January 2, 2023, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about a sabbatical. Who needs one or has had one? What kind of tension could a rest create? Where can a break take your story? Go where the prompt leads!
Sad Article
Briefly, Little Tittweaking became famous for its Death Sabbatical Society. Its pitch was ‘Are you dying for [insert preference]? Let us temporarily euthanise you.’ For a fee, DSS would take your life (minimum period: a week) and leave you to rot while you indulged your desires. Life was restored via electric shocks and a chilli poultice to the genitals.
Business remained brisk, even surviving a scandal when the cadavers were squatted by homeless spirits claiming on their life assurance. The business folded, as do so many, when the Inland Revenue decided temporary death was in reality a tax dodge.
My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline.
I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy.
I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere.
These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
TanGental 
Very cleverly written
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Aw thanks Sadje
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You’re most welcome Geoff.
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Neat
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Tidy too!
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I get a warm glow from reading this!
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It’s the chillis
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Darn Inland revenue can’t leave anything alone!
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Quite, like my income…
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They had a problem with your name didn’t they 😊
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Yep. They inserted an unwanted hyphen, the sods
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I bet they did that on purpose ….I mean that!
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Damn, That won’t work then!! Fun post Geoff.
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Sometimes those bean counters are just lacking in a sense of fun
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A tax dodge indeed.
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I always like a well thought through tax dodge
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Yes. Thought through is the key.
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Have you the recipe for the chilli poultice? It sounds exciting.
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It’s hot stuff, that’s certain
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Haha. Not the kind of tax dodge I’d be rushing for. Those wandering squatting spirits sound too much of a threat
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They are no respecters of property rights
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Where there’s a will there’s a way for the IRS, even is the death is only temporary. Well done, Geoff.
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The IRS never did grasp the idea of fun..
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😂😂😂 I guess it’s not ‘their job’.
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