Mister Miser

Mister Miser

David Bond

Narration

‘Mister Miser’ is a dark little tale that sees the title character, a tight-fisted billionaire, shocked into submission by an overnight revolution of hearts and minds that renders wealth and power meaningless concepts. A series of frank exchanges between Mister Miser and his loyal servant, Mr Banks, sees Miser face up to a difficult choice - the outcome of which could destroy a perfect new world.This is a dark little tale focusing on brooding billionaire and notorious scrooge, Mister Miser. Driven by ego, fuelled by hate, endlessly accumulating more wealth, Miser lives a sad little life behind the doors of his vast, cavernous mansion - the only human company he can scarcely endure is that of his loyal servant, Mr Banks. An unlikely overnight revolution of hearts and minds brings Miser’s dark world crashing down - he struggles to adjust to a society where money and power are meaningless concepts and poverty, war, corruption, discrimination and other evils are banished to history.Mister Miser remains just so, seemingly the only person still retaining a monstrous ego and unnatural desire for wealth. Banks, acutely aware of the situation, finally stands up to his master after years of submission and delivers a devastating critique. Miser is shocked into silence, but Banks can see that a great truth is beginning to descend. The servant makes a final plea to the master: to abandon his ego and join the new world, or to remain rooted in the past and destroy it.
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SkyDie

SkyDie

David Bond

Narration

‘SkyDie’ is a disturbing short comedy and a parody of backpacker culture. The reader sees Liam, an average backpacker, witness his friends’ gruesome fall from grace thanks to a horrific skydiving accident. Fearing police intervention, and despite numerous setbacks along the way, Liam is nevertheless determined in his grand plan: to dispose of the bodies and to get home as soon as he can.'SkyDie’ is a disturbing short story with a dash of dark comedy thrown in. The reader sees Liam, an average backpacker; witness his friends’ gruesome fall from grace thanks to a horrific skydiving accident. Fearing prosecution for a series of petty offences committed whilst travelling, Liam declines to inform the emergency services and instead goes to great lengths to sort out the mess himself. Along the way on his ill-fated journey, Liam encounters a number of problems symptomatic of the average backpacker. A phone call from a worried parent, a small business masquerading as a tourist information point, constant stress over deposits - all have a part to play in making Liam’s life a little more difficult. However, the backpacker is determined in his grand plan: to dispose of the bodies and to get home as soon as he can. This parody of backpacker culture, with plenty of gore chucked in to keep things moving along, will make you both laugh and retch.
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A Sweet Blitz

A Sweet Blitz

David Bond

Narration

'A Sweet Blitz’ is a short but sweet wartime fable. A young girl, Sarah, is given some advice from her mother: ‘never accept gifts when you do somebody a favour’, advice which Sarah subsequently ignores given the lure of chocolate. Haunted by paranoia and guilt, Sarah eventually seeks solace in the forbidden bounty that drove her mad. She is appalled by what she finds, finally learning her lesson.'A Sweet Blitz’ is a wartime fable based on a true story, featuring a young girl living in the city who learns a valuable lesson against the backdrop of The Blitz. The short but sweet story begins as Sarah’s mother offers her some sound advice: ‘never accept gifts when you do somebody a favour’. The young girl pays little attention. The following day she is sent on an errand by her mother, with orders to return as quickly as possible. On her way, Sarah is accosted by an elderly neighbour who also asks the young girl for a favour, offering a gift in return. Sarah agrees with no hesitation, and she is subsequently offered a bar of chocolate in gratitude. Sarah, ignoring her mother’s warnings, accepts the gift, which is followed by immediate regret. She is plagued by paranoia, for fear of her mother discovering the hidden bounty, and she frequently succumbs to visions of her mother’s punishment. Reaching a point where she is unable to handle the guilt, shame, or stress any longer, Sarah resolves to acquire the forbidden chocolate and surrender to it, but is appalled by what she finds. . .
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Life and Death on the Tracks

Life and Death on the Tracks

David Bond

Narration

Life and Death on the Tracks' is a dark little tale documenting an ageing train driver and his wife. The decline of Harold’s railway line mirrors the decline of the man, until the line shuts and Harold goes missing. Mourning and horror ensue for his wife Mary amidst reports of ghostly figures roaming the tracks. Eventually, Mary heads to the old railway to investigate the mystery for herself.Chilling in parts, bittersweet in others, 'Life and Death on the Tracks' is a dark short story that documents an ageing train driver's slow demise and the troubles of his anguished wife. Harold has spent his entire working life on the tracks and once his railway line runs into financial trouble, so does Harold. The decline of the railway line unnervingly and unceasingly goes hand in hand with the decline of the man. When the inevitable comes to pass and the line closes for good, the seriously ill Harold goes missing. Mary struggles in the wake of her loss, unable to properly grieve. Adding to her distress, rumours emerge of a ghostly presence roaming the railway tracks in the days and weeks following Harold’s disappearance. Reported sightings of an ethereal figure standing on the footplate of a phantom locomotive cannot escape Mary’s attention, and although she initially attempts to dismiss the rumours as wild speculation, a product of vivid imaginations, an all consuming doubt remains. The story climaxes as Mary decides that she must know the truth behind Harold’s vanishing act. Mary’s last act is to head down to the railway line as she must investigate the supernatural rumours for herself.
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