October 7 - The Murmurer

The Murmurer has the perfect lips for whispering.

It doesn’t need to be loud, it's barely a breath, just loud enough for you alone.

The voice is familiar. It doesn't demand - it just ... murmurs. 

Half-truths.  Little nudges of doubt.  Things you wondered before and thought you had settled.

That's its secret.

It doesn't need make you to believe.

It only needs you to listen.

[you know this isn't as good as others]

And there you have it, kiddies ...

The first addition to our dark menagerie.
The Murmurer may not look like much ...
but just wait until you hear what it has to say!

Mwahahahahahaaa! *snort*

[no one will ever read this]

[they are only being polite]

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Tales from the Other Other Side of the Sty:

October 6 - Life of Max

... and then the Wild Thing, my fierce companion, the terrible one who kept me alive ... disappeared forever from my life.

After a few hours a member of my own species found me.  He left and returned with a group who carried me away.  I wept like a child, not because I was overwhelmed at having survived, although I was.  I was weeping because the Wild Thing left me ... so unceremoniously.  It broke my heart.

After all we had been through, he didn't even look back.   

But I have to believe that there was more in his eyes but my own reflection staring back at me.  I know it.  I felt it.  Even if I can't prove it.

You know I've left so much behind, my room, my little boat. I suppose in the end the whole of life becomes an act of letting go.  But what always hurts the most is not taking a moment to say goodbye.

I was never able to thank my mother.  To tell her without leaving the warm meal in my room, I would never have survived.  And I know the Wild Things are monsters, but I wish I had said "It's over.  We survived.  Thank you for saving my life.  I love you."

A boy, a boat, a monster and some existential trauma... 
This story has everything but mathematics!
So tonight we'll be severing dessert with a slice of Pi!
Mwahahahahahaa! *snort*

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Tales from the Other Other Side of the Sty:

October 5 - Bumbles

You might have had problems, you might have been sad,
But not like poor Bumbles and the worst day he's had.

His alarm never rang, so he woke up at ten,
Then slipped in the shower and bruised his left shin.

He just missed the bus and arrived far too late,
The party was ruined, the dad was irate.

He tripped on a child and fell in the cake.
They asked him to leave, for everyone's sake.

So Bumbles packed up and started to go,
But hated that he was leaving things so.

"I make a balloon!" He decided instead,
"A nice little something to leave them," he said.

And that's where we'll leave him, still twisting away.
Surely nothing else happened on Bumbles bad day.

You've got to admire poor Bumbles.
He really did give them a finale they'll never forget!
Mwahahahahahaa! *snort*

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Tales from the Other Other Side of the Sty:

October 4 - Casper the Ghost

Everyone knows the story.

Other ghosts try to scare people, but there was one who only wanted to be friendly.

Still, people saw him and ran screaming, "G-g-g-g-ghost!"

... and we felt sorry for him.  

But we shouldn't have.

Because every so often, someone didn't run.

Casper especially liked the friendly ones.

Remember, kids ... Good friends are hard to find.
But easy to digest!
Mwahahahahahaa! *snort*

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Tales from the Other Other Side of the Sty:

October 3 - Inflatable Headstones

When a sudden POP rattles old tombstones,
And balloons squeak and the pinch twists groan,
It's four loop twists for a latex bone.
  Inflatable Headstones are losing air!

When life leaks out with a nasty hiss,
And one tight turn can lead straight to this,
A call goes out - who can make the twist,
  Inflatable Headstones are losing air!

Twisters rise up from their crypts,
Squeeze and stretch in ghostly grips.
Inflate with dead decaying lips,
  Inflatable Headstones are losing air!

And so our dearly departed twisters join the happy haunts.
Don't be afraid of that squeak in the darkness, kiddies.
It's probably just someone ... twisting in their grave!
Mwahahahahahaa! *snort*

---

Tales from the Other Other Side of the Sty:

October 2 - Jack

Jack left on a cold, dark night, telling her he'd be home.

Fought the tide throughout the night and vanished among the foam.

He's walked these shores for 20 years,
washing the sand with his spectral tears.

Searching the shores, for his Becky-oh.

A tender touch, her gentle kiss,
How he longs to take her hand in his,

And lead her away to unseen shores.

He's been washing the sand with his spectral tears,
searching the shores for these long years.

And he'll walk the sea - forevermore.

Till he'll finds his Becky-oh.

He'll find.  His Becky-oh.

He'll find.  His Becky-oh.

Becky-oh.

Becky-oh.

Becky-oh.

Ahhh, Jack.  
Immortalized in song, but nobody ever bothered to hear his side.
Sinéad knows the tune! (link)
Mwahahahahahaa! *snort*

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Tales from the Other Other Side of the Sty:

October 1 - Humpty Lumpty

As all the King's horses and all the King's men solemnly withdrew..

"I'll help", said a wizard, all crooked and thin,
Who gathered the pieces and stitched them with skin.
He worked through the night with needle and thread,
Then the town crier cheered, "Humpty's not dead!"

The crowd gathered closer, delighted at first,
But their faces went pale and they quickly dispersed.
Where once there was eggshell, now Humpty had meat,
With big beady eyeballs and two hairy feet.

Though Humpty was Humpty, still whole deep inside,
He'd seen in their faces, the wizard had lied.
He stared at his body, and started to bawl.

Then slowly began climbing back up the wall.

Poor Humpty!  Seems that repair job wasn't all it was cracked up to be!
I guess you could say his makeover went over ... easy!
Mwahahahahahaa! *snort*

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Tales from the Other Other Side of the Sty: