Short Story, Theme Prompt, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Perfect Strangers

Written for MLMM Monday Wordle;
the prompt words are shown below.

smug,
noise, celebration, assumed, gentle, quiet,
reserved, delivered, surprised, guest, one, unkind

Continue reading “Perfect Strangers”
Short Story, Theme Prompt, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

That Special Day

Written for Sunday Whirl Wordle.
Here are Brenda’s prompt words:

plumes, tufts, mosses, fantasy, fabric, filtering,
threads, forest, cracks, layer, ruffle, flow

Continue reading “That Special Day”
Adventure, Mystery, Short Story, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Telltale Trail

Written for MLMM Monday Wordle;
these are our prompt words:

biscuit, passed, duke, found, slight, princess,
curved, sheet, alone, downhill, happy, companion

Continue reading “Telltale Trail”
Mystery, Original Series, Recurring Character, Short Story, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

The Silver Compass: A Minnie Ming Mystery

Written for Sunday Whirl Wordle.
Here are Brenda’s prompt words:

velvet ~ compass ~ echo ~ random ~ rust ~ silver
shadow ~ pebble ~ stone ~ drone ~ clip ~ dry

Continue reading “The Silver Compass: A Minnie Ming Mystery”
Flash, Short Story, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Larry’s Bad Surprise

Written for MLMM Monday Wordle;
the prompt words are shown below.

cash
~ huge ~ monkey ~ much ~ grin ~ shovel
birthday ~ carry ~ took ~ back ~ trailer ~ grab

Continue reading “Larry’s Bad Surprise”
Short Story, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

The Icing On The Cake

Written for Sunday Whirl Wordle.
Here are Brenda’s prompt words:

waves – cake – straysstrand – churning
spot – buzz – colors – sudden – early – stirring

Continue reading “The Icing On The Cake”
Poetry, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

First Day Rush

Written for MLMM Monday Wordle;
the prompt words are shown below.

dashing ~ morning ~ bed ~ forecast ~ always
 sighed ~ give  ~ neck ~ head ~ warmth ~ laid ~ part

Image by Me & Gemini

Mom dashing in at morning light,
Clothes laid out from last night.
“Five more minutes,” one sleepyhead sighed,
Warmth still calling from the bedside.

Check the forecast, grab a snack,
And please don’t forget your backpack!
Always rushing …. the bus won’t wait
The trickiest part is not to be late.

Neck craning back,
give one final wave bye ….
they’re off to high school
And Mom wants to cry.

NAR©2026
#MLMM
#Wordle

This is “School Days” by Chuck Berry

Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated, and may not be used without permission. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.

Continuing Series, Longer Stories, Noir, Original Series, Recurring Character, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Lady In Red: A Dirk Malone Story

Written for Sunday Whirl Wordle.
Here are Brenda’s prompt words:

siren ~ chanting ~ startled ~ pulse ~ sighs ~ night
basket ~ answers ~ heart ~ shape ~ badge ~ stay

Continue reading “Lady In Red: A Dirk Malone Story”
Fable, Fantasy, Nursery Rhyme, Poetry, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Three Little Doves: A Nursery Rhyme

Written for MLMM Monday Wordle;
the prompt words are shown below.

once ~
three ~ haven ~peace ~ thoughts
why ~ angry ~ if ~ final ~ love ~ none ~ dream

Continue reading “Three Little Doves: A Nursery Rhyme”
Poetry, Story, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Distant Melodies

Written for Sunday Whirl Wordle.
Here are Brenda’s prompt words:

keys ~ drumming ~ rare ~ morning ~ lazy ~ humming
odd ~ whispers ~ open ~ chain ~ urge ~ ghosts

Continue reading “Distant Melodies”
Continuing Series, Mystery, Noir, Original Series, Recurring Character, Short Story, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Paid In Full: A Dirk Malone Story

Written for MLMM Monday Wordle;
the prompt words are shown below.

light ~
cast ~ street ~ tickle ~ sensitive ~ view
cool ~ pigeon ~ dance ~ attract ~ evening ~ glow

Continue reading “Paid In Full: A Dirk Malone Story”
Scary Story, Short Story, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

The Rite Of St. Aldric

Written for Sunday Whirl Wordle.
Here are Brenda’s prompt words:

screams ~ desolate ~ temples ~ bone ~ sparks ~ pit
voices ~ follow ~ underworld ~ spiral ~ weave ~ current

Continue reading “The Rite Of St. Aldric”
Mini Story, Mystery, Theme Prompt, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Empire Of Secrets

Written for Sunday Whirl Wordle.
Here are Brenda’s prompt words:

wild ~ cross ~ left ~ staff ~ last ~ split
burial ~ grind ~ space ~ land ~ room ~ hood

Continue reading “Empire Of Secrets”
Mystery, Short Story, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

The Loft

Written for MLMM Monday Wordle;
the prompt words are shown below.

cheers ~
choir ~ grand ~ ill ~ man ~ place
reserved ~
rest ~ stool ~ together ~ turn ~ twinkle

Continue reading “The Loft”
Short Story, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Wild Roses

