This week’s Crimson’s Creative Challenge takes us to a telephone box in the middle of Ringland woods, not far from where I used to live. This might not translate too well for US readers, but then again…
It’s 195 words, sorry.
CCC061 – Telephone Box
He emerged from the time machine clutching his customary black bag. It held everything a traveller could possibly need, even in 1980s England. A wild-eyed maid in a black dress and a white apron rushed down the path towards him.
“Oh, doctor, thank goodness you’ve come. Quickly, there’s not a moment to lose!”
He exchanged glances with his companion and followed. They were expected.
The door to the mansion stood open, and the maid’s footsteps echoed above.
“Through here,” she called.
Through there a man lay in a four-poster bed, guarded by his butler. “I think I’m dying, doctor,” he moaned.
He looked him up and down, felt his pulse, bent low over his chest, and told the maid to hurry and fetch a kettle of boiling water, some brown paper, and a bottle of best malt vinegar. She sped away. Then he gave instructions to the butler as to what to do with them.
Departing hurriedly, he yanked his companion by the arm. “We’re a century out,” he hissed.
By the time he got back to the time machine he understood why. “I said police box, not telephone box!”
Companions these days…
© J M Pett 2025
Love this Jemima it is perfect 💜💜
This has me chuckling. And I think you’ll find Dr Who is a global prog.
So you, too, lived near Ringland Hills. Wow. Small world
Even so, wish we’d bought one….
Always loved Edinburgh’s Tardis.
😄 This was brilliant. What do do mean, “Americans might not understand”? We love the Doctor over here.💖
I wasn’t sure
Oh, yes, we know the Doctor over here! Nice story 🙂
Clever!