Friday, December 26, 2008

Achieving Your Goals

Here's my contribution to the Three Word Wednesday prompt for the week. It's different than what I've been putting up, but I hope someone likes it!


Faith whispered, “It’s a miracle,” looking at the number on the scale in awe.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Dawn Break

Dawn slipped over the horizon. An orange hue colored the meadow, bringing new life to the wild flowers riotously growing there. Beth loved watching the sunrise over Lower Meadow. It was the literal bright spot of her day. Her way of making the drudgery easier to deal with.

Sighing, she continued on her way to Hearst House. She would have to hurry. Mrs. Atchison would skin her hide if she were late again. “Punctuality is a virtue, young lady.” Mrs. Atchison pronounced the last time she was late. Right before handing her a toothbrush, instructing her to clean the bathroom from top to bottom.

I will be out of this life soon, Beth thought. Cornelius promised it would be any day now.

Upon entering the side door, she heard Mrs. Atchison talking with someone. Recognizing Cornelius’s voice, she rushed forward. His next words stopped her in her tracks, however.

“The wedding will be on Saturday, June first. You are to send the invitations no later than next Monday. We want everything to be perfect. Alicia is finally home from London, ready to go ahead. I have assured her all is well. She is secure in my devotion,” he emphasized. “There will be no reason for her to postpone this time. No reasons! Do I make myself clear, Mrs. Atchison?”

“Yes, Sir, I understand perfectly.”

“Very good then, I leave it in your capable hands.”

Beth could not believe what she had just heard. Cornelius was getting married. To Alicia, no less. The woman he swore he wanted nothing more to do with. “You are the only one for me, Bethy, you know that. Alicia is in the past. She was too complicated, always wanting more. I need a girl like you, one who knows her worth without all the trappings,” he had told her on one of their early encounters.

Right before I tumbled on the bed with him, she groaned to herself.

“Oh, there you are,” Mrs. Atchison said, nearly running into Beth when she rounded the corner.

“You need to return home to pack,” she said, looking away uncomfortably.

“Pack? Why do I need to pack?”

“You are going to Cromwell House in Wales.”

“But why? Why am I being sent away? I do not understand,” Beth implored.

Shaking her head sadly, Mrs. Atchison replied, “I know, child, I know.”

***

I guess he kept his promise, Beth thought, watching Hearst House slowly recede as the carriage carried her to her new destination.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Cafepress Store

I have listed a few items on my cafepress store that have to do with writing and being published. Don’t know if any of you have a cafepress store, but they are pretty cool. It is free to open the basic shop, and it’s another way to showcase your creativity. I do wish I had a better image program, but even with limited capabilities, I have made a few sales on my products.

If you’d like to check my items out, click here. Everything on that page is mine. Let me know if you like the designs and little writing blurbs!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Poetry Contest Winner!

Two of my poems were picked. They will be published in an anthology in February of 2009. The anthology is going to be available from real bookstores like Amazon!

I still can’t believe it’s real! I entered three poems, and they picked two. That’s pretty good! I also won $20.00!

The poems will be between the sections of short stories in the anthology. I get my own copy of the book for winning which is even cooler!

When the link for the book is up, I will put it here on the blog so you can all check it out!
I am so excited!

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Splendorous Smock

This is my contribution for the Simply Snickers poetry prompt this week.



Stoic demeanor
Hard fought
In light of the splendor
Of his smock

Monday, December 1, 2008

Leaves

This is my contribution to the Weekend Wordsmith prompt. Hope you like it!


“Damn things keep multiplying!” Roger swore.

Picking up the rake, he started back to work. His back was killing him and he had calluses on his hands. The torture had started early that morning when he opened the door and saw that the front yard was covered. I need to do something about this, he thought, before stepping back inside to read the paper.

Putting it off as long as possible, he sighed before putting the paper aside and getting into his work clothes. The next obstacle was finding the rake because he couldn’t remember exactly where he’d put it. He hit his head on a shelf, stubbed his toe on the grill, and banged his elbow on the work table, before finding the rake sitting pretty as you please in the corner.

That was three hours ago. What he thought would be a quick job was turning into an all day affair. His wife and kids would be home soon. They were all going to watch a movie after dinner. If he weren’t done, he’d never hear the end of it.

Pushing the last stack onto the pile, he heard the car roll into the driveway. Just in time, he thought, heading to the garage to put the rake up. I’ll burn them in the morning.

He heard the squeals before he saw them. “No!” he screamed, but it was too late. He watched as the jubilant children jumped in, threw, and wrecked total carnage on his lovely pile of leaves.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Time

This is my contribution to the 100 wood meme, on Velvet Verbosity.

I never really thought about it. I always had more than enough. It was my friend. I’d heard people talk about it slipping away, and them never having fully enjoyed it. I thought they were overemotional, that surely they hadn’t missed all they implied. I know differently now.

There are so many things I wish I’d done, things that are lost to me now. So many people I’d love to have one more conversation with. Things I’d love to pass along to help others understand so that they wouldn’t find themselves in my place. If I only had the time…

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Paying for Mistakes

This is my contribution to the Weekend Wordsmith prompt. The word was float.

How did I get here? How did things get this out of hand? I thought I had it all worked out. Thought I could handle anything, fix all the mistakes. I didn’t fix anything. I only made it worse.

Mom always said I was cocky. She warned that it would get me in trouble one day. I guess that day’s came. Mom will know soon enough that she was right. Wonder if it’ll give her satisfaction?

They were thorough, I’ll give ‘em that much. No way in hell I can get out of these ropes. Not that it would matter.

I hope it’s over with quick. I’ve heard drowning is an awful way to go. Nothing more than I deserve though.

The water is freezing. Maybe I’ll freeze to death before I drown. No, I don’t guess that’s going to happen. After all, anchors don’t float.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Combination

This is my contribution to the Simply Snickers poetry prompt for the week.



