This story is one of several I have written for our
5-year-old granddaughter, Colette, for Christmas.
I canβt wait to read them with her.
Also in response to Missyβs Mad Challenge#069
and for Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge – βredβ.
Tag: Animals
Moving Day
Written for Sunday Whirl Wordle – #733. Our host
is Brenda Warren and these are our prompt words:
thistles, horns, stiff, treat, wee, chirping, fit,
down, stick, blushing, out, and moment.
Hereβs where the prompts took me.
Save Me Now
Written for Song Lyric Sunday –
“Impacting Life On Earth”
Hereβs how the theme inspired me.
Piece By Piece
Written for Estherβs Can You Tell A Story In – #304
in exactly 61 words using these six prompt words:
βpalatialβ, βvolleyballβ, βgravyβ, βorchidβ, βjigsawβ, and
βsqueakβ. Hereβs my flash in exactly 61 words.
Did You Know?
Gentoo penguins propose to
their life mates with a pebble.
It really is all about the rock!
Sitting In Judgement
Sammi at Weekend Writing Prompt #431
asks us to be creative with the word βcromulentβ
in exactly 45 words. Maybe this image from Christine at
Simply 6 Minutes will be my inspiration. Hereβs my story.
Her Calling
Written for OLWG #421.
The prompts appear below.
This is my story.
Getting To Know Me
Written for Kymber Hawkeβs Get To Know You #48
Here are her three question and my three answers.
Power Trip
Written for “Can You Tell A Story In…” –
Esther asks: βCan you tell a story in 23 words?β
We must use these three words in what we write:
βquinoaβ, βferretβ, and βthwartβ. Hereβs my 23 word story.
Displaced
Written for The Unicorn Challenge where we are
encouraged to write something creative in 250 words
or less, using the photo below as inspiration. Here’s my story.
Covered in filth and mange, the horde of dogs and cats that survived the hurricane were crammed into military vans. Those once long-haired canines with soft billowy fur now resembled stone creatures encased in a shell of thick crust. Scrawny, flea-ridden cats no longer purred contentedly but howled in fear. Muscular pit bulls were reduced to skeletons, the outlines of ribcages clearly visible in emaciated bodies.
The relentless rain caused the levees to burst, resulting in flooding; homeowners lost everything. Many scrambled to their roofs in a desperate attempt to save themselves while others tried swimming to safety. Those lucky enough to own a rowboat floated on the flood waters, dragging people into their boats along the way.
A state of emergency was declared; first responders worked ceaselessly. Overlong, the levees were rebuilt and people relocated.
Tragically, family pets were forgotten in the frenzy or deliberately left behind. When the waters subsided weeks later, they were found chained to fences and porch railings. Some had climbed up trees or hidden themselves away in the attics of abandoned houses. They were scared, starving, sick. Innumerable were dead.
Helpless, hopeless pets were brought to makeshift hospitals. With unbelievable patience, veterinarians treated every surviving animal, gently cutting away matted crusty fur, administering antibiotics and vaccines, providing food and water, bringing those nearly dead back to life. The doctors never rested; they desperately hoped to save more than they did but the struggle was too great. Too many innocents didnβt stand a chance.
NARΒ©2024
250 Words
Authors Note: True account of Hurricane Katrina, August 23-31, 2005, New Orleans, Louisiana.
This is βWhen The Levee Breaksβ by Led Zeppelin
All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephantβs Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not to be used without permission. NARΒ©2017-present.
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE
DAY 1 – Today, as I walked the hills, God spoke to me. Weβve had many talks before but today was different. There was a certain unhappiness in his voice and he didnβt say much. Later, right in the middle of dinner, I heard God calling: βNoah? NOAH!β Oh, for Christβs sake! Always when Iβm eating! I got up and went to our usual spot. God said that he was going to start a torrential rain that would flood the earth, essentially killing everyone. Then he told me to wait for instructions. OMG! This is heavy duty. I totally lost my appetite.
DAY 15 β Two weeks later God called again and said he wanted me to build a boat … actually, he called itΒ an ark andΒ it had to be a certain number of cubits (Note to self: Google cubits). After itβs built I can bring only my wife Na’amah, our sons and their wives. In truth I did ask if I could leave the women behind but God just laughed and laughed. He said there was a method to his madness and I’d thank him later. Now, hereβs where it gets really mβshuge: God told me I had to bring two of every animal, male and female, and enough food to feed every living thing for forty days and forty nights. I donβt think evenΒ HeΒ knows what a monumental undertaking this is.
