1,000 Words: Picturesque

Catching these scenery on a clear day can take your breath away... or it might have been the freezing cold wind, but I think that's debatable, probably.

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

TV Show of the Week: The Punisher

This will be a spoiler free review. All plot details will be included in the article where I cover the entire series as a whole once I’ve eventually finished it. If I had the opportunity, I would definitely binge watch the entire series in one day, but that’s just not possible. I’m only able to pick off one episode a night.

During the first episode, in one particular scene where he helps someone out by doing things his way, I remembered the conversation he had with Daredevil in series 2 episode 3. It was a detailed discussion about how different him and Daredevil see the world and what must be done to protect it. This series focuses on that entire conversation. I’ve watched the first six episodes, and it’s exactly as I expected it to be, dark, extremely gritty; it’s staying true to the character in the comics. Frank is an anti-hero. He still saves the day, but he leaves plenty of destruction in his wake – seeing his viewpoint in an entire thirteen-episode run, extends upon that conversation, and adds a lot more meaning and weight to both character’s words.

With seven episodes to go, they’ve officially announced the main antagonist of the series, there have been plenty of action sequences, and plenty of character building which does involves a lot of conversations. I would be lying if I had expecting non-stop action that rivals or even blows all that featured in Daredevil out of the water, and in context of the show, it most definitely rivals, but there isn’t as much as I had expected, and after watching the first six episodes, that’s perfectly understandable. It would be boring if they did nothing but action, I’m seeing these six episodes as a way of building up to something awesome. Two former special forces agents battling each other whilst Frank struggles to maintain some sanity in his life. What started out as an intimidation act for Micro, turned into Micro’s only form of communication between him and his family. Using Frank as a Proxy, we get to see many characters open up in ways that wouldn’t have happened in any other way.

Each episode sucks me in. The world it’s in may be filled with people with superpowers, so it does make a change to follow someone who’s an ordinary human being with an incredible amount of will power and determination to keep going – right up to the moment where he physically cannot move any further. He does take some heavy hits in the first half of this series, and of course he does recover to fight another day, and if this series doesn’t take a sudden turn, Frank is the type of character that learns from past mistakes and goes back into the fight much more ferociously than before – hopefully it’ll be fun watching him knock anything and anyone that gets in the way of his main objective, avenging his family.

This spinoff did exactly as it intended to do and added to an already established world; it didn’t introduce Frank, just put him in a situation and we learn everything he does only, something no other Netflix series as done, giving The Punisher a new look and feel, keeping it purely original and a true standalone to the others before it.

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

The Watch – Part 224:

(Tom’s perspective)

‘Hey, stop,’ the Police Officer shouted the moment that I turned my back and ran.

‘Hey, watch it,’ someone shouted as I nearly ran into them. It took them a couple of seconds to realise that I was being chased by the Police and that I needed to be caught, but I was already recovered and running off. I didn’t look back to see their reaction. The path is mostly clear of people, allowing me to run at a decent speed, but not fast enough to get away from the Officer behind me. I didn’t have to look back to know that he was right behind me, but it’s only because of the occasional dodging a person here and there, I was able to keep the lead, however as soon as it opens up, I knew that I had to push myself.

I have no idea where I’m heading, and at this point I’m too afraid to ask. I don’t even know whether running is the best thing to do, and I’m too afraid to ask that as well, especially when I just know that it would distract me. I can’t let myself think too much. All I can do is run.

I’m not paying attention to the roads. All I’m doing is turning this way and that. I can’t run back to the campsite. That’s the first place anyone will look. I have to find a new place. But before I can do that, I have to get rid of this Police Officer.

He was evidently a lot fitter than I was, which made the fact that I was able to stay ahead of him, and for quite some time all the more surprising. But it did come with a cost. It wasn’t long before I was out of breath. My legs were screaming at me to stop and my lungs were trying to suck in as much oxygen as they could to keep my body working. Even though I could feel my body wanting to stop, I forced myself to continue. All I have to do is find a place to duck into and hide. Once there, I can recover and think about what to do next.