A balance struck
A tightrope walked
Being bold a stroke of luck
Being bright self-taught

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Love Again

This is my entry for Velvet Verbosity this week. Hope you like it.

Love resurrected and feelings are true again
Time healed wounds, and hearts on the mend

A second chance in true loves embrace
Emotions dance in delight
Of the past there is no trace

Hope overflows and abounds
Tenderness and joy grow
Soft touches leave faces aglow

The tried and true remembered
The new eagerly sought
Replacing the old with freshness
Hard fought

A chance to fix old mistakes
And make new treasures
To make life happier
And better together

Patience and grace
Help rekindle the flame
Of a love that faded too quickly
And the death that came

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Second Chances

This is my second contribution to the Three Word Wednesday prompt. I hope they don’t mind that I did two!

Hope’s shoulders slumped as the gravity of the doctor’s statement sunk in. This morning the only thing she was worried about was getting to work on time. Now she had to worry about living to work another month.

What would she tell her parents? Her boyfriend? She couldn’t face any of them right now.

Once she arrived home, Hope made some tea and sit starring out the window. Snow was lightly drifting down, leaving a dusting on the sidewalk. Normally she’d be worried about shoveling snow off the next morning, but now all she saw was the beauty.

She marvels at the way your perspective changes when the end is near. Things you should have done haunt you. Mistakes you’ve made seem larger. Life seems more beautiful. And you miss it even before it’s gone.

Sighing, she gets up to call her parents. She’ll deal with her boyfriend when he comes over later.

***

She’s still with Tom, although things aren’t the same. The relationship is strained. He still holds her, but she feels the difference in his embrace, a subtle nuance of something missing. Who could blame him though? It must be hard to love someone who’s leaving you.

They’re in the mountains. It’s been three weeks since the diagnosis, and she needed to get away. Tom agreed to bring her to her parent’s cabin even though he didn’t like the idea. There was no phone, no electricity, and the only water was from a well. Cell phones worked, but only in certain places.

Hope wanted to go because it was so isolated. She couldn’t stand all the pitying looks and tears. She just wanted to die in peace. Tom didn’t know it yet, but she was sending him away tomorrow.

***

He put up more of a fight than she thought he would. She figured he would be glad to leave, but he surprised her. In the end she won though. After all, it was her life that was ending. She should be allowed to face that end in whatever way she saw fit.

She kissed him goodbye one last time and walked back into the house. After a last call to her parent’s she was going into the mountains.

She still felt fine. The doctor said that wasn’t unusual with her condition. That death came softly and without warning. She decided to spend the last days looking out over the canyon. Tom had helped set everything up before he left. All she had to do was close the cabin and head out.

The call to her parents was harder than she thought. She was really going to miss them. There were many things she’d do different if she had the chance.

After locking the cabin door, she headed to her destination.

***

The roar of an engine startled Hope out of a sound sleep. She’d forgotten to stoke the fire and it was down to embers. Not that it mattered. Dying was dying, whether from hypothermia or disease.

Tom came blasting up to the campsite on a snowmobile. Hope couldn’t believe her eyes. She’d told him to stay away. That she didn’t want him seeing her at the end. How could have go against her wishes this way?

And he looked happy to be doing it. A big smile graced his face.

Hope stood as Tom raced over to her. Grabbing her face in his hands, he kissed her. Startled, Hope sprung away.

“What are you doing here, Tom? I asked you to leave,” she whispered.

“You’re going with me, baby,” Tom replied.

“What are you talking about? You know I’m dying here. I don’t want to be hooked to machines in some hospital.”

“You’re not dying anywhere. Not right now at least. The doctor’s office has been trying to get you for days. The test results were messed up somehow. You’re fine, Hope! Healthy as a horse.” Tom cried jubilantly.

Hope smiled the most brilliant smile. Her eyes shone with light.

“It’s not every day you get a second chance on life and I plan to do things right this time,” she told Tom.

“Starting right this instant,” she added as she pulled him into her arms.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Cruel Love

This is my contribution to the Simply Snickers prompt for the week.


People prey on the emotions of others
Cruelty, hatred, and pain are often wrought
Lust can pose as love
And the unsuspecting get caught
Finding a port for a bruised heart
Is the solace often sought
See with eyes wide open
To avoid becoming ensnared
Because the pain is not soon forgot

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Halloween Horror

This is my contribution to the 1000 Word Meme this week. I thought it was fitting.



“This is why I hate Halloween,” Stan remarked, gazing at the mutilated bodies in the bedroom.”All the crazies come out of the woodwork.”

His partner was examining the body of the lady of the house. She used to be quite beautiful according to the picture by the bed. Now it was all he could do to look at her. Her face had been carved up. It looked like someone had tried to make her look like the Joker off the Batman movie.

The man wasn’t any better. His nose had been cut off and his eyes poked out.

“I don’t understand why there aren’t signs of a struggle,” Stan said. “It looks like someone just walked in, did the deed, and waltz out pretty as you please.”

“Chief, you need to see this,” a deputy called from the kitchen.

“What ya got,” he asked upon entering the kitchen.

“We found this sitting on the counter beside the booze,” he said, pointing at a box of rat poison.

“You got to be shitin me. Nobody uses rat poison to kill these days.”

“Seems somebody did. Looks like it still works too,” the deputy replied.

Stan made his way back to the bedroom shaking his head. Rat poison. Haven’t had a case of that in years, he thought.

“They were poisoned, John. Rat poison, if you can believe it,” Stan told his partner.

“Guess that explains why they didn’t put up a fight. That stuff’s lethal.”

***

“Holy Shit!” someone in another part of the house muttered.

Stan and John made their way to a bedroom down the hall. As they entered they saw a deputy staring into the closet. He was stock still with a shocked expression on his face.

“What is it, deputy?” Stan asked.

“A kid,” the deputy replied.

“A kid? Well, what are you doing? Get him out of the closet.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Chief.”