Written for MLMM Monday Wordle;
the prompt words are shown below.

change ~
known ~ fault ~ seen ~ money ~ silence
flowers ~
excited ~ irritated ~ hand ~ table ~ kept

Continue reading “Wild Roses”
Poetry, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Backyard Buzz

Written for Sunday Whirl Wordle.
Here are Brenda’s prompt words:

home ~ world ~ denied ~ bees ~ pleas ~ forgotten
folklore ~
wonder ~ strum ~ fallow ~ sigh ~ sky

Continue reading “Backyard Buzz”
Very Short Story, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

The Explanation

Written for MLMM Monday Wordle;
the prompt words are shown below.

town ~ anxiety ~ box ~ half ~ wrong ~ sound
today ~ full ~ bench ~ running ~ message ~ again

Continue reading “The Explanation”
Free Verse, Poetry, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Static

Written for Sunday Whirl Wordle.
Here are Brenda’s prompt words:

voicemails ~ high ~ exhale ~ wind ~ begin ~ unaware
scared ~
glows ~ ghost ~ storm ~ story ~ lotus

Continue reading “Static”
Fantasy, Short Story, Theme Prompt, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Magic Mirror

Written for MLMM Monday Wordle;
the prompt words are shown below.

call,
delete, diary, found, level, maiden,
nobody,
now, phone, reprimand, tired, vindictive

Continue reading “Magic Mirror”
Short Story, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

The Debt

Written for Sunday Whirl Wordle.
Here are Brenda’s prompt words:

shot ~ foot ~ dark ~ bright ~ prairie ~ grass
hot ~
ash ~ dead ~ resurgence ~ fight ~ god 

Continue reading “The Debt”
Mini Story, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

The Busker

Written for Sunday Whirl Wordle.
Here are Brenda’s words for this week:

judge ~ tinker ~ bounce ~ loop ~ heaven ~ brutal
end
~ stream ~ string ~ track ~ welcome ~  drive 

Continue reading “The Busker”
Mini Story, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

The Day the City Slowed

Written for MLMM Monday Wordle;
the prompt words are shown below.

heat,
concern, rush, dug, imagine, elderly,
provide,
work, box, digital, drop, halt

Continue reading “The Day the City Slowed”
Fable, Short Story, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

The Tortoise and the Hornbill

Written for MLMM Monday Wordle;
here are the prompt words:

shoulder, hide, care,  join, share, pride
pleasure, steps, betrayed, friend, kind, missed

Continue reading “The Tortoise and the Hornbill”
Fantasy, Short Story, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

The Wrym

Written for Sunday Whirl Wordle. Our host is
Brenda Warren; her words for this week are:

wave ~ turning ~ unholy ~ lips ~ swagger ~ lost
dead ~ rise ~ twist ~ blade ~ feast ~ edges

Continue reading “The Wrym”
Mini Story, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Abuela’s Advice

Written for MLMM Monday Wordle;
the prompt words are shown below.
Here’s where the prompts took me.

late ~ high ~ sugar ~ waste ~ thinking ~ silly
rough ~ eventually ~ allow ~ shy ~ coax ~ surprise

Continue reading “Abuela’s Advice”
Mini Story, Noir, Original Series, Recurring Character, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

The Big Pretender: A Dirk Malone Story

Written for Sunday Whirl Wordle. Our host is
Brenda Warren; her words for this week are
shown below. Here’s where they took me.

tolls ~ spell ~ inclined ~ mind ~ find ~ pretending
sigh ~
hit ~ guilty ~ fine ~ fault ~ liar 

Continue reading “The Big Pretender: A Dirk Malone Story”
Mini Story, Mystery, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Black On Black

Written for MLMM Monday Wordle;
the prompt words are shown below.
Here’s where the prompts took me.

crow ~ window ~ near ~ time ~ expect ~ flight
message ~ begin ~ stars ~ regret ~ smart ~ dark

Continue reading “Black On Black”
Mini Story, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Into The Forge

Written for MLMM Monday Wordle;
the prompt words are shown below.
Here’s where the prompts took me.

sandy ~ numerous ~ cane ~ idea ~ long ~ looking
little ~ keep ~ supper ~ property ~ danger ~ gear

Continue reading “Into The Forge”
Mystery, Short Story, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Remember

Written for Sunday Whirl Wordle. Our host is
Brenda Warren; her words for this week are
shown below. Here’s where they took me.

kindle ~ risk ~ dig ~ until ~ differing ~ chill
spin ~ waning ~ ghost ~ softly ~ alone ~ know

Continue reading “Remember”
Mystery, Noir, Original Series, Recurring Character, Short Story, Word Challenge, Word Prompt, Wordle, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

The Big Sigh: A Dirk Malone Story

Written for Sunday Whirl Wordle. Our host is
Brenda Warren; her words for this week are
shown below. Here’s where they took me.

sighs ~ siren ~ knocking ~ still ~ centered ~ lost
slip ~
doors ~ true ~ screams ~ beneath ~ curse

Continue reading “The Big Sigh: A Dirk Malone Story”