Written for TN Kerrβs Writing Prompts and Practice
and for three Fandango FOWC prompts, including
βsilkβ, βsentimentalβ, & βimpracticalβ; TNβs prompts
are shown below. Hereβs where they took me.
Tag: FOWC with Fandango
First Impressions
Written for Sammiβs Weekend Writing Prompt
where she asks us to get creative in exactly 93 words
using the prompt word βpersuasionβ. Also for Sue & Gerryβs
Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge β βblushβ, and two prompts
from Fandangoβs FOWC β βintroduceβ and βbasicsβ.
Hereβs where the prompts took me.
Shape On The Water
Written for Sue & Gerryβs Weekly Prompts Β
Weekend Challenge β βinvasiveβ. Also for
a few of Fandangoβs FOWCs and his prompt
words βpreparedβ, βvesselβ, βintensifyβ, and
βovernight”. Hereβs where the prompts took me.
Connect The Dots
Written for Sue & Gerryβs Weekly Prompts
Colour Challenge β βsilverβ. Also for Fandangoβs
FOWC and the prompt word βconstellationβ.
Hereβs where the prompts took me.
Dance With Fire
Written for Melissaβs Fandango Flash Fiction
Challenge using the photo below for our
inspiration. Also for FOWC With Fandango
and the word βconjureβ. Hereβs my take.
Yip! Yip! Yip! Yip! Wag!
Written for Sammiβs Weekend Writing Prompt
where she asks us to get creative in exactly 25
words using the prompt word βyoungβ. Also for
FOWC With Fandango and his word, βpotentialβ.
Hereβs where the prompts took me.
When Winter Came With Teeth
Written for Muse on Monday where David
asks us to write a story about cold winter
as the antagonist. Also for FOWC With
Fandango and the word βshiveringβ.
Hereβs where the prompts took me.
Bacon Bean Burrito
Written for Muse on Monday where David
asks us to write a story where the main
character finds something in his food.
Also for FOWC With Fandango where
the prompt word is βclerkβ. Hereβs
where the prompts took me.
Swingers
Written for Sammiβs Weekend Writing Prompt
#452 where weβre asked to be creative in
exactly 72 words using the word βletterβ.
Also for FOWC With Fandango, using the
word βjiveβ. Hereβs where the prompts took me.
Entirely Inappropriate
Written for FOWC with Fandango.
The prompt word is βscandalousβ;
this is my take.
Aw, Shucks!
Written for Sammiβs Weekend Writing Prompt
#434 where weβre asked to be creative in exactly
77 words using the word βwoebegoneβ. Also for
Sue & Gerryβs Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge
where the prompt word is βimagineββ and Fandango’s FOWC
using the word ‘weed’. Hereβs where the three prompts took me.
Shadows In The Rearview
Written for Gerry & Sueβs Weekly
Prompts Weekend Challenge,
incorporating the word βmelancholyβ
and Fandango’s FOWC – ‘worry’.
This is my story.
The Pursuit Of Perfection
Written for Estherβs βCan You Tell A Story Inβ¦..?
#290β β exactly 45 words using the five required
prompts: βdoodleβ, ‘temperβ, βginβ, βwartβ, and βrubyβ;
also for Fandangoβs FOWC β ‘questβ and Fandangoβs
FOWC β β youngβ. In exactly 45 words, this is my flash.
There Be Beasties
Written for Estherβs βCan You Tell A Story Inβ¦..?
#289β β exactly 15 words using the three required
prompts: βexerciseβ, βneighborβ, and βtrollβ,
and Fandangoβs FOWC prompt word βstillβ.
Β In exactly 15 words, this is my flash.
“Fresh” Tomatoes
Written for Sammiβs Weekend Writing Prompt 384 (groceries),
Sue & Gerryβs Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge (mainly orange)
and Fandangoβs One-Word Challenge (mock). Hereβs my 29 word flash.
While shopping for groceries, I was surprised to see the tomatoes were mostly orange and looked like sickly miniature pumpkins. Oh, how you mock me, my beloved red Heirlooms!
NARΒ©2024
29 Words
This is βHome Grown Tomatoesβ by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason
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.
The Playground
Written for Six Sentence Story, incorporating the word βslide”,
Fandangoβs Story Starter #141 and four additional word prompts
Allison arrived home to discover, propped up against her front door, a mysterious package addressed to her but with no return address; in these dangerous times, opening a strange package with no identification is a reckless thing to do and Allison isnβt the type to take chances, no matter how curious she was about this unexpected delivery.