“Why the hell not?” Stan asked as he made his way to the closet.

What he saw inside chilled even his hardened heart. A child of about ten was sitting crossed legged in the closet floor holding a small dog. In the child’s hand was a knife. He was busy carving the dogs face.

The chief heard him say, “I’m sorry, Toby, but Mom wouldn’t get me a pumpkin. I asked her and Dad both but they wanted to get drunk as usual. I just wanted one normal Halloween like all the kids at school talk about. I wanted to carve a pumpkin! I think yours is going to look the best. I practiced on Mom and Dad first. I wonder if I can cut the heads off and sit them on the porch?”

Monday, October 27, 2008

Abyss

This is my contribution to the Weekend Wordsmith prompt. The word for this week was "down". Hope you like the story.

Larry knew he’d heard a scream earlier, but he couldn’t find anyone. He’d been walking around the woods for two hours now. It was twenty degrees out so he knew if someone was hurt out here they’d need help. Left to the elements a person would die tonight.

He decided to give it thirty more minutes. There was one section he hadn’t checked yet. He headed in that direction hoping to come upon whoever was out here before it was too late.

The forest floor was dense with vegetation in this section. Larry tripped more than once during his search. He kept looking because he knew the sound earlier was a scream; he was sure of it!

Larry wasn’t watching his footing. He was looking around so he wouldn’t miss anyone that had fallen. His didn’t know his good intentions were going to be rewarded very soon.

Larry didn’t see the log until it was too late. He tripped over it and started falling. The last thought he had as he fell down the abyss was that he now knew where the scream came from.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Only Words

“But I love you!” John beseeched.

“Those are just words, John. You don’t know what love is. If you loved me, you wouldn’t cheat. If you loved me, you wouldn’t belittle everything I do. If you loved me, you wouldn’t call me stupid. Love is more than just saying the words,” Lisa replied.

“I’ve taken care of you all these years. Gave you a roof over your head, food to eat, a car. Doesn’t that count for anything?” John asked.

“All those are material things. Yes, they were nice and I thank you for them, but you never gave me what I really needed. Someone to listen and share my dreams with; someone to talk to about what was going on in my life, a shoulder to cry on. You never offered any of those things,” Lisa said as a tear rolled down her cheek. “I’ve tried so hard to make this work. I asked about your day, spend time with your friends, and tell you how smart I think you are. I SHOWED you my love, John. But I’m all out now. I just can’t do this anymore.”

“So you’re just going to leave? Just walk out on our life and never come back.”

“Yes. I have to. It hurts too much to stay. I deserve better than this, John. I’m worth more than this. It took me a long time to figure that out, but I finally have,” Lisa said with a rueful shake of her head. “I hope you learn what love really means, John. I really do.”

“Oh, and one more thing,” Lisa calls on her way out the door. “Don’t say the words if you don’t mean them.”

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Betrayal

My contribution to the Simply Snickers poetry prompt for the week.


The toast sets off the evening
Tempted to touch as glances meet
Across a crowded room
Glasses tinkling
Voices murmuring congratulations
The bride looks back to her groom

Monday, October 20, 2008

Wasting Daylight

This is my contribution to the 1000 Words meme for the week. You really should go check out the picture they have up, it's beautiful!


Annabelle couldn’t wait to go outside. She was literally hopping from one foot to the other waiting on her mother to get ready. She’d been ready for hours. She didn’t understand why her mother had to sleep so late, and then take so long getting ready.

“Come on, Mom, we’re burning daylight here,” she cried.

After her mother finished laughing she asked, “Where did you hear that, Annabelle?”

“From Daddy.”

“It does sound like something he’d say,” her mom agreed.

“Are you ready, Mom?”

“Ok, come on I’m ready now,” her mom said as she grabbed her coat.

Annabelle already had her coat on. She’d been wearing it for the last hour, even though her mom said she’d get too hot. She wasn’t worried about that, she just wanted to go.

She was in the car and buckled up before her mom even got down the driveway. Her foot was swinging back and forth against the seat as she waited impatiently for her mom to back the car out. She just couldn’t wait to get there!

Once they got to the park, she jumped out of the car as soon as it stopped. After running around to her mom’s side, she grabbed her hand and pulled her along. Once they rounded the bend she stopped with a gasp.

“Oh, Mom, isn’t it beautiful? God painted the trees again. I just knew He would!”

Friday, October 17, 2008

NaNoWriMo

Nothing should stop you.
Anybody can play!
November is the month.
Out of the starting gate…
Write fast, write long.
Rush to the finish.
Ignore all but the sirens song.
Music to any writer’s ear…
Of finishing that novel so dear


Thursday, October 16, 2008

A Matter of Trust

This is my contribution to the Matineemuse writing prompt. It's the first time I've participated with them. I hope somebody likes it. I did a microfiction for this one.



“Timmy, don’t let me see you do that again.”

“Why not, Mom. I’m not hurting him,” Timmy whined.

“What if I handed you your food and then took it right back? Would you like that? No, you wouldn’t. It’s a matter of trust, Timmy. A matter of trust.”

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Bloom of Death

My contribution to Three Word Wednesday. Hope y'all like it.



“Such a delicate flower. So sweet and fragrant,” the masked man whispered.

Nancy lay as still as she could in the trunk. If she didn’t move, maybe he wouldn’t notice she was awake. She didn’t know exactly where she was, but knew it was a forest. She could hear the night bugs singing to each other.

“Wake up, little flower,” the man said as he shook Nancy’s shoulder.

When Nancy didn’t move, he just reached in the trunk and scooped her up like she weighed nothing, and then started walking into the woods.

Nancy hung limp in his arms, waiting for a chance to do something. She couldn’t just let this madman kill her! She’d become jaded towards life recently, but she still wanted to live. A cheating boyfriend and a dead-end job were nothing compared to this.

