Rain -- by Zephirine

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I like the sounds it makes outside
when I wake up in the night and hear
the drumming
of a million million gnat-sized drummers
or the padding
of innumerable soft invisible paws
or it might be almost nothing
a tiny whispering drizzle on the wind
but sometimes
aha
sometimes a tap has been left full on above my roof
and it’s gushing crashing
and this is not so likeable
and I remember the bit of gutter
which still hasn’t been fixed
that’ll be it
that waterfall
and what the hell
have I left just under my window
on which irregular huge drops are gonging
bang – bang – bang bang ------bang
--------------------BANG
----bangbang----
and now
horribly familiar
a gentle fountain-like splashing
from the little tiny basement yard
which because I didn’t unblock the soakaway
is becoming a pond
that will be in the kitchen before morning
I have to get up
there is no choice
and go out there in the dark
wading in two inches of water by now
(barefoot is quicker than finding the boots)
and feel about in the unwelcome little lake
with the rain thudding onto my back
and the sound of the rain mingles
with me muttering
fuck – fuck – fucking hell –
- wherethefuckinghell is the fucking-
till I find the drain cover
lift it with an effort and a metallic scrunch
the pond swooshes away
the kitchen floor is saved
and I am very wet
and now suddenly
the rain eases up
stops
and there is silence
apart from that drip under the window
as I dry my feet and get back into bed
plop- plopplop ---- ploplop – plop-
plop

plop



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50 Word/Food: Shell Shock -- by OffsideinTahiti

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Leave me alone no I won't even try it I know it's full of nutrients and proteins and I know you like to share thanks but it's slimy and gross and for God's sake it's still alive when you swallow and it makes me wanna oh wow a pearl!

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50 Word/Food: Beijing Midnight -- by Mac Millings

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Squatting by the charcoal grill, breath mingling with cumin smoke, we await a winter midnight treat. Our Uyghur friend seasons the yangrou chuanr - five pieces per stick; four meat, one fat.

A street vendor, his restaurant had been given two weeks' notice. It was bulldozed, for the city's beautification.

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50 Word/Food: Al Fresco -- by Munni

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It rained, and was too cold for a picnic, so instead we sat in the car and watched the raindrops that landed halfheartedly on the windows and rolled down the glass like slugs. We ate our sandwiches and cake anyway, but it wasn’t the same.


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50 Word/Food: Passing -- by Tony Parker

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When Keith and Mandy won the lottery, they moved to an exclusive estate near Bath, without telling anyone they knew. Determined to make a good impression on their neighbours, they invited them to dinner.

“Wherever can they be?” asked Mandy, as she glazed the duck breasts, “it’s one thirty already”.

Romanesco

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Just an illustration to our 50 word stories involving food... thank you Mimi for reminding me about this rather aggressive-looking brassica.

And here's a nice page about stalking this fractal veg with a camera.

50 Word/Food: Post Office -- by Mac Millings

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The white-tiled Post Office has tables outside; 3-kuai noodles arc into the boiling pot. Soon, they slop into the bowl. "No cilantro, miss – hot oil!" Bite the raw garlic clove, let the noodles slip down after. "Helloooo! Laowai, take a picture with my son!" This is my Beijing.

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50 Word/Food: Temptation -- by Mimitig

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I looked, longingly, at the langoustines on the plate opposite. Luscious and moist. Delicious. Local. But I knew eating could be fatal. Shell-fish and me – we can’t ever meet. Just this once, I thought, so tempting, worth a night of illness.

Boringly, I didn’t risk it – organic salmon, delicious.

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50 Word/Food: Turning Point -- by Zephirine

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He let the omelette get cold on his plate. He ate a few vegetables and looked at his watch.

That's when I knew it was over. Once, he used to love it when I cooked for him.

But as my mother always said, you can't reheat an omelette.

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50 Word/Food: No Accounting -- by Tony Parker

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“So let me see; you want me to take this magnificent piece of sirloin, cook every last drop of moisture out of it, spread caviar over it and then drown it in bisto gravy. Forget it.”

“Let me remind you, officer, this is not your last meal we’re talking about.”

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50 Word Story: Food

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Here's a little challenge (because I know you like them):

write a 50 word story involving FOOD



and no, you can't just list a 50 word menu - it has to be a STORY.
50 words or less - over to you...

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