Unlocking the front door, Allison gave the package one last glance and went inside but she couldnβt think of anything other than the box on her porch and eventually gave up, heading back out; the more she looked at the box, the more one sticking point nagged at her: the print on the hand-written shipping label looked extremely familiar.
Suddenly, like a bolt out of the blue, Allison realized the handwriting was her fatherβs; a thousand thoughts flew through her mind as she tried to figure out what he could have sent her, finally coming to the conclusion that her dad must have packed away a few items for her which belonged to her late mother .β¦ items of sentimental value β¦. before he sold the old family house and settled into a senior living facility.
No longer wary, Allison excitedly picked up the package and brought it into the kitchen where she placed it on the counter and with a knife carefully followed the taped-up folds until she was able to open the box; resting atop the packing material was a small envelope with her name on it written in the same handwriting as the shipping label and inside the envelope was a note which read, βDear Ali, I remember how much you loved these and I wanted you to have them, maybe one day for your own little girlβ ~ Love, Dad.
Puzzlement creased Allisonβs forehead as she gently pushed away the bubble wrap to discover one of her favorite toys β a miniature playground set complete with working swings, a seesaw, monkey bars, a slide and sandbox; there was even the little family with their pet dog which she had named Tess.
Now all smiles, Allison carried the pieces into the sunroom and placed them on the side table next to her chair near the window; they looked so happy and gay with the sun shining on them and Allison sighed, not at all surprised to feel a tear running down her cheek.
NARΒ©2024
This is “Lazy Day” by Spanky and Our Gang
All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephantβs Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NARΒ©2017-present.
Just An Average Junkie
Alright, alright, alright!
It’s time once again for a Six Sentence Story,
this time incorporating the word ‘remote’.
Here’s mine, with a few other prompts just for fun.
The reflection of my timeworn face in the bathroom mirror is harrowing, one I still canβt accept is me .β¦ someone who was always strikingly attractive, impeccably dressed with my designer labels neatly tucked away and out of sight; these days I see only one person on a regular basis and he doesnβt give a shit what I look like as long as I have the money to pay him.Β
Thereβs that old twitch in my left eye, an unwelcome reminder that a killer headache and nausea are about to overtake me if I donβt eat some Skittles, a much more socially acceptable term than that hushed-up, dirty little name that makes all the so-called βwell-adjustedβ people cringe as though in the presence of a leper; fucking hypocrites who gleefully suck up their gummies and hemp oil and legalized medical marijuana while sipping on their βsuperb organic Pouilly-FiussΓ©β.
My hands are shaking in equal amounts of excitement and desperation as I check out what my guy has delivered today β reds, blues and yellows β a difficult choice, to be sure, but the numerous voices in my head have made a unanimous decision: mellow yellow to match my jaundiced skintone and disposition; yes, Iβve read the headlines and the fine print warnings β Iβm not an idiot, you know, and that makes me laugh out loud!
Letβs see whatβs in the magician’s box to fix this sallow complexion β¦. spackle-like primer to fill in the yawning crevices around my mouth, foundation with a bit of a dewy finish (or so the advertisements promise), creamy rosy blush for my cheeks, glossy brush-on plumper for luscious lips, pencil to fill in my threadbare brows, glittery highlighter to lessen the deep-set appearance of my eyes and layer upon layer of mascara on my straggly lashes.
Looking at my reflection once again, I see that Iβm now back .β¦ returned from the dead, if you will β¦. and I look sensational, provocative and sensual with just the right touch of promiscuousness, yet there are two burned-out, remote eyes blankly staring back at me.
I slip into my work clothes, ready for another night hitting the pavement, when I feel that familiar sensation and Iβm faced with the recurring stalemate β whether I should just take all the pretty candy, lie down and pray I never wake up or put myself back on the meat market to earn enough money for another bag of Skittles; βFuck it, Iβm already dressedβ I think as I pop a red and slam the door behind me.
NARΒ©2024
This is βThe Pusherβ by Steppenwolf
All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephantβs Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NARΒ©2017-present.
A Little Alone Time
Sammi at Weekend Writing Prompt
has challenged us to write something clever
in exactly 91 words, using the word βintentβ.
This is my response in exactly 91 words.
Angie eased into the bathtub.
Her once lithe and graceful body had been rebelling for a while; now it had declared mutiny.
She didnβt expect to have free time today so this moment of solitude was bliss.
Angie barely had time to relax when she heard the persistent nudging on the door; a black paw soon found its way into the narrow opening.
Sidney, the cat.