Think, Nancy! What can you do? There has to be something, her brain screamed as the man carried her farther into the woods.

When her captor tripped over a fallen log, she saw her chance. As she was rolling away after he dropped her, she grabbed a limb and swung at his head. The man saw it just in time, turning so the impact hit his shoulder instead.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” he said with a smirk, walking towards her. “Now you’ll have to pay.”

Nancy tried to run, but her legs were stiff from being cooped up in the trunk so long. She only got a few feet before he caught her. She screamed as loud as she could which seemed to amuse him.

“Scream all you want. There’s nobody out here tonight but you and me,” he informed her with a smile.

Nancy kicked and scratched with all her might, but it did no good. He was just too strong. He finally got tired of the fight and hit her over the head.


The last thing Nancy saw was her captor’s feet and a shovel propped against a giant oak tree.
***

“I don’t remember this from our last hike in these woods, do you?” Jacob asked his brother.

“No, and we would have remember that. It’s beautiful,” his brother replied looking at the blood red flower.

“I wonder how it grows under the shade of this old oak.”

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Locked Away

This weeks story for the 1000 Words Meme.

Alisa sat looking out at the dreary afternoon. Rain pelted the window, the teardrops washing the grime away. How she wished to be outside! She only felt alive when she got to leave this room. Inside, her spirit was weak and her thoughts ran away with her. She feared what might happen if she were locked inside too long.

“Alisa, are you still sitting at that window?” her mother called from the kitchen.

Alisa didn’t answer. Her mother knew she was at the window. She was always at the window when she couldn’t be outside.

“You know, they said it might rain all week. You can’t sit there and do nothing all that time,” her mother went on.

“All week!” Alisa squeaked.

There was no way she could go a whole week cooped up inside. She’d go crazy! She had to be outside and breathe the fresh air. See the birds flying, and hear the squirrels scampering. Her soul would wither and die if kept inside that long.

“We need the rain, Alisa. We’ve been in a drought in case you haven’t noticed.”

Alisa had noticed. She loved the drought. It meant she got to go outside every day! She didn’t have to come in until supper time. For a whole month she’d been able to sit beneath the trees and smell the grass. She loved taking her shoes off and scrunching her toes in the grass. She knew there’d be no grass without rain, but somehow that wasn’t as important as going outside.

“Can I go play in the rain, Mom?” Alisa asked plaintively.

“No, you’ll catch cold.”

“It’s not cold outside, Mom. I’ll wear a coat.”

“Alisa, you know how your dad feels about you going out in bad weather. He thinks you spend too much time daydreaming outside anyway.”

Alisa knew what her Dad thought. He’d told her often enough. He didn’t understand the pull of nature. The only time he wanted to go outside was if he was going to a ballgame. Her mom wasn’t much better. She only went out to do the grocery shopping.

Alisa remembered the time she’d asked if she was adopted. The stunned expressions on her parent’s faces were comical. They really had no idea why she’d asked. When she tried to explain, talking about all the differences between them, they just got more confused. She finally gave up; although she still wondered from time to time.

“Ok, Mom,” Alisa sighed, turning back to the window.

The rain continued to hit the window. Alisa watched as the drops slid down and disappeared. Disappeared just like her soul was. Slowly, one drop at a time.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Consequences

It seemed like a good idea at the time. Kyle said it was fantastic. Sheila was absolutely euphoric when talking about it, going on and on. I decided to try it. What could it hurt, right?

Wrong! I couldn’t have been more wrong if I’d tried. I knew something wasn’t right from the start. The sweating, cramps, and nausea were awful. The convulsions came next. I bit my tongue. I didn’t feel it, but I tasted the blood. The noise would have brought someone, except my meticulously laid out plan was working perfectly.

I wanted to be alone for my experiment. I picked a day my parents both worked late, and my sister was at soccer practice. I don’t know how long I lay there before help arrived.

The next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital. I say waking up. I feel like I’m awake, I can hear and see everything. My parents and sister come to visit and I talk to them but they can’t hear me. They act like they don’t even know I’m trying to talk. My friends aren’t any better.

Yes, my friends come to visit. Crying and holding my hand. I can’t feel them holding my hand, but I can see it. I can’t feel anything anymore. Funny, when Kyle talked about feeling no pain it seemed like a good thing…

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Candlelight

My contribution to the Weekend Wordsmith prompt.

Shadows dancing
Bodies moving as one
The beat of love
As hearts come undone

Passion shared
Throughout the night
Souls joined
In the glow of candlelight

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Unwanted

This is my first contribution to the Three Word Wednesday prompt. I hope you like it!

“I’m going to thrash the living daylights out of you if you don’t stop that crying,” Joe shouted at his son as he shoved him across the room with effortless ease.

Toby leaned against the wall, rubbing his cheek from the earlier slap. He couldn’t figure out what he’d done to set his Dad off this time. All he did was ask if he could have five dollars for science class tomorrow. They had to pay to use the lab. Next thing he knew, his Dad had slapped him so hard it brought tears to his eyes.

He tried to stop the tears because he knew how bad his Dad hated them. He was always telling him that men don’t cry. The pain was too bad though, and he couldn’t stop.

“I’m sorry, Dad,” Toby ventured after a few minutes had passed.

He still wasn’t sure what he was apologizing for, but he knew he was supposed to do it.

“Do you think I’m made of money, Toby?” his father asked?

“That damned school always wants money for something. Your mom knew this I bet, the vindictive bitch. That’s why she left you for me to take care of. Only person she’s gonna spend money on is herself,” he muttered.

Toby didn’t know what to say. His Mom had left a few months earlier. Just walked out one night and never came back. Toby didn’t miss her much. Things were worse when she was home. All the fighting and yelling really scared him.

“Come on, Toby, let’s go,” his father said an hour later. He grabbed his coat of the rack and started towards the door.

“Where are we going?”

“Don’t worry about it, just get moving.”

