Tag Archives: books

January 24, 2025 · 2:11 pm

The Cuckoo In The Nest Chapter 16

The Cuckoo In The Nest
A Dystopian Thriller

 © GeraldineBanksJanuary2025

At 7.00pm exactly on Friday evening, Sandy opened the door and was relieved to see Maria Turner standing there. Martin had gone out to collect the twins from his parents who had been twin sitting.

Sandy beckoned Maria in quickly and closed the door. ” I’m so pleased you’ve came Maria , we are so worried We haven’t heard anything from Alex. Come on in.”

Maria walked through into the kitchen ; turned to Sandy and handed her a letter.It was addressed to Mummy and Daddy and was in a child’s unsteady hand. It was a letter from Alex.

Sandy sat down at the table , the letter wasn’t sealed and she opened it up and began to read it.

” Do you have time for a cup of tea Maria. ” Sandy looked up at Maria .

” Yes , that would be lovely I’ll make it, you read Alex’s letter.”

Maria began to fill the kettle and took the mugs off the mug tree. Sandy gave a sharp intake of breath.

“How does he know? How does he know? Alex says there were bad people trying to catch him!” she looked up at Maria.

” Keep reading Sandy, he tells the story really well. We lost 90% of the children and a lot of key staff but they managed to rescue some including Alex. ” Maria put the mugs of tea on the table.

Sandy continued reading the letter, it was two pages written on both sides. She looked up at Maria. “Where is Alex now, is he safe?”

” Yes, as safe as we can make it. He’s in good hands.” Maria passed one of the mugs of tea to Sandy.

” Alex says he was on an underground train.”

“Yes , it was quite an adventure for him. He was, I’m told, very brave and was very upset about losing so many of his friends. He is quite the little soldier. If he survives he will be one of our protectors. Even at the age of six he knows that we are fighting a Great Evil.”

” Oh Maria, if he survives!” Sandy cried.” Who can tell with all this turmoil, how can they keep up his meds, suppose he has a relapse and starts fitting again. I mean he was doing well, but what will happen now?”

Maria replied.” All our locations are exceptional and have exceptional people in them. All knowledge is shared, one of the last things Dr King did before he was captured was forward the details of the cases he was dealing with to a virtual server. The information has been accessed and the server destroyed. Alex is still healthy , our other more dependant patients were not so lucky.”

” How did they find the location , Maria?” Sandy asked.

” We don’t know, there’s always the potential for a clink in the armour , a leak. To be truthful it’s getting harder for us all the time. It was very bad though, we’ve lost some good people , like Dr King for example. The cover of P.Neel Organic Greengrocers is blown, so no more deliveries from now on; keep a look out for anyone following you or watching the house. We need you still to make the payments , we’ll use the emergency phone to send you the account details to pay the money into each week. Same as before.”

” Yes , that isn’t any problem, we can do that.What will happen to Dr King?”

” That is something we just don’t know. We’ve never been in a position to find out , but we are hoping that you ,Sandy ,might be able to help us.” Maria looked at Sandy.

” Me , how ?” Sandy looked puzzled.

” We think because of your job that you might have a chance to find out. You may be able to go undercover and find out where they are taking our people and what they are doing with them. William King is not the first. There have been a number of disappearances and we simply don’t know what happens to them.”

” How do you mean?”

” Well I’m aware of some of your work you’ve been doing recently. Investigative work about Modern Day Case Histories of the Miraculous Cures of Genetic Disorders that are promoted as a cover to stop people finding out what they are really doing and what a Global Tragedy this is.”

” I’ve been given a project at Work, yes, I’m working quite independently, it’s supposed to be confidential , but how did you know Maria?”

“I was told, one reason we survive is we don’t ask. I know it’s sounds silly on one side we are asking you to ask lots of questions and on the other side we want you to not ask any for your own safety. I don’t know where the information comes from, so I have nothing to hide, you see that keeps us safe as we can be. We want you to try and find out about doctors or medical staff who have ” reformed ” after they were captured. That was all I was asked to find out. We think that these people are not murdered, they might not be the same people with the same motivations before they were captured, but we would like to find them all the same. You at least have an advantage that you know what Doctor King looks like.”

As Sandy listened to Maria, the penny dropped. It would make sense to follow that path. Gerry had opened that door for her. The initial research she had being doing was historical and based on factual information she knew she was being fed information to ensure the current status quo of Genetic Cleansing was supported. She had tried to push for the truth but that would never be forthcoming. She realised she had to change tack. Sandy needed to integrate herself into the mechanism’s and vehicles of this deadly organisation, and become one of them. They wanted to justify their reasoning and Sandy was going to give them every opportunity to do it. She would pitch her idea to Gerry to film a programme about the ” Organisation” and the good work it does to protect future generations from contamination with faulty genetic material. She still didn’t trust Gerry as far as she could throw him, but she had a chance to help and she didn’t need to give it a second thought.

” Maria, I understand now, and I can help, I’d be only too glad too. I’ve been reluctant to follow through on some stories because I felt I was being used for propaganda , but I wonder if I towed the line what else I could find out, I’ve had some invitations, conferences , hospital visits and seminars, maybe I need to start following through with those. As far as they are concerned I’m just another Media contact for them to promote their cause.” Sandy finished her mug of tea and began to stand up.

Maria began to stand up too.” Sandy thank you.” She looked at Sandy and hugged her tightly, as she moved away she clasped both of Sandy’s hands in hers and said.

” I have to go now, but rest assured Alex is in safe hands and I’ll let you know when I can, how he is getting on. Keep the phone we gave you on charge, it might be the only way that we can stay in touch. In the meantime we need the money, We’ve had a lot of unplanned expenses over the last few weeks.”

Sandy thought perhaps she needed to explain about where the money was coming from.

” If you need more let me know, just text me the amount and where you want it to go. Alex is not Martin’s child, the father is an executive at Sunshine Media. We had to blackmail him to get the money, but he is now a very wealthy man and the money supply is endless and untraceable. Mainly from gambling. I think.”

Maria looked perturbed. ” How much have you told him and do you trust him?” They both walked towards the front door.