DAY 18 – Tonight I told the family what we had to do and they looked at me like I was from Mars. I said “I know, I know! Enough with the looks already! As nuts as it sounds, that’s what He wants so that’s what He’s gonna get.” My sons began helping me build the ark while the women baked plenty of unleavened bread, cured meat and picked legumes, vegetables and fruit.
DAY 318 – Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, we finished the ark. You should have seen the crowd we attracted! I guess these people have nothing else to do all day except watch us work and crack jokes. “Just wait; you’ll see” was all I could say. So now came the major task of collecting the animals from their holding bins and loading them all onto the ark. Just as we got the last of the animals on board, the skies opened up and it started to pour. Rain like I’ve never seen before came down in sheets. The water rose quickly and we pulled up the plank, making sure everything was totally secure. We could hear the people outside; they weren’t laughing at us now. We felt the support beams fall away and the ark was afloat. Soon we were far enough away and all was quiet except for the sound of the rain. It was not easy and the women were very upset but I knew I was doing God’s will.
DAY 358 – Let me tell you, these last 40 days were no pleasure cruise; I don’t remember ever being locked up with four women and no means of escape. I would not wish it on my worst enemy. Today we opened the hatch and discovered the rain had stopped. We released one of the doves; after a while it returned with a branch and we knew the waters had started to recede. Things looked promising; we even saw a rainbow. Then out of nowhere my wife says βNoah. Thereβs a problem. Nobody noticed we forgot the unicorns.β Well, I sure had a good laugh over that one. βYou believe that fairytale??” I guffawed. “Next thing youβre gonna tell me is someone’s gonna write a book of biblical proportions about us. Maybe they’ll even make a movie. Na’amah, you crack me up!β
NAR Β© 2023
Please join me today
At The Movies
in The Rhythm Section.
https://rhythmsection.blog/
LET’S DO IT
If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee. βοΈ
(Hardly seems worth it.)
If you farted consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb. π£
(Now that’s more like it!)
The human heart creates enough pressure when it pumps out to the body to squirt blood 30 feet. π«
(O.M.G.!)
A pig’s orgasm lasts 30 minutes. π·
(In my next life, I want to be a pig.)
A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death. Creepy. πͺ³
(I’m still not over the pig.)
Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour. π
(Don’t try this at home; maybe at work.)
The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male’s head off. π¦
(Honey, I’m home. What the ….?)
The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It’s like a human jumping the length of a football field. π
(30 minutes. Lucky pig! Can you imagine?)
The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds. π
(What could be so tasty on the bottom of a pond?)
Some lions mate over 50 times a day. π¦
(I still want to be a pig in my next life β quality over quantity.)
Butterflies taste with their feet. π¦
(Something I always wanted to know.)
The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue. π
(Hmm…….)
Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people. π€πΌ
(If you’re ambidextrous, do you split the difference?)
Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump. π
(Okay, so that would be a good thing.)
A cat’s urine glows under a black light. πββ¬
(I wonder how much the government spent to figure that out. Why doesn’t the government spend as much $$ figuring out how to cross a pig and a lion?? Then in my next life, I could come back as a lion pig!! Not a lying pig; we already have them. They are called politicians!!)
An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain. ποΈ
(I know some people like that.)
Starfish have no brains. π§
(I know some people like that, too.)
Polar bears are left-handed. βπΌ
(If they switch, they’ll live a lot longer.)
Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure. π« π¬
(What about that pig? Do the dolphins know about the pig?)
Aren’t you glad I’m here to provide you with all this vital information? Hey, you never know when it might come in handy.
NAR Β© 2023
Check us out at https://rhythmsection.blog/
EXTRA X CHROMOSOME
CHIMERA TORTOISESHELL KITTENS
AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION!
MAKE SOMEONE VERY HAPPY THIS CHRISTMAS!
COME IN β ASK FOR LEAH
Gary did a double-take when he saw the sign on the marquee outside Redemption Ecclesiastical Church. He’d always been fascinated by those distinctively mottled cats with an extra X chromosome. Gary supported humane societies, not pet stores. He knew people paid a lot of money for pets, especially the designer dogs some breeders ‘manufacture’ such as Labradoodles and Yorkipoos.
