The Past Tense

2005 www.teachit.co.uk 4191.doc Page 1 of 2

Dead Trial by Matthew Green

Sergeant Walter Eaton st at the Police Station reception desk busying
himself with whatever it is that Police do when they're manning reception, when
a person literally walk in through the door.

Now, to clarify, the door s never opened and there s no gap for
anybody to climb in through. He actually passe through the wood without
causing any damage at all.

The man w over to Walter and sa , "I'm here to report a
murder."

Walter notice that the man s slightly transparent. He c see
the far wall through the man's skull.

"Okay," Walter s , "What is the name of the person who was murdered?"

"Richard Thomas," he repl .

"And what is your name, and your relation to the murder victim?"

"My name is Richard Thomas, and the murder victim is me."

Walter s confused. "What?"

"Observe," sa Richard, as he passe his hand through the Sergeant's chest.

"I really don't think we have any regulations regarding this sort of thing, let me
get the chief."

Richard s Walter disappear to the back of the station. After a few
minutes he hear a muffled argument going on.

Walter pushe the Chief through to the reception area and sa ,
"See for yourself."

The Chief compose himself and said: "So sonny, you claim to be dead eh?"

Richard s very polite. "Yes sir."

Now continue the story in your own words.
Dead Trial copyright Matthew Green
The Past Tense
2005 www.teachit.co.uk 4191.doc Page 2 of 2

An Active Imagination by Virginia E. Zimmer


The thud c me again.

Rose click the television silent, straining her ear against the storm that
splatter the roof with a mixture of rain and hail. Tentacles of delicate fog
scrape across the window glass seeking shelter from the gale winds.

The soft thump c from the basement, as though someone, or something,
ha knocked a book to the floor. Rose grip the arms of the chair and
curse her husband for leaving her alone on a night like this, knowing she was
fearful of storms, empty houses and prowlers, however imaginary they might be.
She h already lit every lamp and overhead light in the house, but they
fail to dispel the damp, dreary feeling of impending doom.

Her husband Jimmy nagged her about getting a dog to keep her
company on the nights he work late, but Rose w not hear of such a
thing. What if the dog g t rabies and mad while she alone
with him? Her small delicate frame w be no match for a snarling, crazy-
in-the-head animal who w shred her to pieces with its gnashing teeth.

The television screen flicker in muted silence as it r the news story
again, warning the public about the man with the knife. He ha been evading
the police for weeks, leaving behind no clues about how he slaughtered women
who were home alone.

But Rose kn w where the man . He s in her basement skulking
around in the dark with the butcher knife between his teeth.



An Active Imagination copyright Virginia E. Zimmer