He was intent on getting into the bathroom to see what Angie was up to without him.
βSid!β Angie scolded playfully. βA little privacy, please!β
NARΒ©2024
91 Words
This is Rufus Wainwright with βAlone Timeβ
All text, graphics and videos) is copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephantβs Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR Β© 2017-present.
Driving Lessons
βDanielle wants to learn how to drive, Bobβ
βDonβt look at me, Helen. Last year’s lessons with Vanessa nearly put me over the edge.β
βWell, I canβt do it! Ever since Marcia Morelli snatched that promotion for Real Estate Agent of the Year away from me, Iβm spending all my time at work playing catch up.β
βThatβs not my problem, Helen. Anyway, I signed on to coach Brandonβs baseball team this season, remember?β
βOh, cry me a river, Bob! Youβre the one who took an early retirement; your schedule is much more flexible than mine.β
βThatβs right, I retired so I could do things I enjoy like playing golf and going fishing. Itβs important to stay mobile after retirement so we donβt become dust in the wind.β
βWell, if you canβt do it and I canβt do it, why donβt we get Vanessa to teach Danielle how to drive?β
βAre you out of your mind, woman! Vanessaβs been driving less than a year. She canβt take Danielle out driving! Can you imagine the mayhem when those two hit the streets?β
βAt least Iβm making suggestions, Bob. All youβre doing is justifying why you canβt do it.β
βOh, Helen, save your breath and donβt look at me with such contempt. Iβm right and you know it. I wonβt idly sit by and watch both our daughters driving without an adult in the car. Itβs out of the question.β
βYou wonβt? Oh, thatβs wonderful, Bob! I knew youβd come around!β
βNow hold on there, Helen. I didnβt agree to anything.β
βWhy, sure you did, Bob. You said you wouldnβt sit idly by while the girls are driving around without an adult in the car.β
βBut I didnβt meanβ¦..β
βLook at it this way, Bob. Danielle is used to being driven everywhere she goes. If you donβt teach her how to drive, youβll just have to drive here wherever she wants to go. Iβd say this is a win/win situation.β
βAnd how do you figure that, Helen?β
βSimple! By giving Danielle driving lessons, youβll be doing your part to keep our insurance rates down, youβll be able to coach Brandon’s baseball team and still have time to do the things you enjoy and you wonβt turn into dust in the wind. And all it takes is just one daily one-hour driving lesson! Youβre a genius, Bob!β
βI am? Yeah, I guess I am. Hey! Wait just a gosh darn minute, Helen!β
NARΒ©2024
This is Kansas with βDust In The Windβ
This portfolio (including text, graphics and videos) is copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephantβs Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR Β© 2017-present.
In Denial
Sammi at Weekend Writing Prompt has challenged us to write
creatively in exactly 60 words, incorporating the word βvapidβ.
Using a few other prompt words, here is my 60-word response
in the form of a Dectina Refrain and a Haiku Duet.
Old
man with
vapid thoughts
and empty eyes
lives in denial;
puppeteers pulling strings
feeding hypnotic untruths
into flaccid, desolate brain
on the outskirts of insanity.
Old man with vapid thoughts and empty eyes
Gray, grayer smoke
above the clouds in the sky
no light shining brightly
Brown dying trees
dried leaves lay at the roots
no buds tacitly emerging
NARΒ©2024
60 words
This is βFool On The Hillβ by the Beatles
Dectina Refrain:
This refrain is written as follows:
1st line β 1 syllable, 2nd line β 2 syllables
3rd line β 3 syllables, and so on for 9 lines;
the 10th line is comprised of the first four lines
as one stand-alone line.
This portfolio (including text, graphics and videos) is copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephantβs Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR Β© 2017-present.
From Eden
Sammi at Weekend Writing Prompt has challenged us to write
a poem or prose of exactly 97 words, including the word βanfractuousβ.
Iβve added a few other prompts I had laying around, namely from
FOWC with Fandango, Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge and
Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge. This is my 97-word story.
They lived in lush green perfection of ripe fruit and pristine water. When their misadventures and disobedience angered the Maker, they and their sons were cast out.
One son, a farmer, made an offering of paltry wheat; the Maker was displeased.
The other, a shepherd, offered his firstborn lamb, which pleased the Maker.
In a panic, the jealous farmer killed his brother.
Enraged and saddened, the Maker banished the murderer, condemning him to a life of endless wandering.
AnfractuousΒ paths covered the land. The farmerΒ roamedΒ for years, until blindly falling from a cliff to his death.