Not hesitating for a second, Gary walked inside and knocked on the open door of an office marked ‘Communities Outreach Program’. A pleasant voice rang out “Come on in! I’ll be right there.”
Glancing around the room Gary noticed a large bulletin board full of colorful flyers about the church’s events: the weekly Advent wreath candle lighting ceremony, the upcoming Christmas pageant, a clothing drive for the homeless and a sign-up sheet to volunteer at the local soup kitchen.
“Hi! You must be Sam. The delivery is all ready for you.”
Gary found himself face to face with the most adorable woman he had ever seen. She was casually dressed in jeans, a Christmas sweater and a Santa hat; her short blonde hair barely reached her shoulders. Dark-rimmed glasses couldn’t hide her luminous green eyes and her infectious smile displayed sparkling white teeth. Even without makeup she was radiant.
Somewhat dumbstruck, Gary said “Um, hi. I’m Gary, not Sam and I don’t know anything about a delivery. I’m looking for Leah.”
“I’m Leah. Sorry, there appears to be a mix-up. I’ve been waiting for a guy named Sam to deliver a truckload of groceries to the soup kitchen. I thought you were him.” Leah frowned.
“Actually, I’m here because I saw the sign about the kittens for adoption” Gary admitted rather sheepishly, wishing he was there for something more altruistic β like making a soup kitchen delivery.
“Oh, shoot! I forgot that sign was still up!” exclaimed Leah. “I’m sorry but the kittens were all snatched up except for the runt of the litter. Poor little thing β I took her home. She’s keeping my cat Othello company β not that he’s thrilled about it.”
Gary was visibly disappointed. “Oh, man! I was excited about adopting a cat. Well, I guess it wasn’t meant to be. I’ll get out of your hair now, Leah … unless I can help with something.”
Leah checked her watch; it was getting late and it looked like Sam was a no-show. Gary seemed like a trustworthy guy so she took a chance. Besides, he was wearing a Santa hat, too; if you can’t trust a cute guy in a Santa hat, who can you trust? “Well, if you wouldn’t mind I could use a hand delivering those groceries.”
“Why not!” Gary answered β a bit too quickly. “I don’t have anything else to do now anyway.”
“Great!” Leah answered β a bit too quickly. “You’re a lifesaver, Gary! And I’m really sorry about the kittens.”
On the way to the soup kitchen, Leah and Gary chatted non-stop and discovered they had a lot in common. They were both decent people who enjoyed doing volunteer work, they loved animals and they were hopeless romantics. What could have been a boring night turned into a wonderful evening and they thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company.
When the delivery was done, Leah said “Gary, I want to thank you for all your help tonight. I know you were really hoping to adopt a kitten. How about we make that happen?”
Gary was blown away. “Leah, I didn’t help you because I hoped to be rewarded with a kitten. I really like you and was happy to help. But if you’re serious, then yes β that would make my day!”
“I really like you, too, Gary.” Leah blushed. “I just have to warn you: watch out for Othello. He doesn’t like strangers and is pretty territorial. In fact, he barely tolerates me and that’s because I feed him!” Leah laughed.
To Gary’s ears Leah’s laugh sounded like crystal bells.
Arriving at Leah’s place, Gary was too excited to worry about Othello. He was enchanted by the tiny chimera kitten and gently picked her up. He sat on the sofa, cradling her in his arms. Leah’s heart melted watching the two of them.
“I’ll go make some coffee” Leah suggested. “You be nice, Othello!”
Out of the corner of his eye Gary saw a large cat in the hallway giving him the evil eye. “Ah, you must be Othello” he whispered. “Look man β please don’t blow this for me, dude. I’ve really fallen for Leah and just between us guys, I think she likes me, too.” Othello crept closer and sniffed Gary’s shoes. Placing his front paws on the sofa he stared intently at Gary, then nonchalantly jumped up and made himself comfortable leaning against Gary’s leg purring contentedly.
“Well, how do you like that!” Leah declared in pleasant surprise. “Othello’s taken a liking to you, too, Gary. I think we made a match here tonight.”
“Yeah, I think we really did, Leah. And I have the perfect name for this little lady. Leah, say hello to Desdemona.”
“Ah, Othello and Desdemona, Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers β but this time with a very happy ending” Leah sighed as she snuggled close to Gary.
