Authors Note:
This story is set around 1955 but with some modern features but you have to use your imagination!
Scene.
An American Family home possibly somewhere in Northern Texas and the Panhandle. A TV set is a fairly recent addition to their home.
Mom & Dad are at home with one son. Mom is in the kitchen, Dad is reading the Daily Paper. The son is playing in front of the TV. The Evening News is on Channel 7.
News Reader: The so-called ‘Bonnie and Bonnie’ gang today robbed another bank. This time it was in Pampa. We go live to the Channel 7 reporter in Pampa, Joe Montana.
Reporter 1:
Thank you Jim. Yes. Around 3pm today, the so-called Bonnie & Bonnie gang, named after the notorious Bonnie & Clyde, robbed the 1st Amarillo Trust Branch here in Pampa. Just before closing, 4 women walked into the branch and one of them drew a gun from her handbag. She demanded all the money from the tills. The other women also drew guns from their handbags and one of them fired a warning shot into the ceiling. The gang then escaped in a late model White Cadillac that had been parked right outside the bank during the raid. Several shots were fired at the fleeing robbers as they made their getaway. The car was later found abandoned just off Highway 60 west of town. It had several bullet holds in the bodywork. There is no sign of the gang or the money. This is the fifth holdup of this type in Northern Texas, New Mexico & Okie in the past three weeks.
News Reader: Joe, is there any clue as to whose car they used for the getaway?
Reporter 1: Yes Jim. It was found to belong to the wife of the Local Sherriff, John Brown. His wife was at the time of the robbery having lunch at the Four Springs Country Club. She is apparently distraught that someone could have despoiled her beloved Betsy that way. Yes folks, she even has the name Betsy painted on the back of the car.
News Reader: Do the police have any leads?
Reporter 1: No Jim. One of the Pampa Police Officers even noticed the car parked in the ‘Tow Away’ Zone outside the bank but as he recognised that it belonged to the Sherriff Wife, he didn’t do anything about it. The Officer, named Dilbert James, says he actually opened the door to the bank to let the women inside as he was leaving. All he can remember was that they were dressed as if they had just come from the Country Club. All wore Hats and white gloves. He also remembers that one of them had a little trouble with her heels climbing the steps into the bank. He also recalls that she gave him a nice smile when he helped her inside.
News Reader: Thank you Joe.
Now for the rest of the news.
On Wall St today, the Dow finished down 20 in Light Trading.
We’ll be right back after these messages from our sponsor, Hendy’s Auto’s Where you can always be sure of getting a good deal.
[Cue Adverts]
News Reader: Welcome Back.
There is still no news of the whereabouts of James Cameron of Friona. James is the third person to go missing in recent weeks from our region. He was last seen two weeks ago getting off the bus from Amarillo.
James had just been discharged from the Army at the end of his draft. He served his time in the Army at Ft Bragg in Northern California just like the other three men who have gone missing, Edward Carter and Charles Nixon. We go over now to Channel 7 Reporter Steve Harris who is outside search headquarters in Friona. Over to you Steve
Reporter 2: Thanks Jim. There have been no leads to the disappearance of yet another young man right after just after being discharged from the army. Local Sherriff Wilbur Smith was very worried when I spoke to him earlier.
[The scene shows the search HQ in the background plus a number of Women all wearing mid 1950 clothes, hats & gloves standing behind the reporter]
The son who had been playing in front of the TV suddenly cries,
“Mom Dad, Cousin Charlie’s on TV. He’s wearing Funny clothes.”
[Before either of the parents could see the scene on the TV, the station cut back to the studio]
News Reader: The Red Sox lost their 3rd straight game today.
Dad: son you must have been seeing things. Your Cousin Charlie is one of the men who are missing. You must have been mistaken.
Son: No Dad it was Charlie.
Dad: I’m telling you it can’t have been. If it was him then he would have contacted the police.
Son: It was Charlie. He was dressed like Mom is when we go to Church on Sunday.
Dad (getting angry): Now you are telling lies. You know that happens when I catch you telling lies.
The son looks terrified.
Dad: Mother, get my belt.
The End.
Comments
A good start...
...of a great series, a teaser really. As a stand alone story it is leaving the reader wanting a lot more.
Bonnie and Bionnie
Yes a good Teaser - Are we getting more?
Richard
A Teaser?
To be honest, I never thought that this little ditty was a teaser. For those of us old enough to remember the introduction of TV's into the home (I'm 60 and 1 week) it should bring back those memories.
In those days, it was not uncommon to get a slippering/belting from your parents when you did wrong. None of this 'lets take little kylie/jimmy to see an analyst' malarkey.
I just intended to paint a picture of life at home in the late 1950's, early 1960's before TV took over our lives AND to weave into it a story of men dressing up as women to rob banks.