NARΒ©2024
97 Words
This is Hozier with “From Eden”
This portfolio (including text, graphics and videos) is copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephantβs Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR Β© 2017-present.
Supper’s Ready
An oldie from 2017, revamped to
include several word prompts from
FOWC with Fandango,
Moonwashed Weekly Prompt and
Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge.
Hard boiled egg whites, cottage cheese, skim milk. Day 1. Brian sighed.
Boiled rice, a mozzarella slice, lactose-free milk. Day 2. Brian cried.
Yogurt, tofu, almond milk. Day 3. Brian died …. just a little.
What a drag.
After receiving the diagnosis “ULCER”, Brian’s wife Ali had been lovingly, carefully packing his lunches. He checked the contents of his bento box: plain broiled cod, boiled cauliflower and coconut milk. βThis must be her White Periodβ,Β he thought, wistfully.Β
Sensitive and embarrassed coworkers averted their eyes as they passed Brianβs cubicle on their way to lunch. Gone were the cheerful calls βCβmon, Brian! Weβre going to Smokinβ Joeβs Hot Wings for lunch!β or βSalsa and nachos in the hospitality room, guys!β Oh, the humanity!
Brianβs computer pinged. It was an email from Ali: βHi, hon. Hope youβre having a great day. Did you find the Maalox I put in your backpack? Weβre having something special for dinner tonight …. poached chicken, brown rice and garbanzo beans …. hope youβre hungry! Love ya, babe! xoβ
βAh, Aliβs Beige Period.β Brian stared blankly at the computer screen. βI wonder how many beige foods there are …. oatmeal, boiled potatoes, matzoh….β
How long could he continue at this rate?
Depressed, fatigued and hungry, Brian put his head in his hands; a solitary tear fell through his fingers onto his khakis. Slowly the wet spot morphed into the shape of a slice of pizza. βWhat the …. ?!β Incredulous, Brian blinked and wiped his eyes. βWhatβs happening to me?!β Images of devilish, cramp-inducing, bowel-seizing delicacies danced βround his head …. jalapeΓ±o poppers, tacos, barbecued ribs.
The dreaded hunger hallucinations! Sweating, Brian texted Ali. βBabe. Last minute meeting with the deputy mayor. Sorry, Iβm gonna miss dinner. Love ya!β
Brian lied.
Grabbing the bottle of Maalox and a Smokin‘ Joe’s menu from his desk drawer, Brian bolted from his cubicle, giddy as a school girl at her first dance.
βOutta my way, boys, outta my way!!β
Brian knew he was taking a big chance but he just didn’t care. He was starving, dammit! And out he ran, laughing and joyfully shouting, “JalapeΓ±o-effing-poppers, baby!!”
NAR Β© 2024
Doing a great parody of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”, this is “Weird Al” Yankovic with “Eat It”
This portfolio (including text, graphics and videos) is copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephantβs Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR Β© 2017-present.
Big Whoop
It’s a fiver today,
including prompt words from
FOWC with Fandango
and Weekly Prompts Wednesday.
βDebonair, sophisticated and charmingβ sighed Alice Carter. βI just love that movie. Cary Grant is so good-looking and classy. They donβt make movies like that anymore, you know?β
βAnd that Ingrid Bergman is some beauty, tooβ replied Aliceβs husband Ralph. βThose smoldering eyes, high cheekbones, graceful neck β a real looker, that one.β
βAnd so chic, too, Ralph. You always knew a real lady when you saw one. Well, I better start dinner. Iβm making your favorite β sausage and potato casserole.β
βI hope you made a lemon meringue pie for dessert.β
βOf course! Have we ever celebrated your birthday without your favorite pie? I know what you like, Ralph.β
“No, we have not, Alice. The kitchen is your milieu and no one makes a lemon meringue pie like you, my little chickadee!” Alice blushed with delight; Ralph’s compliments were rare these days.
Returning to the den after starting dinner, Alice found Ralph was watching the weather channel. “My goodness! That weather girl’s pants are awfully tight! They’re a bit unseemly for TV, I think. Don’t you agree, Ralph?“
“Oh, I don’t think so at all, Alice. She’s got a lovely figure; she probably works out every day. I’m sure her parents instilled in her an excellent work ethic. You know, I remember reading in some countries the TV weather girls are topless.”
“Topless? Why, I never” Alice declared indignantly; Ralph switched the channel to the news.
Alice clucked her tongue. βWhy arenβt there more delightful men on the news, men like that handsome Peter Jennings?β
βBecause heβs deadβ replied Ralph.
