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.
The cloudy image on the lake Comes from the gracious morning light We left the darkness of the night, Became aware of what’s at stake. We now renew, rejoice, remake, Reflect on what we know as true. Our part seems small, like morning dew, But later when the victory’s won We may find out it was well done And fully know and be known too.
Linked to Ronovan Writes Decima Poetry Challenge with the word “true” appearing as one of the rhyme words in the c stanza. The full pattern is abbaaccddc.
Attracted by the morning sun And by the people who Toss wondrous crumbs into the sky That every bird with brains must try. What else is there to do?
Today, I’m glad and feeling fine. My thoughts are cloud-free clear. Tomorrow rain may soak my roots Nourishing those fresh young shoots While I am standing here.
Linked to Cosmic Photo Challenge where Dale offers the theme of “a wet weekend”. My weekend was more like the photo below than the one above, but they both have water in them.
Also linked to Trent P. McDonald’s The Weekly Smile. I have been taking this past week morning walks starting around 5:15 AM to watch the sun rise in Techny Park (Northbrook, Illinois). Watching it rise through the trees and then being reflected on the pond has made me smile.
Morning sun in neighbor’s window, Pond reflects the cloudy sky. Should I search, distort the season, Expose the surface, buttress reason? Look. Stay true. Don’t fear the why.
Poetry, Short Prose and Walking 