Toby watched the buildings go by through the car window. He knew they were heading downtown, but still didn’t know exactly where. When his Dad pulled into the church parking lot he was shocked. They never went to church. It sure was a pretty building though. He’d like to see the inside.

Toby changed his mind quickly. He didn’t like this. He wasn’t sure why, but something wasn’t right. His dad was just sitting in the car looking at the church. Toby could tell he was thinking about something because the vein on the side of his head was pulsing.

“What are we doing at a church, Dad?” Toby asked.

“Toby, I want you to go knock on the door. When the priest answers ask him if you can have five dollars,” his father replied.

Toby looked at the church uncertainly, but got out of the car anyway. He had to do what his dad said even if he didn’t understand it. Why would the priest give him money? Maybe his dad knew him or something.

Toby knocked on the door and then stepped back. Just as the door opened he heard his dad start the car. The priest looked down at him and asked, “What can I do for you, son?”

Toby started to ask him for the money when he heard the car leave the parking lot. He didn’t know what to think at first so just stood frozen in place. The next thing he knew, his dad was squealing rubber down the road. He started running after the car yelling for his dad to come back.

The priest chased him down and brought him into the church.

“Calm down, son, and tell me what’s going on,” he said kindly.

Toby had never seen anyone with eyes like his. They looked so nice. He bet this man’s kids never got slapped. He didn’t want to admit that his dad had left him but he couldn’t lie to this man. He didn’t know why, but it just didn’t seem right.

“I don’t know. My Dad told me to knock and ask you for five dollars. I need it for science class tomorrow and he doesn’t have it. Mom might but she’s a vindictive bitch that only spends money on herself,” he told the startled priest.

“Where is your mother?” the priest said as he looked Toby over. He could tell the boy hadn’t had a bath in a while, and he looked hungry. There was also a red welt on his cheek.

“She left a while back. We haven’t seen her since. It’s just Dad and me now,” Toby replied. “I don’t know where dad went,” Toby went on with a look at the door.

“Come with me. We’ll go to the office and I can make a phone call. We’ll try to find out where your dad went, ok?” the priest said holding his hand out to Toby.

Toby was leery, but he took the man’s hand and let him lead the way to the office. Once there the priest told him to sit in the red chair in the hall while he made the call.

The priest went into the office and closed the door. Keeping his eye on Toby, he called the local police station and asked to speak to Sergeant Jones.

“Hello, John, this is Randy at St. Michaels.”

“Hello, Father, what can I do for you?” Sergeant Jones inquired.

“I have a boy here with me. His father just left him on the stoop.”

Sergeant Jones sighed and said, “I’ll be right over. It’s a damned shame when people have kids and then change their mind ain’t it, Father?”

The priest agreed, but looking at the mark on Toby’s cheek he thought leaving him here might have been the only good thing his dad had ever done for him.

“I’ll wait in the church with him, Sergeant,” he said as he hung up the phone.

Now he was left with the task of telling the child that his father wasn’t coming back, that he was unwanted. He sighed as he opened the office door and walked out. Seeing the expectant look on Toby’s face only made his heart sink lower.

“Toby, there’s something I have to tell you…”

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Passion

This is my contribution to the Simply Snickers poetry prompt for the week.

The swing moved slowly back and forth
The only sound breaths and moans
The sweet surrender absolute
Love given and received with greed
The swell of passion mounting
Senses swim with intense sensation
Bodies merging as one
Completion reached together

Monday, October 6, 2008

Blend

This is my contribution the the 100 Words meme. I missed last weeks! Hope y'all like this one.

“Are you wearing that to school, Debra?”

“Yes, Mother. It’s what all the girls wear these days,” Debra replied.

Her mother looked her over again from head to toe. The outfit left nothing at all to the imagination.

“Isn’t it a little revealing?” she asked her daughter cautiously.

“No more so than anyone else’s clothes at school,” Debra said with a shrug.

“I think you should change, Debra.”

“But I thought you wanted me to blend in, Mother. Remember, you always said if I stood out people would notice all my flaws,” Debra replied as she went out the door.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Forbidden

This is my contribution to the Sunday Scribblings writing prompt. Let me know what you think.


She walked into the room and every head turned. They all knew she was taken. Charlie made sure everyone know just who she belonged to. If he caught them looking there’d be hell to pay. But it was so hard not to stare at something that perfect.

Long legs and flowing blonde hair combined with a smile that could knock your socks off. What man could resist that? Charlie knew everyone looked. He just didn’t like seeing them when they did it. He sure liked it when they talked about how lucky he was though. Too bad Johnny was new to town and didn’t know all this.

Johnny almost fell off his bar stool when April walked into the room. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. When he saw her sit down, he got up and ambled over. You could have heard a pin drop when he pulled out a chair and sat down.

April was so shocked that she didn’t even think to stop him. She just sat gaping.

The next thing anybody knew, Johnny was flying across the floor and Charlie was screaming bloody murder. Johnny lay stunned for a few minutes, long enough for the second blow to land squarely upside his jaw. After this he realized he better get up and try to figure out what was going on.

“Wait a minute, fella,” he said as Charlie came in for another blow. “What’s going on here?”

“You were messing with my woman is what’s going on here,” Charlie replied before kicking Johnny in the knee.

“Dammit, will you stop!” Johnny pleaded.

“Stop? I’ve just got started. Nobody messes with my woman and gets away with it. You think you can just waltz in and steal her away from me, don’t ya pretty boy? Well it ain’t gonna happen,” Charlie sneered.

“I wasn’t stealing anything. I was just going to talk to her. I didn’t know she belonged to anybody,” Johnny cried as he blocked the next blow.

“Well now you know. And so nobody else makes the mistake of thinking otherwise, I’m gonna make an example out of you.”

Charlie worked on Johnny for a good thirty minutes. By the time he was through the whole bar was a mess. He’d owe Chuck a pretty penny this time for sure. When he finally got too tired to fight any longer he sat down at the table with April.

