-looking for work is hard work-
~RH
Tag: writing
A sIx WoRd StOrY
–
the bottom line-
The Family I Never Dreamed Of—
(This is the second chapter of this short story. Follow the links below to read previous chapters)
Introduction http://wp.me/p5AbPX-Ot
Chapter 1 http://wp.me/p5AbPX-Ox
Chapter 2
Now off to the kitchen we go.
Our kitchen had peel and stick tile on the floor and a rotary dial telephone mounted to the wall. The stove and the sink shared a wall and the fridge stood tall and stout across from them. If memory serves me right, and of course it always does, we did most of our fine dining right there on that laminate topped bar. Microwaves weren’t a thing back then so heating up the grub required the use of a pot or pan and some fire. Yes, fire… from a stove… a real stove… with real fire which, by the way, came from one of those little wooden sticks with the red and white tips known as a match. All it took was a single scrape across a rough surface and voila, you were holding the only thing standing between you and that steaming hot cup of coffee. Naturally, the coffee beans had been picked, cracked and crushed fresh from the field, just hours earlier.
Ok, enough of that… let’s get to the memory…
I have total recall of the night I was sitting on a barstool in the kitchen with my older brother. Yes, I was often subjected to being left in close proximity to one of them but who would have ever thought he could injure me with my mother sitting within arm’s length of us. After all, this was a supervised visit and the lights were on. The paperwork from the courthouse stated plain and simple that I should never be left unattended, without mama or daddy present, especially since that incident with the kerosene in the coke bottle. Well, mama was talking on the phone when Chuckie decided to blow black pepper in my face to make me sneeze. Did he realize I had eyes that could be damaged? Badly! And they say he was the smart one. Needless to say, mama’s telephone conversation with my favorite uncle ended pretty quickly when that black pepper got in my brown eyes. Mama grabbed me and ran to the bathroom, and I can still hear the water rushing in my ears every time mama pushed that handle down trying to flush my eyes.
Please stop—
The up and down motion was making me nauseous. The only reprieve was the occasional lull created when he slowed to catch his breath. My inner thighs were sure to be sore and bruised and my legs ached so badly that numbness would have been a welcome sensation. I knew I couldn’t last much longer, but I was afraid of what might happen if I tried to stop him. I also knew that shifting in any direction, to ease my pain, would likely interrupt his rhythm and that would in turn, cause him to lose control.
I guess riding that tandem bike through the streets of San Francisco wasn’t such a good idea after all.
My First Time
I was sixteen. He, a mere fourteen months my senior. We sat facing one another, my knuckles wrapped tightly around the armrest, his hands lying casually in his lap. Conversation was light, the air around us tense for me, for him, not so much. He smiled mischievously and I, trying to hide the sheer panic creeping through my every vein, returned that smile with what could not have been more than a grimace. Suddenly, his position changed, as did his facial expression. We were no longer eye to eye. It appeared that he was rising, but without standing. From where I was seated and from what I could see between the tears flooding from my eyes, the smile on his face had become a huge grin accompanied by a full fit of laughter.
By the time the plane leveled, my brother had regained his composure while I was still dry heaving into an in-flight barf bag, and my mother was feeding me ice chips and rubbing my neck. I’d never flown before.
Creative Storytelling with Sally and Friends
Hi folks, check this out…it’s a story writing idea where we write stories -together-
Follow these instructions and let’s see what happens…
Instructions:
- add to the story (preferably in paragraph form) in the comments section (your addition can be funny, sarcastic, cynical, sad, serious, sexual and/or anything you’d like it to be) and add a link to your blog
- I will copy and paste your paragraphs and re-publish the story as it unfolds which will provide new prompts regularly
- invite others to join us by specifically selecting as many of them as you’d like
- check back and add on as often as you’d like
- tag your post
- To make it easy for others to see what we’re writing use “Creative Story Telling with Sally and Friends” as your title if you post it on your blog or tag it “CST”
- Remember to follow my blog for the new story prompts which will post bi-weekly.
Now let’s see how creative we can be—-
Today’s prompt:
Today a group of ladies were standing around the water cooler talking about one of those reality TV shows. Since I’m not a fan, I filled my cup and went back to my cubicle, which apparently was not the right thing to do. I’d been back at my desk for a few moments when Mona, the “office mom”, stopped by to ask if I was feeling bad or if I was simply being anti-social. In my true to form sarcastic tone, and without even turning to look at her, I said “why yes Mona”.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Below you’ll find a list of blogs I’ve tapped to join in. If I tapped you, it’s because there’s
just something about you… (: If I didn’t, you should stick around, your day is coming!
Now get writing and add your twist to the prompt then go visit the folks I tapped and you’ll soon find out why I tapped them——
- A Dash of the Unexpected
- I Am Begging My Mother Not To Read This Blog
- Author, Kim Knight
- Common Sense and Whiskey
My Kevlar Vest
I’ve worn a Kevlar Vest for so many years I’ve lost count. I still remember the first time I put one on. The person holding the tape measure was far more comfortable than I. I was as nervous wreck. I’d never felt the need to wear one before, mine had been a straight forward, by the book kind of life. Yes, there were some days that were more trying than others, but I’d always been in total control of any and all situations. I always played close to the edge, but never intentionally and never with any conscious desire to cross it.
On that day, so, so, many years ago I found myself in unfamiliar territory. Was I sure I could handle this? I mean, this was a responsibility that I was sure many dreamed of, but few indulged in. An elite crowd, a closed group… the chosen few… but if they were chosen, who was doing the choosing? From where I stood, it wasn’t a choice, there were no check yes or no boxes. No matter how long or how hard you danced around it, knowingly or unknowingly, and no matter who the dance instructor was, you would eventually trip and stumble, and fate would be standing in the shadows waiting to catch you when you fell.
