As I mentioned on my previous blog, I have set myself a wee writing challenge in 2025. Using the navigational website, what.three.words, I am using the words generated for certain squares to create small pieces of writing. They could be full stories, they could just be musings, they definitely won’t be polished. But it’s nice to have a focus for writing – you can read the rules here.
This is my first effort… I’ve been trying to improve it for the past week but I’ve been a bit unwell and have found it hard to concentrate.
(image, as ever, generated using Midjourney.)
justifies.cabbage.numeral
Susie had feared that the dip in temperatures alone would have prompted the Baxters to lock their greenhouse, let alone the increasing number of thefts in the area. But no, the door stood open when she crept over the fence.
The only illumination at this spot in the garden was the lights emanating from the glorious open plan kitchen diner extension. But by these beams, she could see the small white sticks in the soil. The names were written in black felt tip pen, followed by a Roman numeral. Quelle surprise, she thought, the pretentious sod. Stepping lightly through the beds, she passed cucumber, cabbage and peas, all flourishing under David Baxter’s careful attention. He even had some corn cobs in the corner.
Finally, she found the tomatoes. Susie crouched and look the secateurs from her bag. The curved blades sparkled in the house lights, ready to claim another cutting.
She gripped a short stalk in her left hand. As the blades touched the stalk, she had a flash of doubt. Why was she doing it? Sometimes, it didn’t make that much sense. No, the end justifies the means, she thought as she squeezed the handles. As the blades came together, a bright light went on beside the house, throwing light through the greenhouse. A long shadow lingered over her for a second or two before shifting. It moved back after a few seconds, casting her in darkness again.
A dog barked from somewhere close by. She turned sharply and there was a bounding shadow at the side of the greenhouse. The animal, which she knew was an elegant pointer-type creature, was sniffing around the side of the greenhouse, close to the spot where she had entered the garden.
‘Caesar,’ called a male voice. The dog did not react, continuing to follow its nose towards the front of the glass house. Slowly, Susie put the secateurs and the cutting down and reached for a small terracotta pot that sat on the ground nearby.
The dog’s nose poked through the door and it took long sniffs on the ground.
‘Go away’, she thought. The dog kept sniffing and a paw now appeared. Her hand tightened on the pot, eyes fixed on the emerging dog. Susie’s leg muscles strained in their bent position. A wobbly leg now would be fatal.
‘Caesar,’ came the shout again, a little sharper this time. The nose lifted and through the glass she saw the shadow’s ears prick up. It lolloped off up the garden.
Its shadowy master moved now, bending down to greet the pet. Both dark shapes moved away, and seconds later, the light went off.
Bathed again in darkness, Susie let her eyes adjust. The shapes around her once again made sense as plants that she knew. Dropping the plant pot, she stood and put the secateurs and plant into her bag.
Jane Candlish 
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