Looking down at Johnny he said, “Do you understand now, son? You don’t go messing with another man’s woman. You should find out if the lady’s taken before you try to pick her up. I know my April’s something special, luscious and sweet. But this here is forbidden fruit, son. Nobody gets a taste but me.”

Thursday, October 2, 2008

A Slow Death

Here's this weeks poem for the Simply Snickers poetry prompt.

The clouds weep
The oceans wail
Rubbish clutters the beaches
And the ozone fails

Trash abounds
Pollution runs wild
The climate suffers
The effects of style

More concerned with how things look
Getting places in a hurry
Bigger and better is the cry
As the world dies

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Poison

Here's this weeks contribution to the Weekend Wordsmith Meme. It was fun writing this one!


Just one little drop, that’s all it would take to end my problems. It wouldn’t hurt much. Well, wouldn’t hurt me much anyway. I guess Harry would think differently. But after all the pain he’s put me though I don’t much care for his opinion.

He never cared when he hurt me. All the beatings…it’s a wonder I’m still alive. Not that I call this living. Stuck in this chair for the rest of my life. Oh how he enjoys the sympathy from friends! It makes my skin crawl when he talks about taking care of me. He takes care of me alright, every night. Takes care that I don’t scream too loud and wake the neighbors.

He should never have left the bottle sitting on the kitchen counter. He seems to think I can’t do anything in this chair, but I can. I reached the bottle for instance, and I’ve kept it hidden ever since. Just one little drop, and I’ll be free. Free to do what I’m not quite sure; but free from him, though, is the important thing. Maybe two little drops would be better.

Here he comes now, stomping up the stairs. Better get in the living room.

“What are you looking at, you little cripple?” he snarls as he walks in.

I know better than to say anything back. Don’t want the beatings to start too early.

“I guess you’ve been sitting here watching TV all day while I’ve been working. You’re useless,” he says as he’s pulling his work boots off, leaving his dirty, smelly socks lying on the floor.

“After I get me a beer and clean up, we’ll see if we can’t find a use for you,” he says with a smirk.

We’ll see about that, Harry. This time things are going to be different. I’m not taking any more of this crap. I’m tired of it. I’m just tired period.

“Damn that’s good,” he says after the first swig of beer.

“I won’t be long, and then we can have some fun,” he throws back on his way to the bathroom.

Just one little drop. Wonder how the beer will taste now. He is kinda big, better use two drops. There, all done. Just in time too, here he comes.

“What are you looking at?” he snarls. “After I finish this beer I’ll teach you some respect.”

“What the hell? What’s going on here? Argh…” he says grabbing his chest and falling to the floor. “What have you done, you little shit?”

This is very interesting. He’s actually twitching. I thought people only did that on TV. He’s turning blue too. I hope it will be over soon.

“Carmen, baby, call 911. You can’t let me die like this! You know I love you. I’m sorry. I won’t hurt you anymore. Please, baby, call someone!” he pleads.

“Sorry, Dad, remember I can’t reach the phone anymore. You wouldn’t lower it on the wall.”

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Around the Bend

This is my contribution to the 1000 word meme for the week. I hope you enjoy it!

I wonder what’s around the bend. You can almost see, but not quite. Ah, the unknown! It beckons, and yet frightens at the same time.

Do I have the courage to go around the bend? It doesn’t look threatening. Then again, looks can be deceiving.

There could be treasures around the bend; flowers in perfect bloom, kittens playing in the leaves, children laughing and dancing. Or there could be a mad dog.

My true love might wait around the bend; with long flowing blonde hair, blue eyes, and lips of luscious red. Ready to take me in her arms forever and carry me away on the winds of passion. But what if there’s a mugger there instead?

Around the bend. What waits around the bend? Life is full of uncertainty. Sometimes it really is a matter of faith. Take the first step! Go around the bend.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Hiking

Awaken the senses
Explore and learn
Treasure the seasons
Natures' beauty at every turn

Climbing rocks
Walking trails
Leaves and grasses
The surface we sail

Open yourself up
Listen with your heart
Hear the wild calling
Become a whole, not part

Enjoy the majesty
Take in the sublime
Don't rush
Take time

Feel the wonder
The breeze on the air
Feel the sunlight
And be aware

Magnificent and beautiful
All coexisting
Excellence and perfection
The power of hiking

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

The War is Over

This is my contribution to the Simply Snickers poetry prompt for the week. I hope you all enjoy it.


I write to you to let you know
The wait is over, I’m coming home

The war was hard;
I saw things I’ll never forget
Blood ran like water
It makes the soul wilt

I look forward to good times with you
Laughter, love and light
I sign this letter with love,
Until I can hold you tight

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Playground Dreams

This is my contribution to the 1000 words meme contest. I love finding all these new places to write for. I hope someone likes the story!



The clock was stuck at 1:55. Charles was sure of it. He’d been staring outside at the playground for hours, but the clock hadn’t changed. He really wanted to go outside and play. School work was boring!

“Charles, are you finished with your paper?” Mrs. Sutton asked.

“Yes Ma’am. I finished it a long time ago. When can we go outside?”

“At 2:00, the same time we go for recess every day.”

“Is the clock broken, Mrs. Sutton?”

“No, Charles, the clock isn’t broken; just like it wasn’t broken yesterday or the day before. Just be patient.” Mrs. Sutton sighed.

Charles wasn’t good at being patient. He wanted to play now. He didn’t understand why the other kids couldn’t get done faster. If they did he was sure Mrs. Sutton would take them outside earlier.

“Hurry up, Terry, I wanna go outside,” Charles said to the friend sitting in front of him.

“Charles, that’s enough. Quit bugging people. If you disrupt the class one more time I’ll have to send you to the principal’s office.” Mrs. Sutton warned.