“I’ve told him that Alex is being looked after and it is very expensive. Alex is his only son and he wants what’s best for him it appears. I’ve only told him what I know and as you say that isn’t that much. It was his idea to give me the project to work on and in the back of my mind I worry that he is the chink in the armour, but without his money we can’t do anything. So I’m being careful with him. I’ll never trust him completely. “

” Good , perhaps we have no other option. Good luck, I’ll be back in touch when I can. Goodbye.” Maria opened the front door and quickly disappeared into the night.

As Sandy shut the door she realised that she had planned to write a short note to Alex and give it to Maria. Sandy opened the door again, but Maria had already disappeared. Sandy closed the door again and walked back into the kitchen. Martin would be home soon. She would tell him all that had happened and that Maria wanted help to trace Dr King. Perhaps he would think it was dangerous , but she didn’t see any other option.” She washed up the mugs and checked the mobile that was on charge and out of site in one of the kitchen drawers.

2 Comments

Filed under Short Stories

Tagged as , , ,

January 20, 2025 · 7:23 am

The Cuckoo In The Nest Chapter 11

A Dystopian Thriller

@GeraldineBanksJanuary2025

Sandy arrived at work one morning to be handed a message that she had an appointment with the Great Gerry Reid at 11.00am.The news had raised a few eyebrows in her highly competitive team, everyone was interested in everyone else’s business. Sandy knew exactly why Gerry wanted to see her. The expense claim, had increased tenfold, Ten thousand pounds. It was going to be the cost of visiting Alex. Maria had confirmed the arrangements. A rendezvous had been arranged, Sandy was, as agreed, going alone.

When she knocked on the door of Gerry’s Office. She heard him shout from inside ” Come In! The door’s open.”

” Thanks Gerry, you wanted to see me?” She smiled and closed the door behind her.

” Sandy. Good. I’m pleased to say the Powers that be liked your piece about Rehabilitation of Offenders at the Archaeological Consultancy your husband works at. Very Powerful Piece they said. Socially Aware. And surprisingly the figures were really good. They’ve told me they’d like to see more of that sort of thing. Coffee?” Gerry stood up and went to the back of his office where the coffee machine was. He continued with his back to Sandy.

“Yes thanks, black please.”

“It’s new ground for us, so you’d be working by yourself for a while, coming up with new ideas and then we can build a team around you… I just wanted to run it by you… It’s only fair why don’t you sit down?”

Sandy sat down in the big leather executive chair opposite Gerry’s desk. When Gerry turned and came back to his desk he handed her a mug of coffee .

“I think it’s a good opportunity for you.” He regarded her with an intense look, that meant he wanted information.

“Yes, it sounds good, I’ve got a weeks holiday coming up, I can start after I come back. If that’s OK?”

” A weeks holiday? I couldn’t help but notice that the expense claim this week is bigger than normal. Have you been able to arrange a visit to see Alex?”

” Yes I have,” Sandy nodded, she was reluctant to share this information but she could hardly deny it. ” I’m going to see him next week”.

” I thought as much, I suppose it’s all very hush , hush. ” Gerry stirred his coffee.

” Oh yes, we work on a need to know basis. I have one meeting point and even that can change at the last minute. I’ll be away for a few days. Martin knows and you do now. No mobile phones, they seem to know what they’re doing. I’m going to be totally off the radar.”

” I’d like to see Alex too one day, my son, I know you think I’m a heartless bastard, but this is gnawing away at my insides. I’m glad to help with the money. I hope the visit goes well, let me know when you get back. I’ve got an office for you, sorry but it’s in the basement. I’m just arranging for it to be converted, it’ll be state of the art.”

” Sounds fine Gerry, I’ll update you on my return. My own office wow!”

Sandy , no longer saw the big important Media Mogul, but the man concerned for the welfare of his son, Gerry had asked her directly which was not usually the way he operated, but she was not letting her guard down. The less said the better.

” Thanks for the coffee, I’ll head back downstairs if you don’t mind , tie up a few loose ends. I wont say anything to the crowd They’ll find out soon enough. I’ll let your secretary have the mug back.” Sandy stood up mug in hand.

” OK Sandy, let me know if you need anything. I’ll make the announcement when you’re away. You can move into your new office when you get back.”

” Sure. “

Gerry became the Media Mogul again , their connection had finished. Sandy left the office and went downstairs. The coffee was very good. She would ask for one of those machines in her new office too. Something told her she was going to need it.

“

Leave a comment

Filed under Short Stories

Tagged as , , ,

January 20, 2025 · 7:13 am

The Dog That Inherited A Palace Chapter 6

©GeraldineBanksJanuary2025

Tedi saw the vintage Rolls Royce on the drive outside the House. It was always very exciting having visitors.

Cross had asked Mr Watts, who was a friend of Cross, and during his long and successful career had been involved with a lot of Public Relations (PR) Companies to recommend a PR Company to represent Tedi and the House and all the events that were planned.

Watts, as that was how Mr Watts liked to be known suggested a small Company ran by Letitia Morgan called LM Media.

Letitia, Watts and Cross were sitting in the office talking over the plans, when Tedi dashed up the stairs and in through the office door followed by three of four of the other dogs. They had all seen the Vintage Rolls Royce outside the house and were wondering who was visiting.

Tedi had a better idea how to behave and ran straight to Cross’s side and jumped up on his lap, but the other dogs were jumping up and yapping at the visitors. Luckily , Watts and Letitia liked dogs and didn’t mind, but Letitia’s assistant , a man who was a bit nervous of dogs and shooed them away which of course made their behaviour worse.

Cross knew they would get no work done unless the other dogs were removed so, he made a quick call and one of the duty gardeners came up and took them out.

“Sorry about that” Cross smiled. ” As you can probably guess this is Tedi and he is the reason we are here with the sole purpose to continue the Duke and Duchess’s legacy as they intended.”

At that , Tedi looked at each of the three people in the meeting, Watts, Letitia and the other Man whose name was Arthur and was there to take the photographs. Tedi put his paw on the table which meant “OK”.

“At the end of the day what Tedi says goes, I’m obviously here to do most of the talking and any paperwork, but please don’t underestimate this dogs role, he is extremely canny and seems to know instinctively what the Duke and Duchess would have wanted. It’s quite a story how he got here and you are probably aware of the details from the Press.