NAR Β© 2020
RAINBOW BRIDGE
Eric and Sue always knew they’d get a dog someday β not one from the pet shop but a rescue in desperate need of a loving home. When they saw Lily, all chocolatey-brown with big doe eyes, they knew she was the one. She was the sweetest, most gentle dog ever, despite having been abused and terribly frightened most of her life.
Animals know when someone is trying to help them. Lily knew she was safe, happy living in her home on Paradise Place with Eric and Sue. She loved them as much as they loved her.
After six years together Sue noticed that Lily had a little raspy cough and some trouble eating; this worried her. A trip to the vet confirmed her fears; Lily was diagnosed with a rare case of tongue cancer.
Malignant. Inoperable.
“How much time?”
“Within the year” was the grim answer.
Sue and Eric promised each other two things:
β They would spoil Lily rotten and smother her with love.
β They would never let her suffer or die alone.
The veterinarian decided the best treatment would be medication and radiation therapy. It wasn’t a cure but Lily responded well; she was a happy girl. She loved napping in the upstairs TV room. Upon waking she’d walk to the top of the stairs, stretch and shake her head, dog tags jangling noisily. When baby Julia came along, Lily was so good with her; Eric and Sue never worried when Lily was near the baby.
Eight months later Lily started getting worse. Within days she declined rapidly; she was listless and wouldn’t eat. Eric and Sue were blindsided one morning when Lily began vomiting blood; they knew the end was near for their beloved girl. It’s not like they weren’t expecting this; it just happened so fast and too soon.
At the animal hospital Eric and Sue comforted Lily as the vet gave her a sedative. They whispered loving words and kissed her head. Lily finally relaxed in their arms. Another injection was administered and Lily passed peacefully after just a few seconds.
Eric and Sue were heartbroken. They took the next day off from work to recoup, scrubbing the blood from the carpet and washing Lily’s bed. That night while folding laundry Sue heard a noise upstairs. She thought it was Julia but the baby was fast asleep. Then she recognized the sound: jangling dog tags! Exhausted, Sue knew it had to be her imagination … until she looked at Eric. He was white as a ghost, his gaze transfixed on the staircase. Sue whispered in questioning disbelief “You heard that?!” Eric nodded yes. “That was Lily!”
Logically they knew it couldn’t possibly be Lily but they looked anyway. Then they checked Lily’s leash and collar; of course they were right where they put them the night before. But in their hearts they knew β Lily had come back one last time to her home on Paradise Place to say goodbye and let them know she was ok on the other side of Rainbow Bridge.
NAR Β© 2020
CHRISTMAS MUNCHKINS
It had been a busy night at my bar and I was cleaning up after the last guest left. It was Christmas Eve and most people headed out a little early to get home or do last-minute shopping. I locked up, turned off the lights and went upstairs to the apartment I shared with my wife Nicole and our little girl Mariah.
It was quiet in our apartment but I could see a dim light coming from Mariahβs room. I peeked in to see my girls saying their evening prayers. My daughterβs sweet voice was hushed but I heard her say βAnd God, please tell Santa the only thing I really want for Christmas is a kittyβ.
I sat in the living room staring at the Christmas tree. Nicole came in and sat beside me. βYou heard?β I nodded and said βYou know, Nic, sheβs such a good girl, never asks us for anything. I have to see if I can find her a kitten.β
βAt this hour, Kevin? Where are you going to go?β
βHonestly Nic, I have no idea β but I have to try.β
Every place I tried was either closed or sold out of kittens and puppies. Even the humane society and animal shelters had no kittens. I drove up to Westchester and down to Brooklyn with no luck. Time was running out and I was getting more and more depressed with every passing minute. I just wanted to make Mariah happy; disappointing my little girl on Christmas was not an option.
As I was heading back home, Nicole called. βKevin, did you have any luck?β
βNo luck, Nic. Iβm tired, Iβm frustrated and Iβm really bummed out. Iβm gonna stop for a quick cup of coffee and Iβll be home in a few. Love ya.β
I pulled into a 24-hour Dunkin Donuts and ordered a coffee while the store ownerβs cat rubbed up against my leg. βAdding insult to injuryβ I thought. At this God-forsaken hour the store was empty. I asked to use their restroom and as I walked to the back of the shop, I noticed a box in the corner. Normally a box wouldnβt interest me but this box was whimpering. I gently flipped up the top and to my amazement saw four kittens in the box. Forgetting my need to use the restroom, I raced back out front, startling the owner.