If any reader wants to write a sequel then please go right ahead.
Continue
Take this story and make it longer. turn it into a science fiction or a mystery. Are these men who disappeared turning into women by being hypnotized and then made to rob banks. Are they planning the robberies themselves and planning future robberies. Its your idea take it and go. If you need help from somebody ask for it, there a plenty of people that will help. You can make it longer and still finish it. Right now the story can be expanded, since you created the characters, you know who they are. Its up to you to bring them around to introduce them and let the reader know who they are and why they rob banks.
Jill Micayla
Be kinder than necessary,Because everyone you meet
Is fighting some kind of battle.
Children, the first
to see right through a disguise or a person who is transitioning!
I remember those days all too well! Children were meant to be seen, not heard according to most adults back then!
If a child spoke back to his or her parents and it was usually the boy, the boy would often times get a whipping that would be and usually was remembered for life! I remember most of mine! I was usually told tog get my own willow switch. The first time I was told to get my own switch I thought that I was being pretty smart to pick a really small one of the willow tree. I learned a valuable lesson that day too! The small ones hurt much more, LOTS more!
Daddy, he usually used three belts like a Cat O Nine Tails on my back side!
The local Police would often scare the daylights out of me by threatening to put me in jail with all the bad guys if they caught me out of the yard. I would be plaing in the ditch by the road. Then they would take me to the house which was only fifty feet or so and the Police would take turns whipping me with my Daddy!
Children in those days were told to always obey adults, yet they were told not to talk to strangers!? Strange, as children most of us then as I remember it were not usually allowed to venture too far from home so for me everyone was a stranger. No matter what I was in trouble if I didn't talk to strangers or if I did what they told me to do! I HATED child hood! For more than a few reasons obviously!
Kids caught hell those days!
Yes, this tale gave me plenty of my child hood memories!
I am fifty eight. Shhhhh, don't tell anyone lol!
Vivien
Yep, be seen and not heard
I lost count of how many times I'd hear that.
But as far as not being allowed to venture far from home, that was most certainly not true in my case.
When I were a nipper, I used to collect train numbers (like many a lad in those days) and used to go up to London on a Saturday and do the rounds of the Depots. Places like Old Oak Common, Willesden, Finsbury Park, Stratford, Cricklewood etc. Often I'd go with a few mates but sometimes I went on my own. Aged around 11. One time I was 'put on the train' to London with my suitcase. I traveled to London Bridge, took the bus to Liverpool St and the train to Chatteris. I think I was 12 at the time. I'd spend a couple of weeks there during the summer holidays helping out on my uncle's farm with the carrot washing. I'd be sent on a rickety old bike to ride over the fens to the nearest Pub and bring back an Enameled Jug of beer for the workers 'dockey' (i.e. Elevnsies). Woe betide me if I spilt any.
This was the swinging 60's and sometime the lure of Carnaby St and Soho won out over engine numbers. I remember buying my first pair of Eyelure Lashes on one such trip.
Them were the days.
Nice story...
Hmmm... Joe Montana?? James Cameron?? Great names....:)
TGSine --958
I remember the days
We went to visit an uncle and aunt and I wanted to talk to my female cousin on the opposite side of the room. I wasn't allowed; I had to sit down and be quiet.
Very reminiscent of the era except that we didn't get a TV until I was about 12; it was a 12 inch rented set with a grey and white picture.
S.
Aaah yes.. Those days
[crackling voice] I remember it well! [/crackling voice] :)
Such nostalgia. Don't get me wrong, I thought it was a nice ditty, and thank you for it. It also reminded me of something like this:The four yorkshire men from who other than the (in)famous Monty Pythons' Flying Circus days.
Another bit of nostalgia, innit?
Regards, Jo-Anne
lovely!
I can remember them doing that sketch at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. That was a long time ago.
The whole idea was to get people's imaginations going by leaving things unfinished. You don't always have to fill in every detail. Let your audience fill in the gaps.
Thanks.
More story in 850 words than
More story in 850 words than most have in 3000 words.
Karen
Well I remember
Well I remember when we got our first Color TV so different from the smaller square box in the corner, remember the six of clock cut off time between day TV and seven o clock to get the kids into bed and the 1030 epilogue National Anthem afterwords and the little white dot disappearing into the center of the TV when switched off.
Well I have turned 61 last Birthday and these TV memories were long before I discovered the other form of TV which I have to be much more enjoyable and even
their is this woman still inside wanting out more and more
SamanthaAnn
TV the color kind
My first TV as a child, had a radio and a turntable attached. Our first color TV was in time for the 1967 World Series, The Boston Red Sox were playing. In those days, the only TV was tv. Ahh, the memories of a 65 yr old.
Karen