Letitia bounced up out of her chair. ” Oh Yes, it is quite a story and I’m so glad to meet you, you are quite a star! Tedi”

She stood up and rubbed Tedi’s chin which he loved and looked up at her with his big eyes.

Letitia sat back down and began to speak.

“Well, we see our job as making sure that whatever you want to do is presented to the Public in a timely and comprehensive manner, so that all your hard work and event planning is successful. For a small PR Company , we do have a Global Presence , which I think will help with attracting Global attention and make all your events a success and raise lots of money for the good causes that the Duke and Duchess had in mind. Publicity is key to ensuring a good revenue stream return on all your hard work and assets.”

Letitia smiled and continued.

“In line with what I’ve been told by Watts , I’ve put together a plan, and already have a lot of interest from the big Media Players. So today , if you are in agreement , we are keen to do a photo shoot and set the scene for what Tedi’s day is like,” A day in the life of the ” Richest Dog in Britain.””

“Hhhmm, I’m not too sure I like the idea of ” Richest Dog in Britain”. Cross gave a concerned look at Watts.

” It could lead to a lot of unwanted attention and begging letters or worse attract criminal activity. Let’s stick to his pedigree and his “normal” life as a dog. He does have one you know.” Cross said. He continued. ” Tedi might be the “Head of House”. but he’s also part of the team, as time goes on we want to introduce his team. They all have a story to tell.”

“Well, maybe “Head of the House” is a better idea, I take your point.” Letitia smiled.

Cross said ” We probably won’t get all the photos done today, I’d like some shots of our grounds aswell as the inside of the House”

” Of course , that’ll be fine , Arthur, where would you like to start?” Letitia turned to Arthur, the photographer and general assistant.

Arthur spoke. ” Well that’s a really good shot, with the picture of the Duke and Duchess on the wall behind, Tedi will just need to sit on some cushions and then if he could do that paw thing. I think that would go well with the caption ” The Head of the House”.

” Good Idea, well I’ll let you get on , while Mr Cross and I sort out some details.

” OK”

So Arthur set up his equipment and took the picture of Tedi at the desk and then he followed Tedi around the House taking photos of Tedi in various poses, after an hour Tedi was very bored and was fed up of being poked and prodded so he headed back to sit on Cross’s knee. Letitia and Arthur packed up their things and said goodbye. They had some more dates in their diaries to get some more pictures and come back with more proposals.

Cross suggested to Watts they go downstairs and have some dinner, Tedi thought this was a very good idea and joined them.

He wasn’t able to say to Cross, but he had got a bad feeling about Arthur and wasn’t too happy that he would have to spend more time with him, but the blonde lady had been nice.

Leave a comment

Filed under Short Stories

Tagged as

January 13, 2025 · 1:34 am

The Cuckoo In The Nest Chapter 4

@geraldinebanksJanuary2025

A Dystopian Thriller

It was a cold day in January, Martin had just parked his car and was heading into the house. Just as he placed the key in the door a young woman approached him and touched him gently on the shoulder.

“Martin Smith, are you Martin Smith?” She said with an urgency like rapid gun fire.

“Yes, that’s me , what can I do for you?” He turned to look at the person who had approached him, Martin was relieved when she took a step backwards.

“My name is Maria Turner, I know your wife Sandy, I just wanted to let you know that Alex is safe, he is with us.”

This was news Martin did not really want to hear. He turned and faced Maria.

What do you mean? Alex is dead, our son is dead. Who are you? I don’t want you upsetting my wife. We’ve been through enough. We’re OK as we are.” Martin turned and put his hand on the key and turned it , the front door opened.

Maria said sharply.” We’ve got your little boy, we rescued him from them and now we need your help.”

” Alex was taken away from us, he was cared for by the authorities, we couldn’t look after him ourselves. He was a very sick little boy”. He pushed the door open to go into the house.

” Alex is alive” Maria again touched Martin’s elbow, Martin turned around.

Maria continued ” We know you lost the signal, but there is a window of opportunity just before the children go to the final processing stage where we can rescue them from certain death. We were able to do this for Alex. His original chip was removed, he is at one of our secure research and development facilities, being well cared for. It his best chance. The authorities are killing children : “healthy” children. We have to stop them.

Martin had the opportunity to enter the house and close the door on Maria’s face, he chose not to.

“Alex was not a healthy boy, we couldn’t have cared for him. We have two other children now.” He looked at Maria, and reached for the door with his hand to close it.

Maria opened the bag she was carrying and handed him a photo. It was Alex. He looked about four years old now, pale and skinny but smiling and being held comfortably by a stranger. Alex held on tightly to his favourite toy elephant, the one Sandy had insisted on putting in his little suitcase when she was packing for him to go away.

“That’s him, he’s a very happy little boy, we saved him Martin. I know it’s a lot to take in, so keep the picture. I’ll let you think it over. We will get back in touch , you must let Sandy know. Be aware though, that if the authorities find out he’s alive, they will kill him, or denature him as they like to call it. We have pictures also of that and the facilities the Government use, they are not pretty. Goodbye for now.” Maria turned and walked away quickly.

Martin closed the door behind him and walked into the hallway clutching the photograph of Alex. Sandy wasn’t home, she would be late back from work and the twins were staying with Sandy’s mother for a few days. Martin had time to think. He sat down on the kitchen chair and put his head in his hands and burst into tears . He held Alex’s photograph and looked at it as he sobbed. Eventually when the tears had stopped he felt exhausted. He put the picture on the table and got up and boiled the kettle to make himself coffee.

Many thoughts and different scenarios went through Martin’s mind as he sipped his coffee. Alex was alive and looked well but according to what he and Sandy had been told he should be dead. Sandy will want him home with his family no doubt. The Authorities obviously would not want that or indeed permit it.

Whoever had Alex , would have to keep him and look after him. Perhaps there could be visiting rights. What help could him and Sandy be, probably financial, but they had no money, everything was accounted for . It was all monitored everything was online, the Government knew where every penny went, there was no way they could use any of their earnings for this , it would be discovered very quickly, and what would the Authorities do? Was Maria telling the truth? It was difficult to know. Martin thought it all through but could not see an answer or indeed what they could do next. He closed his eyes and let his mind wonder.