I saw an opening for an alleyway coming up. I ducked in there, knowing that the officer saw me and was still following me. I shouldn’t have turned down here. So many obstacles. Bins on their side, rubbish littering the floor, and many puddles of water where the sun has been able to evaporate yet. Jumping over one of the bins, flying through the air, and landing back on my feet, my aching legs gave way from underneath me and I fell to the floor, but my momentum carried me forward and I rolled into a position that allowed me to clamber back to my feet and continue running, but I had lost the valuable lead I had on the officer. I could hear his footsteps right behind me. I needed to pick up the pace, but I’m not sure if my body will allow me. My foot slapped one of the puddles, drenching my ankles and spraying water up my leg, and then I had to dodge the many bits of rubbish.

Eventually, I burst free of the alleyway worse for wear than before I entered it, but I had to keep going. I got very lucky back there, but I don’t want to risk it again. From now on, until I’m absolutely sure that I can get away with it, I will be staying on the paths.

The paths were a lot clearer than the ones before, allowing me to pick up some speed, but unfortunately, allowing the officer to do so as well. He’s right behind me. I refuse to get caught.

My heart is beating faster than ever before, my lungs are sucking in so much oxygen at once, and my legs were continuously being pushed to their absolute limit. I didn’t have to look behind me to know that the officer is right there, only a step or two away, and always gradually getting ever closer until he is able to grab me from behind and bring me to a stop. I can imagine him holding out his hand, his fingertips so close to the back of my T-shirt. I don’t know how I did it and I doubt I would ever know, but I’m glad it did. I pushed myself even more, and I sped up, gradually, slowly, but I was going faster than I’ve ever ran before. I should have tripped up over my own legs, but I didn’t. I should have collapsed because of exhaustion, but I didn’t. I should have dropped unconscious because of lack of oxygen, but I didn’t. I cannot explain what happened, but I was running faster than humanly possible… Maybe? Maybe I had finally reached the point where it just didn’t matter anymore, that I had gone beyond my limit, and therefore set a new limit. All I knew was that I was pulling away from the officer. I knew that I was escaping. My body didn’t care how long I was running for. All achiness in my legs went away, my lungs didn’t hurt anymore. It was simply one of the weirdest experiences I’ve ever had. All the people who were walking along the path looked as if they came to a standstill mid-step, and that they all cleared a route, allowing me to run right through without having to dodge, yet the officer has to.

There’s a junction up ahead. The traffic lights are on red and the green man is showing. Then the traffic lights changed from green to flashing amber. If it was safe for them to go, the traffic will start to move, and because I’m nowhere near the lights, I won’t be able to get across before the traffic starts flowing fully once more. But I was running so fast. I wasn’t worried. Before I knew it, I was running across the road. I was far enough away from the officer that the cars were able to start moving before he reached them. Of course, the Police Officer has the power to stop the traffic, but by the time he gets across the road, I would be long gone. And I was.

Another alleyway entrance sprung up. I dived into it and saw a dumpster. I knew it was the most clichéd hiding places you can get, but it’ll have to do for now. Usually, when you are running as fast as you can, it takes a couple of seconds for you to kill your momentum and stop, but I didn’t have to do that. I dived behind the dumpster and came to an immediate stop. I wasn’t out of breath; my legs weren’t aching. I cannot explain what happened or how my body was able to cope with it.

But the moment I did stop, the achiness shot back up my legs, stronger than ever, and I fell to the floor. I have to pray that the officer isn’t going to see me because I won’t be able to move for quite some time.

Now I can start to think what to do next.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

Mum's Monday: The Carousel by Rosamunde Pilcher

The Carousel by Rosamunde Pilcher

Some films and books are a journey and how the characters reach the destination, this is normally at the end of the film or book. This book is an extreme version of this story type. 4 chapters out of seven and Prue Shackleton is only a couple of days into her 2 weeks in Cornwall looking after her Aunt Phoebe, who has broken her arm and cannot drive.