Charles sat back in his desk and crossed his arms. He didn’t want to go to the principal’s office again. His parents didn’t like that at all. He’d just have to wait on all the slow pokes to finish. Hopefully tomorrow they’d be faster.

***

The next day when Charles got to class he saw that the clock was missing. He knew it was broken! Mrs. Sutton must have taken it down to fix it.

“Mrs. Sutton, when will the clock be fixed?” Charles asked.

“The clock is not broken, Charles, I told you that.” Mrs. Sutton replied.

“Where is it then?”

“I took it down. Now you will just have to wait until I say it’s time to go outside.”

Charles didn’t like this at all. It’s not fair to take the clock down! He needed to know how long he had to wait. He would be sitting here forever now!

“Ok, Charles, quit brooding and do your assignment.” Mrs. Sutton ordered.

“Yes Ma’am.”

The next thing Charles knew, Mrs. Sutton was standing up and saying it was time for recess. Charles couldn’t believe it. He knew that stupid clock had been broken. He hadn’t even finished his assignment today, and he always got done before 2:00 according to the clock. He should know, he looked at it often enough. Now he’d get an even worse grade!

Yearning

This is my entry into the 100 Words challenge. It's the first time I've played with them. I hope I did everything right and it's ok. This seems like it will be fun.


“Oh, it looks so good! All gooey and sweet.”

“I can smell it from here, I swear. It should be against the law to make something that smells that good.”

“Don’t they know over half of Americans are fat? They shouldn’t be tempting us like this!”

“Just one little bite shouldn’t hurt. I can stop at one. It looks very rich.”

“I really have to get one. There’s no question about it. I’ll skip dinner.”

***

“Humph, sorry didn’t see you there, Karen.”

“It’s ok. How are you doing?” Karen asked.

“Fine. I have 3 whole points left for the day!”

Poor and Forgotten

This is my contribution to the Simply Snickers poetry prompt. I had been doing this every week and then things got in the way. Hopefully I can keep up with it again now.

To make a point
Some plead their case
Then forget they ever saw their face

The poor forgotten until the next time
Votes are needed and supporters are sought
Selling souls for a dime
Never knowing the trouble they wrought

Give us your poor and downtrodden
We’ll trample them in our wake
Then leave the bodies to be forgotten
And go on to win the day

Nothing

This is my first entry for the Weekend Wordsmith writing prompt. I think I'm really going to enjoy this!

Ellen stares into the distance. She never moves and seldom utters a sound. Just sits there, looking. I look too, trying to see what it is that’s so fascinating out there. I can’t see anything though. Nothing.

I believe Ellen sees something though, because every now and then she’ll smile the most beautiful smile. When that happens I see the old Ellen. The Ellen I fell in love with. I miss her so much.

She’s not really here with me now; not really. Her body is just a shell. She’s in there somewhere that I can’t reach.

I keep trying though. I sit here by the window holding her hand. We sit and stare. Stare at nothing…

Saturday, September 20, 2008

A Dog's Perspective

Illustration by Coleman Wigger
See, I told you they were cannibals. The big one is trying to eat the little one!

Youth and Beauty

So pretty. You’d never make fun of me, would you, little one? No, you’re too sweet for anything like that. I can tell. Not like those nasty brats down the street, always laughing at me; or the kids on the playground running whenever I come near. Like I’m going to eat them or something! You wouldn’t do anything like that.

I have to go to work now but I’ll be back in a few hours. You just sleep. I have a surprise for you when I get back. Good bye, little one.

***

“Maude, be sure to get all the trash this time,” Ethel Bryant admonished.

“I will, Mrs. Bryant.” I promised with my head bowed deferentially. “Sorry bout last time,” I said as I went back to work.

“I don’t know why you have her working here, Mother,” Carl whispered to his mother as soon as she rounded the corner.

“She’s cheap, Carl. And, with the way she looks, where else would she work?” Ethel replied.

“I feel sorry for her too, Mother, but that’s not our problem. We aren’t the one’s who disfigured her,” Carl pointed out. “Besides, some of the clients are starting to complain.”

“What are you talking about?” Ethel demanded.

“Just yesterday, Ms. Childers remarked that she didn’t like having to look at Maude every time she came by. Last week, Mr. Jacobs complained that Maude scared him with her slinking around outside the bathroom. There have been other instances also.”

“Why wasn’t I informed about this?” Ethel asked crossly.

“I’m informing you now,” Carl replied sarcastically. “You always seemed to have a soft spot for the freak, so I didn’t want to tell you until I had to.”

“I’ll take care of the matter,” Ethel sighed.

Do they think I can’t hear them? I may be ugly, but I still have ears! Guess I’ll be losing this job now too. I don’t know why people can’t mind their own business. I’m just doing my job here. I can’t help people have to see me ever now and then.

No, Carl didn’t disfigure me; dear ole Dad had that honor. But every time someone looks at me with disgust or worse yet pity, I can feel the iron pressing against my skin all over again.

I’m going to like coming back here afterwards. We’ll see how Carl feels then. When I’m beautiful he’ll be singing a different tune.

***

I’m home, little one. Look what I have for you. I told you I was bringing a surprise. This is Cathy. Isn’t she beautiful?

You lay here, Cathy. The crib is all nice and cushy. Take a little nap. I'll be back soon.
Come on, little one, it’s time.

I’m sorry, I know it hurts. Please don’t cry! I’m going as fast as I can. I didn’t have this much trouble with the others. This stupid needle doesn’t want to work for some reason. I can’t get the vein! Shhh, it’ll only be a few more minutes now.

Finally! I can’t believe it took so long to get going. I sure hope the vein doesn’t collapse and I have to start another line. Be a good girl and don’t move around too much, ok? I have to get the whole bottle full for the next treatment.

I knew you’d understand. There you go, just go back to sleep. The rest doesn’t hurt at all. You’ll be free from pain forever soon, baby. You’ll be with the angels where you belong.

