooked cat which caught a crooked mouse.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HY4QCcPTJ
And they all lived together in a little crooked house.
sample: H2O1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV07b9F2gk3
sample volume: 7325kL1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUYCM0MAf6
hypothesis: i am alone1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyuyDirXsM
method:1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AiYK6tuqs
-extract impurities1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYfZ5e2i8w
result: collected 109875L of impurities1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRtUSXjCLG
hypothesis disproven1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNEmkXNO04
hypothesis ii: i am alone, here1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JNdw0dZKA
method:1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsvIJFRHF5
-sift and sort impurities1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxa9gDQnpd
result: collected 809550mL of relevant impurities1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQaEGjM05f
hypothesis disproven1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAO01gQ0tSZ
hypothesis iii: magic does not exist1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡex10S9n0Nr
method:1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4GnqAUqkD
-collect 2mL of relevant impurities1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrNwQAXyJY
-place in flask1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9BYfXUzNc
-wait1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJ79zGhzGM
-wait1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2D1GoT7h1T
-wait1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilGXcMghXP
-wait1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxt2vnCfgPG
-wait1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPivaP9Bc7e
-wait1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5TLUsp66u
-wait1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nbFCMvYX4
-until something magical happens1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDGa3xwdB4
result: i waited1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5gkTW5YYO
result: i wanted1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xwWxKAmy2
result: i failed1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMeI3pzKzJ
result: i hid1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBRtzpx6FM
result: i tried1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstXkFJKlqO
result: i searched1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0F2YSMzBGc
result: i found1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMbMW3ZLbJ
result: i found something magical1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUOwiUjPhK
hypotheses disproven1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzKTf0QHGG
i am not alone
-sign here-
Monday's child is fair of face,1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8sGsFbkNw
Tuesday's child is full of grace,1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV96BkbxNoz
Wednesday's child is full of woe,1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVTsDoGKGm
Thursday's child has far to go,1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0yR31WOnS
Friday's child is loving and giving,1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5lyKyvSZY
Saturday's child works hard for his living1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45yPGKgis8
And the child that is born on the Sabbath day…
The author signs the book, another thank, another person. The line goes on.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDU1cOPi5r
"The name's Gretta. I'm your number one fan!"1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwd9OIwKYDp
To Gretta, my number one fan. -sign here-1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pFd8LRUxc
"I really loved your book. It touched me so much. I've had similar issues myself…"1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5o1f8mUd5h
To quote a cat meme: 'Hang in there!' Don't give up, Jacob! -sign here-1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUGPXjLUj9
"What an honour to meet you! I'm lost for words."1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7Tj1axdwW
To Kyle, my number one fan. -sign here-
To (name), my number one fan. -sign here-1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaONyRwZoy2
To (name), my number one fan. -sign here-1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qe18Abf84
To (name), my number one fan. -sign here-1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzQDq21Xe9
To (name), my number one fan. -sign here-
Endless, endless, endless, and they all mean nothing. Dammit. The pen has run out of ink. He reaches for another –1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPBVIsJgUn
"No need to." The author looks up at the voice, and is greeted by the figure of a young man, possibly mid to late twenties, perhaps even in the thirties. Streaky blonde hair, slightly awkward gait, but something elegant about the entire presentation. A smile. "It's already signed."1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttbK4AUuUb
The author opens to the inside cover, and sure enough, there's a signature there. It's not his own, though.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFApg3IFVcP
This is for you, Hector. I want you to know that I'm sorry.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnkal0rb90
Carolyn1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJggW49KlM
"I'm sorry, I don't quite understand –" The author is interrupted by the young man.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDnGoYBmef
"You don't need to. It's only a mystery if you make it one." There's an audible muttering of impatience from the people in the line, and he glances back quickly after he finishes the sentence.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYJT6NuV3e
"The book isn't mine. I bought it second hand." He takes closes the cover, and takes it back. "I think there's a greater story in those fourteen words than what could ever be expressed in the entirety of your book."1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeL4BxnLdOU
The author finally sees; and – for a moment – for an eternal, deathly moment – he wants to cry.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8jpiOJOAS
"Yes…" He manages to form the word. "…I agree."1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCgIXApfy7
