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,998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0rDVuVrks
The ally-ally-oh, the ally-ally-oh,998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepjVCOXqCx
Oh, the big ship sails on the ally-ally-oh,998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEa74x4rK2W
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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKj2XtrIEd
"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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kizuaMAro
"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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHDJcwuWaO
"May, I'm not going to tell you that." He sits down on the grass oval and opens his chemistry book.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhGRHDPYcm
"Okay then. First letter."998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8B6SyLSTk
"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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGqsgdqYsH
"Okay. It's an B." He sighs.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAT5tJMqRhT
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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3e5QR2l3c
"No, what the hell, May?"998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7i6t8qVZwj
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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPfd62rFiv
"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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDy9dAxaFZk
Esme smiles conspiratorially. "You're quite the puzzle, aren't you?" A more sophisticated person might have used the word 'enigma' instead.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnN4H2uclTV
David looks up. "Only if you want me to be."998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFdxISB9qQ
"Haha…" He can tell she doesn't understand him, as he expected. No one would.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98CblIuRaP
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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nAnqFQgNF
"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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZPWNVLhsz
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!'998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWv2G88tKne
David sighs, and closes the book.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfaYZXIiMB
He can't concentrate now.
-impurities-
There was a crooked man and he walked a crooked mile,998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eiZVJE64s
He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw489rzlyrU
He bought a crooked cat which caught a crooked mouse.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8lCNpcWRM
And they all lived together in a little crooked house.
sample: H2O998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5U44sj9ab
sample volume: 7325kL998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVtvLIkRFN
hypothesis: i am alone998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknzkujduFP
method:998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0eILAA5tv
-extract impurities998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCcncqP5mG
result: collected 109875L of impurities998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfvY0OfmLU
hypothesis disproven998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lYVdaiCRp
hypothesis ii: i am alone, here998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BUGBC7dbC
method:998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpOLYoYDMj
-sift and sort impurities998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSq1TNzYZ3
result: collected 809550mL of relevant impurities998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDaEwrjieU
hypothesis disproven998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqV3Jcw6u0
hypothesis iii: magic does not exist998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rLby2k3nD
method:998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhl0gM344P
-collect 2mL of relevant impurities998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHCnwj93VO
-place in flask998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuXNzcyNjp
-wait998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQ90mAfbo2
-wait998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmZesTAUVr
-wait998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XlMmhATil
-wait998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRpds2IaXO
-wait998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2aGWvgtSF
-wait998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vVffiReNI
-wait998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqSvQEp8rc
-until something magical happens998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIn3AWK9R1
result: i waited998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1o4XnKHmL
result: i wanted998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueFn4ihAxj
result: i failed998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSgQ78Kt1b
result: i hid998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0zQrforfK
result: i tried998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56GXuatc63
result: i searched998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gMU3wCkVm
result: i found998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpQpFwJka1
result: i found something magical998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29h0hjpMHT
hypotheses disproven998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OgTxmCatx
i am not alone
-sign here-
Monday's child is fair of face,998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTOBGeUDeM
Tuesday's child is full of grace,998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bYpG3l3WJ
Wednesday's child is full of woe,998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMkbh7zr61
Thursday's child has far to go,998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdxPnn2lGz
Friday's child is loving and giving,998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLdsQnfehX
Saturday's child works hard for his living998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1bQHzqcqJ
And the child that is born on the Sabbath day…
The author signs the book, another thank, another person. The line goes on.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTn5SO7foc
"The name's Gretta. I'm your number one fan!"998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCS2TRjEJR
To Gretta, my number one fan. -sign here-998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmlxt9voyG
"I really loved your book. It touched me so much. I've had similar issues myself…"998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Oi4GU0EZF
To quote a cat meme: 'Hang in there!' Don't give up, Jacob! -sign here-998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVr6djbYOat
"What an honour to meet you! I'm lost for words."998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJjtwqJZnV
To Kyle, my number one fan. -sign here-
To (name), my number one fan. -sign here-998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhumlfouOaR
To (name), my number one fan. -sign here-998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyxZgmzVgd
To (name), my number one fan. -sign here-998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhInGMq2Qi
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 –998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVtsW6dIMU
"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."998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUYNBg2tLF
The author opens to the inside cover, and sure enough, there's a signature there. It's not his own, though.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR8CW47ozC
This is for you, Hector. I want you to know that I'm sorry.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzA17B38fHo
Carolyn998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcK98rXVRe
"I'm sorry, I don't quite understand –" The author is interrupted by the young man.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNtWLi13X7
"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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZus9iWbYj
"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."998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQz4lnrl0I8
The author finally sees; and – for a moment – for an eternal, deathly moment – he wants to cry.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTh8dT7cEza
"Yes…" He manages to form the word. "…I agree."998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJebdwyqnj1
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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75wLMWaTPA
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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjb2a449lRD
The clearing of a throat brings his attention back to the person in front of him.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEI4mjqgyY
To Samantha, my number one fan. -sign here-
-ghost 54-
"When will that be?" say the Bells of Stepney,998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9ewO3xvwK
"I do not know" say the Great Bells of Bow.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTREZTsS5Pj
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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3M8wTbWvHC
Why is this, experts ask?998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2DZt9u94U
And why is it only occasionally that ghosts are found in groups?998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfZMsRIXW2
It was decided that a study must be conducted.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6PmXQ6xz0
We stayed at the Crawley Cemetery for five nights, with video cameras, audio recording equipment, and an ectograph.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLDbt4wnjX
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 1:998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKxLgZZRzX
Video cameras find nothing.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF8W2gwWCK
Audio finds only the faintest of whispers.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5T2D1Sa0Le
No ectograph response.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8zaOEoX60
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 2:998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8lvrlgKaf
Video cameras find nothing.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvyPys25zX
Audio records crying at a frequency unnoticeable to human ears. Had to be edited.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡar33CB8yGI
Slight ectograph response.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbpgGUKPoh
At our midnight campfire, we sensed a presence, 5 foot 4 inches tall. One member of our group panicked, and bailed from experiment.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVM7vuiKsIj
The presence feebly tried to morph into a replica of a human body, but the image collapsed.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbgGMs9bCo
We have christened the presence 'ghost 54'.