Little did I realize, measuring me was a mere formality. My vest was ready long before I arrived at this day. The maker, not the measurer, knew me. The maker also knew the challenges I would face once I accepted that unwritten invitation, the one that had been stamped on my heart since the moment I was conceived. They would be more than I could handle alone— and that would never be allowed.
Re-Blogging for feedback…
This is an excerpt from a short story I wrote a while back. I posted it in April 2015 and I decided to repost it today to see what type of feedback it receives.
Not to worry, the brains behind Runaway Nuns and Leprechauns are NOT nestled inside the heads of crazy people, but we truly believe that a vivid (sometimes graphic) imagination is a terrible thing to allow to go un-exhibited
————————————————————————————————————-
So back to the hallway… having done this many times before Kai and I had developed a method of what we referred to as “self-preservation” mode. It’s a simple technique in which we tried not to get ourselves whacked by the crazies. The first thing I noticed in the hallway was a large metal object covered in red paint; at least that’s what it looked like at first glance. As we stepped closer for a better look, we realized, almost simultaneously, that we were looking at a knight in not so shining armor! It appeared to be an original uniform from back in the knight in shining armor day. We were so busy examining our find that neither of us noticed the guillotine in the far corner, that is, until we noticed the rancid smell. There is no disguising the smell of dead flesh, especially flesh that has been left dead, un-refrigerated and un-embalmed for way too long. When the odor hit us, the hair stood up on the back of my neck, and as we would discuss the incident later, Kai would report a similar sensation. I was immediately drawn to the corner, and as my eyes adjusted to the lighting in the dark, dank room, I was horrified to see a pair of blank eyes staring up at me from a bucket at the foot of the guillotine.
Please feel free to comment here or you can contact me privately at elitepottagold@gmail.com
.
A Dear John Letter to my Younger Self
Dear Younger Self,
I feel that it is my obligation, as your senior, to fill you in on a few things. I intend to speak in such a way that you should have no problem comprehending; however, in an effort to eliminate any misunderstanding, I will also use colloquialism most familiar to you.
I am in charge now and I will be sure and remain apprised of all important issues, including but not limited to, annual dental exams. (I run this. I’m the shot caller and you can trust and believe I’m gone stay woke on everything I need to, including keeping my grill tight). In the event that I go out, I will decide when I am to return home and I will not party until the wee hours of the morning. (I bail when I say so and I won’t be turnt when the lights come on.) As a responsible adult, I return all phone calls promptly, I socialize with people in my age group and I dress and behave accordingly. (I’m grown. I hit ‘em back on the celly when I can, I hang with my squad, my gear is always on fleek and I slay every time I hit these streets). Please understand that I enjoy a low key and private style of life where I make every effort to mind my own business. (I’m basic, not boujee at all, and I always stay in my lane). In the run of a day, I make no effort to belittle others – I’m not overbearing, loud or outwardly aggressive, and I never go to the extreme. (I don’t throw shade and I’m never extra.)
Also, I can honestly say that although I drink, I do not have my deceased father’s penchant for libations. (Ion stay lit). My dear younger self, through this letter, you should gain comfort in knowing that I am perfectly fine with where I am. You, on the other hand, are out of control. (Look bae, this letter should give you life. By the way you know you have zero chill, right?) So now, without further ado, I would greatly appreciate it if you would sit quietly in the memories of my subconscious and allow me to take it from here. (now that’s a wrap, bye Felecia!)
Yours Truly,
(Deuces,)
Your Older Self
#WRITESPIRATION #124 52 WEEKS IN 52 WORDS WEEK 28
Holiday Schmaliday-
We waited all year
Our plans were all set,
We waited in line
To board that big jet.
A tall woman walked over,
And asked for ID-
I sarcastically asked
Are you talking to me?
The taste of that carpet
Was dog crap I’m sure–
Next holiday season
I’ll be more mature!
Looking for an opinion…
Looking for an opinion and I apologize up front if this offends anyone. (By the way if you are in fact offended, then obviously, you’re one of those people I’m referring to and you’re apparently not smart enough to read between the lines and grab this constructive criticism by the horns and ride it’s ass to the ground)… which is what I think I’d do… but I’m not the one on the other side of this keyboard, am I?
Ever heard someone say, “know what I’m saying”, when conversing? I happen to have several friends who use that question.. or statement… or whatever the hell part of the English language it is. Now in true sarcastic form, which happens to be my chosen form of speech, I often respond by saying “uh-huh” knowing damn well I not only don’t know what they’re saying, I don’t even give a shit at that point. When the first “know what I’m saying” comes out, I know that there are several additional grammatical murderS to follow- so I check the hell out.
Living my life like it’s golden……
writing prompt… “The secret you just discovered”
(“We’re over half way through, can you believe it? It’s gone in a flash as always, 2017 is bringing 52 challenges over 52 weeks.
Your challenge is to write your story using the weekly theme/prompt and write it in just 52 words…. EXACTLY, no more, no less.”
The secret you just discovered http://sumo.ly/CsZg via @sacha_black)
I just discovered
That I can fly
Hush hush now good people
I tell you no lie–
How can I humanly
Mount to the sky?
That is my little secret
I say and I sigh–
Okay, just one hint
And a hardy goodbye
With pen and pad
You too can fly high.
Runaway Nuns and Leprechauns 