He woke up from a deep sleep and raised his head from the kitchen table . Sandy was standing over him.

” Alex, it’s Alex” She cried out, her hand reached out for the photograph. Martin straightened himself up in the chair and handed the photograph to Sandy, she held it up to her face and kissed it.

” My beautiful little boy, when was this taken? He’s grown, he’s grown so big and what a big smile!”

Martin stood up and turned to Sandy.

” Sand, this is going to get very complicated, Alex is alive, a lady called Maria said that she knew you….”

” Yes , there was a Maria who I spoke to initially about the chip, but I never heard anymore from her, it was all very hush, hush.”

” Well , whoever has Alex, Maria didn’t or wouldn’t give me any details other than to say he was safe and well, will be back in touch with us, until then we don’t need to make any decisions….”

” Decisions? I want my baby back. What the hell is going on?”

” Sandy, we have to be careful, whatever has happened to Alex, well he is still in danger, we have to know all our options. “

Sandy calmed down and Martin brushed some loose hair that had fallen on Sandy’s forehead, onto her temple. They held each other and Sandy began to sob…there was nothing to say, he knew they that they were faced with an uncertain future and had to wait, but she looked at the photograph again.

” My Alex, my gorgeous little boy, he looks well. ” Sandy sobbed and put her head on Martin’s shoulder. She began to sob uncontrollably

Leave a comment

Filed under Short Stories

Tagged as , ,

January 12, 2025 · 9:50 am

The Cuckoo In The Nest Chapter 3

A Dystopian Thriller

@GeraldineBanks January2025

Alex’s assessment day went according to plan and exactly as Moira had described it. The building where Martin, Sandy and Alex were dropped off by the taxi was exactly like a Government building, although once inside it seemed suitably child friendly with pictures on the wall , child size furniture and a good selection of toys in reception. Alex was in good form and by now being nearly two was crawling and quite enjoying himself. After about a fifteen minute wait, two obviously separate groups of people came into reception. There were two men in suits following a very smartly dressed young lady. The lady introduced herself and the gentlemen as part of the assesssment team and explained that the two young women who followed slightly behind them and were dressed in casual clothing would take Alex to the play room.

The smart young lady turned to Alex and said

” You prepared the Suitcase as requested, just in case your little boy needs to stay overnight for tests.”

Sandy nodded and handed the case to one of the casually dressed girls. The other girl had knelt down and was asking Alex about the tractor and the bricks he was playing with.

” We’ve got a bigger tractor next door, would you like to see it?” She smiled. Alex was smitten.

He looked up at Sandy as if to say was it alright, but Sandy didn’t get a chance to say anything . One of the men said

” My that’s a great idea! You seem a clever little chap, definately, you’ll like the tractor next door. Yes!”

Alex still looked at his mum, but it was too late, the young girl lifted Alex up and whisked him off. All Sandy and Martin saw was him disappearing behind two swing doors. Alex turned and looked at them both, he seemed unsure.

“I put his medication in the suitcase, he’ll be due some in 3 hours.” Sandy said to the smartly dressed woman.

” Oh that’ ll be fine, don’t worry. We have his full medical records on file, the girls will make sure he get’s it. Or perhaps you can give it to him yourself . Hopefully we’ll have sorted something out by then.

As things turned out they never saw Alex again that day. They had been interrogated like criminals, and the facade that they would be taking Alex home with them was kept up right until they were shown into a lift which took them back down to reception. They sat in reception an hour while their case notes were discussed. Finally the smartly dressed lady came down to reception and explained that Alex was going to be kept in for “tests”, there was nothing to worry about and someone would be in touch.

No one ever did get in touch with Sandy and Martin. After three weeks , they received a formal Government letter saying that Alex was to be placed in permanent residential care and that it would be better, it was felt, as he was so young that there would be no further contact with his natural parents, he would be well looked after and would get the best of care for his limited life. Meanwhile they recommended a course of fertility treatment and that as Alex could no longer qualify for the incentive payments, the sooner this was started the better.

Sandy was prepared for the harshness of the letter, Martin despaired but what could he do?

On Moira’s advice Sandy had arranged for Alex to be microchipped by an underground agency who were known for gathering information and protesting about missing children. Sandy had found them online with Moira’s help. There had been an Cable programme made about such organisations and Moira was able to access the archives .The chip was not traceable , the Authorities always scanned for them. The only reason the chip would stop transmitting was because it was destroyed in a fire, a crematorium fire. The child would have passed then. This was explained bluntly to Sandy over an automated encrypted phone call , Sandy felt drained at not being able to ask questions or respond, she just sat silently and listened to the computer generated voice, it was Alex’s only lifeline, so she persisted , it broke her heart.

Sandy and Martin, with their finances again affected by not officially having any offspring continued with their lives and with the fertility treatment. Sandy became pregnant with the Twins and a year after the assessment meeting on a dark , cold , winter’s night Sandy told Martin that Alex’s tracker signal had stopped. They both felt helpless that they had been unable to save their son. The pain would never go away. Their priority now though was the twins and now that they had fulfilled their Statutory Procreational Obligations life must go on.

Leave a comment

Filed under Short Stories

Tagged as , ,

January 9, 2025 · 12:03 am

Chapter 3 The Dog That Inherited A Palace

©Geraldine BanksJanuary2025

The next morning Cross headed out to see the ” family lawyer” and Tedi headed off back home to Mr and Mrs Graham as he did not want them to worry about him. Cross let Tedi out for what he thought was just a toilet break , but Tedi ran off across the grounds. Every now and then he looked back at Cross calling him , but he kept going. Cross knew that Tedi lived close buy from the Post Code on his collar tag, but he didn’t know exactly where. For now the priority was to speak to the Lawyer, which he was happy to do so , he had a feeling the little dog would be back. The Palace was his inheritance.

Tedi bounded through the small garden of Mr and Mrs Graham’s cottage.

Mr Graham spotted him before he got in the house and stopped him in his tracks.

” Where have you been, we’ve been worried sick, little one”

Tedi sat down and gave his paw to Mr Graham and looked up with his big eyes.

Mr Graham’s heart melted. ” Oh , you, I don’t know what you’ve been up to all night, but I for one am glad that you’re back safe and sound. Now don’t do it again, you hear! Come on let’s tell your mum you’re back she’ll be over the moon. You and I might get sausages for breakfast eh? ” The man and his dog headed into the kitchen.