Prue is there to help with driving her Aunt about, but so far Prue has only used the car for her own purposes, to give Daniel Cassens an artist friend of Phoebe and Charlotte, Mrs Tolliver’s granddaughter a lift back to the two places they are staying. Although maybe if Phoebe could’ve driven she would’ve gave them a lift, but the story seems a little forced that Prue is there to help in that small part of the book.

The book is called The Carousel and although Chips, Phoebe’s late partner made Prue one, when she was a little girl and went to stay with them both. This doesn’t feature too much in it, but maybe it doesn’t need to. It could be the whole story is a carousel. Prue is dating Nigel back in London, who her mother approves of, and wants them to marry and Prue would have a comfortable life, but Prue wants to travel and have an adventurous life. The characters seem to be on the circle of life, much like the animals on a carousel going round and round on a pre-arranged circle. This is a clever metaphor.

All of a sudden, as so often happens in real life, Daniel’s life changes in an instant and it was nice to see Daniel step up and take responsibility. It showed growth as a person.

However, the story is all nicely and neatly sorted by the end, ready for the next chapters in the characters’ lives, proving it is not the short journey you take, but where you end up.

This book is worth reading.

Jerry's Journal: Going For a Long Walk

Yesterday, all three of us took Jerry for a long walk across the wreck, and underneath the railway bridges, and then back again. He walked about four miles, so you can imagine when he got home, he was tired and spent most of the rest of the day resting.

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

Random Topic Generator: Facebook SPAM

This article is going to focus on what I’m sure many people have already ranted about before, but I need to get it off my chest. It’s understandable that ranting about Facebook is unnecessary, because everyone does, and because the part of Facebook that I’m complaining about is so menial, it’s almost a waste of writing something about it. However, Facebook is a social networking site, designed to bring people together, from all over the world, and nowadays, that socialism has become tainted with SPAM. Unnecessary statuses specifically written to give the impression of pressurising you into sharing it or you’re automatically labelled as someone you’re not.

I’m talking about those statuses you see littering your news feed that use the particular vernacular, “share if you care”, or “share if you care or ignore if you’re heartless”, or “people say this is offensive, share this post to show that you don’t care”. Anything that wants you to share it, is SPAM. I never share anything of the sort, because it’s unnecessary. It’s getting you to prove something you don’t need to prove. I do care, but I don’t need to share this post to prove that, but if I don’t I’m heartless; where’s the logic in that. But then again, where’s the logic in any type of SPAM?

The other type of SPAM, comes in the form of “quizzes”. This questionnaire that if you take you can find out what Disney Prince you are, or find out what Harry Potter character you are. Why? I found a quiz that takes your profile and works out what IQ you have. Unfortunately, I was curious. How would it take my profile and work out how intelligent I am? So I clicked on it and let it do its thing, and turns out, my IQ is 217. Awesome. Except, that it’s not even slightly true. The only thing I achieved was adding to the traffic to that page, so it can use that popularity and spread even further, infecting more of Facebook. Well done me…

That’s the problem, and how easy it is to fall for SPAM. Anyone can get tricked, in my case, it was because curiosity got the better of me. SPAM relies on triggering your curious side, get you questioning, and the only way to quench that notion is to click on the post. After my supposed IQ was presented to me, I came to my senses and I am proud to say that I haven’t fallen for anything of the sort since, because for what purpose does the knowledge of comprehending that if you were a Harry Potter character, you’d be Severus Snape, or grasping the fact that because you shared this one post, you did good, when in reality, it does absolutely nothing. Sharing a post to show that you care is not and should never be considered as your one good deed for the day, because you’ve done nothing significant.

