Hi, I'm new to this...

[martin50]

Hi I like to write short quirky stories but never had any read by anyone from outside my own family. would it be ok to post a story on this site? but I don't know how to copy a word doc to this???...Martin uk.

[Delta40]

just copy and paste the text in your next reply martin.

[martin50]

Hi Delta. I cant get passte to highlight whatever I do soz. martin

[MystyrMystyry]

This works differently to Word

You have to individually highlight the word(s) you want in bold or itallics. Also the tab indent doesn't translate when you paste, so you have to do it again

Good luck!

[martin50]

It was with a heavy heart as I boarded my train at Euston Station that October morning.
The train would take me North, on my long journey to Dumfries in Scotland.

With lots of people getting on the train, I felt fortunate to find a seat beside a window.

Autumn was in full swing and as my train eventually left the suburbs and made its

way through the countryside I found myself absorbed by the spectacular colours

Autumn had brought with it! The shades of yellows, browns, greens and even reds!

An oil painting only “The Almighty” himself could have painted! I thought.

I must have taken after my Father! Or was it my age? That had given me this

appreciation of nature’s beauty! Just as I had as a young girl, I could vividly hear

my Father telling my Mother of the amazing things he had encountered and

seen on his many travels, “Nature’s Wonders” he would say.

When the train pulled in to Preston Station some passengers from my carriage got off

leaving a few vacant seats. A smartly dressed man of about my own age came along

the carriage and stopped as he reached me. Excuse me he said, would it be alright to

take that seat opposite you? He asked politely.

Of course you may, please do I said. Before taking the seat across the table from me

he reached up and put his small suitcase above the window and into the luggage rack.

There we are then! He said as he took his seat opposite me. In his well tailored tweed

jacket and with his wispy white hair and matching white eye brows, I thought he

might have been a retired Doctor or Teacher! Whatever, he seemed pleasant enough.

As the train carried on out of Lancashire then into the Cumbrian countryside and

cutting its way through the rolling fells, he asked if I had travelled far. I set off from

London, I’m going as far as Dumfries, I told him. Me too! He said, I had detected his

Scottish twang and asked if he was on his way home? P.T.O.
MR Mackenzie…Continued.

No, I live in Preston these days but I was brought up in the Dumfries area.

I’m meeting up with a few old friends from my Boy Scout days, then on Friday

we are attending our old Scout Masters funeral. OH I’m sorry I said, No need, no

need! He lived to a grand old age, 97, I think! Continuing in deep thought, he told

me of how he would never forget the man who had taught him so much! I don’t mean

Boy Scout things, tying knots or gaining badges! He said, but about life itself!

I had lost my Father at a young age you see and looking back I think my Scout Master

took a liking to me! He had no Sons of his own so I think he took me under his wing.

Did your Scout Master have any Family of his own? I asked.

Oh yes! He had a lovely wife and a wee lass, who he called his “little bookworm”.

Sorry, I’m rambling on a bit he said, no, please! Continue your story, it’s intriguing, I
urged him.
Of course, I had my teachers at school but I found my Scout Masters teachings totally

absorbing, I took them all in and never forgot them, none of them he added.

The important values of Family life, about giving and taking, of being tolerant with

people and of being honest throughout ones life and also trying your best for your

loved ones. About nature itself! And how to respect all things that live and grow

around us. Yes he said, he taught me the lessons of life that I never forgot. I think he

was the reason I went into teaching! So without him and the wisdom he gave me

I often wonder what I would have became! He was a remarkable and wonderful man.


Well! I said, with a much lighter heart than I had started my journey with! What a

Wonderful story. What was your Scout Masters name? I asked.

MR Mackenzie! He said. You have described him perfectly! I said, you are quite

Right! He was a remarkable and wonderful man indeed, I added.
P.T.O.
MR Mackenzie…Continued.

I beg your pardon! He said in astonishment, I don’t understand!

I’m sorry, please let me introduce myself.

Jean Mackenzie, Professor Jean Mackenzie! Your Scout Masters “little bookworm”.




M. Bulman.


753 Words.

[martin50]

Thank you Mystyry

[Delta40]

Excuse me he said, would it be alright to take that seat opposite you? He asked politely.

Of course you may, please do I said. Before taking the seat across the table from me
he reached up and put his small suitcase above the window and into the luggage rack.

There we are then! He said as he took his seat opposite me.

Beware of telling the reader the same thing over and over. For example, you let us know the person is sitting opposite the other character 3 times in a very short space. It is a fairly predictable tale as it is, a little quirk at the end. Have you considered this as a first instalment of a larger story?