βHow about Mike Wallace? He’s so dapper.β
βAlso deadβ Ralph reminded Alice.
βLook at that clown, Glenn Beck, wearing jeans and sneakers on a TV news show! Give him a beanie and heβd look just like one of those little rascal kids. What ever happened to that nice Matt Lauer?β
βFired for overt misconduct and sexual harassmentβ replied Ralph.
βGood Lord! I donβt believe it! Well, what about Bill OβReilly, Eric Bolling and Charlie Rose?β
βFired, fired and, oh yeah .β¦ fired. Alice, can I please have a moment of peace and quiet to watch the news?β
βWell, pardon me for living! No need to be rude, Ralphβ she sniffed. βIβm going to check on the sausage casserole.β
When she returned Alice stopped dead in her tracks. βOh my God, Ralph! What on earth are you watching now?β
βItβs still the news, Alice. In fact, itβs called βThe News Channelβ. News all day, every day.”
βThe βX Rated News Channelβ, you mean! No wonder those poor men got fired. What red-blooded guy could resist floozies like that showing off their goods on national TV? They look like hookers! And look at you sitting there in your underwear all bug-eyed. Disgusting!β Alice harrumphed.
βPut a lid on it, Alice! You donβt have the slightest idea what youβre talking about. These women are professionals. Theyβre lawyers, professors and judges, not some bimbos with sketchy qualifications who just walked in off the street.β
βYeah, theyβre highly qualified alright β¦. as adult entertainers!β Alice snapped. βTake that one on the end with the dyed blonde hair and skirt so short I can practically see Niagara Falls! What happened …. did they run out of fabric? And the other one with the dark hair. Who is she …. one of the Kardashians? With those spike heels and implants, I’m sure she can get a job as a pole dancer!β
βWoah, woah, woah! Thatβs enough, Alice! Look, this here is Megyn Kelly. She has a law degree, is a journalist, an author and a world-famous political commentator as well as a news anchor. The dark-haired one is Kimberly Guilfoyle. Sheβs a political analyst, an attorney and former First Lady of San Francisco. Now sheβs engaged to Donald Trump, Jr.β
βWell, big whoop!! If you think Iβm impressed, Ralph, youβve got another thing comin’. Youβre delusional!β
βI donβt care what you think, Alice. Iβm sure their families are very proud of them. Besides being absolutely stunning, they are brilliant. Now why donβt you just run back into the kitchen and let me enjoy my one indulgence.β
βIndulgence??β Alice countered. βSo you admit itβs all about cheap thrills and nothing to do with the news. Youβre such a pig, Ralph!β
“Alice, your ignorance is showing. Can we please stop talking about this? Howβs that sausage coming, anyway? Iβm starving!β
Alice saw red. βHereβs an idea for you, Ralph. Get Kimberly whatβs-her-name to see to your sausage. Iβm sure sheβs highly qualified! And one more thing …. Happy Effin’ Birthday!β
NAR Β© 2024
Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge -Weather
This is Judas Priest with βYouβve Got Another Thing Comingβ.
This portfolio (including text, graphics and videos) is copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephantβs Trunk and The Rhythm Section and not for use by anyone without permission. NAR Β© 2017-present.
Dem Bones
Denise at GirlieOnTheEdge
is challenging us to write a
Six Sentence Story using
the word “kick”. I threw in 8 other
prompts I had in my back pocket;
this is my response.
Last week I had my bi-weekly (every two weeks) session with my pain management doctor; I always get a perverse kick out of the term ‘pain management’ and feel like I need to say something witty and clever (sarcastic) about it to the insentient people who work there, hereafter referred to as ‘the staff’.
βYou know, the term ‘pain management‘ is all well and good however I’m really here in search of ‘pain termination‘”, I mention to the front desk receptionist who is characteristically unresponsive; my darling, unceasingly patient husband stands to the side with a sheepish yet accepting half-smile on his face (sometimes accompanied by a masterful eye-roll) knowing all to well there are times I cannot or simply will not control my Sicilian forked tongue, being the perspicacious and savvy sort that I am.
My doctor’s office is in a building with other doctors so thereβs always a soft parade of wheelchairs and people with canes, crutches, walkers or other means of physical assistance going into the various offices; many have spouses/friends/caregivers accompanying them with dogeared paperbacks, sudoku puzzles or endlessly-beeping cell phones except for my husband and me who both have appointments with the same doctor for ‘management’ of our pain, he at 11:00 and me at 11:20, and so we accompany and entertain each other.
