I mentioned in my previous post that not much was happening…well,
I’m hereby retracting that statement. I
am writing again and that, for me, is a big ‘happening’! I guess my thought was that the things that
were happening BEFORE the accident are not happening much now! The journey is definitely still on! I’m currently on a different road than
originally planned; however, the ADVENTURE continues! I thought I would include a writing or so of mine as part of
the blog…given the fact that that IS what’s going on!
I’m hereby retracting that statement. I
am writing again and that, for me, is a big ‘happening’! I guess my thought was that the things that
were happening BEFORE the accident are not happening much now! The journey is definitely still on! I’m currently on a different road than
originally planned; however, the ADVENTURE continues! I thought I would include a writing or so of mine as part of
the blog…given the fact that that IS what’s going on!
There is a quarterly contest for freelancers that gives a
writer an opportunity to create a short story from a prompt, with a specified
word count AND in only 24 hours! I
missed the registration deadline for spring, but I took on the challenge anyway
for my own personal practice.
writer an opportunity to create a short story from a prompt, with a specified
word count AND in only 24 hours! I
missed the registration deadline for spring, but I took on the challenge anyway
for my own personal practice.
My understanding, regarding the prompt, is that as long as
you keep the basic “flavor” and components, you can alter it in any way that
fits into your own story. So, here is
the one I just wrote yesterday. I hope
you enjoy it.
you keep the basic “flavor” and components, you can alter it in any way that
fits into your own story. So, here is
the one I just wrote yesterday. I hope
you enjoy it.
PROMPT
( 78 words )
( 78 words )
Sitting on the porch steps, she stared,
ignoring the
scent of lilacs from the overgrown bush. Her
heart
lurched when she saw the mail truck approaching,
dust in its wake. Would it arrive today? The
ancient
mail carrier took his time handing her some
envelopes
and, finally, a large package in brown paper. As
he
drove away, she dropped the envelopes on the
porch,
and walked quickly around the side of the house,
praying nobody inside saw…
ignoring the
scent of lilacs from the overgrown bush. Her
heart
lurched when she saw the mail truck approaching,
dust in its wake. Would it arrive today? The
ancient
mail carrier took his time handing her some
envelopes
and, finally, a large package in brown paper. As
he
drove away, she dropped the envelopes on the
porch,
and walked quickly around the side of the house,
praying nobody inside saw…
A Perfect Mistake
Jenny
couldn’t believe the day had arrived for Bill’s big promotion party. She had been preparing for this event
for months…mostly through online shopping and sending favor requests via email
to a few local friends. Her unusual
strategy worked brilliantly as she was held up in LA for business up until a
week before the party. She so enjoyed planning this huge celebration
for her boyfriend of 3 years…now, actually her ex…as of five days ago. Yes, Bill had met Jenny at the airport
with one heck of a “Welcome home, honey”.
couldn’t believe the day had arrived for Bill’s big promotion party. She had been preparing for this event
for months…mostly through online shopping and sending favor requests via email
to a few local friends. Her unusual
strategy worked brilliantly as she was held up in LA for business up until a
week before the party. She so enjoyed planning this huge celebration
for her boyfriend of 3 years…now, actually her ex…as of five days ago. Yes, Bill had met Jenny at the airport
with one heck of a “Welcome home, honey”.
“I think we’re
growing apart, Jen. This just isn’t
working for me anymore. I think after
the party, we should go our separate ways. ”
growing apart, Jen. This just isn’t
working for me anymore. I think after
the party, we should go our separate ways. ”
Jenny was stunned
at his matter of fact demeanor, the brevity of his words and his callous
attitude. Her
heart ached and it was going to be terribly awkward, but it was too late to
inform 75 people that Bill’s big bash was canceled. She couldn’t help but wonder whether she
could “be cool” for the crowd, portraying the proud girlfriend, pleasant and
hostess-like and still remain detached.
Could she fake it about still being a happy couple until after the party? Oh, and what about the…? Jenny needed a plan and quick!
at his matter of fact demeanor, the brevity of his words and his callous
attitude. Her
heart ached and it was going to be terribly awkward, but it was too late to
inform 75 people that Bill’s big bash was canceled. She couldn’t help but wonder whether she
could “be cool” for the crowd, portraying the proud girlfriend, pleasant and
hostess-like and still remain detached.
Could she fake it about still being a happy couple until after the party? Oh, and what about the…? Jenny needed a plan and quick!
She was being haunted
by her memory of all the expense and effort she put into customizing a gift for
him in recognition for his achievements…and now…now her surprise had to be
abolished somehow. He could never
know! He might deserve it, but he wasn’t
going to get it from HER…not now.
by her memory of all the expense and effort she put into customizing a gift for
him in recognition for his achievements…and now…now her surprise had to be
abolished somehow. He could never
know! He might deserve it, but he wasn’t
going to get it from HER…not now.