Later that afternoon the Graham’s got a phone call; it was Cross , by making a few enquiries in the village Cross had established where the little puppy lived and arranged to visit Mr and Mrs Graham at their cottage and explained over a cup of tea the momentous news.

Tedi was the rightful owner of the Palace , and all the Estate relating to it. Everything was in Trust for him. There could be no legal challenge against the Estate as the paperwork quite clearly stated that it was a Trust for the Benefit of Marmaduke and his heirs. Tedi was Marmaduke’s heir there was no doubt about it. It would take a couple of months to remove the incumbent Australians, but their skullduggery had been discovered and they would be moving out and Tedi would take up his rightful place. Tedi’s adventures were just beginning.

That morning over a cup of tea, toast and sausages, the Graham’s couldn’t believe what they were hearing , but with the sad realization that their puppy most likely would be a visitor to their house , rather than “their little dog”. Tedi would have a much bigger role to play in the village and possibly further afield. They both agreed that Cross was the man to help him fulfil his destiny, and The Graham’s were grateful for that and the fact that as Cross explained, the threat of losing their home had gone forever.

It took a few months to remove the Australians , the Law was quite clear, however , and once the Media heard about the story then Cross and Tedi’s life became hectic and the villagers looked at the Papers excitedly when they saw pictures of those wicked Australians being evicted.

Before the Media Onset, Cross had researched through the Dogs Trust what had happened to Tedi’s brothers and sisters, as Marmaduke was known to have had a litter with his beloved Maisie. He was able to trace all the litter and once the owners heard the story, they were more than happy for their dogs to live in the “Big House ” as long as they were allowed to visit their dogs ocassionally. So , soon Tedi was reunited with Tizzie, Duke, Trinnie, Blaze and Marmie. Cross told their owners not only could they visit , but the House had a lot of rooms and they were more than welcome to stay for a Holiday with their dogs should they so wish.

And so began life at the big House for all the dogs and the people who knew them.

Leave a comment

Filed under Short Stories

Tagged as , ,

January 8, 2025 · 9:27 pm

The Cuckoo In The Nest Chapter 1

A Dystopian Thriller

Chapter 1

©GeraldineBanks2025

Martin lay in bed , he was so tired, he felt like he was going through the motions of living. Would it ever stop? Did he want it just to stop? His mind went over again and again the events of the last few years. It didn’t solve anything.

Sandy, his wife, was in their en-suite bathroom putting the finishing touches to the make-up that she so expertly put on each day. Perfecting her brow shape and applying concealer, which she felt she needed more and more of as the month’s went by. Sandy felt increasingly overwhelmed trying to keep up her Media Career as well as trying to run a household and looking after the twins. She complained to Martin about being tired all the time and of having permanent black rings around her beautiful almond shape eyes.

“Just like a fucking Panda!” she’d say to him.

Martin could not see what she meant and thought she looked much better without make-up. Sandy was driven by her ambition and only half listened to him anymore. Their two World’s were so different, Martin worked in Archeological Research and Sandy was part of the ruthless cut throat World of the Media.

When, after a few glasses of wine her tongue loosened and she told him about her work , he was uneasy. It sounded petty and brutal and totally alien to the the sweet woman he used to know. He had come to realise that the work had taken it’s toll on the beautiful fun loving girl he had met and married after graduating from the University of Bathlea. One of the top Provincial Universities specialising in Sports and Residential Training for Top Athletes, fortuitously also it had a well respected Archeology Department.

As A2’s accepted for tertiary education they had been selected for fast track and expansive leisure time rewards, with plenty of time to discover themselves in preparation for the role they were being prepared for in Society.

Sandy’s sports scholarship had been a wonderful opportunity to travel the World while she competed at the highest level in her sport , athletics, indeed she held the UK record in the 100m and 200m sprint at Junior level. Together Martin and Sandy had experienced truly uplifting and life enhancing experiences as indeed the life plan for dynamic adults in their early twenties deigned. It had been a rite of passage for two intelligent and talented people.

Now Sandy and Martin were in their early thirties, with a healthy pair of twins, a still born baby and Alex whom no one now mentioned and officially did not now exist.

They had a very large mortgage which loomed each month like an impossibly high mountain to climb, but somehow each month they managed to pay. Increasingly, the strain between them was showing and although they rarely spoke about it, losing Alex and the feeling that he had been taken away from them made them question what exactly their New Society was about. Martin felt that they were heading for disaster, a marriage split, he felt out of control. Sandy avoided the subject , it was too deep for her and Martin gave up trying to speak to her. They were just going through the motions of living.

Her A2 Procreational Contractual obligations had to be fulfilled, she was running out of prime fertility time. Sandy , at heart felt it was a priority both financially ( having children was incentivised) and emotionally to start a family. In reality her longing to have a child superseded not achieving a primetime presenting job. Martin knew Sandy wanted to be a mother. State interference had worked in both their favours on this count. It was just that it hadn’t been straightforward , nothing like what they had both imagined.

As A2’s , Martin and Sandy had been assessed thoroughly , mentally and physically. Their first child being still born , was a shock to them both. The emotional trauma along with the feeling that they had “failed the system” had been hard to bear. The labour had gone on a long time, when they finally held the limp lifeless child coddled in a soft white blanket , they both cried together for their loss.

Strangers appeared from nowhere, Government people. There were a lot of questions, a moratorium almost. Sandy discussed her whole pregnancy with them, had she missed any appointments, had she fallen at any time? Sandy had to describe in every detail her pregnancy. Martin could not believe what was happening , Sandy was in tears as she said that there had been blood pressure issues, but that she had been assured that everything was fine. The labour had perhaps gone on too long, in the end they had determined that the baby had been starved of oxygen. It was no ones fault.

Martin felt the bereavement process had been badly handled. A few hours after the birth and their interrogation, they had a discussion about the arrangements for disposal of what was described as the foetal remains. They were told that trying again was the best way to overcome their grief.

They both started the process of trying for another baby a few weeks later. The Doctor’s firmly suggested that Sandy cut back on her athletic training and she complained to Martin that she felt frumpy and frustrated. Martin had tried everything to make the process of conceiving fun and not a chore , but in the end he cottoned on to the fact that Sandy was being made to feel like a brood mare.

