A363 Activity 1.2

Hi all
I have decided that as i work through the activities in the course book to post them here for peeps to comment on. Although the course starts this coming Saturday i have decided to get a head start. So here is activity 1.2.

                                       Murder in the Morning

The church clock strikes eight, so those villagers who are awake know without checking that it is six. A cock crows. A body lies across the doorstep of the church, a line of crumb-carrying ants marches across the fedora covering its face. There is a serene, momentary quiet after the chimes cease. A figure glides past the church wall, before the silence is cracked by a baby crying. 

Activity 1.2

     Choose a title from activity 1.1 and write the next two or three paragraphs of the story (up to 500 words). 

The sound of rubber screaming against steel echoes across the churchyard followed by the sounds of hasty movement. The babies cries are soothed. A figures footsteps crunch over fresh autumn leaves. They stop at cold feet. There is another serene moment as the voyeur expels hot breath into the cold air. 

“Eh um!” the voyeur exclaimed.

Nothing stirred not even a mouse.

“Margery! Get up this instant, you are freaking me out.”

A cold hand raised and gripped the fedora and tossed it to one side. Dead eyes blinked and refocused on a mother and child. 

“Oh hi Gloria, hows things?”

“Its Monday morning and one shouldn’t be finding her vicar in such a predicament when things need to be sorted in ones life.”

“What would these things..... be.....” she grunted whilst sitting up and stretching the blood back into her limbs. 

“Things....things like the imminent christening of darling Jakey here.” 

“Oh that thing....” straining as she gets to her feet. “That thing with you and jakey.. um jake... is two... months away.” 

“One can never be too organised and it’s your fault you were too booked up to fit us in earlier. God knows why, you seem to have time to lie around on cold hard floors.”

“Language! ....I am trying to write a murder scene and I needed to get into my characters head to feel the.....”

“Ambiance?”

“Yes that.....Gloria why do you act posh, you’re as posh as a rusty kettle and ride a bicycle with a basket on it for goodness sake.”

“One must do ones thing for the environment and why do you, write that drivel? A lady of the cloth should be more refined and in tune with life. Not dwell on death.”

“Talking of death. I have 3 funerals to arrange so jakes arrangements will have to wait I am afraid Gloria.” She brushes herself down and turns to go inside. 

She stops dead in her tracks and stares beyond the closed inner door. 

The moment seems to last forever. “Margery.....Margery! You are freaking me out again, only standing up this time.” 

Margery turns slowly on her heels and cocks her head to one side as an owl does when sizing you up. “What did you say?”

“What! What do you mean are you being flippant?”

“What did you just say Gloria? Your last sentence.” 

“Oh I said you should act like a lady should.”

“No, no the last bit, dwell something?”

“Dwell on death. Not dwell on death to be precise.”

“Ah ha! You see someone is dwelling on death.” She raises her hand and waggles her finger at Gloria. Gloria goes crossed eyed. “That is what they are missing. That is the connection.” Margery hugs a stunned Gloria and disappears inside. 

“Well I never!” Gloria shrugs and stomps out of the yard. “Come on Jakey we are obviously not welcome here today. What is the world coming to when your vicar wont even listen to you?”