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Posted Saturday December 31

This week’s twelve given words at The Sunday Whirl are -  Demon, bang, muffled, cruel, boot, ball, bruise, mean, hang, cost, always and back.

The judge slammed his gavel on a block to muffle the murmuring crowd then placed a black cloth upon his head. The words hanged, neck and dead echoed throughout the dingy courthouse. A small cost to pay some said. Later on that cold winter's morn, the township’s marketplace was filled with a jeering throng watching the perpetrator of the dastardly and mean acts climb the steps to the grey wooden gallows. The chaplain muttered a few prayers in unfounded hope of divine forgiveness as the executioner placed a sack over the demon’s head. The Mayor banged his boot on the boards and the demon was no more.

Or perhaps not, as later that day a person bearing a remarkably similar appearance to the felon wandered down a back alley, a scarf wrapped around his bruised neck. Before him, a young man kicked a ball against a wall. He froze through fright when he caught sight of the grim creature bearing down on him. Neither has been seen since.

For ever and always the good folk of Smallbridge will be affeared lest the monster be back.



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