Today is another writing challenge for me and for whoever wants to participate. I still haven’t decided what to call these challenges. So every week it’ll probably be called something different. haha! If you have any ideas on what to call them, please leave a comment with it. I’m open to ideas.
Today’s challenge:…….I went to the Random Story Title generator and just clicked it and thought….whatever comes up I’ll (and you also if you want!) write a flash fiction piece from that title. Luckily, the generator came up with a fun title. Let’s see what I can do with it. In five hundred words or less.
The HauntedAttic
It was three o’clock in the morning and I should have been in bed asleep. Instead, here I was with a small flashlight and a thudding heart trying to climb the attic stairs so they wouldn’t creak and wake my foster family. This was my fifth foster family in less than six months. The system labeled me as a ‘difficult’ case. Hey, just because those other foster parents were lame wasn’t my fault. They always take the adult’s word over mine, so I finally stopped trying to state my case.
This couple I landed with a couple of weeks ago seem ok. I mean, unlike the other ones, they didn’t beat me or make fun of me. They were actually kind of nice. The woman, Julie, was funny most times. The man, James, was more reserved but never raised his voice and always spoke to me like I had brains. Which I do. Have brains. I just didn’t show them much at the Home for Abandoned Children, having brains meant someone older would try to beat the crap outta you.
The last foster parents acted like I was their personal servant or something. Always ordering me around and if I didn’t do want they wanted fast enough I’d get a slap or a kick. So I got even one day and put a dead fish in their bedroom. Hid it good too. Man, that smelled after a day or two. They called the Home and off I went again. It was worth the beating I took. That dead fish smell is gonna last a long time.
I finally reached the attic door. I turned the knob and was rewarded with a small click as the door opened a crack. For the last couple of weeks, I’d been hearing soft footsteps every night above my head. The attic was above my bedroom. I asked Julie about it one morning and she just laughed and said that the house was old and I was probably hearing the creaks and groans of an old house. Then she gave me a few cookies and told me to do my homework. She didn’t make fun of me. So I let it go.
Until now. I was laying in bed and those footsteps overhead woke me up. I know they are footsteps! So, I’m here checking it out.
I ease the door open and was glad that the door didn’t squeak. I shine the flashlight around and don’t see anything much. A lot of dust, a few cobwebs and stacked up boxes. Then I spotted something in the dust on the floor. Footsteps! I knew it! So, I slowly opened the door wider and slipped inside the attic and closed the door behind me. I saw a light switch next to me on the wall and flipped the overhead light on.
Footsteps were clearly visible in the dust of the attic floor. I followed them. They stopped at a small door behind some boxes. Taking a deep breath and with my hand shaking, I slowly opened that door and stepped through. Wow! Smiling I thought to myself, I’m going to behave so I can stay in this foster home. It has the coolest attic ever!
My short story went slightly over 500 words. Give it a whirl! Tag me if you do and let me know. Thanks for reading!
I haven’t done one of these in a while, so today I thought would be a good day to do My Incomplete List of Small Pleasures.
Friends….they make me laugh, smile, think and enjoy. I have some very good friends on here. Thank you all! ❤
Sunshine…..it’s hard to feel too down when I step outside and the sun is shining, the birds are singing and the bees are buzzing. I’m so glad I can enjoy it all.
Writing….it has saved my sanity. It helps me feel like I’ve accomplished something in life. Finally.
Music….When I’m feeling really low as I have the past few weeks since mom died, music has soothed me. I listen to it and it helps calm my soul.
Reading….I’ve been doing a whole lot of reading lately. If I’m not listening to music, I’m reading. I’ve been reading books that take me away for a while, that pull me into another world and let me forget about some things.
My dog Sam….. Most of you know how much I love this little dog. He seems to know when I need extra attention. He will even let me hug him (he hates getting hugged). At night when we first go to bed, we have this little hugging session. Then he lays as close to me as he can and lays his head on my stomach. It makes me feel better.
Good hearted people…… They are out there folks. After I read about all the horrible things people can do to others my heart warms when I find one that is friendly and warm-hearted.
The inventor of the electric fan……. Really. It’s been a bit on the warm side here this week and I have fans all over the house. Especially in my bedroom. Not only do they cool me off, they provide that necessary ‘white sound’ that I need to go to sleep. So yay, Mr. Inventor! (I would Google who invented it, but I’m lazy)
List posts……..Because without them, my blogging days would be even less lately. ha!
Today I thought I would start a new kind of series here on my blog. Not sure what the name will be. Maybe you can help me with that. On Tuesdays, I thought of writing 100-word stories.
I used to do something similar a few years ago where I’d write a hundred word stories from a picture prompt. It’s not as easy as it sounds. I thought, why limit myself to just picture prompts? Why not go for word prompts or subject prompts? Or as I did last week and took a random first line and added to it.