The young man offers nothing for a goodbye, simply walking away; but, just before he exits the bookshop – he turns back, and gives one last smile – that happy, sad, confused, surprised, goddamn smile.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qfrl0rN3b
The author doesn't want to let himself believe it, but he's sure, so sure, that when the man returns home, he'll play an old record of some Shakespeare, sit by his Shigeru and with his long, shapely fingers, play the most impenetrable and so unspeakably beautiful harmonies.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7jYtiaI6e
The clearing of a throat brings his attention back to the person in front of him.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruKxsG6nM2
To Samantha, my number one fan. -sign here-
-ghost 54-
"When will that be?" say the Bells of Stepney,1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRI4YaVMAt
"I do not know" say the Great Bells of Bow.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhPKzGWnEz
Here comes a candle to light you to bed…
It is known that ghosts do not come out in day, but only at night, or in the dark.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTjsSueVNK
Why is this, experts ask?1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡly7xquMDw4
And why is it only occasionally that ghosts are found in groups?1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Fr2SyHt8h
It was decided that a study must be conducted.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE757ubbc4R
We stayed at the Crawley Cemetery for five nights, with video cameras, audio recording equipment, and an ectograph.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQGWoM5VvB
Each night, we video the cemetery, record audio in selected areas, record a transcript of all dialogue at our midnight campfire, and place the ecto-sensors around the cemetery, transmitting information to the ectograph.
NIGHT 1:1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAYfcNnFz9
Video cameras find nothing.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aZKvOrvo1
Audio finds only the faintest of whispers.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqFUpxpJie
No ectograph response.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoe9t1eHAb
At our midnight campfire, we had seven people gathered around, telling stories. We came as a group of six. Once pointed out, said extra person vanished. Ghost activity suspected.
NIGHT 2:1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqpFdxAeop
Video cameras find nothing.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoR9qleAC6O
Audio records crying at a frequency unnoticeable to human ears. Had to be edited.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO456i29K4R
Slight ectograph response.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9Tox1uOjT
At our midnight campfire, we sensed a presence, 5 foot 4 inches tall. One member of our group panicked, and bailed from experiment.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYCE7zGetg
The presence feebly tried to morph into a replica of a human body, but the image collapsed.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZ126CPIQV
We have christened the presence 'ghost 54'.
NIGHT 3:1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntYaHCH5AB
Video cameras find a group of ghosts, touching, walking through each other, but seemingly without the knowledge of each other's presence. Further study of this phenomenon is required.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMFRozKhxr
Audio records multiple prayers being said through the night. Again, frequency had to be edited.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHywKtBLEg
Ectograph gives huge response. Large ghost activity in area.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKJRe57Tyh
Ghost 54 returned to our midnight campfire, seemingly trying to make contact with us. Sounds made were unintelligible. We managed to capture it: we have placed it in a cage.
NIGHT 4:1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkJYRAvN2r
Video cameras record images of horrific beings, humanoid but monstrous.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEz4GxjiX7y
Audio records unintelligible noises. This phenomenon requires further study. Possibly an attempt at communication.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgynE7oEk9
Ectograph spikes, has buffer overflow. Line of activity goes off the top of graph before the machine breaks.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhPKqR2bsA
We repair the ectograph during our midnight campfire.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCwc1uP5MF
One of our remaining 5 crew members has an epileptic fit. We attempt to calm him before he morphs into a monstrous ghost before our eyes. We restrain him, and place him in the cage. We have lost another crew member.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5zbXuYlkw
Ghost 54 is silent.
NIGHT 5:1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLzHk8unZs
Video cameras show many people walking around the cemetery.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUveze1kA42
Audio records many casual conversations.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZngYJIjbY
The repaired ectograph gives no response.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHwtj8eY6m
The cage contains our crew member and ghost 54. We cannot tell which is which, as both no longer resemble ghosts, both seemingly human now.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThPZW5gPYA
No ghost activity was found at all.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7Zxaz5Mbc
At midnight campfire, we go back through previous footage and recordings. They have changed. Frequencies are back to normal (edited versions had to be re-edited) and unintelligible noises now resemble human conversation.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81y0kLATNI
We congratulate ourselves on our unusual findings.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2o5ICTjVu
To celebrate, we watch the footage of ghost 54 being placed in the cage.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pTJSd2poS
We are surprised to see in the recording, us placing a perfectly healthy (and struggling) human into the cage.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrWQaxiz6w
The footage has not been tampered with.
