Once again Gerald realized he messed things up. He got a grip on reality to make his way back through deceitful waves to the sanity of shore.
Then he saw an arm extend toward him with a voice saying, “Take my hand!”
Nah, that can’t be real, Gerald thought. The one reaching out to him roughed up the waves a bit more figuring Gerald wasn’t desperate enough.
Gerald valued assistance, but he was under orders not to bend his knee to just anyone and that hand hadn’t properly authenticated itself.
Denise offers the word “grip” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Story.


To thine own self be true – and trust your instincts! Appears Gerald did just that.
Good lesson of a Six, Frank 🙂
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He did. Thank you, Denise!
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A hand that would rough up the waters that way probably can’t be trusted, i am glad he didn’t.
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It is not the kind of hand to trust. Thank you!
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liked the ‘authenticated itself’ line.
Smile at the end of a story with a message is that much more memorable.
Good Six.
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Thank you, Clark!
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Glad he followed the orders he was given about assistance! I guess that’s a good lesson for everyone: when assistance is offered, be sure of the reason for the offer!
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He knew the deception he had to avoid. Thank you, Dyanne!
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A person can be too trusting… fortunately this wasn’t a ruse Gerald was going to fall for!
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He knew better. Thank you, Chris!
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What a great choice! Thanks for the great story. Blessings.
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Thank you!
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Great story, Frank! Not everyone can be trusted to lead us in the right direction.
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That’s right. Thank you, Eugenia!
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You’re welcome, Frank!
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good six and good lesson for all of us. leadership needs skepticism. good job on this.
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It is good to be wary. Thank you!
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Sanity of shores has such a nice ring to it.. I’m definitely going it remember this one.
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I am glad you liked that phrase. Thank you!
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A great story, I enjoyed reading!
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Thank you, Pragalbha!
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So succinct! A big message in those few words. Great job, Frank!
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Thank you, Susan!
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What great lines. . .”make his way back through deceitful waves to the sanity of shore” and “that hand hadn’t properly authenticated itself.”
A message of great import wrapped up in few words. Well done.
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Thank you, Pat!
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It’s not always easy to resist temptation in circumstances such as that. Hopefully, following orders was the right thing to do.
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Good point: Sometimes the orders can be wrong. Thank you, Keith!
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Seems he had his senses and instincts about him. Good setting of the shore and sea.
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He did even though he messes things us. Thank you!
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