I wasn’t there to plant this spring. The morning glories didn’t care. They’re back again off climbing where I left some soil. No watering But they still rose. It’s comforting That when I fail they ever grow Although forgotten. Watch them show Their bright green leaves each like a heart. I see the buds break out and start To bloom again. There! Off they go.
Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challege with the rhyme word “grow” in the c position of the rhyme scheme, abbaaccddc.
The week was hot and Gloria listened to her grandson Brian justify the latest rally with such fervor that she felt his self-righteousness pummel her aging body. She was young once herself, but she wished Brian didn’t have to learn things the hard way just as her father wished the same for her.
In response to her objections Brian increased the force of his argumentation until his mother, tired of overhearing them, called to him from the kitchen. Wiping her eyes Gloria wondered why people couldn’t see how easy it was to waste their short lives.
Brian agreed to apologize and the next morning he brought in a tray with his grandma’s breakfast, but after trying he couldn’t wake her. He yelled for his dad while outside a storm began pounding a heavy shower battling the heat wave.
Linked to GirlieOnTheEdge’s Six Sentence Story with the prompt word “shower”.
Jim spent decades getting sick without realizing it. When finally diagnosed with an autoimmune disease he didn’t believe it. Sure he had a belly, but he felt fine. Reality smacked him and he rejected all prescribed medications. He would rewind his life’s bad habits starting with his diet.
That took time, but he lost weight. His biomarkers improved. The diet became habitual. Jim forgot he was even on it.
He stopped thinking about himself. He realized he was consuming less. Perhaps even he, old Jim, could steward the earth rather than want to eat more and more of it.
Linked to the Carrot Ranch July 23 Flash Fiction Challenge where Charli Mills offers the theme of “a story to show what it is to protect nature around us”.
Our lives seem flippant, short and free. We need some rules and if you find One that might work, slow down. Be kind. Don’t fight for every cause you see For some turn sour eventually. So stand up strong for what is right. Obediently praise the light, But fear that foul self-righteousness. Out back’s a bucket for such mess With soap to make your stained clothes bright.
Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the challenge is to use “kind” as a rhyme work in either line 2 or 3.
Jim noticed the movement of the mist on the pond as he went to the garden. He had a hunch Mary would be tending the vines.
She told him she was pregnant. One can’t escape consequences and sometimes one doesn’t want to.
I could have said they smiled, but no. They laughed and made new plans.
Linked to GirlieOnTheEdge Six Sentence Story with the prompt word “hunch”.
Rough around the edges, Smoother where it shows - Plants know well how rough we get. Make room. Watch out. They'll grow.
Linked to Cosmic Photo Challenge where Dale offers the theme of “the rough with the smooth”.
Also linked to Trent P. McDonald’s The Weekly Smile. The weeks go by and I have the same things to smile about – pleasant social relationships (although modified by social distancing) and we are able to take walks. I have been to the forest preserve multiple times.
Jeremy stepped inside. In his ear he heard, “Stay near the door. Don’t respond to anything they say.”
“Look. That guy’s back.”
“OK, let’s finish this. You’re going to get what’s coming to you. You hear me? No one will care how loud you scream in this place.”
The five men stepped out of the safety of the shadows moving toward Jeremy. When they were visible in the middle of the room, shots shattered the windows.
Jeremy heard a gunfight outside. His earphone went silent. He wondered what happened. Was it safe to leave?
He left the room anyway.
Linked to Carrot Ranch July 16 Flash Fiction Challenge to write a 99-word story with the theme “scream inside your heart”.
I knew it was a common bird That helped me build a nice display. I took the photo anyway. I wanted truth to match the word In fullness that was not absurd. It made no sound. It didn't sing. It might have sung of anything, But flew away. The sun will set. Before it does I want to get Prepared to be the gift I bring.
Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the challenge word is “bird”.
It was a mistake telling George about those aliens who wanted me to hop on board their flying saucer for some zany experiments.
George explained to me that my aliens either were delusions or they were demons monkeying with me and he didn’t care which I picked as long as I didn’t believe there were actual aliens out there since any rational person knows they couldn’t exist and they wouldn’t exist if they wanted to.
He’s usually right, and so I picked the demonic monkeys.
That’s when a flying saucer popped in front of us and a squeaky voiced alien asked George if he would like to hop in for some nice experiments.
I gave them both an all-knowing smile.
As George hopped in he told me I would have to gaslight myself until he got back.
Linked to GirlieOnTheEdge’s Six Sentence Stories with the prompt word “zany”.
Linked to Cosmic Photo Challenge where Dale offers the theme of “our feathered friends”. The birds above are evident, and noisy. You might miss the ones below. They are nearly in the center, wading, who knows why, across the lagoon.
Also linked to Trent P. McDonald’s The Weekly Smile. It has been a beautiful week in Northbrook, Illinois. I was able to walk about Somme Woods and Skokie Lagoons Forest Preserves, enough to put a smile on my face.
Poetry, Short Prose and Walking 