“Share that you care about global warming.” That’s contradictory. One, I do care about global warming, and it is something that definitely should be thought about more, but if you share that post, you’re actually contributing more to global warming than if you ignored the post. This example should be applied to every post that wants you to share if you care. Instead of sharing and then moving on, how about actually doing something about it. Sharing something only proves how much you don’t care about something, because all you’ve done is shared a status, giving into the pressurisation of the SPAM – it’s very intention.

SPAM in general, in all it’s contagious forms, should be ignored. If people can ignore the SPAM they get through E-mail, then why are they unable to on Facebook?

That’s all I have to say on the matter. I did tell you it was menial… wait… have I created SPAM?...

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

Film of the Week: Justice League

I would be lying if I said that I was hyped for this film. The reputation of the other two films, Man of Steel and Batman Vs Superman, hasn’t helped people with hoping this to be good. However, after watching it, I have to admit Warner Brothers have learnt from their past mistakes, but there is still a bit of work still to be done.

In the politest way possible, this film is blunt. Batman Vs Superman was inundated with too many storylines and subplots that overshadowed the main plot and prevented it from developing in the way it should have done, so when eventually the main story was allowed to step into the foreground, there was hardly any time left to do anything significant – the battle between Batman and Superman only lasted about five minutes, something that I’m sure we can all agree was disappointing. Justice League gets rid of all the subplots and only focuses on the story. It’s also the shortest film compared to the previous two, at 121 minutes long without credits. With five superheroes, each need to be introduced, and with a story that needs to be established, it does exactly that – there’s no messing around.

It goes straight into the introductions, then straight into the story, carries out the story with a few bits of exposition to flesh out the characters, carries on with the story, defeats the enemy, and then end the film. It’s straightforward, it doesn’t mess around. However, there is something off about it, and I can’t quite put my finger on it. It’s as if there is something missing, yet as I was sitting there in the cinema, studying what was happening, and I couldn’t fault it. All the pieces were there, there wasn’t too much action, there wasn’t too much exposition, there wasn’t too much drifting off course, there was just enough of each. They had so much to do within a short runtime, they couldn’t play around as much as they could with Batman Vs Superman, and I believe that is what is off about the film. It’s not necessarily a perfect film or a too perfect film, but it is a film that has all the pieces in the right place, a surprise after expecting it to follow suite from the previous two. It’s a film that, in other words, does exactly what it says on the tin. We’re not exploring someone else’s plan when we’re supposed to be watching to superheroes battle it out with each other.

The trailers, once again, featured scenes that weren’t in the theatrical cut, and it’s guaranteed that there’s going to be a director’s cut, which would extend the running time by a considerable amount, and that would probably be better than the theatrical cut. The fact that Justice League’s theatrical cut was incredibly straightforward with hardly any room to manoeuvre, that’s what is off. That’s what this film lacks. Warner Brothers went from having too much room to play around with to being confined in a small room where you can only do what you’re tasked to do – in other words, they went from one extreme to another. Although I haven’t seen the director’s cut, my instincts are telling me that if they had released that as the theatrical cut, it would have been a better film.

In conclusion:

It’s good for what it is, but it needs a bit more.

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

The Watch – Part 223:

(In Tom’s perspective)

‘How dare you come back here, expecting to get free stuff from us when you’ve already stolen from us?’ Sandy roared. I kept my head down. My heart was beating. I didn’t know if there were any people in this shop, but I can feel them looking in my direction, wondering what all the commotion is about.

‘I watched your every move on the video camera,’ she continued. ‘Trying to be so nonchalant you were. I only let you get away with it because I couldn’t come after you and calling the Police would be a waste of their time as you would have disappeared into thin air. Of course, I was ready for when you would come back, but how dare you come back?’

Tim was looking down at me. With my head down, this felt exactly like when I was being told off back at high school when the head teacher was having a go at me for something that I did, except way, way, way worse. All I want to do now is leave this shop, leave this world. I don’t want to be here anymore. I knew coming back in here was a bad idea. Why did I come in? Why didn’t I make up some excuse as to why I didn’t want to enter the shop? Anything, absolutely anything that would allow me to stay outside would be sufficient. Anything but this.

