I started this, dropped it, restarted it many times in my head. Its meant to be a short story - but the only hope I have of completing it is if I post here in small chunks. So here goes ..



The man at the end of the bar was flickering. And I don't mean that in a figurative, philosophical manner – he really was flickering. One moment I could see him, the next moment I couldn't. I wasn't drunk, but I wasn't sober either. If I was, I wouldn't have leaned across the counter, hooked a finger at the bartender and asked him if he could see the flickering man himself. His reaction was the first inkling I had that something was amiss – the bartender, a stoic, stereotypical bloke polishing a mug with a cloth that could still bend started, looked in the direction I pointed and then snapped at me to finish my drink and leave. That didn't work of course, I don't think it ever has. I picked up my drink and walked over to the end of the bar. The man saw me approach, but he didn't react much. Only when I sat down next to him did a vague panicky look enter his eyes. He looked away, flickered, and looked at me again. When he was convinced that I wasn't really a figment of his imagination, he shrugged his shoulders and said “The damn cloaking device is malfunctioning again, isn't it?”

I nodded. He then fumbled around his belt, and stopped flickering. “I suppose it doesn't matter much at this point” - the rest of the bar was empty - “besides, its not like I owe him anything now”. This wasn't making much sense yet. I looked at him more closely – he was a big, burly fellow – unshaven, with the beginnings of a paunch. And this close, there was a distinctly earthy smell that you couldn't help notice. “You mush be wondering who I am” - I nodded again - “I am ..” He paused, and looked into his drink. After staring it down into submission, he took one long gulp from the mug. Fortified, he looked at me again and repeated “I am the reindeer keeper”. I must have looked confused, for he added “You know, Santa Claus, reindeer and all that? I am in charge of the stables. My name is George”. “Sam” I said, sticking out my hand, “pleased to meet you”. There was a long pause – neither of us had much to say. Curiosity finally got the better of me though, and I asked “Why doesn't it matter much anymore? Sounds like a good job – you are part of the legend, aren't you?” George snorted. “Do you really think so? How many times have you heard of George, the stable keeper?”

I never expected a reindeer person. I like the atmosphere you've created in the bar.

It would be easier to follow if you put each new spoken sentence on a new line, especially when it's different people speaking.

I wouldn't want too much grammar-picking to get in the way of a good story, but when 'its' is short of 'it is' it should have an apostrophe in it. For example, 'it's a nice day..' I am a bit too obsessed with apostrophes, so I might notice it more than a lot of people.

Dragon's Kingdom - Stop typing "alot" when you mean "a lot"! - Disappointed

Nice start, Sampanna, keep it coming...

Damn Spider pig

Pterry also seems interested in apostrophies so you are in good company.

Speaking of apostrophies there was a student whose name started with an apostrophy in the graduation ceremy I went to recently. I don't know where it would be listed alphabetically

PhD Student: Research information sheet

There once was a man named Bruce
Who liked to sit on a spruce
He ate lots of chowder
And yelled at me louder:
"I'm talking to YOU, Mrs. Hughes!"
--> The Literary Genius: Mowgli