Sandy told him that she had even asked the Counsellor for advice on inseminating herself with Martin’s sperm. Martin felt that he was being excluded , that all Sandy wanted to do was tick a box and have a child . He dutifully filled the tube in the bathroom and then Sandy used the device to inseminate herself.

“Night” Sandy had often said without so much as a cuddle or a kiss on the cheek. Martin did not know what he had done to deserve such treatment and he felt very alone. The next morning it was back to the routine of getting up , doing her make up and going to work. It was soulless. Martin knew that Sandy had not been ready emotionally to try for another child and when Sandy announced one morning at breakfast that she was pregnant, he felt guilty that he had mixed feelings, indeed , the strain of the last three months had made him feel more like a sperm donor , than a lover or a husband.

Leave a comment

Filed under Short Stories

Tagged as , ,

May 18, 2021 · 6:50 am

The Missing Panda

©GeraldineBanks2021

It was a catastrophe of massive proportion for Li Xiu’s keeper, never before had a Panda from the highly respected Zoo in Chengdu gone missing. Li Quiang could not believe his eyes the morning he opened up Li Xiu’s holding cell and found she was gone. She had been under observation in the Panda Nursery as she had an eye infection which had not cleared up even after treatment with anti-biotics.

Li Xiu had not liked been cooped up by herself in the cell .It was for the best though , and Li Quiang thought that it was her own fault and that if she had co-operated more fully with the vet on his first visit to her, instead of clowning around and being her usual playful and impish self she would not have had to be kept in isolation from the other Pandas for what seemed to her years but had infact only been a few days. Li Xiu was a really playful Panda she was the favourite of Li Quiang and he was very upset that she had disappeared.

As Li Quiang waited outside the Zoo Curator’s office in preparation for detailing his side of the story as to what had happened . He went over and over in his mind ,how he had fed and watered her and given her a small kiss and tried to settle her to go asleep before he left. He knew he had carefully double locked the door and as he left through the staff changing room he put the the key in the office safe and left the building as normal. One of the other keepers reassured him that the key was still in the safe when he had started his shift, so Li Quiang was confident that the interrogation by the Zoo Curator would be thorough but that at the end of the day Li Quiang could prove that he was not responsible for the loss of the Panda. He had locked the door.

The Zoo Curator was sitting at his desk when Li Quiang walked into his office following the Zoo Curator’s secretary. The Zoo Curator nodded to them both to sit down. The Secretary would be taking notes. The Zoo Curator looked critically at Li Quiang and began to throw a barrage of questions at him. It was like gunfire. As the Zoo Curator would normally not talk directly to a Keeper and the Curator was full of resentment at having to talk to a mere Keeper. Li Quiang saw a flash of anger in the eyes of the Secretary at the way the Curator talked to Li Quiang, but Li Quiang kept his cool and answered the questions one by one.

“When did you last see the Panda?”

” Why were you late finishing your shift?”

” Did you get a spare key for the holding cell made?”

Li Quiang could tell that the Curator was very angry, which although it was unpleasant to experience, Li Quiang could not be angry at the Curator. He knew that the loss of a Panda would cause phone calls and investigations at the highest level in Chinese Government Circles and that the Curator had probably already had to field a number of calls from Government Officials. With confidence and patience Li Quiang answered the Curator’s questions and occasionally looked at the secretary who was now efficiently writing down his answers.

The Curator took a deep breath and put his head in his hands..

“Oh I don’t know what has happened, but the Panda, is precious to us , we must get her back, someone has taken her. I’m afraid we will need to look at your phone records and your computer records at home. The Police will be searching your house right now. They have been given permission from the top level..”

Li Quiang nodded. ” That’s OK, I have nothing to hide, my wife will be a bit surprised though.” Lia Quiang smiled at the Curator, but got no reaction. The Curator looked down at some papers on his desk and said.

” Well that can’t be helped, but the faster we move on this the greater the chance of getting the Panda back.”

“I want Li Xiu back too, remember , I have looked after her since birth. I am very worried about what has happened. She needs treatment for her eye.”

It was six months after Li Xiu was kidnapped and Li Quiang was thinking about the events of that day, going over every every detail. The Zoo Curator had been sacked, and no one was quite sure what had happened to him. It was best not to ask any questions or gossip with the wrong people. When Li Quiang got home the evening of the disappearance he praised his wife for handling the house search so well. She told him she had been very polite with the Police Officers, as she knew that was best and he watched her as she tidied up the mess they had made. She did complain a little.

” They are such brutes, the Police aren’t they? It was pointless to ring my brother, I knew they were not the local Police. ” she said quietly to him.

” Yes, your brother could not have helped but I suppose the authorities have a job to do.”

” I didn’t know what was going on , but I thought it best to let them do what they had to. They’ve taken all our computer equipment, and they were fiddling with our telephone.”

” It’s to be expected, a Panda has disappeared, being stolen we think.”

” Oh no Li , that is terrible.”

“Yes, I don’t know what will happen, but I locked the cage where Li Xiu was kept and kissed her goodnight. The next morning she was gone. I’m pretty certain it was an inside job, but I had nothing to do with it. I’m just worried about Li Xiu that’s all and I’m sorry the Police upset you and caused all this mess.”

” Oh I’m stronger than you think, my love. I will get on with clearing this mess up and then we will have our dinner, our son will be home soon and we will have to explain what has happened to his lap top. I think he will be upset.”

And now six months later no one was wiser as to what had happened to the Panda, the computer equipment belonging to Li Quiang’s family had been returned and Li Quiang knew that his phone line and the families various mobiles were continually monitored and probably would be forever .He had nothing to hide, so that did not worry him. He was back to working with all the Pandas in the Zoo and although he thought about Li Xiu occasionally he kept busy with his work which he really enjoyed.

One morning , he was cleaning out the open area where the Pandas were on display to the Public and the Tourists and the young secretary who had taken the notes the morning of the disappearance came into the enclosure. He noticed that as well as being a secretary in the main building that she had been volunteering recently to help with animal care.

