The Moving Pen | Paul Nicholls
author

Paul Nicholls

Paul is a writer with a taste for comedy, mystery, history, and just a little bit of magic. His musings on nothing in particular can be found on paulnichollswriter.com
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Life Imitates Art: Retrospective (A play in three scenes.)   Characters: Mario – a young man looking for love; Mel – a …

13 Min Read
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(100 word story using the following words: damp, meekly, patron, ecstasy) Shaded lamp in hand, Sister Monica crept out of her damp …

1 Min Read
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It was the first time she’d been here since Helen had been reported missing. By rights she should have been at home …

4 Min Read
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‘Here’s number eighteen,’ Caleb whispered. Zac knocked. A footman opened the door. ‘We’re here about the cockroach infestation,’ said Zac. ‘I assure …

3 Min Read
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Dry autumn leaves swirl and scrape the pavements Making a sound like a drummer’s brush on a hi-hat, A furious wind pours …

1 Min Read
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Thine birthday was a grand and hearty feast; We supped on fowl, roast beef and bread not stale. We gorged so much …

1 Min Read
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In my time I seen some mighty perplexing things on this here river. One night one of those big steamboats ran aground …

10 Min Read
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The vehicle screeched to a halt in a cloud of red dust. Joffra and Mitch leapt from the rover, firing their lasers …

3 Min Read
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Blossom Nathaniel gazes bleary-eyed at the burgeoning blossoms on the ornamental plum outside his house. Buds like small bombs about to burst …

24 Min Read
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Under a cavernous, velvety sky with a gibbous moon floating like a silver dinar above the mountaintops, a travelling minstrel and his …

24 Min Read
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The Charms of Sydney

Written by Paul Nicholls

He pulls his bowler hat down tight over his closely-shaven head and steps out into the cold night, his heavy boots making …

6 Min Read
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Call me Bambi

Written by Paul Nicholls

Just after the turnoff to Griffith on the Sturt Highway, Jackson hit the brakes. The tyres squealed. He pulled the truck over …

11 Min Read
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Lysandra opened her eyes and wished she were still asleep. Her head pounded as though a team of stonemasons was carving a …

20 Min Read
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Gone West

Written by Paul Nicholls

Fred takes one of the nails he holds between his lips and places it against the timber, hammering it home with far …

22 Min Read
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Anne’s Sweet Revenge

Written by Paul Nicholls

It was a song oft repeated around the sly grog shops and two-up schools of the great metropolis. Some say Jim Grey …

3 Min Read
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Lothar

Written by Paul Nicholls

‘Have you balanced yet, Lothar? We can’t be staying here all evening.’ ‘Almost, Herr L-Langmann,’ said Lothar, his cheeks flushing red. He …

31 Min Read
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The spectators cheered as the juggler hurled the fire sticks into the air. They soared into the darkening sky, spinning end over …

17 Min Read
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The Royal Barge bumped against the quay. Lysandra, who had been dozing, grumbled when Jena tapped on the door. ‘Princess, we are …

13 Min Read
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The First Snowflake

Written by Paul Nicholls

Ben was puffing from having sprinted down the platform. Thirty years ago he wouldn’t have raised a sweat, but now his legs …

13 Min Read
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The surface of the Great River was completely still. Leaning over the rail of the royal barge, Lysandra gasped at the beauty …

17 Min Read
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Torrent

Written by Paul Nicholls

When I bought my new dress you smiled cheekily, lasciviously. At my graduation you put your arm around me, And said, “she’s …

1 Min Read
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Delia, My Love

Written by Paul Nicholls

Oh glorious, silver orb, your beams drip deep through the dank damp earth until they reach me here in my resting place. …

2 Min Read
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Just Passin’ Through

Written by Paul Nicholls

A drifter, my Pa had said. A young girl just passin’ through. I seen her next day in the big barn, watchin’ …

3 Min Read
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The Rustler

Written by Paul Nicholls

Tara loved living near the mangroves, where the tides rolled in and out every day. At high tide the water was bustling …

14 Min Read
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Lysandra felt almost invisible in her black cloak as she hurried in the darkness down the Avenue of the Pharaohs. The shadowy …

20 Min Read
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Back in her private chambers it took a long time for Lysandra’s tears to stop flowing. Sitting on the end of the …

16 Min Read
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Lysandra’s right foot came out of her sandal as she took the bend at pace. A troop of Roman soldiers marching in …

15 Min Read
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Alignment

Written by Paul Nicholls

Ah yes, The Barnacles! Don’t they seem to just grow right out of the rocky shores of Sydney Harbour. Regular readers of …

22 Min Read
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Joey The wind blowing off Lake Michigan gives me jitters. It’s rattling the trolley wires, and the street lights hanging off them …

11 Min Read
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Under the Milky Way

Written by Paul Nicholls

Helena stepped back from the edge a second time. Breakers thudded against the rocks below and the sea-breeze ruffled the folds of …

3 Min Read
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Bronzegold

Written by Paul Nicholls

The shade from the London plane trees does a good job of extracting the sting of the sun. Now winter is over …

2 Min Read
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#BeMyJack

Written by Paul Nicholls

“Shona, why are you gripping the stern rail so tight? Are you seasick?” Oh Christ! It’s Veronica, the gym junkie. “Just enjoying …

3 Min Read
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The Riddle of Thebes

Written by Paul Nicholls

Leo lay languidly under the acacia tree, picking at the morsels of meat caught between his molars. He thought about nothing in …

11 Min Read
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Corey

Written by Paul Nicholls

‘Mum, I’m bored. Can we go to the shops?’ Corey’s mum held up her hand to shoosh him and told the Zoomed …

16 Min Read
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Four Cockatoos

Written by Paul Nicholls

Winter One winter’s day at sunset, four sulphur-crested cockatoos landed on my fence – one bird for each of the seasons. It …

6 Min Read
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The Writer

Written by Paul Nicholls

Elias’s cheeks were burning. He strode down the corridor, barely looking at his father walking beside him. The sound of the rain …

7 Min Read
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Among the Ironbarks

Written by Paul Nicholls

You can’t bring her back you know. In the gloaming we queued, awaiting our deliverance from another week. The bus arrived just …

7 Min Read
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Redemption

Written by Paul Nicholls

Just a few days into the swimming program of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, the world was astonished to see the …

13 Min Read
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Hound Dog

Written by Paul Nicholls

Jett pressed play on the CD and You ain’t Nothin’ but a Hound Dog rocked out across the empty rehearsal room. Normally …

8 Min Read