Story Fragment #25: Carol

Carol was in the middle of what felt like the longest shift in the world. It seemed as if every difficult customer in the store was choosing to come through her checkout line today. If she didn't get to take her break soon, she was afraid she would snap. But for now, she put on a bright smile and faced her next customer, who just happened to be a harried-looking young woman with three children.

"Did you find everything you were looking for today?" Carol asked, feigning cheerfulness.

"All except for the magic pills to calm these guys down," the woman laughed hollowly, gesturing toward the children.

As if on cue, all three children began to grumble. "Mom, I'm hungry. Can we go home now? Can we get some candy?"

Their mother sighed. "It's been like this all morning. I'm not sure if they got up on the wrong side of the bed, or if I did, but nothing is satisfying them." She turned to her children and continued. "We'll have lunch when we get home, which will be just as soon as we finish here. And no one's getting any candy, because it would spoil your appetite for lunch."

As Carol rang up the purchases, the three children to grumble under their breath, and their mother just looked more tired. Carol felt sorry for her, realizing that most of her days were probably like this. "I hope you have a better afternoon---maybe everybody needs a nap and a reset."

The young mother sighed deeply once again. "Thanks! That would be wonderful, but I'm not counting on it."

Writing exercise: emotion restrained vs. freely expressed

Frustration, restrained
Jackie Turner sat in her home office, cell phone pressed to her ear, wondering if she had heard her new client correctly.

"Mr. Anderson, are you sure you want to go with that color scheme in the entire apartment? What about adding a little variety?"

She gritted her teeth as she listened to his response. "Yes, of course it's your decision, sir. I just thought--" She listened again as he interrupted her, more insistent than before.

As the client continued to share his vision, Jackie wiped her hand across her face, wanting to erase all the tension.


Frustration, freely expressed

Pacing the small kitchen of her apartment, Jackie rubbed the back of her neck absentmindedly as she muttered to herself. "Of all the ridiculous ideas! How am I supposed to work with this moron?"

"What's wrong, Jax?" her roommate, Chloe, asked as she entered the room.

Jackie sighed heavily. "New client--he wants me to decorate his new condo totally in zebra stripes. The walls, the carpet, the furniture--everything!"

Chloe chuckled before responding. "Sounds, umm, shall we say---interesting?"

Jackie groaned and sat down, her hands held against the sides of her head. "Yes, let's say that. Interesting sounds so much better than what I'm thinking."

Writing Exercise: One character has a negative character trait

Tony looked at Angela in disgust. "What do you mean you don't want to go to my parents' house on Christmas? It's a tradition!"

Angela sighed deeply and tried to remain calm. "But this is the first year Susie has really been old enough to enjoy the whole tree, presents, Santa thing and I want her to have those memories in OUR house. I'm sure your family will understand.

"No, they will not understand, because I don't understand! We've always driven up on Christmas Eve and been there for Christmas Day. I don't see any reason why we need to change that now. Susie can make wonderful memories there."

"But everything there has to be done just the way your family's always done it, and I want Susie to have some of the traditions from my family, too."

"Oh please! No one has ever complained about it before--my family has been doing things this way for generations. It makes for a lovely, organized holiday."

"A boring, strictly scheduled holiday, you mean," muttered Angela.

"Enough!" hissed Tony. "We're going, and that's the end of the story."

Friday Poetry Day: Acrostic Poems

Leaving the old life behind

Inner peace at last

Breaking the chains

Escaping the abuse

Realizing your worth

After so many years

Taking steps out of the darkness

Into a brand new world

Opening new doors

Never looking back.

-------------------------

Loneliness sets in

Overwhelming everything

Sharing memories

Souls are touched

Descriptive scene

It was a beautiful summer Saturday and most of the residents of the small town were taking advantage of it.

On Main Street, a young man stood on a corner, playing his guitar and singing. As he sang, he drew courage from the special guitar pick in his pocket--the one signed by Eric Clapton.

At the park, people were engaged in a variety of activities. Children were running, laughing, and enjoying the playground. There was a man selling balloons and another selling ice cream. On a wooden bench, a mother held her crying young daughter close as they sadly watched her red balloon float higher and higher into the sky.

In a secluded corner of the park, a young couple spread a blanket beneath the trees and began to remove their picnic lunch from a well-worn wicker basket which had once belonged to the woman's grandmother.

Story Fragment #24: End Of The Rainbow

PROMPT: You and a friend decide to follow a rainbow. Write what you find at the end and how it changes your life.


The driving rain was finally letting up and I peered out the front door cautiously. Leaning over my shoulder, my friend Alex pointed toward the sky.

"Check out the double rainbow!"

Sure enough, there was a bright arc of color right above us, with a paler one nestled beneath it.  Looking again, I made an amazing discovery.

"Hey, Alex is it my imagination, or does it look like they touch the ground on the other side of town?"

Alex smiled indulgently. "Meg, Meg, Meg. You know rainbows don't really touch the ground, right? And if you think you'll find a pot of gold---"

"It could happen!" I interrupted. "Come on, let's just go check it out. What could it hurt?"

Mumbling about "too many fairy tales" and "complete waste of time," Alex pulled his car keys from his pocket and we were off on our adventure.

Five minutes later, we arrived at McDougal Park, just outside our hometown of Donegal. I raced across the parking lot and through a grove of trees toward the clearing where it looked like the rainbow ended. I was sure I'd find something amazing there, even if it wasn't a leprechaun and his pot of gold.

As I burst into the clearing, I felt totally vindicated. We had reached the end of the rainbow, after all. Unfortunately, it appeared we weren't the first. Standing at the foot of the rainbow was a man about our age who looked to be about six feet tall with an athletic build. He had pale skin that almost glowed in the sunlight, and wavy brown hair framed his face. As I got closer, I could see his shimmering light blue eyes, which nearly had me mesmerized.

But then I remembered my mission. "Where's my treasure? What have you done with it?"

"Your treasure? It's right here, lassie. I've come to bring you true love."

FRIDAY POETRY DAY: Mother's Day, Then And Now

In the early days of May

The house filled with sounds

Of not so quiet whispers

And joyful giggles

As Mother's Day surprises were planned.

When the big day arrived

They brought handmade cards 

And gifts made at home or school

Presented with smiles and declarations

Of "I love you, Mommy."

Years later, all grown up

With families of their own,

That day in May is nearly forgotten--

Remembered with a quick phone call,

A hastily chosen card, a few words on Facebook.

They don't seem to remember

That the greatest gift they have to give

Is just to give her themselves.