‘Don’t you expect to run away and hide, because you will be found, and when you are, you will be thrown in jail.’ Thrown in jail. That’s a bit much for one apple juice… Then again, I don’t know how this world works. Oh, heck, I don’t want to be thrown in jail. That’s the last place I want to go.

In a matter of seconds, the world around me came crashing down, and there wasn’t that much that had been built anyway. I’ve gone and failed at what I wanted to do, which is keep myself as anonymous as possible. I have to think of something. And fast. Right now. This very moment.

My mind’s blank. Of course it is. Although my instincts are shouting at me. They are telling me to run. Just run. And don’t look back. But even though they are my instincts and I should trust them, I’m hesitant. If I run, that means I’m going to get chased. And if I’m getting chased, that means there’s a good chance that I’ll get caught. And I don’t know how long I’ll be able to keep running for; I don’t know how this world works. For all I know, they could unleash some sort of advanced technology on me… Now I’m letting my imagination run wild. I need to keep my head out of the clouds. My instincts are telling me to run, so I should run. What will I do when I’ve outrun whoever’s chasing me? I’ll have to make that up when I get there.

I should just turn around where I’m standing and walk out of here. How hard can that be? Should not have said that.

‘I’m calling the Police,’ Sandy shouted, reaching for her phone. ‘Tim, make sure he doesn’t leave. He’s going to pay for what he’s done.’ As she was dialling, she lowered her voice so that she was talking under her breath, but her anger allowed us to hear what she was saying. ‘How dare he steal from my shop? Who the hell does he think he is? Never in all my time at retail have I known such evil.’ I think she’s being a bit overdramatic, if I’m honest. I know that I shouldn’t have stolen the drink, but calling me evil because of it, that’s taking it to another level. I was about to defend myself, but she started talking to the person on the other end of the phone.

‘Yes, hello, I would like to report a theft, please,’ she said. ‘Yes, I’ll hold.’

‘Why did you do it?’ Tim asked.

‘I don’t know,’ I said. I know the reason why I did it, but I just couldn’t say the words to explain myself. They just wouldn’t come out. So instead I resorted to the clichéd of responses. That vagueness didn’t help my case at all.

‘I don’t know how your world works, and quite frankly I’m still trying to understand how it is quite possible that you are from another planet, but you are in this world, meaning you obey our rules.’

It was my time to keep quiet. The more that Tim talked, the more I wanted to leave, but I was still hesitant. Why was I so hesitant? I don’t understand. What am I afraid of? Actually, scratch that last question, I know exactly what I am afraid of, that’s why I am hesitant. Come on Sebastian, if you wouldn’t mind showing up here any second now that would be very helpful.

‘Let me guess. Because you were a nobody, you believed that you could get away with anything, and so you did so,’ he said, hitting the nail on the head.

‘How did you guess that?’ I asked, looking up, genuinely surprised that he got the answer so quickly.

‘Remember my story. I was once in your position. A nobody. I thought that because everyone around me didn’t even notice me, I was able to get away with whatever I wanted. I was caught, but I got my way out of it.’

‘How?’ I asked.

‘What makes you think I was able to strike both deals with this and that shop over there?’ he asked.

‘How did you manage to that?’ I asked.

‘Oh, you’re not going to take any tips from me. You’re on your own with this one, just like I was when I was in your position. Better think quickly,’ he said with no sympathy.

‘Thank you,’ Sandy said and slammed down the phone.

‘They’ll be right over,’ she said.

I am not going to get caught. What can I say to get out of this? I doubt there is anything that I can say. I need to think fast. Come on, brain, think of something. Anything. Anything at all. You think of an idea, and I’ll do it. Anything’s better than standing around waiting for the Police to come and get me.

‘Ma-am,’ an authoritative called from the doorway. ‘You reported a theft.’

‘Yes, he’s right over here,’ Sandy called back. A Police Officer stepped up to the counter.

