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,1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1mXwi3rMJ
The ally-ally-oh, the ally-ally-oh,1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEYz975bkV
Oh, the big ship sails on the ally-ally-oh,1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAxXIfclFa
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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICCu3HI1wq
"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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSifx0mgZv5
"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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YHUYOGpIU
"May, I'm not going to tell you that." He sits down on the grass oval and opens his chemistry book.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52GNTBMaCf
"Okay then. First letter."1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlf8oNuYHs
"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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwguZqGGxU
"Okay. It's an B." He sighs.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndtij1t3fN
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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡae2BKKcmcZ
"No, what the hell, May?"1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2DOoK6FFh
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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ16rUMeBZr
"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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61mTfcCYgm
Esme smiles conspiratorially. "You're quite the puzzle, aren't you?" A more sophisticated person might have used the word 'enigma' instead.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM66swGPpNX
David looks up. "Only if you want me to be."1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmXyZoHO0l
"Haha…" He can tell she doesn't understand him, as he expected. No one would.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwBvlRw65z
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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xKZ9tuYud
"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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01zvBmHXfA
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!'1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEEka600Ri
David sighs, and closes the book.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8ZCMgqI8q
He can't concentrate now.
-impurities-
There was a crooked man and he walked a crooked mile,1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5dV4w3VxS
He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHewaCudXq
He bought a crooked cat which caught a crooked mouse.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU1iEGt8ta
And they all lived together in a little crooked house.
sample: H2O1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHUQHYflqZ
sample volume: 7325kL1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsWrZE5dE2
hypothesis: i am alone1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtlHrm2jQy
method:1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiVFmRKGaK
-extract impurities1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkW7tUzhE1Z
result: collected 109875L of impurities1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdI7D5C6uxA
hypothesis disproven1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoVqAuIsP9
hypothesis ii: i am alone, here1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1b7qAZYCC
method:1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyFCyOG4je
-sift and sort impurities1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYRUnyTt1p
result: collected 809550mL of relevant impurities1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiUnDhQfAo
hypothesis disproven1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXSDGMtDsI
hypothesis iii: magic does not exist1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxcJzxuveC
method:1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfnNLhuF1U
-collect 2mL of relevant impurities1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNo7IVtwkjn
-place in flask1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFq13tSON3C
-wait1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpc1YS6JbNB
-wait1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBxTBx4Px3
-wait1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxlZ41izNx
-wait1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDScyLP11D9
-wait1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiJPFFiO7R
-wait1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSN3ryn9Iot
-wait1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1b4EJyVtP
-until something magical happens1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UcleJKW1A
result: i waited1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfurIEmD026
result: i wanted1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWWIyIUVCz
result: i failed1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugp1W1LSQx
result: i hid1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBv8Oinh0e
result: i tried1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYbELtxcvy
result: i searched1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbU3csOK8j
result: i found1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡom1sa4oYQc
result: i found something magical1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLc5fE6McbB
hypotheses disproven1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8fwhhXuCY
i am not alone
-sign here-
Monday's child is fair of face,1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssBVbIn6AY
Tuesday's child is full of grace,1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Jf5v7hFml
Wednesday's child is full of woe,1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOaGegSNxW
Thursday's child has far to go,1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDBDKoh3ol
Friday's child is loving and giving,1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJgwdIWQuR
Saturday's child works hard for his living1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFJGmWyIAi
And the child that is born on the Sabbath day…
The author signs the book, another thank, another person. The line goes on.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloHNDoQhGn
"The name's Gretta. I'm your number one fan!"1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7suFJjtrh
To Gretta, my number one fan. -sign here-1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ChJwn2EWL
"I really loved your book. It touched me so much. I've had similar issues myself…"1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hACm7NQBL
To quote a cat meme: 'Hang in there!' Don't give up, Jacob! -sign here-1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAGkXi0OdU
"What an honour to meet you! I'm lost for words."1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0FqsIGstw
To Kyle, my number one fan. -sign here-
To (name), my number one fan. -sign here-1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0wDYHxbM6
To (name), my number one fan. -sign here-1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjn60ucrA4i
To (name), my number one fan. -sign here-1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHejiPpu5fP
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 –1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwgsAT5Prg
"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."1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1yeT10SVP
The author opens to the inside cover, and sure enough, there's a signature there. It's not his own, though.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJhXdA0EDT
This is for you, Hector. I want you to know that I'm sorry.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpGGoKAdyI
Carolyn1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4m3as5Xugy
"I'm sorry, I don't quite understand –" The author is interrupted by the young man.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySMvT81G3s
"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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwec98XJPZ
"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."1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16WE5PpFlF
The author finally sees; and – for a moment – for an eternal, deathly moment – he wants to cry.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLOAm5p58n
"Yes…" He manages to form the word. "…I agree."1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMKOvoaSNP
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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yyCyjsvrt
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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZd1l67INtT
The clearing of a throat brings his attention back to the person in front of him.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48LHDEwBJt
To Samantha, my number one fan. -sign here-
-ghost 54-
"When will that be?" say the Bells of Stepney,1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8BXFvmDKl
"I do not know" say the Great Bells of Bow.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hvMiyaaPo
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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5ZRSEtIkI
Why is this, experts ask?1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPLzJPkYdU
And why is it only occasionally that ghosts are found in groups?1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLjevMeJVK
It was decided that a study must be conducted.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qn5y5Tnpk
We stayed at the Crawley Cemetery for five nights, with video cameras, audio recording equipment, and an ectograph.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEXK8ojCDr
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 1:1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlbzLDE5yD
Video cameras find nothing.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnfdgYGpe6
Audio finds only the faintest of whispers.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8DwDtG4LF
No ectograph response.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVotKVmpjet
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 2:1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡow4jeTBXQj
Video cameras find nothing.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqhQljdl2W
Audio records crying at a frequency unnoticeable to human ears. Had to be edited.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudTjGsSDnw
Slight ectograph response.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbncA7u8zv
At our midnight campfire, we sensed a presence, 5 foot 4 inches tall. One member of our group panicked, and bailed from experiment.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfypzVHAZBZ
The presence feebly tried to morph into a replica of a human body, but the image collapsed.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOU5aLNk22R
We have christened the presence 'ghost 54'.