A key is needed to unlock the door to the ‘Guest Restrooms’ which are located near the elevators; this is a major inconvenience and I have issues with this arrangement since there’s not one but two ‘Staff Only’ restrooms in the doctor’s office which screams HYPOCRISY considering the patients are the ones who would benefit from having a restroom nearby and because the ‘staff’ sometimes uses the ‘guest’ restroom when they have their own damn restrooms (but we can’t use theirs), and since no one is actually resting in the ‘restroom’, let’s drop the euphemism and call it what it is β a toilet, FFS!
I persevere and consider the walk to the ‘Guest Restroom’ part of my daily exercise but rest assured β I am seething inside and secretly hope there’s a member of the ‘staff’ in the ‘Guest Restroom’ who might accidentally trip over someone’s cane; there are a lot of canes at ‘pain management’.
Speaking of canes, I bring along my bold new walking stick; I don’t always need it but I think it makes me look erudite, sophisticated and elegant in a nonchalant sort of way, even though my knees are barking like angry junkyard dogs; looking good is half the battle.
NARΒ©2024
From 1940, this is Fats Waller with βDem Dry Bonesβ
This portfolio (including text, graphics and videos) is copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephantβs Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR Β© 2017-present.
As He’d Hoped
Rochelle at Friday Fictioneers
has challenged us to write a 100-word
story prompted by the photo below.
Incorporating prompts from
Weekly Prompts Wednesday and
FOWC with Fandango,
this is my response to Rochelle’s challenge.
How many years does someone need to spend in a loveless marriage before the word divorce is mentioned?
That was Barbaraβs regrettable life. When her husband finally approached her, she didnβt hesitate; she knew she couldnβt love him as heβd hoped.
Their split was swift and formal.
Now Barbara walked out of the Prada shop in Salamanca and, with thrilling expectation, waved when she saw Evelyn across the street.
Their pace quickened and they embraced passionately, unafraid and unashamed to show their love for each other.
They walked off, hand in hand, toward a romantic outdoor cafΓ©.
Happy at last.
NARΒ©2024
100 Words
This is Elbow with βGrounds For Divorceβ
This portfolio (including text, graphics and videos) is copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephantβs Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR Β© 2017-present.
Dizzy Miss Lizzy
It’s a hat trick!
Melissa’s Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge,
Fandango’s One Word Challenge and
Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt.
πβ πβπ
In my tree
winking at me.
Can you see?
No?
You need glasses!
NAR Β© 2024
13 Words
This is βDizzy Miss Lizzyβ by the incredible Colt Clark and the Quarantine Kids. Of course it is!!
This portfolio (including text, graphics and videos) is copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephantβs Trunk and The Rhythm Section and not for use by anyone without permission. NAR Β© 2017-present.
FATHER, FORGIVE ME
It’s six for A Six today,
all coming together to form one story:
One prompt for GirlieOnTheEdge’s Six Sentence Story,
four Fandango’s One Word Challenge prompts and
one photo prompt from Melissa’s Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge.
Yes Siree Bob, that makes six!
π π¦ π
πΌ π¦ π
It was a long time ago, probably 30 years now, but I remember that night like it was yesterday, as if someone had taken a permanent marker and etched the whole event on my brain for all eternity; at the time I was quite active in my church, so much so that I somehow managed to get myself elected president of the parish council, a situation I found myself in because itβs a tremendous challenge for me to say βnoβ and, as a result, I end up getting involved in projects Iβd rather not be doing.
My committee and I were decorating the rectory meeting room and setting the tables for the parish councilβs Christmas dinner when I realized the wine I bought for the function had gone missing; now, I am a very organized person, certainly no scatterbrain, and when I found there was no room whatsoever in the refrigerator or freezer for the bottles of wine, I placed them in a covered box in the garage attached to the rectory knowing they would stay safe and cold, so how they could have disappeared was a total mystery.Β
Faced with the inability of turning water into wine and with no time to go to the store, I decided to check the rectory storage room hoping to find wine left over from a previous dinner and I was rewarded with an entire case of red wine sitting on a shelf in the corner just waiting for me; well, never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I saw this new-found wine as divine intervention and placed two bottles on each table, quite pleased with myself for having saved the night at the last minute.
When the priests arrived for the party, they looked around the room in approval, nodding and smiling, but that was short lived when I suddenly saw one priest, Fr. Bob, heading my way and he didnβt look happy which made me wonder what was causing his consternation; now, in my defense, I am not a member of the clergy and have no way of knowing these things but the wine I found in the storage room was not just any ordinary, run-of-the-mill wine β no siree β it was blessed communion wine, meant solely for the purpose of Holy Communion and definitely not for a party, albeit a church Christmas party!