His initial thought was that she had been spying on him, and he would be wary of what he said to her. Her name was Yu Yan, and true to her name she had a beautiful smile. She was very slight and Li Quiang could not but help wonder at her strength in hauling bales of hay for bedding when she was asked. The keepers showed no favour to their attractive helper, as they were of the same mind as Li Quiang, that she was a Government Spy. However, this morning, Yu Yan had entered the enclosure unexpectedly and had deliberately started a conversation with Li Quiang.

” Good Morning, Li, you need any help ?”

“Thank you Miss Yu, yes , I have to finish this job in half an hour before the visitors arrive. Perhaps you could help me by sweeping that area over there. The brush is in the corner.”

” Of course Li, I am glad to help.”

They both continued to work tidying the yard, and then it came time to let the Pandas into the enclosure. Li could see that Yu Yan was excited to be so close to the Pandas. So he let her undo the gate and the young Pandas rushed into their newly cleaned enclosure and began their usual investigations of their surrounds, completely unaware of their impending visitors and the delight that they gave with their playful antics and climbing and searching out the bamboo the keepers had hidden in secret locations .

Yu Yan whooped with delight as the little Pandas brushed by her legs and ran towards the climbing frames .

” Oh they are so beautiful, I wish I could take them all home!”

Li Quiang scowled. ” That is not a good thing to say, we have lost one Panda we don’t want to lose any more. Be careful what you say Yu Yan, someone might hear and read something more into it.”

” Li , you are so right, they are so beautiful , just like toy bears.”

” They are not toys Yu!” Li Quiang quickly remonstrated.

” I know , I’m sorry ” Yu Yan turned to look at Li Quiang.

Li Quiang accepted that Yu Yan was indeed extremely sorry and that her enthusiasm was understandable. The Pandas were extremely cute and they were worth a lot financially to the Chinese Government. So much so that the loss of one was regarded as a serious crime. It was well known that the Pandas would always belong to China and any progeny even from Pandas born in other Countries would always belong to China. China owned the copyright to Pandas.

Yu Yan and Li Quiang began to leave the enclosure through the gated entrance. The Pandas were too busy to notice and just as Li Quiang closed the gate , Yu Yan asked him if she could join him for his tea break.

He was happy for her to join him, as otherwise he would have been by himself. It would be nice to have someone to talk to. However he realised afterwards that Yu Yan’s approach had not been without reason, he felt that she had manipulated him, and by the time his tea-break was over, he realised that he had become embroiled in a chain of events that could lead to imprisonment or even death. Li Quiang would have to use all his wits to not drown in Yu Yan’s complex plot. He would not trust her but at the same time he wanted to help Li Xiu.

The two of them had barely made their tea in the little keepers hut when Yu Yan said.

“Li Xiu is sick , we need your help.”

Li Quiang spat out his tea in horror. Yu Yan explained that she knew the keeper’s hut was not bugged , largely because it was damp and the wi-fi was non -existent. They could talk safely. Li Quiang had no intention of talking. He said firmly that Li Xiu would have to be returned to the Zoo. He had looked at Yu Yan in disbelief as she had explained that her boyfriend who she now realises was not a good man had got her involved and made her make a copy of the cell key where she knew Li Xiu would be kept. Yu Yan knew when the vet was visiting as she dealt with the invoices and she had been able to disable the cctv briefly to enable Li Xiu to be stolen. She was very sorry , but her boyfriend had promised that he would marry her and she needed the money for her dowry as her family could never have afforded to pay.

Li Quiang realised that he had to tread carefully, he felt Yu Yan was now in a lot of trouble and all for the sake of a boy. Was she being entirely honest with him? He doubted it.

“If Li Xiu is sick then she needs to come back here.”

” That is impossible at the moment.” Yu Yan looked down at her hands.

” Why?”

“My boyfriend is involved with bad people , they will kill him or kill me. They cannot sell the Panda, please can you help us?”

” So this is what this has all been about, Selling Li Xiu for money?” Li Quiang was disheartened, he knew that Li Xiu was probably very sick by now and that the thieves probably regarded her as a liability. The Panda would be hot property and would be difficult to look after and get treatment for.

There was something he wanted to know before he would help Yu Yan.

“Tell me Yu Yan do you know what happened to the Zoo Curator?”

“Yes, I do , they shot him.” I put a message on his computer, it looked like he was dealing with the people who stole the Panda. Of course he knew nothing about it , they said he died screaming he was innocent. I am so sorry about all of this I just want to stop it.” She began to cry.

Li Quiang said nothing. He picked his tea cup up and went to wash it at the small sink. He turned to Yu Yan.

” I will have to think carefully about what you have told me. I want Li Xiu back. You can tell the people who have her , I will meet them and I will see what state her health is. I’m not hopeful that after six months she will be in good condition. I need to see her very soon. Meanwhile I am returning to work, please do not follow me. I need time to think alone.”

Later that evening , he was in bed with his wife and he told her what had happened and what Yu Yan had told him.

” The stupid girl! What can you do, we must tell the authorities!”

“If Yu Yan was our daughter , we cannot throw her to the wolves, she has made a mistake . Perhaps I can help her and get Li Xiu back at the same time”

“Li , we have no daughter, she died, Yu Yan is not your daughter! She is a thief! Think about our son, he need’s his father. Look what they did to the Curator.”

“Yes, I know, I must not expose myself to danger. I need to speak to the authorities, but I don’t want Yu Yan to be hurt. I don’t care about the boyfriend who got her into this, or the other people who are involved, but Yu Yan, I want to help her. I think she is very sorry for the mess.”

” You are too soft-hearted, but if you think you can do this without getting into trouble , then I hope you can get Li Xiu back safe and sound. Perhaps we should ask my brother in the Police to help.”

” That is a good idea. I want to meet up with these people and I want the authorities to know that I’m only doing it to get Li Xiu back. Your brother will know how to approach this.”

A few days later, and having discussed the situation with his Brother-In-Law, Li Xiu had a plan and he talked it through with Yu Yan over tea in the Keeper’s hut. He explained that he would come and see the Panda and that she should arrange for the people looking after Li Xiu to be present , but on no account was she to be anywhere near the location. Would that be possible?

