Pauline Breatnach

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Sep, 2019

Stories (13)

13 Stories

235 karma pts

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“Blackbird's song” by Pauline Breatnach

Submitted to Contest #27

Two white swans glided elegantly along by the banks of the river Brin. Three cygnets paddled furiously behind. Eighty- year- old, John Smith, walking his dachshund, stopped to watch, shielding his aged eyes from the glare of the spring sunshine. At intervals, bunches of crocus added a dash of colour to the, as yet, greyish landscape. A spring breeze held the promise of warmer days.Lady Priscilla was seated by the open window of the study. April breezes stirred the cream coloured lace curtains. In the chilly sunshine, cobw...

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“Political Posturing ” by Pauline Breatnach

Submitted to Contest #25

Peter Pig stood outside the wooden door of his sty. His brand new letterbox for his sty door glinted in the pallid January sunlight.''Chilly,' he grunted to himself,' even for a January morn. What a lucky fellow, I am, Master of Weevil Wood. Soon I shall be officially elected as Mayor.'He scrolled down furiously with his right hoof on his new tablet. Sometimes his rather large, right hoof got in the way and obscured his vision.'New Year,' he said,' New Resolution, not goin' to loll about in the muck anymore. No siree,' and he ...

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“Gear Change” by Pauline Breatnach

Submitted to Contest #23

Being late February there was an extra sliver of light in the evening. An intense orange glow lit up the western sky as the sun sank beneath the horizon.Sally and her mum, Anna, took one last look at what was left among the remnants of Christmas bargains.Ever since Sally had begun to attend St Nicholas's Girls School six months earlier, she had looked longingly across the street at the 'Cool Dude' shopping centre. With some money left over from her Christmas presents she wanted to have a peek.On Wednesday afternoons, Mum came by to pick up S...

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“Fate” by Pauline Breatnach

Submitted to Contest #21

'December at Brampton is my favourite time of year,' Eduardo mused, as he strode along by the stables. The mares, 'Ginger' and 'Silky' whinnied contentedly beneath the dim light of the stable lantern. Through slits in the stable door, Eduardo could see Silky's whitish, grey mane where it flowed along her sleek neck. Eduardo lingered for a while.'Silky's time to be delivered is near,' Eduardo murmured. He noticed her rounded, full belly. This would be her fifth foal. Silky's foals were much sought after. Eduardo revelled i...

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“Retro” by Pauline Breatnach

Submitted to Contest #19

Mikey swept the shop floor at 8 a.m sharp, just as he had always done. Lighting the brazier was next. Having set it up the night before, he just had to strike a match to get it started. Years of practice meant he had it down to a fine art.The 'For Sale' sign creaked in the wintry gales for a few weeks now.Today Mikey would have to wear his heavy coat, all day long, as snow flurries were forecast. He scrolled down one more time on his tablet and saw that the temperature wouldn't rise beyond 3 degrees.The shop doorbell clanged loudly...

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“Lorenzo” by Pauline Breatnach

Submitted to Contest #18

Earl Lorenzo placed the diamond-encrusted quill on his desk in the study. Rays of pallid March sun glinted off the tiny diamonds.'Grandpa Ashcroft's wedding gift to dear departed Grandma Ashley,' he murmured, gazing at the quill. Since Grandma Ashley had departed this life some weeks earlier, he was obliged to respond to letters of condolence. Grandma Ashley was beloved of all who knew her in the district of Epstown. It was imperative to reply to one and all. Earl Lorenzo felt a hot tear rolling down his c...

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“Love Blossoms” by Pauline Breatnach

Submitted to Contest #16

Earl Winston trotted nonchalantly alongside his equerry James.A murder of crows cawed loudly, high up in the budding horse chestnuts. Pale spring sunshine lit up the eastern sky.'Earl Winston,' James asked,' how is Olympia this morning? She appears to be rather languid in her trotting?'With a gentle movement of his spurs Winston sat up promptly and replied curtly,' Olympia is in excellent form, James.'Equerry James and his master, Winston, continued to trot until the familiar loud peals of the church bells marked noontime.Dism...

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“Pearly” by Pauline Breatnach

Submitted to Contest #14

The ivory net curtain swirled gently in the spring breeze. Sir John gazed out of the bay window to where the horses roamed freely. Today 'Grey Pearl' limped awkwardly. Sir John attempted to pull himself up from his wicker rocking chair to get a closer look. A sharp pain shot through his left knee. He fell back and dozed off.'Grey Pearl' whinnied as the crowd roared. Her long ears twitched as she tossed her plaited mane. John knew every blade of grass on the Norton track. He steered 'Grey Pearl' with the accuracy of a ship's ca...

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“Ol' Smithy” by Pauline Breatnach

Submitted to Contest #12

The god-fearing citizens of the flower-bedecked village of Wavon went about their daily business one early spring morning. Older men walked with a slower gait. Young girls skipped along happily in cotton dresses. Women with braided grey hair occasionally halted to rest their weary limbs.Greengrocers laid out their cabbages and beetroot carefully on their market stalls. The smell of freshly baked bread wafted from the green door of the local bakery. The village blacksmith fired up his furnace, sending multi-coloured sparks high into the ...

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“Me and Dad” by Pauline Breatnach

Submitted to Contest #11

I wanted to dip my hand deep in the water. Dad shouted, 'No Tommy, no, it's too dangerous, we are at sea.'I always loved stories about the sea and so did Dad. After Mum died he used to read me bedtime stories about the sea. He even read me a few pages of 'Moby Dick', making me promise that one day I would finish it myself.One sunny afternoon when I came home from school in Rotham, having flung my satchel into the corner of the hall, I found Dad on his hands and knees packing a suitcase. Me and dad loved going on adventures, fishing...

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“Hair-raising” by Pauline Breatnach

Submitted to Contest #10

Earl James took a sideways glance at himself in his boudoir mirror. 'M-m-m, no jowls or dewlaps visible as yet,' he muttered. ''Thank heavens for that. The ladies are not fond of  jowls.'Glancing through the window at the bare October trees, he shaved a few more hairs off his moustache.His footman, Harry, busied himself preparing the frock coat, dusting the lapels. 'Earl, do you plan on wearing the black frock coat this evening  to meet Lady Antonia?' Harry enquired.'Why yes, of course, Harry, after all the frock coa...

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“Suffrage or Satin.” by Pauline Breatnach

Submitted to Contest #9

'Mama,' Lady Isabel called out from her boudoir, 'may I have the key to Papa's study?'' Of course, dearest Isabel,' Countess Beatrice replied, ' but why do you need the key to the study? Are you not presently engaged in choosing your gown for the Harvest Ball with Earl Edward as your escort?''Mama,' Isabel responded, 'my primary responsibility is presently to the Suffrage Movement. We have serious matters to address in London on Saturday. Suffrage has just been granted, a mere six months ago. Many legal matters remain to ...

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“Lady Elvira” by Pauline Breatnach

Submitted to Contest #8

Lady Elvira walked along the path on the Manor's western wing. April with the pinkish, white cherry blossoms was her favourite time of year. Mama, Marquess Anne, had already departed the Manor for her weekly visit to the Dowager. Papa, Marquis Edward, had his usual Wednesday meeting at the bank. Reaching the Manor's exit gate, Elvira turned left towards the local village of Cliffdale, that was situated close to the seashore. She felt a frisson of excitement. Just a mere fifty souls inhabited Cliffdale. The blacksmith, Mr York, already h...

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