Short Story

Desert Sky

Nancy's Notes šŸ–ŠļøšŸŽ¶

Written for The New, Unofficial, On-Line Writerā€™s Guild.
This week the three prompts for OLWG #368 – We Both Know
are (1) an old Patti Smith song, (2) need more blue in the shadows
and (3) when I left El Paso. Here is my first story for OLWG.

Ā© Truluck Photography

Jenna pulled off the long empty stretch of highway and killed the engine. The view of the desert skyline was too stunning for words. She stepped out of the car and leaned against the door, the hot sun beating down on her face and shoulders. The late afternoon sky was intense, deeply saturated with shades of cerulean, and Jenna smiled. As a fledgling artist, she always found fault with her own artwork, declaring the colors ā€œlacklusterā€; she was more at home with a camera than a paint brush. Natureā€™s palette didnā€™t need more blue in the shadows cast by the sun or more green in the desert grass. It was perfection.

Easing her way back into the driverā€™s seat, Jenna caught a glimpse of herself in the rearview. The delicate gold chain with the heart from Miguel was dazzling in the desert sun. Jenna lifted the heart to lips and closed her eyes.

Reaching for her cell phone, Jenna snapped a photo of the desert and sent it to Miguel; then she called him. After three rings, her call went to voice mail. Jenna didnā€™t care; the time was right. She left a message:

ā€œHey, babe! Can you guess where I am from the photo I sent? In an hour Iā€™ll be home. Home. Just saying the word fills my heart with joy. When I left El Paso, I had no idea the photo shoot would keep me away so long. I miss you so much, mi amor. I canā€™t wait to be in your arms once again! I love you, papi.ā€

Jenna pushed the engine button and started heading home. About ten minutes into her drive, she hear the familiar strains of an old Patti Smith song coming from her phone ā€¦ Miguelā€™s personal ringtone. She pulled over to read the message:

ā€œJenna, mi amor! Iā€™ve waited this long. Whatā€™s another hour? Te amo!ā€

Smiling at the sight of the desert sky in her rearview, Jenna hurried home ā€¦ home to Miguel.

NARĀ©2024

OLWG# 386- We Both Know

This is ā€œDancing Barefootā€ by Patti Smith

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephantā€™s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not to be used without permission. NARĀ©2017-present.

30 thoughts on “Desert Sky”

  4. I saw Patti open for Dylan in Sydney 1998. She was tremendous and narrated of lot of her own Poetry as well as singing some of her big hits. I hadnā€™t heard of her before that night, but she left one heck of an impression on me. I remember her getting heckled by someone towards the end of her segment and by golly did she shred this clown much to the wild applause of all in attendance.

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      1. If I remember correctly the clown had a problem with her narrating poetry and yelled something disparaging it and saying we were here to hear music. Well I’d be surprised if he left and not didn’t regret it, considering her response and the crowds. I remember thinking at the time, he might have needed bodyguards to get out in one piece. lol

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