NIGHT 3:998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUEPDkEC5Q
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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUN18zaRMx
Audio records multiple prayers being said through the night. Again, frequency had to be edited.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjX1fHExmfe
Ectograph gives huge response. Large ghost activity in area.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalcTQVifuo
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 4:998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡst0OhUwYZD
Video cameras record images of horrific beings, humanoid but monstrous.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SIXtSlXbK
Audio records unintelligible noises. This phenomenon requires further study. Possibly an attempt at communication.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRHYRlkGvO
Ectograph spikes, has buffer overflow. Line of activity goes off the top of graph before the machine breaks.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQkhnmZorx
We repair the ectograph during our midnight campfire.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dSZ7aQSWl
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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjV6yT9l4wO
Ghost 54 is silent.
NIGHT 5:998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QVPCOiqro
Video cameras show many people walking around the cemetery.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hFCWjUe9R
Audio records many casual conversations.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCrg95rneA
The repaired ectograph gives no response.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6SVsIlwwk
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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdyKR8esiw
No ghost activity was found at all.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHfbpLdVM1
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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZQnZ6rRnB
We congratulate ourselves on our unusual findings.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0JvY9IilQ
To celebrate, we watch the footage of ghost 54 being placed in the cage.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNka7Gj40uX
We are surprised to see in the recording, us placing a perfectly healthy (and struggling) human into the cage.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsrXfHU4NW
The footage has not been tampered with.
This phenomenon requires further study.
-whish-
Jack and Jill998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidkS7KXONY
Went up the hill998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBPktF6jKI
To fetch a pail of water…
The hill is silent, serene – peaceful, he wants to say.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RcvMhUP4F
This is his place, where he can lay the storm of thoughts rushing about inside his mind to rest.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpg70NdM2bH
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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhu8rWfC9p
But he still does it, perhaps once a month, sometimes more, sometimes less, because of the Whishing Well.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Xjo7OCixi
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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbI5DNBhIi0
Tonight is different.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5l6aYUlGia
He has nothing left to give to the well.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhigNRpBOhY
Or, perhaps, he has everything to give.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUARiqH9Y2
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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUaEsWVsqD
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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4Y3GHcVX1
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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9y2h0w0Sc
He opens his eyes. The wish is over.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKAKNHsJCI
He wants it. He needs it.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmFYtH5nL3
With a sigh, he walks back down the hill.
The next evening, his parents are crying.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVBuGOUlrg
"We're proud of you, son, no matter what." They're smiling, but they're shocked as well, shaken.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnxYRgfUlI
His dad, eyes red, pats him on the back.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEWPtpnhM4
"Go get 'em, tiger."998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfipRcywItD
And so a door closes, another opens.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOrdIptuy3
He walks out, a half-hearted goodbye, a see you soon, and they watch all the way as he walks down the street.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLkLV2YiKs
The thirty minute walk gives his time to think about what's going to happen, to him, to them, to everyone they know.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWTL8S3q5J
He reaches his destination, and there, a slim, quiet figure waits, extending a hand upon sight.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRFsuHHotz
He grasps it.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTGRIZISUz
"Ready?"998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡag2x8xsRkM
The person answers. "Ready."998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xpG0IFnor
He can tell that they're not, really, but they're going to do this anyway.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmztEABPeaI
They can hear all the noise from inside the hall, growing louder as they open the door.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfImVb0K5CI
Silence.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkayChkD0Rq
Everything stops.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3o16zN6YRE
And he thinks of his wish, still strong in his mind, and walks, hand in hand, into the room.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgKKyrfezU
I wish…998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodqTjr02Bo
I wish…998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTGAVss4I8
Esme cries.
-extract from memoir of a ghost by david whishaw-
When Adam delved, and Eve span,998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdg6m89UslN
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.998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhGrxP53pX
-chalkboard stories-998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Lb2m89tRu
its only an enigma998Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Fldx8TP2T
if you want it to be