Run.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

Mum's Monday: Paddington 1 and 2

WARNING SPOILERS

The first Paddington (Voiced by Ben Whishaw) film starts off well, setting up why Paddington ended up in London. We have never seen the background story until now, so this is a good basis for the films.

There is a bit of education on history relevant to the situation Paddington finds himself in, when it is mentioned that, children, during the war were evacuated to families safe in the country. It is a great reference and works well.

When Paddington arrives in London, it has changed since the times of the explorer and now gives a true impression of what it is really like. This gives the film a sense of realism, which adds to the quality of the film.

Some fun scenes and a lesson to be learned is never give a bear a sauce bottle and also what is interesting, fun and yet painful to watch is Paddington getting to grips with ‘The Facilities’. Another scene is where you have the most accurate sat nav in the world, when the voice on it says “Bare left” they look left and lo and behold there is a bear, Paddington flying through the air more precisely.

It is also nice to see in this film, where Judy (Madeleine Harris) notices things from Paddington’s point of view and it is nice to see Mr Brown (Hugh Bonneville) mellow, once Paddington tries on a family air loom, in the form of Mr Brown’s childhood coat.

The special effects in this film are well done and works really well, you would think Paddington was real.

It is sad that Paddington, although he tells the truth, no one believes him and there is one question “How can a nice explorer, have such an evil daughter?”. This is answered as in she felt wronged when her father refused to harm the bears in Peru.

Judy and Jonathan Brown (Samuel Joslin) show resourcefulness and create a great diversion, once they believe Paddington and all’s well that ends well, a real tear jerker and hooray for marmalade sandwiches and a trap door.    

Paddington 1 and 2 have good solid story lines, with the second one you go through a whole range of emotions and seems a bit more heart-warming than the first, the idea to have the book about London, that Paddington wants to get for his Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) as the story line is a great basis for this film and when Paddington is shown to help his fellow neighbours and they repay him at the end, you see it coming but it still gets you as a real tear jerker.

Some funny scenes, one when Paddington gets a job at a barbers, it is well put together and Paddington is very resourceful, but alas it doesn’t quite work out. Another scene where you have to ask “How much damage can one red sock do?” the answer “A lot of prisoners dressed in a lot of pink”. Also on the trains you can predict what is going to happen but it is still fun to watch.

When Paddington writes home to his Aunt Lucy back in Peru, in both films, the wording is perfect, coming from a bear living and getting to grips with the human world and their emotions.

The second film leaves more of a lasting impression; I just wish the bad guy Phoenix Buchanan (Hugh Grant) didn’t leave such an impression in the end credits.   

I hope, as there is room for many more Paddington films, that these are not the only 2 they make.   

Jerry's Journal: Sleeping

He's asleep. Not really much else to say, really, the picture says it all.

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

1,000 Words: A Dragon in the Sky

It's not the clearest picture, but the dragon is definitely visible. You can see the body, the head, and if you look closely, you can see the dragon blowing smoke into the distance.

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

Film of the Week: Airplane 2 – The Sequel

Airplane is considered by many as the greatest comedy of all time. Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker created a masterpiece. They had a small budget but they made every single penny count. What only made it funny was how all the characters acted seriously in a world that clearly wasn’t. It was clearly a film that never any intention to make a sequel. It was a pure standalone film. Which is why, the sequel is considered by plenty of fans of the original as unnecessary and bad.

With the studio greenlighting the film without the involvement of the original writers and directors, I was expecting the film to not have the same feel as Airplane, which is why I found it strange when it did have the same feel. And then it turned into a copycat film. I fully expected the story to be the same, except in space, but what was disappointing was plenty of the jokes were the same as well. There were a few original jokes and they were good and made me laugh, but the first made me laugh all the way through because every joke was original – it wasn’t copying anything.

Making a sequel to one of the greatest comedy films of all time is not an easy feat, I understand that; there’s a lot of pressure on the studio’s shoulders, but it’s unnecessary stress, because it’s a venture that needn’t have been carried out.