When Fr. Bob asked me (rather belligerently, I might add) how I could have made such a careless mistake, my mind went blank and everything I tried to say ended up sounding like a lame excuse; what was supposed to be a great accomplishment for me as parish council president turned into the most mortifying experience of my life and just when I thought the evening could not get any worse, it did.
The man I hired (from a so-called “reputable” agency) to play Santa Claus went AWOL, leaving his sleigh and a slightly inebriated-looking reindeer abandoned in the snow-covered backyard of the rectory; after a search of the grounds, Santa was found in the monsignorβs car in the garage, drunk as a skunk, passed out in the back seat and clutching my missing bottles of wine β¦. and if you give me a Bible, I will place my right hand on it and swear that everything you just read is entirely true (except the part about the tipsy reindeer; I added that because I simply couldn’t ignore the adorable graphic accompanying this story).
NAR Β© 2023
This is βThe Ballad of Uncle Drank β Santaβs Hammeredβ
WINDOW SHOPPING
Waves of glorious flaxen hair rippled over her shoulders, swaying and bouncing with every high-heeled, leggy stride she took.
Never one to shy away from attention, especially that of the male population, she confidently waltzed down Fifth Avenue toward Saks, stunning in red Jimmy Choo thigh-high boots, a snow-white fur coat, and a single strand of pearls.
Admiring looks didnβt intimidate her; they titillated her, challenged her to be more daring and quite a bit risquΓ©. It was all a game and she loved to play.
As she strolled the avenue, stopping to look at the exceptional Christmas displays in the store windows, she noticed the reflection of a man leaning drowsily against a parked car. Accustomed to men looking her way, she thought nothing of it at first but found herself glancing at his image more often than usual. Sliding her Ray Bans a little down her nose, she gave this mystery manβs reflection a furtive peek. Intriguing.Β
Repositioning her glasses, she continued window shopping, collecting all the longing glances cast her way and storing them in her bag like so many colorful Christmas lights. Every so often sheβd linger at a quaint little shop or gallery, acutely aware of her mystery man shadowing her along the way. Now this was starting to get interesting. Slowly she removed her shades and gave his reflection a long look.
Why not? Slipping her sunglasses on, she turned around to a vision that caught her breath β¦. from head to toe the epitome of elegance and charm. Raven hair, tanned skin, black cashmere coat draped over his arm, charcoal grey pinstripe suit, crisp white shirt, black and silver Art Deco tie and Italian shoes β¦. not black but the exact color of his suit. Nice touch; the paragon of haute couture.
She smiled. He smiled. She turned slowly, giving him ample time to fall into place beside her.
She continued walking, no longer followed by a mysterious shadow but side-by-side with an intriguing companion. Together they would take the road wherever it led them.
NAR Β© 2023
This is “All I Want For Christmas” by Robyn Adele Anderson, featuring Von Smith
Join me today for a brand new
Christmas edition of
Name That Tune.
Let’s see who gets it right!
https://rhythmsection.blog/
KUKLA HUGS
Today Sadje is asking us
“What do you see?“
Using her image along with
Eugi’s word prompt “boundless”
and Fandango’s word prompt “back”,
this is my response.
I stand at the doorway and watch
as she stretches her legs from her car seat
in the back of her daddyβs car,
grunting with that Little Engine That Could determination
until her fur-trimmed black ankle boots finally reach the curb.
With the boundless spirit of a 3 year old,
she runs up the path to our front door,
stops for a second to wave at our North Pole decorations,
and gaily calls out βGrammy! Grampy! Itβs your Kukla! I’m here!” β¦.
my nickname for our youngest granddaughter, Colette.
She flings herself into my arms
and we share a big warm Kukla Hug.
Her hugs are the best and I don’t want to let go.
Eyes smiling, she excitedly tells me
she saw Santa and the elves outside
and asks if we can bake Christmas cookies today.
Every day with her really is
the most wonderful time of the year.
NAR Β© 2023
This is Pentatonix with βThe Most Wonderful Time Of The Yearβ
Please join us today
for a very special
holiday edition of
“Be Our Guest”.
https://rhythmsection.blog/
CHRISTMAS TREE COUP DE GRΓCE
Denise at GirlieOnTheEdge
is asking us to write a
Six Sentence Story
and to include the word “farm”.
This is my story.