NIGHT 3:1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFEgdV94vO
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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9dgLWf03E
Audio records multiple prayers being said through the night. Again, frequency had to be edited.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡireBY3Smkd
Ectograph gives huge response. Large ghost activity in area.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBFOCTrXPa
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 4:1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBHRRH9dbj
Video cameras record images of horrific beings, humanoid but monstrous.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgdi8gmifA
Audio records unintelligible noises. This phenomenon requires further study. Possibly an attempt at communication.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7SyHNWFn0
Ectograph spikes, has buffer overflow. Line of activity goes off the top of graph before the machine breaks.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfXvcfWLOr
We repair the ectograph during our midnight campfire.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XpycPCkKs
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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsZEDc5OS8
Ghost 54 is silent.
NIGHT 5:1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SbPBCv2VO
Video cameras show many people walking around the cemetery.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefz68WWCvL
Audio records many casual conversations.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM90HITOF44
The repaired ectograph gives no response.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTEet349ps
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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBwW4xjsyP
No ghost activity was found at all.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QmTg5MkK2
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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkmGVkcCAg
We congratulate ourselves on our unusual findings.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncnx7rUKKd
To celebrate, we watch the footage of ghost 54 being placed in the cage.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXTcZy7C9H
We are surprised to see in the recording, us placing a perfectly healthy (and struggling) human into the cage.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRZb7TjZoz
The footage has not been tampered with.
This phenomenon requires further study.
-whish-
Jack and Jill1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVQblkQuXq
Went up the hill1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rkpx1wCwz
To fetch a pail of water…
The hill is silent, serene – peaceful, he wants to say.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkROK0VyAY
This is his place, where he can lay the storm of thoughts rushing about inside his mind to rest.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPWLojseAi
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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUGb7IqipV
But he still does it, perhaps once a month, sometimes more, sometimes less, because of the Whishing Well.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwn0edubn8x
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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xZKSS62Mi
Tonight is different.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBet6HKqpk
He has nothing left to give to the well.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhW3xzuMqsm
Or, perhaps, he has everything to give.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXwyDm3etL
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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfIsGlfcov
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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxy8FOBHkL
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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfq5KeYAuw8
He opens his eyes. The wish is over.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrypHaSBx1
He wants it. He needs it.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2fEZVA8lk
With a sigh, he walks back down the hill.
The next evening, his parents are crying.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyXNEMDEvP
"We're proud of you, son, no matter what." They're smiling, but they're shocked as well, shaken.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MbrZ5mrwl
His dad, eyes red, pats him on the back.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8HQ216CPz
"Go get 'em, tiger."1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfTvN8I9Vy
And so a door closes, another opens.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LSKIBrdBk
He walks out, a half-hearted goodbye, a see you soon, and they watch all the way as he walks down the street.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLsdRWYBdt
The thirty minute walk gives his time to think about what's going to happen, to him, to them, to everyone they know.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZFQnvzNaM
He reaches his destination, and there, a slim, quiet figure waits, extending a hand upon sight.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMjFppKUBO
He grasps it.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQShrdQnNa
"Ready?"1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeLrAiaf7u
The person answers. "Ready."1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34DrIxcgM7
He can tell that they're not, really, but they're going to do this anyway.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JYbct3OWR
They can hear all the noise from inside the hall, growing louder as they open the door.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58NGT7RnY4
Silence.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiQ0N6jhE1
Everything stops.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCTG8xyDV9
And he thinks of his wish, still strong in his mind, and walks, hand in hand, into the room.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8crpEJcXk
I wish…1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdtXzZd0Cu
I wish…1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBUpX2BiCv
Esme cries.
-extract from memoir of a ghost by david whishaw-
When Adam delved, and Eve span,1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4owlZ0t7h
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.1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0FvzYW96q
-chalkboard stories-1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aqJ9N3DTX
its only an enigma1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0cnljZRzi
if you want it to be
and then Add to home screen.