If this was the only film that had been made, I would say that this would be rewarded with some of the praise as the first, but Jim Abrahams, Jerry Zucker and David Zucker have their one unique spin on things, and Airplane is still as good as it was back then, because they were in charge. This time around, the studio was in charge, with a completely different set of crew members, writers and directors, and they try to keep the same style as the first, but all they end up doing is exactly the same. To put it another way:

Studio: “Can I copy your work?”

Jim, David, and Jerry: “No.”

Studio: “Don’t worry, we’ll change it up a bit so we don’t get caught.”

Jim, David, and Jerry: “No.”

Studio: “Well, we’re doing it anyway.”

Let’s just be thankful no one has attempted to make a sequel to Top Secret. 

The Watch – Part 222:

(Tom’s perspective)

‘I see,’ Tim said after I had explained my story to him. I included much more detail than I did before – although I did leave out names (I wasn’t sure why, but it felt like the right thing to do) – including what happened at the concert, how I ended up being trapped in the laboratory, and how I ended up here. I told the truth that I have no idea how I ended up here, but I do know that I am indeed waiting for someone to come and take me back home. As I was explaining my story, we naturally slowed down our walking pace so that I could finish without any interruptions. We were just entering the road where the shop we need to give the trolley back is before heading over the way to the other shop to grab a set of drinks.

‘Is that really all you have to say,’ I said, even though it does make logical sense as it is a lot to take in all at once, ‘is ‘I see’?’

‘How long have you got before he get here?’ Tim asked.

‘I don’t know,’ I admitted. ‘There are an infinite number of parallel universes, for all I know, I’m impossible to find. But I believe he will. But when he will get here? He could turn up literally any second now, or way off into the future sometime, it’s as impossible to tell as it is to find me.’

I’ve only ever kept that information in my head, now that I’m saying it out loud, and to someone, that sort of makes it fact. I mean, I knew it was fact before, but this is different in a way, more concrete. It hit me harder than I thought it would. I’ve only been here one entire day, I may have become adjusted extremely quickly – which surprised me a lot – but I still have a long way to go before I get used to being here, and if Sebastian doesn’t get here any sooner, then I have to make sure I am fully adjusted to this world. I think this talk is actually doing me some good.

‘So what are you going to do whilst staying here, if you are here for many years, let’s say?’ Tim asked fairly.

‘I don’t know,’ I shrugged. ‘I don’t have a clue.’

‘So whilst you’re figuring that out, you’re going to stay with us at the site, or what?’ he asked.

‘Well, I don’t officially exist. I don’t have a bank account in my name.’

‘And so you haven’t tried setting one up, or actively looking for a job or something,’ he said.

‘How can I when I don’t exist,’ I countered.

‘But if you don’t exist, then surely you can make up an identity, and go from there,’ he suggested. I went silent. That actually makes sense. I can do that. I can actually do that. Ah, but…

‘What would be the point if my friend is only going to come and take me home any second now?’ I asked.

‘And is there any way to prove that?’ he asked. ‘You did say yourself that you are pretty impossible to find.’

I think I’ve just talked myself into a hole.

‘Look. I don’t know what to do, what is going to happen and when, or even anything. I just simply do not know. I could try to seek out a life whilst I’m here, but I don’t know how this world works; there are so many legal issues that I have to go through to get anywhere. I mean, what government officials would say if they found out that I literally don’t exist, I have no idea. I’ll be investigated, and that would lead nowhere. I don’t want to be noticed and make things more complicated than they’re worth. I don’t belong here so I have no right to waste their time, resources and energy on something that I’m going to walk away from at any time. Your idea was a strong one, but it is just not worth the time and effort.’

It was only then that I realised that I had a lot of built up ranting energy inside me. I did feel a lot better after that, but at what cost. Have I gotten on the wrong side of Tim, the one person who has helped me?