βSir, Iβve been driving all night looking to buy a kitten for my daughter for Christmas. Please, Iβm begging you! Can I possibly buy one of your kittens?β
The owner looked at me and said βAw, no man. Theyβre not for sale.”
I stared at him blankly, not knowing what to say. I was exhausted and frustrating and finding a box full of kittens was a miracle. At this point I did’t care about my pride β all that mattered was Mariah β and I was willing to beg. I slowly got down on one knee.
The store owner looked shocked and even a little embarrassed. “Aw, come on man! What are you doing?” he asked incredulously. “Get up off the floor. I already told you I can’t sell you a kitten.”
I stood, looking him square in the eye. “I know, sir, but it’s my little girl. She β¦ ” and he cut me off in mid sentence.
“I can’t sell you one” he repeated emphatically. “But Iβll gladly give you one for your kid.β
I swear to God, I could have kissed him. Grinning like an idiot, I grabbed him by the shoulders. “Bless you, sir. Merry Christmas!”
“Sit down and drink your coffee” he said as he shuffled off to the back of the store humming “Jingle Bells”.
Christmas morning Mariah excitedly ran into the kitchen and saw the mugs of hot cocoa and theΒ Dunkin Donuts MunchkinsΒ box on the table. βYay, Christmas Munchkins!βΒ she squealed as she reached for the box, her big green eyes opening wide when she saw the tiny kitty staring back at her.Β
Yeah β¦ this is the best Christmas ever.
NAR Β© 2018
OP-ED: THOSE LEFT BEHIND
Covered in filth and mange, a multitude of dogs and cats that survived Hurricane Katrina were crammed into military vans. Some had maggot-filled sores, broken limbs and infected eyes that burned like a red hot poker. The vans were filled to capacity and it was impossible to tell one animal from the other.Β
Those once long-haired canines with soft billowy fur now resembled stone creatures encased in a shell of thick crust. Scrawny, flea-ridden cats no longer purred contentedly but howled in fear and pain. The muscular pit bulls were reduced to skeletons, the outlines of rib cages and hip bones clearly visible in emaciated bodies. On and on it went, each animal a mere shell of its former self.
The catastrophic hurricane had ravaged New Orleans, Louisiana three weeks earlier. The relentless rain caused the levees to burst, resulting in extensive flooding. Home-owners lost everything, all their possessions destroyed. Many scrambled to the roofs of their houses in a desperate attempt to save themselves while others tried swimming to safety. Those lucky enough to own a rowboat floated on the flood waters, dragging people into their boats along the way.
The president declared a state of emergency and the military arrived .. some say too little too late β¦ but they worked their asses off to bring a sense of order to New Orleans. Non-commissioned officers worked side by side with police lieutenants and fire chiefs. Doctors, paramedics and volunteers all worked hand in hand. The levees were rebuilt and people were relocated.
However the animals β¦ too many to count β¦ were forgotten or deliberately left behind in the frenzy. When the waters subsided weeks later, they were found chained to fences and porch railings. Others had climbed up trees or hidden themselves away in the attics of abandoned houses. All were starving, sick, in pain and scared. Others struggled valiantly to survive but failed.
Thatβs what the military and animal rescue workers found. Helpless, hopeless animals in need of immediate medical care. Who knows what those poor creatures were thinking as they were being loaded into the vans. Could they sense these people were trying to help them? Were they frozen in fear, traumatized by the events of the past few weeks?
All the dogs and cats were brought to animal hospitals and makeshift triage centers throughout the state. With the patience of Job, veterinarians β¦ many from out of state β¦ treated thousands of animals, gently cutting off matted crusty fur, administering antibiotics and vaccines, providing food, water and shelter, bringing those nearly dead back to life. If necessary, infected eyes were removed and useless limbs amputated but sadly, in the end, more animals were lost than were saved.
Is human life more important than animal life? As a reporter, I ask: βIf you saw an injured animal lying in a ditch, would you help?β If we choose to believe that a Higher Power created all living creatures in His or Her image, the answer is easy.
NAR Β© 2018
| Reposted for Fandango’s #FOWC Β http://fivedotoh.com/2023/01/07/fowc-with-fandango-roof/ |
The Elephant's Trunk 