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,1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhuaM2cXDy
The ally-ally-oh, the ally-ally-oh,1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYpikR6kXg
Oh, the big ship sails on the ally-ally-oh,1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7R4Z9ZFX0
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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVECsNRrSuv
"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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGs5mSEhsr
"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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJqAm0tN8s
"May, I'm not going to tell you that." He sits down on the grass oval and opens his chemistry book.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5OiTnXa1u
"Okay then. First letter."1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡld90XCvDvQ
"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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTSWD3Qgul
"Okay. It's an B." He sighs.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡts7PH8EvY5
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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPM7ZCd3w8W
"No, what the hell, May?"1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaWALMhjWn
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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1rZUp3vPL
"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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKYLu7bOfd
Esme smiles conspiratorially. "You're quite the puzzle, aren't you?" A more sophisticated person might have used the word 'enigma' instead.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJtMln29YR
David looks up. "Only if you want me to be."1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsciqoQjsfQ
"Haha…" He can tell she doesn't understand him, as he expected. No one would.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2x0ttNMAzb
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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJTiG1JOB0
"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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhCEiConA7
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!'1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkVcLTZc64
David sighs, and closes the book.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKIVH46Qxo
He can't concentrate now.
-impurities-
There was a crooked man and he walked a crooked mile,1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIETXvJQSJN
He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOL4s0exHFN
He bought a crooked cat which caught a crooked mouse.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhW63fGLeU
And they all lived together in a little crooked house.
sample: H2O1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJjAJoAeU6
sample volume: 7325kL1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyczOnd47i
hypothesis: i am alone1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOB0jH1sVb
method:1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wt0kjyvGa
-extract impurities1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0uZplPzf8
result: collected 109875L of impurities1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhi57vkCEmq
hypothesis disproven1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPkNKe4bAJ
hypothesis ii: i am alone, here1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCd2de7yD71
method:1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYZZiNLV3f
-sift and sort impurities1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwIFj7H6ku
result: collected 809550mL of relevant impurities1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyeWioBpC9
hypothesis disproven1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvN5MIVGkk
hypothesis iii: magic does not exist1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7Oo2MACAk
method:1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFQORU4Ksg
-collect 2mL of relevant impurities1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4m3x2tqrRx
-place in flask1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHS5VIg88b
-wait1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrl1CQqlYJX
-wait1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWIlkdqeLV
-wait1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenC9h8oPus
-wait1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPiRYjhDJh
-wait1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnb5doY4X8
-wait1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dUZ9hbnJ8
-wait1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOYui0HLdZ
-until something magical happens1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPYzNuVa9L
result: i waited1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90BIu97Duz
result: i wanted1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIubz23ZMFw
result: i failed1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCd50sGBhw
result: i hid1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3TUqnJ7hM
result: i tried1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkt109nTwe
result: i searched1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcHjUNJpOk
result: i found1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6tH47AwqR
result: i found something magical1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjtJvGUplt
hypotheses disproven1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjF00LVx9D
i am not alone
-sign here-
Monday's child is fair of face,1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PaIWOikDc
Tuesday's child is full of grace,1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMDl6yn7wv
Wednesday's child is full of woe,1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynQyGOURoe
Thursday's child has far to go,1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDrbKXFT45
Friday's child is loving and giving,1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjg2KuATd4W
Saturday's child works hard for his living1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSDTrIbysc
And the child that is born on the Sabbath day…
The author signs the book, another thank, another person. The line goes on.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAPvcJCaAq
"The name's Gretta. I'm your number one fan!"1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hWcUavxIN
To Gretta, my number one fan. -sign here-1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bTwHy4vFT
"I really loved your book. It touched me so much. I've had similar issues myself…"1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY375GwX2hE
To quote a cat meme: 'Hang in there!' Don't give up, Jacob! -sign here-1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVVl49dTIx
"What an honour to meet you! I'm lost for words."1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdt7hdjkMa
To Kyle, my number one fan. -sign here-
To (name), my number one fan. -sign here-1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCER9HlPMNJ
To (name), my number one fan. -sign here-1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhpfp6ETBc
To (name), my number one fan. -sign here-1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZIuRmQH49
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 –1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqROSVg9Jhs
"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."1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ901hbLd0sP
The author opens to the inside cover, and sure enough, there's a signature there. It's not his own, though.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47zVKOCkbR
This is for you, Hector. I want you to know that I'm sorry.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKF07BuAS0
Carolyn1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLhdebYzF5
"I'm sorry, I don't quite understand –" The author is interrupted by the young man.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMPRqbL2ly
"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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADl51Xc7Y6
"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."1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFFyei5jyf
The author finally sees; and – for a moment – for an eternal, deathly moment – he wants to cry.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1z5h0NIMLe
"Yes…" He manages to form the word. "…I agree."1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNTVciNwNa
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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TehvwvWyA
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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPBfcRhgdv
The clearing of a throat brings his attention back to the person in front of him.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmtkvCEbMf
To Samantha, my number one fan. -sign here-
-ghost 54-
"When will that be?" say the Bells of Stepney,1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02mbNsjOUm
"I do not know" say the Great Bells of Bow.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkDnDqyYq4
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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1C2eyCXx1
Why is this, experts ask?1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIg115dAxx
And why is it only occasionally that ghosts are found in groups?1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyaVz7a5SC
It was decided that a study must be conducted.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gNMEmhkmd
We stayed at the Crawley Cemetery for five nights, with video cameras, audio recording equipment, and an ectograph.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7p54ikOdm
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 1:1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZoY9YD4hP
Video cameras find nothing.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnenKVA9kK
Audio finds only the faintest of whispers.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ag7bNpxfw
No ectograph response.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRV3t3SmubY
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 2:1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1aKhEX8j5
Video cameras find nothing.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIYQK41rCA
Audio records crying at a frequency unnoticeable to human ears. Had to be edited.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjSUQcaLQp
Slight ectograph response.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqF7EosMOpB
At our midnight campfire, we sensed a presence, 5 foot 4 inches tall. One member of our group panicked, and bailed from experiment.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWV5Gej8rmq
The presence feebly tried to morph into a replica of a human body, but the image collapsed.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nCLxmr0ON
We have christened the presence 'ghost 54'.