. It was a picture
perfect Saturday afternoon in New Hampshire, still a couple hours from party
time and Jenny was obsessing over the delivery.
perfect Saturday afternoon in New Hampshire, still a couple hours from party
time and Jenny was obsessing over the delivery.
“It just better
arrive at the exact time I scheduled it.
After all, I DID pay extra for that service! And if I’m gone too long, one of the guests
is bound to notice.”
arrive at the exact time I scheduled it.
After all, I DID pay extra for that service! And if I’m gone too long, one of the guests
is bound to notice.”
Yeah, she was
sweatin’ this one!
sweatin’ this one!
Everything was
set and Bill showed up about a half hour early…the first one there, of course. Jenny greeted him with a cordial embrace and
they conspired to pull off the evening’s charade. Guests appeared in droves at first and as the
last 20 or so trickled in, Jenny’s heart began to race
set and Bill showed up about a half hour early…the first one there, of course. Jenny greeted him with a cordial embrace and
they conspired to pull off the evening’s charade. Guests appeared in droves at first and as the
last 20 or so trickled in, Jenny’s heart began to race
with anxiety about the
package. She was getting nervous and she
looked it! She decided to go out front and sit on the
porch.
package. She was getting nervous and she
looked it! She decided to go out front and sit on the
porch.
Just perched there, staring, she noticed how overgrown her yard was. There had been quite a bit of rainfall in her hometown while she was in California working.
She ruminated about not hiring someone to take care of things while she
was away. Sadly, you couldn’t even
appreciate the gorgeous lilac bush by the front gate. “No matter,” she thought, “It’s all I can do to ignore the glorious
perfume it emits. If I had to look at it, too…the flower of LOVE…that could do me in
today!”
She ruminated about not hiring someone to take care of things while she
was away. Sadly, you couldn’t even
appreciate the gorgeous lilac bush by the front gate. “No matter,” she thought, “It’s all I can do to ignore the glorious
perfume it emits. If I had to look at it, too…the flower of LOVE…that could do me in
today!”
Suddenly, she
heard the sound whose meaning had been transmuted from excitement to dread! The USPS truck was heading her way slowly as
it made a stop at each home along her street. Jenny was feeling very impatient at this
point. Thoughts were running rampant in
her mind. “Does everyone
have to get mail today? I can’t wait until this is over. I sure hope I’m not being missed in
there. C’mon, already!”
heard the sound whose meaning had been transmuted from excitement to dread! The USPS truck was heading her way slowly as
it made a stop at each home along her street. Jenny was feeling very impatient at this
point. Thoughts were running rampant in
her mind. “Does everyone
have to get mail today? I can’t wait until this is over. I sure hope I’m not being missed in
there. C’mon, already!”
Finally and with
a bright smile, the postman declared, “I got that special package along with
your mail, Ms. Jenny. You still want me
to hand deliver it to that young man of yours?”
a bright smile, the postman declared, “I got that special package along with
your mail, Ms. Jenny. You still want me
to hand deliver it to that young man of yours?”
“NO!!!….um, I
mean no thanks. I’ll take it from here. Thank you, Mr. Wiley.”
mean no thanks. I’ll take it from here. Thank you, Mr. Wiley.”
Before he could
say, “You’re welcome,” Jenny grabbed the package leaving her mail behind and
sprang to the side of the house praying no one inside saw her. She’d have to be quick. She had already been away from the party for
over 20 minutes. Jenny took a deep
breath and courageously opened the well-cushioned box to take one quick look at
his “pre break-up” gift before she tossed it!
She could feel her emotions surging as she began to read the inscription
on the plaque that she lovingly designed for the wall behind his desk in his
new office.
say, “You’re welcome,” Jenny grabbed the package leaving her mail behind and
sprang to the side of the house praying no one inside saw her. She’d have to be quick. She had already been away from the party for
over 20 minutes. Jenny took a deep
breath and courageously opened the well-cushioned box to take one quick look at
his “pre break-up” gift before she tossed it!
She could feel her emotions surging as she began to read the inscription
on the plaque that she lovingly designed for the wall behind his desk in his
new office.
William Bradley
A respected man of
honor
honor
Never prone to quip
A leader to his crew
The Captain of his
shit
shit
When she first saw that blatant last letter typo, she was
met with a moment of panic. Then she
laughed until she cried. “Toss it? Hmmm?
Maybe I’ll give it to him anyway!”
met with a moment of panic. Then she
laughed until she cried. “Toss it? Hmmm?
Maybe I’ll give it to him anyway!”
(785 words)