He remained silent as he thought about what I said and how to respond. We were nearing the shop so I would like to have this conversation wrapped up before we enter. But then we did enter the shop.

‘Hello, Amber,’ Tim said happily, completely performing a 180 on his mood.

‘How was your breakfast?’ she asked.

‘Lovely as always,’ he smiled.

‘Glad to hear it,’ she said, lifting up the counter and taking the trolley back. She wheeled it behind the counter, dropped the opening and resumed her position at the till as an elderly man was waiting to purchase a newspaper.

‘Well, I’ll be seeing you tomorrow,’ Tim said, waving to Amber as she took the newspaper from the man, scanned it and handed it back.

‘See you tomorrow,’ she said, equally as happy. ‘That’s fifty-five pence please,’ she said.

We left the shop. Tim went back to being silent. We also quickened our pace so that we would reach the other shop before we could get into any sort of conversation. I’m not sure he’s happy with me. I didn’t mean to snap, but I can’t bring myself to say it. I want to, but I just can’t. I think the best thing I can do at this point is wait for his response.

We arrived at the other shop. We stepped inside. I kept my head down once more as the nerves kicked again. The only reason why I was able to get away with taking the chocolate bars in the other shop is because the cameras were down. I don’t know what the reason behind how I got away with taking the apple juice from earlier, but like I’ve said before, it would be too much of a coincidence for these cameras to be down as well. I shouldn’t be in here. I need to leave. I can’t risk exposing myself. If I get caught, things will only get worse. Tim noticed my nervous expression and looked at me curiously. Was he putting the pieces together? If he was, then he made the tension so much worse by not saying anything.

‘Hello, Sandy,’ Tim said.

‘Hello, Tim,’ she said. I made sure to keep my head pointing down as far as I can without directing too much attention towards myself, so I didn’t get a good look at the woman, but she did have cool looking, blue and white trainers that had four bows on each foot and a voice that allowed me to guess that she was in her forties, maybe.

‘You’re later than usual,’ she said, wonderingly.

‘Yeah, I had to take care of a few bits of business first,’ Tim explained vaguely, ‘I was introducing the newest member of our team. Tom,’ he said.

‘Hello, Tom,’ Sandy said. Then she too went quite. I could feel her eyes on the back of my head. ‘It was you,’ she said.

‘Him?’ Tim questioned.

‘He took the apple juice.’

And now things have gotten considerably more complicated.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

Mum's Monday: How to Train Your Dragon

There is more to this film than the name suggests and what meets the eye, when watching it. This shows how people can be wrong and what lessons we can learn, or how we can make the world a better place for all the inhabitants, people and animals alike.

                                               

This film shows what the lack of information and the correct, factual, knowledge can result in and the damage it can do.

It then shows what being kind and if you do something kind or good for someone or something, it can pay off. (although you should do good with no intention of being rewarded, that should be a bonus and you should do things because of the kindness of your heart)

The film shows what learning and studying can achieve and how the innocence of children can absorb information.

When Hiccup (Voiced by Jay Baruchel) helps a dragon, he goes on to name Toothless they form a connection, this is my favourite part. Hiccup discovers how things are in the dragon world. He goes on to find out more and more and as a result changes his whole communities outlook on the dragons.

My least favourite part is seeing the dragons getting hurt. As we see in the film they all have feelings to. It is nice to see it all work out in the end though. Although Hiccup putting his newly found knowledge to use defeating the dragons in the arena is well played out.

This shows how one person armed with his learned knowledge can change things for the best. It goes to show you should never under estimate a child or an underdog for that matter.

If the film hadn’t have turned out the way it did Hiccup (I hope) would have grown up and started a whole new way with the knowledge collected during his child hood years, but it is good to see Hiccup being listened to, as a child.

It is a good way of expressing how the world can be changed for the better, even in real life. This is an entertaining example of adults don’t always know best (I am an adult I still am learning new ways of doing things)

It is a great film to watch as a child or an adult, there is a lot to learn from it.