Motown Melodies, Music Blog

Death and Taxes

Written for Song Lyric Sunday  
where the challenge is to write
about a song dealing with taxes
and/or money. Here’s my response.

Continue reading “Death and Taxes”
Short Story

El Paso

Written for OLWG #401-OjΓ­naga. The three prompts
for this week are shown below. I have also used
one of
Kevin’s great graphics from The Beginning At Last.
This my story.

Continue reading “El Paso”
Short Story

Desert Sky

Written for The New, Unofficial, On-Line Writer’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.

Β© 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 β€œlackluster”; she was more at home with a camera than a paint brush. Nature’s palette didn’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 driver’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 didn’t care; the time was right. She left a message:

β€œHey, babe! Can you guess where I am from the photo I sent? In an hour I’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 can’t wait to be in your arms once again! I love you, papi.”

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 … Miguel’s personal ringtone. She pulled over to read the message:

β€œJenna, mi amor! I’ve waited this long. What’s another hour? Te amo!”

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

NARΒ©2024

This is β€œDancing Barefoot” by Patti Smith

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not to be used without permission. NARΒ©2017-present.