This phenomenon requires further study.
-whish-
Jack and Jill1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTV1WvuQfua
Went up the hill1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkB1gYaS4E
To fetch a pail of water…
The hill is silent, serene – peaceful, he wants to say.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlicScAuqsM
This is his place, where he can lay the storm of thoughts rushing about inside his mind to rest.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKstqE0kevb
The climb is harsh, and he recalls when once – as a younger child, perhaps 11 or 12 years old, he twisted his foot on a rock, and it never quite fully healed; you wouldn't notice it at a glance, but there's something ever so slightly awkward about the way he carries himself.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmZdntnYz4
But he still does it, perhaps once a month, sometimes more, sometimes less, because of the Whishing Well.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3zBMqI634
That's what he calls it; the old, defunct well at the top of the hill – the Whishing Well. His own little private joke. And on those nights that he sneaks out of the house to climb up, he drops something precious down the well and makes a wish, then lies under the glimmering stars for as long as he dares before heading back down to his house.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAty2RFkr2
Tonight is different.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuioLgxhVZ
He has nothing left to give to the well.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAgi6d9Wtr
Or, perhaps, he has everything to give.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvozelyPA2W
He knows that this is the last time he's going to go to the well. He doesn't want to come back after this, because this – this is his final wish, the most important thing in his whole life, the one thing he wants granted.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrozNspyDbt
He reaches the peak, and kneels beside the stone circle surrounding the pit. He makes his wish, and as he does so, he can't help but let a few tears escape; each echoing hollowly as they splash against the bottom of the well.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB32bHFc98M
The sleepless moon watches over him, gliding so slowly across the sky, a guardian, a confidante, the only other that will know the wish, the light reflecting of his streaky blonde hair.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSwi8LLiUc
He opens his eyes. The wish is over.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBn41QEVooT
He wants it. He needs it.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFT7UwNyyT
With a sigh, he walks back down the hill.
The next evening, his parents are crying.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTL5iMPd95Z
"We're proud of you, son, no matter what." They're smiling, but they're shocked as well, shaken.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAvXsxqbDo
His dad, eyes red, pats him on the back.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmMtxwWVz9
"Go get 'em, tiger."1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRF480g8EI
And so a door closes, another opens.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVI15NdAtn
He walks out, a half-hearted goodbye, a see you soon, and they watch all the way as he walks down the street.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6M1lJAoxQ
The thirty minute walk gives his time to think about what's going to happen, to him, to them, to everyone they know.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QTainAXxw
He reaches his destination, and there, a slim, quiet figure waits, extending a hand upon sight.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwxj4zwrC1
He grasps it.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5K5KJzqn8
"Ready?"1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡox5v2wu1Ka
The person answers. "Ready."1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvnVxFFMW8
He can tell that they're not, really, but they're going to do this anyway.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqhtuvjCVC
They can hear all the noise from inside the hall, growing louder as they open the door.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOULJm2uyw
Silence.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1mpW9r1Kc
Everything stops.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ABvfhP7Ly
And he thinks of his wish, still strong in his mind, and walks, hand in hand, into the room.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxEbf0leXN
I wish…1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgFtaMgD8P
I wish…1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4hxMWzuR3
Esme cries.
-extract from memoir of a ghost by david whishaw-
When Adam delved, and Eve span,1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHW2SkeyotV
Who then was a gentleman?
I'm walking new territory now, no footsteps in the sand before me. I've thrown everything that I knew and loved to the winds, and I'm scared that I'll take the journey alone. Everything is different now, but even in those first, tentative steps, I know that however hard this will be, something magical is waiting for me at the end. And when I glimpse that beautiful thing, still so far away, rising over the horizon, I'm going to run, oh, I'll run, and I'm never looking back.
Just watch me go.1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iLLP0mPFu
-chalkboard stories-1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzqORy20LJ
its only an enigma1054Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuHIxOLXb7
if you want it to be