NIGHT 3:1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPun0YVoV7
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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvo7QxIB8WL
Audio records multiple prayers being said through the night. Again, frequency had to be edited.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeU576YT83
Ectograph gives huge response. Large ghost activity in area.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7do2vI6kT
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 4:1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0W5GPIVfE
Video cameras record images of horrific beings, humanoid but monstrous.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEZ190aZH9
Audio records unintelligible noises. This phenomenon requires further study. Possibly an attempt at communication.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNmt70DLOe
Ectograph spikes, has buffer overflow. Line of activity goes off the top of graph before the machine breaks.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9zys2KCY9
We repair the ectograph during our midnight campfire.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqQsQgQUpM
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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTl2vH4KAH
Ghost 54 is silent.
NIGHT 5:1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tZPRhKPbn
Video cameras show many people walking around the cemetery.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOFV3cEIOZ
Audio records many casual conversations.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdq4MzBW5u
The repaired ectograph gives no response.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUelVnCEpN
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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKkaflPTzh
No ghost activity was found at all.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuMKxQglh4
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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSE8q8xW1Lx
We congratulate ourselves on our unusual findings.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tqSVZokCp
To celebrate, we watch the footage of ghost 54 being placed in the cage.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOurBWPSELc
We are surprised to see in the recording, us placing a perfectly healthy (and struggling) human into the cage.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWKkZ181Z6
The footage has not been tampered with.
This phenomenon requires further study.
-whish-
Jack and Jill1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAh2c4aAwTx
Went up the hill1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nQAVH5CwO
To fetch a pail of water…
The hill is silent, serene – peaceful, he wants to say.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWu4JaCKoxi
This is his place, where he can lay the storm of thoughts rushing about inside his mind to rest.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Jrwnxiikk
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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWWWIzbt1n
But he still does it, perhaps once a month, sometimes more, sometimes less, because of the Whishing Well.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLI1ogouHDT
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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYib1q3Nlq9
Tonight is different.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAB0PXlwH8
He has nothing left to give to the well.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKC5TiB6yGS
Or, perhaps, he has everything to give.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7JqmLJbMH
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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYMcg2xi3d
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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVX9ITXK0uD
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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6t5qaUIHYu
He opens his eyes. The wish is over.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiGeW0p2Fc
He wants it. He needs it.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpXYmvwLmk
With a sigh, he walks back down the hill.
The next evening, his parents are crying.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEmJvUi26j
"We're proud of you, son, no matter what." They're smiling, but they're shocked as well, shaken.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJT0ZuMqBzz
His dad, eyes red, pats him on the back.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63MXZmrBzi
"Go get 'em, tiger."1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhDoNqvu3X
And so a door closes, another opens.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFETVklBxTi
He walks out, a half-hearted goodbye, a see you soon, and they watch all the way as he walks down the street.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGMNeSFFv7
The thirty minute walk gives his time to think about what's going to happen, to him, to them, to everyone they know.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkspgTKlNd
He reaches his destination, and there, a slim, quiet figure waits, extending a hand upon sight.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJogZuOufJF
He grasps it.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38zqv8zCaq
"Ready?"1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXzeqNjpqP
The person answers. "Ready."1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4W3CnhzLS
He can tell that they're not, really, but they're going to do this anyway.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgJ0iXCnyY
They can hear all the noise from inside the hall, growing louder as they open the door.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzM9V4I64rZ
Silence.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcrDPH6YdD
Everything stops.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvXlTEp5sM
And he thinks of his wish, still strong in his mind, and walks, hand in hand, into the room.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLr7LfHHipr
I wish…1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKeR9iahhk
I wish…1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BAqeRuSKk
Esme cries.
-extract from memoir of a ghost by david whishaw-
When Adam delved, and Eve span,1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKInWnzrLQe
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.1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAJusJj84I
-chalkboard stories-1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOASVLI0sH9
its only an enigma1041Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUEYTroSQk
if you want it to be