Yu Yan agreed to set up the meeting and she explained to her boyfriend that it would be very suspicious if she was seen outside the Zoo with Li Quiang, people would think they were having an “affair” and it would be frowned upon. So she was able to give the details to Li Quiang about where to meet and how he would be picked up in a car and taken to the location where Li Xiu was being held. Li Quiang made the visit and was shocked to find that Li Xiu was infact very ill. Li Quiang set his plan in motion with a sense of real urgency.

On the day of the second rendezvous, Li Quiang had a wire on him, this was to be the day he got Li Xiu safely back and although he was nervous he was also excited. He had told the authorities that someone had came up to him in the street and harassed him, took him into a back alley and threatened to beat him up if he didn’t help . They had put him in a car and brought him to an unknown destination. He had seen Li Xiu, she was in a dreadful condition, her eye looked as if it would need to be removed and her fur was in a terrible condition as the room she was being kept in was not being cleaned regularly. They had been feeding her cat food and grass. She was very thin. He explained that there was little time if he was to save her. He had told them that he would need to steal medicines from the Zoo and that he would need to come back with proper food another day.

The Police including his brother-in-law were following him in an unmarked car. Li Quiang as had been agreed with the kidnappers had been picked up from outside the railway station and he was in a car with some very undesirable looking thugs. Li Quiang couldn’t help but think that maybe the Panda’s “buyer” had saw the state of Liu Xiu and had declined to purchase her and now these men were extremely desperate and indeed acting foolishly out of desperation. He was unable to see where he was going as he was between two heavies who told him to keep looking down at the floor, but Li Quiang knew these men would not realise they were being followed. Eventually they reached the house where he had seen Li Xiu and he was accompanied inside. The car that he had travelled in disappeared into a yard at the back.

Li Quiang had in his hand a bag of medicines for Li Xiu and he emphasised to her kidnappers that he really needed to be left alone to tend to her. So they put him in the room with her and locked the door. Li Quiang was relieved, he gave the signal to the Police outside and took Li Xiu up in his arms, she was very sick. He really did not think she would survive. He gave her some vitamin supplements from his pocket as well as a some liquids from a bottle that the vet had prepared. Her eye was wet and pussy, she must have been in a lot of pain, but this was not the time to give her pain killers as she was so weak, if he could get her to the vet , then they might be able to do something.. He held her in his arms and he knew she recognised him, she made a little yelping noise and Li Xiu knew that he was there to rescue her.

Suddenly all hell let loose, there was a loud bang which was the door breaking down and then a lot of shouting and screaming. The Police had broken into the house. This was the most risky part of the operation for Li Quiang. It was important that the Police found him and Li Xiu quickly as he knew that the kidnappers would kill him and Li Xiu if they entered the room first. Li Quiang waited and listened and held the little Panda close to him and hid behind the door and listened. He was frightened when he heard the lock key turn, surely that must be the kidnappers. He crouched behind the door holding Li Xiu. Luckily three paratroopers rushed through the door and with their weapons pointed in all directions and shouted instructions to show yourselves. Li Quiang stood up and when the paratroopers saw the panda in his hands they stopped pointing their guns and turned them around to cover the door.

“All clear!” one of them shouted.

It was then that the Inspector from the Ministry of Public Security walked into the room. His name was Inspector Chen. Inspector Chen gestured to the paratroopers to leave the room. Li Quiang could still here some shouting downstairs, but he knew that the building was secure and that he and the Panda were safe.

” All this for a flea bitten Panda! I do wonder some times!” The Inspector looked at Li Quiang.

” I am sorry you feel that way, I am very grateful to you and your team Inspector. You must know that. These animals are very valuable.” Li Quiang moved to go by the Inspector.

” Wait a minute , Li Quiang, there is something I want to know?”

” Yes anything Inspector” Li Xiu moved in Li Quiang’s arms . ” Li Xiu needs urgent treatment , but I will help.”

” Was it an inside job, who made a copy of the key, you know don’t you?”

” Yes I know who made the copy , I did not hide anything at the time, but as you know my brother is in Regional Police and I asked his advice “.

” I know, it was him that told me to ask you, please tell me the full truth. I don’t think it will take long, I’m sure this little one will survive. He gently touched Li Xiu’s paw.”

Li Quiang looked at the Inspector directly in the eye.” Inspector , you are married and have children do you not?”

“Yes”

” Do you have daughters?”

” Yes”

“Are they old enough to have boyfriends.”

The Inspector laughed. ” Two are, and yes it is a troublesome period.”

” My daughter was killed in a car accident, she was just fifteen, I would have liked to have had the chance to go through that” troublesome period” you speak about. Miss Yan at the Zoo, she got into trouble with a boy, who was no good. This is why this has all happened. I have done my best to solve it in memory of my daughter. I want to protect Yu Yan like my daughter, yes she has made a mistake , please do not make her suffer for it. The rest of the people here I don’t care a jot for , but please protect Yu Yan.”

The Inspector turned to go out the door.

” Thank you” he said” Now that precious Panda, better live after all of this. You must take it to the vet quickly, there is an ambulance outside waiting to take you to the Veterinary Facility.”

Li Quiang said no more and quickly left, he had done his best and Li Xiu was now his main priority.

The exercise had all gone smoothly and there was a celebration when Li Xiu returned to the zoo. She could no longer be on display as her eye had had to be removed, but she had gained muscle and weight and could be part of the breeding programme for the future. She was very much a Panda with character and the Zoo felt she had traits that should continue if they could find a suitable mate. It turned out that Li Xiu also had “boy” trouble, she was very picky when it came to choosing a mate. It would take time and probably a lot of sleepless nights for the keepers.

Li Quiang continued his role working in the Zoo, he had not seen Yu Yan since he got back . Li Quiang was worried, as Inspector Chen had agreed nothing, and after a few days, Li Quiang thought that Yu Yan had been arrested. He was greatly relieved when one morning he saw Yu Yan in zoo overalls running towards him in oversize wellingtons. She was very excited and delighted to see Li Quiang, she had some good news.

” I’ve been accepted on The Zookeeper Course, I will learn how to be a good animal keeper. I’ve been away on an assessment course and I have got my place. I’m so excited.”

Li Quiang smiled at her. ” That is very good news, you will make a good keeper!”

The End

Leave a comment

Filed under Short Stories

Tagged as , , ,