The Written Word Group

  "Morning mum, are we still going to the amusement park later?" "Of course, son. And we will get a ride on the Roller Coaster and an ice-cream after." Mauricio's excitement was short-lived. Minutes after getting his ice-cream he collapsed. Inés ran to him and froze to see his lifeless body on the floor. "Somebody call an ambulance!"  Weeks and countless tests later, Dr Hector delivered the diagnosis as leukaemia. And he needed a bone marrow transplant. Mauricio was born after years of Inés and Cesar trying to conceive, through an embryo transplant at a private clinic; the son she'd longed for so long. He grew close to his mother, distant from his father, and after the divorce Inés kept full custody. Her mother, Lisa, had been her pillar ever since.   Mauricio wasn't responding to treatment, and the side effects were mounting. Time was running out. He'd had a couple of fits, his heart weakening by the day. Without a donor, he ...

I wanted to hold her hand, to reach for it. Feelings of euphoria which had come after making her laugh in wood tech, the last lesson of the day, swiftly evaporated as we passed the roundabout on our way to smuggler's ditch. She'd gone quiet and a small gap formed as we walked, as if she was trying to put physical distance between us. I knew the reason, Timbo. It was only a few weeks since he'd "Houdineed," so there was anxiety around, especially at school, and I was annoyed about the attention she was giving him. Yeah me and him had been closer but I knew they shared classes and the way she pined over his absence was sending me mind to pessimistic places. No, she didn't like him like that, she couldn't... We skirted the ditch, heading for the steep bank called the muddies. I kept stealing glances, slyly admiring her body; sleek, black hair, soft clean skin, and big, white, perfectly straight teeth. She'd catch me every now and then and I remember think...

Next Meeting: Friday 11th September 2026 Location: Hostal Meson Time 10.30-1pm 500 word subject: “Damsel in Distress” Everybody who has an interest in writing or the written word is welcome to our meetup at:  Hostal Meson Arboleas, Almeria, Spain.  Back Room.

"She was a hero you know. It was kept secret from the public. She had to to go to the CIA Headquarters at Langley to get her medal. Pinned on her chest by the Vice President himself. Got a French medal as well she couldn’t show. Most people thought she was just a translator during the war. Little did they know our Damsel was a covert operator." "Damsel? That’s an unusual name for a girl."  "Is it? Never thought much over it it. The wife was the one that, wanted her named Damsel. After that Hollywood actor." "Hollywood actor? Which one? I can’t place that actor with that name." “Yea, a black actor, was in some crazy Vampire movies. Went to prison for Tax evasion.” “You mean Blade, Wesley Snipes. She was named after Wesley Snipes? "No, not him, must be the other action Equalizer guy." “Oh Denzel Washington, you mean Denzel Washington." Yea, him, Damsel Washington. The wife loved him. Saw all his movies. Action her...