***

Hey there, Cathy. Is that a smile for me? How sweet of you. I thought you’d be mad that I took your friend away. I had to do it though. It’s still not working, you see? I’m not beautiful yet. I can tell some differences already. I don’t have as many wrinkles beside my eyes. Not that people notice the wrinkles for the scars, but I can see them. The scars don’t seem to be getting any better though. I hoped you’d be the last one, but looks like I’m going to need some more.

Do you know where I can get more babies, Cathy? You got any friends out there who I don’t know about? I didn’t think so. Guess I’ll go to another shelter. The people at the shelters always let me help out. They can’t turn anyone away, now can they? It just wouldn’t look right. And the young girls at the shelter never seem to notice the scars. I guess they have more important things on their minds, like having babies. They never think twice about handing their baby to me after delivery. I don’t think they want you poor babies. I know you wouldn’t be taken care of properly by those girls. Crack heads and prostitutes all!

I’m saving you all from a terrible life, you know that, Cathy? At least this way you won’t have to put up with all the cruelty in the world. You’ll be beautiful and sweet for all eternity.

I’ll have to go farther out this time; to shelters in other towns. I can’t have anyone putting the missing babies together, not yet. Once I’m beautiful it won’t matter. Nobody will recognize me then.

Oh I can’t wait to be beautiful, Cathy! To have people look at me with desire instead of revulsion. Do you know I’ve never even had a boyfriend? That’s going to change soon though.

Yep, all the commercials on TV say that young skin is resilient and healthy. I can’t very well take your skin, can I? Blood flows through the skin, though, so I can’t go wrong. Did you know you had beautiful blood, Cathy?

Time to do the next treatment. I wonder if mixing the blood with oatmeal before I put it on my face is the problem…


I Think I Can




Illustration by Coleman Wigger
I can make it. Just gotta get up to speed. Push hard, pedal faster. I can do it. Come on bike, go faster!

There’s the ramp. Am I going fast enough? I think so. The wind sure is blowing hard today. My helmet almost fell off back there.

Here we go. This ramp sure is tall. I’m flying!

Uh oh! This isn’t good. Maybe if I lean forward I’ll make it.

Illustration by Coleman Wigger

Man that water sure was cold. Stupid mud puddle!



Taking a Stand

It sure is peaceful and quiet here tonight. The only sound for the last hour has been the steady swoosh of the shovel.

“If it’s true that rain at funerals means God is crying, then He really didn’t have any use for either of you, did He?” eh Mom?

I haven’t felt a single drop yet, and there isn’t a cloud in the sky, just thousands of stars.

Better get back to work.

“No rest for the wicked,” eh Mom.

There we go, that’s the last shovel full. Now I just need to make sure to pat it all down good. This wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. I guess when you’re determined, you really can do anything.

“And you always said I would never accomplish anything. Guess you know better now,” eh Mom? I doubt this was what you had in mind though.

I think I got everything back in the truck now. Better go check one more time just to be sure, wouldn’t want to leave any evidence behind. Nobody should be out here until next spring, and by that time the graves will have settled quite nicely.

“Bet you’re both sorry you brought me out here now aren’t ya?”

Bob always wanted peace and quiet, wasn’t that why he was always taping my mouth shut? That’s what he said anyway, and what you let him get by with. Standing there with your hands on your hips telling me it was for my own good. I wonder if you knew how much it hurt when the tape was pulled off. Not that you’d care. A little pain never hurt anyone, right?

“I guess you know first hand now,” eh Mom? “And, Bob, it doesn’t get much quieter than this!”

Yep, I got everything. No trace left behind as the hikers say. I even melted the poker down with the acid in the garage. “Remember the acid, Mom?” I sure do. I’ll never forget that day. How could I, when I have the scars to remind me?

Should I say a eulogy? How bout this:

Mom and Bob raised me well.
They taught me pain and put me through Hell.
I learned from the best how to inflict pain.
After tonight nothing will be the same.
I can go my own way; make plans,
because I finally took a stand.
No more beatings, cursing, or torture.
I put an end to it all with the fire poker.

“Pretty funny,” eh Mom? I think it’s catchy. Too bad I can’t etch it on a tombstone for the world to see. It would be nice for everyone to know just how sick and twisted both of you were.

“You want to hear the story I’ve made up for the two of you disappearing?” I’ll tell you anyway. You’ll get a kick out of it. “Remember how you always wanted to go on a world tour?” Well, you’re getting your wish.”

I’m sure you think no one will believe that because you and Bob didn’t have the money for a trip. I’ve fixed that also. You see, I won the local lottery the other day. Yep, yours truly won $50,000! Of course, I’ll tell everyone that Bob won the money and that’s how you were able to tour the world, and that I’m going to stay with family while you’re gone.

As for me, I’m taking the money and leaving. I think I’ll go to Montana. I’ve always thought it looked beautiful on television and it’s far enough away from Maine that no one should come looking for me. Not that they would anyway. You did a good job of keeping me isolated from the world. Couldn’t have them seeing the bruises now could we?

“I used to love you so much, Mom, did you know that?” You were my whole world when Daddy died. “Remember reading to me at night, taking me to the park, and helping with my homework?” I never understood how you changed so much when Bob came into the picture. It’s like you became a whole new person, doing whatever he said, never believing anything I told you. The first time you took his side over mine broke my heart.”

”Do you remember that, Mom?” When I told you Bob had touched me in places he wasn’t supposed to while you were at work? You slapped me! Yelling that I was never to say such things about Bob again, that he was a good man and was taking care of us. That was the first night you let him tape my mouth shut. I learned then that it didn’t matter what he did, you’d always believe him over me.

“Were you that desperate for love, Mom? Wasn’t my love enough?”

Well, that’s enough talking. Gotta get this show on the road. I have people to see and places to go, and you both have to get settled into Hell.

“Goodbye, Mom.”