Early in our marriage, Bill and I inherited my parentβs ginormous artificial Christmas tree which we used for about ten years until it died; at that point our boys were very young and we thought it would be a nice family outing to go to one of the local nurseries to pick out a live tree, which was something we did for about four years until one Thanksgiving, while celebrating at my sisterβs house in Rhinebeck NY, my brother-in-law mentioned they were going to Wonderland Farm the next day to get their Christmas tree (and you can bet my ears perked up at hearing a delightful fantasy name like that β¦. Wonderland Farm β¦. an utterly irresistible place if ever there was one and I definitely had to go!).
Well, it turned out that Wonderland Farm was a wholesale grower of Christmas trees, meaning people like you and I could go there, walk around the grounds until we found the perfect tree for our house, chop it down, drag it to the baling machine where it got bound and gagged and tied to the top of the car, then we had to drive the 90 miles home (the whole time checking to see if the tree was still on top of the car), drag the tree into the garage, saw off an inch or two from the bottom and let the tree sit in a bucket of water for a couple of days before bringing it inside to decorate; being totally unfamiliar with this activity and having young boys who thought it would be βawesomeβ to act like Paul Bunyan for a couple of hours, we decided to join in the tree chopping fad β a new family tradition that lasted for about three years until the back-breaking, ass-freezing novelty wore off.
Once we stopped cutting down our home-grown trees, we werenβt quite ready to bite the bullet and go cold turkey by putting up a fake tree, so back to the local nurseries we went for a few more years until that fateful day when I was un-decorating by myself and, while struggling to get the tree out the front door to the curb, I lost my balance and fell backwards into our partially frozen juniper bush; my hands and clothes were sticky from pine sap, I was a disheveled and scratched mess from wrestling my way out of the juniper, there was a trail of pine needles from my living room to the front curb, I was exhausted and achy and Iβd had quite enough β¦. the perfect storm, the live Christmas tree coup de grΓ’ce.
The following weekend the family hopped into the car and drove to the Christmas Tree Shop where we bought a nice big artificial tree which we lugged home and immediately tossed into the attic where it remained until the following December which turned out to be a huge mistake because when we finally opened the box, we discovered it was not the gorgeous fake evergreen we saw on display but a namby pamby shade of pink aluminum which was never going to fly in my house, so we packed it all up and returned to the Christmas Tree Shop where we were told βNo refunds after 90 days of purchaseβ; logically, I knew that but it was still a bit of a blow because the store was to blame for the mislabeled box, so once again we found ourselves wandering around looking for a Christmas tree and we found something Iβd never seen before β a skinny tree, fully decorated and lit, with its own storage bag, meant to fit neatly in the corner of a room β and we scooped that baby up and brought it home.
That skinny tree served us well but (you knew there was a βbutβ coming, didnβt you?) for a skinny tree, that damn thing weighed a ton and lugging it up from its storage spot in the basement really took its toll on Billβs rotator cuff [we still have that skinny tree neatly packed away in its storage bag and stashed in a corner of the basement and every time I go into that back room, it scares the hell out of me because I forget itβs there and it looks like a body bag up against the wall!]; now I was asking myself what we would do for our next tree and the answer came to me while at the dentist one day and I spotted his lovely 3-foot tall fiber optic tree with twinkling lights which seemed to speak to me in Morse Code saying βBuy me and put me right by the fireplace and surround me with nutcrackers”, so thatβs exactly what I did and there it served us very well for a couple of Christmases …. until I saw something while searching for stocking stuffers on Amazon that turned out to be a veritable game changer.
There on Amazon was a gorgeous tree the likes of which I had never seen before and I read all about it (not once but twice) and ordered it yet I was still surprised when a package was delivered that resembled an extremely large pizza box which contained something that looked like a wreath that melted like the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz β¦. it sure didnβt look like a Christmas tree and I was beginning to wonder if Iβd made a mistake or if Amazon had sent the wrong item β¦. but after laying out all the parts on the floor (which consisted of the melty-looking tree, a base and a pole), it all began to make sense and it was incredible to see it all come together; thereβs no way I can adequately describe how wondrous this tree was in person or how amazingly easy it was to assemble so if anyone is interested in seeing for themselves just how easy it really is, go to Amazon.com and search for “Prextex Premium 6 ft Pre-Decorated Christmas Prelit Pop Up Tree” – but I must caution you β¦. you may very well want a Christmas tree or two just like this for your very own home .β¦ and I absolutely couldnβt blame you!
NAR Β© 2023
This is Brenda Lee and βRockinβ Around The Christmas Treeβ
The Elephant's Trunk 