Consequences—Six Sentence Story

If you think you did it you haven’t figured out yet what actually happened.

After reading this message which Arthur found in his cookie he was convinced that the insanity of humanity had finally arrived. The chef hand made these cookies daily chuckling as he wrapped cryptic kindnesses to pass on to his customers.

Although Arthur was offended by the thought of receiving revelation from sources outside his own mental swamp, he had to admit that the soups, breads and coffees were exquisite. Other patrons with their heads screwed on better found the odd messages innocuously entertaining if not delightfully subversive.

Regardless of Arthur’s philosophical commitments the café was so busy that if he actually did boycott it in protest, which he often insisted he just might do one day, the only consequences would be a shorter line for those who couldn’t wait to get in.

______

Denise offers the word “consequences” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories.

Seaweed floating to shore
Seaweed floating to shore

Show Us Your Bloomers

Dale offers the prompt “show us your bloomers” for this week’s Cosmic Photo Challenge. He clarifies that by “bloomers” he means flowers.

The first photo is of blackberry blossoms along the wilder parts of Regent Parkway. I know they are blackberries because I ate some last summer.

The second one is of some pink flowers along a trail through the various communities in the Fort Mill area. I don’t know what they are but I am glad they were there.

Blackberry Blossoms
Pink Flowers

Second Try—Six Sentence Poetry Slam

I once had a second or two.
So I did with them what I could do.
Well, I schemed. Then I cried.
How those seconds flew by!
Now they’re gone like a dream I outgrew.

______

Denise offers the prompt word “second” for this week’s Six Sentence Poetry Slam. I also posted this on Poet’s Corner.

Second—Six Sentence Story and Poetry Slam

As Steven entered the computer lab where he cursed a mindless machine a few weeks ago the next second the clicking of keyboards stopped while the students waited to see what would happen. He thought we all knew where he had been and what he had done, but—except for me who heard from a friend of a friend—they likely knew nothing nor wanted to know what he had been up to.

After being dumped under the interstate with the homeless Steven was able to confirm his identity, change his locks and get a new phone. This left him at a point—actually any point on that turning carousel would do—when he had an opportunity to change his mind and follow through by jumping off the merry-go-round.

I don’t know what happened to Steven beyond that point being more interested in my future wife sitting next to me rather than either the assignment on the monitor or Steven’s future antics. I sometimes wondered about him, though, wishing him the best, but only sometimes since both of us, grandma and grandpa now, have had plenty of merry-go-rounds of our own we didn’t want to jump off of even when we knew that was the only way.

______

Denise offers the word “second” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories.

This is the final story in a four part series about Steven circling back to the computer lab. After the lab it followed Steven to the caverns of a little Babylon. Last week Steven found himself dumped in a homeless camp under an interstate. Today, we are back in that computer lab long, long ago when your grandfathers were dating your grandmothers and your father and mother were still a twinkle in their eyes.

There is also a poetry slam going on this week at the café. I asked Steven if he would like to participate. Unfortunately, he agreed. Here’s his poem.

     Hello.  My name is Steven.  
 I like running my mouth as much as 
            the next guy 
         especially that guy, 
               Frank, 
    who thinks he knows 
       what happened to me 
          in those caverns 
  the second some nosy, UNRELIABLE 
    source who   NEVER!!!!   liked me 
     in the    FIRST    place offers 
   a tall tale explaining 
          why I wasn't in class.  

        What Frank doesn't KNOW
  is I was out saving a damsel 
            IN DISTRESS!!!! 
      ——— yeah, that's right ———
  from the very DRAGONS of Blislisnis 
        HE PUT THERE HIMSELF!!!!  
              
He forgot to mention that.
  
Of course, he'd forget to mention that.

I plead the Fifth Amendment on any probing question about those dragons.

Lighter Mornings/Longer Evenings

Dale offers the prompt “lighter mornings/longer evenings” for this week’s Cosmic Photo Challenge.

Below is my favorite morning photo. It is like a burst of fresh light in my mind.

The final two photos are of evenings. The last one was taken last night about 8 PM.

Sunrise with two birds
Sunrise with two birds
Full moon
Regent Parkway, Fort Mill, SC

Six Poems—Tiny Book

While looking at LaTeX templates for brochures I noticed LianTze Lim’s PocketMod package which allows one to typeset eight smaller pages on a single letter-size sheet of paper. After printing it one would fold it in half lengthwise, then fold it in half again and then again. That produces a tiny book that fits in the pocket of a t-shirt or can be used as a bookmark.

So, I put together six poems into a book which you are free to download and print, if you wish. Although I added color to the PDF file, I normally print this in black and white and landscape mode and use it as a bookmark.

sixpoems-1Download

For those who would like the see the LaTeX commands, I placed the files on Google Drive under Six Poems.

Valet—Six Sentence Story

Steven woke from his misadventures in the caverns of Blislisnis lying on the ground by the tents of the homeless where the Caverns Valet Service sometimes parked people who were still alive. After regaining consciousness he asked a man sitting nearby how he got there.

“You must have called upon the name of the Lord,” the man answered, “but they told me to tell you they got tired of feeding you like a dog.”

Steven noticed that his wallet and keys were missing and his phone was smashed.

“Don’t go back to those caverns, son,” the man said.

Steven left the man walking in a direction that seemed as good as any to reach home if he would only persist this time in going there.

______

Denise offers the word “valet” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories. Steven’s story continues from last week. It will be completed next week.

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.