#sixsentencestories – Page 22 – Poetry, Short Prose and Walking

Book – Six Sentence Story

Zaccheus claimed that the scribes and sinners – err, Pharisees – were better at fleecing the sheep than the average tax collector. He loved ticking people off so much that Yehováh wondered if He would ultimately have to scratch Zaccheus’ name out of the Book of Life.

To get a better view of Yeshua, Zaccheus climbed a tree. To get a better view of Zaccheus, Yeshua told him to get out of that tree so He could stay at his house.

When Zaccheus did, Yehováh was pleased. He watched His Son walk side by side with a tax collector, of all people, both of whom were ticking everyone of self-importance off along the way.

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

I am grateful to Michael Wilson who suggested using Zaccheus in a story. You can read what really happened in Luke 19:1-10.

Mundane – Six Sentence Story

The painted wall was old with an open knot hole letting those passing by peek through should any care, but in this mundane setting no one bothered. All that was on the other side was the mystery of another family’s sense of home.

Was it Bert’s family where bankruptcy and divorce left the remaining member, Bert, wondering how to get even, wondering why, wondering and then resting from wondering? Was it Clara’s family whose husband was buried last month wondering when it would be her turn and wondering how she would be able to get by on her own until then?

Was it Bill’s family where Bill suggested repentance and reconciliation for Bert as Bill’s wife stopped by to see Clara to let her know she was not alone? Was it some other family of lovers and beloved perhaps even your own?

Denise offers the word “mundane” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories. Eugenia offers “lovers” as the theme for her prompt this week.

Rambunctious – Six Sentence Story

Niko had not one but six godmothers carefully selected by his father and mother. He had just as many godfathers, too, because those godmothers were all happily married even though their marriages might have suffered through times when the husband, the wife, or usually both, were a bit rambunctious.

Being an infant Niko didn’t remember the oil anointing at his dedication, but now with the battles raging about them he gave thanks for all of his extended family who faithfully showed him by their examples the narrow path all those years. As the men and women who stood by him fell he remained fearless. He prayed that all would find their way home.

When Niko himself found his way home his mother and all those godmothers along with his father and all those godfathers rushed to welcome him laughing and singing like joyfully rambunctious children eagerly showing him by their example the dance of praise before the Lord.

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

Redemption – Six Sentence Story

Timothy was driving to a closing angry at the “idiot” going only 85 miles per hour in the fast lane. To pass the time he was wasting he went through a list of people he felt needed a piece of his mind giving the windshield a spirited round of abuse he wished those on the list could hear.

In particular he scolded his sister who kept bugging him about “repentance” and “redemption”. When she told him the second coming would be here any day now he reminded her that she told him that very same thing forty years ago and so far nothing, nothing’s happened.

Frustrated with the driver in front of him Timothy jerked his car from the fast lane into the middle lane just as another driver from the opposite side of the expressway accelerated without looking into the middle lane aiming for rapid deliverance in the fast lane. Neither knew what hit them as the traffic unfortunate enough to be following collided or braked to a stop.

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

Sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean from southern Florida

Scribe – Six Sentence Story

Gerald deciphered the script covering the small tablet. The scribe who wrote it did not anticipate that he would have a reader four thousand years in the future. Indeed, given the evils of the conquering lord whose forces had killed almost everyone in his own house, all the scribe hoped for was the world’s imminent end.

At that end, when the real Lord appeared, every tear would be wiped away as praise and thanksgiving joined in an eternal caress. The scribe prayed for mercy, or so Gerald imagined reading now between the lines of the tightly written tablet.

In the meanwhile the currently reigning lord of calamity was busy devouring the land with no time to waste on mercy.

Denise offers the word “scribe” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories. And Eugenia offers the word “caress” for her prompt this week.

Wear – Six Sentence Story

George loved to stir-fry Steve’s faults. Every now and then he force-fed Steve a taste. Steve himself had a kettle of righteousness in which he boiled every embarrassing detail he could recall or invent from George’s past.

Although this provided some satisfaction for these two friends, it never satisfied them long enough to stop.

Since so far nothing major happened neither expected anything to wear down as a result of their mischief. When it did both knew the other side needed to apologize though neither knew how they could bring themselves to forgive should that happen.

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

Shelter – Six Sentence Story

With so many things that could go wrong but wouldn’t, Brian was worried. Survival depended on manna from heaven. Having no control over heaven he wondered, What if the manna stops?

It’s not that Brian didn’t like walking on water once he knew he wouldn’t sink. It was the actual stepping out of the boat that bothered him.

Regardless of these concerns, needless perhaps but afflicting Brian’s mind, there was no other way to the shelter.

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

Juice – Six Sentence Story

George cut the lemon into halves. He squeezed the juice from each half into his water container. Then he cut the squeezed halves into quarters and ate them.

Distracted by the harmony of clouds and ocean during the morning’s sunrise, he almost forgot. He thanked God for lemons, even the most bitter ones. He thanked God for the one he received today.

Denise offers the word “juice” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories. Eugenia offers the word “harmony” to be used in this week’s Weekly Prompt.

Express – Six Sentence Story

In the dining car of the express train to hell Ryan motioned for the waiter. When the waiter arrived he complained about the quality of the food saying, “Any decent chef would know how to prepare steak and don’t forget I’m riding your train first class.”

Sitting across the aisle from Ryan was a woman who escalated her protest of his butchery of sentient life forms as soon as she heard him order the steak special. Pointing to her with his thumb Ryan asked the waiter, “And could you, please, do something about that?”

The waiter apologized saying he would personally scold the chef, however, he regretted that he could not do anything about Ryan’s fellow passenger since she also held a first class ticket. Not wanting to further alarm the woman the waiter bent down and whispered an assurance in Ryan’s ear that shortly after reaching their destination he would never see her again.

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

GirlieOnTheEdge Denise Farley's six-sentence-stories icon — GirlieOnTheEdge Denise Farley’s six-sentence-stories icon

Charm – Six Sentence Story

Beatriz’ sister told her that she could get her six-year-old son healed from his stomach pains that often left him wincing and crying for a mere $70. The bill from the hospital had already reached thousands of dollars with no hope that her son would ever get better.

Beatriz had no doubt that what her sister offered would work since she knew many who were healed through those means. However, she also knew there would be hidden costs living under the charm of a deceitful lullaby.

Within two months her son breathed his last and was buried in the church cemetery attended by friends who had prayed for them seemingly without success. However, right up to her own death forty years later Beatriz was grateful for those prayers which gave her the strength to reject her sister’s screaming, blaming and hell-bound insistence that she exchange her and her son’s souls for temporary relief.

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