When I saw this photo on Brianβs site,
Bushboys World, I knew I wanted to
write something. Here it is. Thanks to
Brian for the use of his wonderful photo.
Tag: Madness
Drive: Thursday Inspiration
Written for Thursday Inspiration #317 β
βYou May Be Rightβ. Hereβs my response.
RDP Monday: multitude
Today at RDP, sgeoil asks us to get creative
with the word βmultitudeβ. Thanks, Heather!
Hereβs where the prompt word took me.
Unnoticed
Written for The Unicorn Challenge where we are
asked to get creative in 250 words or less using
the photo below as inspiration. This is my story.

The claustrophobia started gradually for four-year-old Phoebe.
She had climbed into the back of her fatherβs flatbed truck to investigate the crates of chickens ready for market. Phoebe went unnoticed as her father threw a tarp over the back and locked the tailgate. When her dad found her, she was curled up in a ball, crying pitifully.
Over time, Phoebe seemed to forget about the incident in the truck.
Years later Phoebe was accidentally locked in her bedroom closet when a gust of wind blew through the window and slammed the closet door closed. Her parents were out and her older siblings were watching television; her frantic cries for help went unnoticed. Exhausted, Phoebe fell asleep in the closet, her family unaware. Her mother found her the next morning, traumatized.
Incidents like that kept happening. Phoebe became obsessed with her surroundings and her parents sought professional help. After eight years in the hospital, Phoebe was declared βcuredβ.
She met Evan, a great guy, and they began dating. Life was good again for Phoebe. For her birthday, Evan and Phoebe planned to see her favorite band. She felt safe with Evan and was unafraid to ride public transportation.
The train was packed. During one stop, Evan was pushed out with a crowd of passengers; the doors closed before he could get back in. Phoebe panicked when the train started up. She lost it.
At the last stop, Phoebe was found in the corner – disheveled, mumbling, eyes wild in terror. She was finally noticed.
NARΒ©2024
250 Words

This is βCrazy Trainβ by Ozzy Osbourne
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.
Descent Into Madness
Melissa is our host for dVerse Prosery Monday. She has asked us to write a prose story of up to 144 words using the quote βI pray to God that she may lie forever with unopened eyeβ by Edgar Allan Poe. Here is my prose in exactly 144 words.

It was no secret that Frederickβs father committed suicide, due, in no small part, to his wifeβs constant belittling. The note he left read βThe vile bitch! I pray to God that she may lie forever with unopened eyeβ.
Not wanting his mother to be alone, and despite his wife Heleneβs protests, Frederick moved his mother into their home. He hoped the two women might provide some companionship for each other but they soon began arguing.
Helene could do nothing right in her mother-in-lawβs eyes. The old woman went so far as to flaunt Heleneβs inability to have a baby, goading her on by calling her wretched, a desiccated vessel, a disappointing failure.
Now the pain and humiliation had taken its toll and Helene began her descent into madness. One day while Frederick was at work, she bludgeoned his mother to a bloody pulp.
NARΒ©2024
144 Words
This is “Song by Edgar Allan Poe”
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.