I had forgotten how much fun those flash fiction stories were to write. It also helps hone my writing skills. So I would say it’s a win-win situation. Of course, any of you are welcome to write along with me. If not write, then read and give feedback. It all helps.
Today I’m going to write about a random subject. There are all sorts of word/sentence/etc generators out there. It’s fun and educational! Let’s get started……..
The random subject the generator came up with is: Write about someone who irritates you.
*The Loudmouth (99 words)
Everyone in the bar heard him. Drunk as usual.
“My siblings have no respect! I’m the oldest, they should listen to me!”
A few customers moved down the bar, hoping he’d get the hint and shut up. They’d all heard it before, many times the last few weeks.
“My parents loved me more than those morons. They did!” He argued with imaginary foes. “They left everything to me. Those idiots will find out soon enough.”
**************
“Mr. Stevens, your parents will is quite clear…your siblings get the majority of your parent’s estate. They left you ten dollars.” The lawyer stated.
*(Yes, this is based on someone I know)
Do you have any ideas what to call my new blog series of flash fiction? I’m open to ideas. Thanks!
Today I thought I would do some actual creative writing. It’s been a long time since I’ve done that. I couldn’t think of what to write but then found this nifty page with a bunch of writing prompt generators. The one I’m using today is ‘Random First Line Generator‘.
I hope you enjoy my little flash fiction.
There was something not quite right about the window. Nothing stood out odd but there was something ‘off’. Like it had some of that old glass in it that when you looked through it made things off-balance. Yet the realtor said it was a new house. Built about ten years ago. The reason Clair bought it was because of its location. It was in the middle of a small woodland area. Yet in the middle of a large city.
Clair fell in love with it as soon as she saw it. On the small size but just right for her. The woods surrounding it were full of birds and wildlife and Clair felt at home the first time she stepped foot inside. Which was odd as Clair was a city girl, born and raised. She loved the city with its bustle and hustle, people coming and going no matter what time of the day. Always something to do, something to see, people around. She never thought she would like a home like this one but she fell in love with it and bought it that same day.
Now that she was all moved in and pretty much settled she had time to think about that odd window. Clair sat on the sofa with a well-earned glass of red wine and looked at the window. Taking small sips of her wine she studied it. It looked like the other windows of the house. White trimmed, looking out the left side of the house. It didn’t have drapes on it nor window blinds. Which was kind of odd as all the other windows in the house had mini blinds on them and this one was bare.
Clair got up from the couch and walked in front of the window and looked out. Not having drapes or mini blinds wasn’t a problem as the window faced a rather dense thicket and she knew the sun never directly shown through this window. Now that she was thinking about the window, it was strange that this window was the only one on this side of the house. Walking closer to the window she saw her own reflection staring back at her. It was almost like she was looking in a mirror until she once again noticed the thicket behind her reflection. Standing close to the window she raised her hand and using just her index finger she put it close to the window pane, she didn’t touch it, just skimmed it as she watched a butterfly making its slow way through the thicket outside.
She always was fascinated by butterflies and her smile showed her joy in watching it. Once it disappeared she turned from the window and walked back to the couch. “Enough of these fanciful flights,” she muttered out loud.
She picked up her wine glass once more from the coffee table and glanced at the odd window. Something drew her to it so she slowly wandered over to stand in front of it again. Taking a small sip of wine she noticed a small smudge on the window pane. Clair thought she must have touched the pristine window after all. She drew a kleenex from her jeans pocket and stepping close to the window she wiped at the smudge her finger had left on the window.
Frowning she noticed the smudged fingerprint still there so she wiped harder. Clair’s eyes widened with sudden realization……the fingerprint was on the outside of the glass!
The glass slipped from her hand and the wine spilled over the floor like blood as Clair slowly moved her eyes from the fingerprint to her reflection. She drew in her breath as her reflection smiled and gave her a slight wave. She quickly stepped back when the reflection in the glass took a step closer to the window, pursed her lips and blew a fog onto the window. With her fingertip, Clair’s twin on the other side of the window slowly wrote out two words……..
It’s been quite a while since I wrote one of these Monday Meeting posts. So grab yourself something to drink and sit a spell.
Let me just freshen my coffee and I’ll tell you what I’ve been up to.
Ah, there we go. So, how is everyone doing? I’ve read about the terrible shooting in Orlando. So sad. I’ve read a lot of comments on posts about the shooting and let me ask you something…..has everyone gone completely crazy?? I tell you the comments are almost as bad as the shooting! People! Where has your common sense gone? Where is your compassion? Your love of other human beings? It saddened me that there were so many hateful comments. So many people took the opportunity to rant about the US government and blame Obama once more. Obama is no more to blame than I am! Come on people. One man went in there. One man made the decision to shoot those people. One man decided he was more important, more worthy, more whatever and decided to kill a bunch of strangers. One man with a gun. And his name wasn’t Obama.
Then, of course, you had comments that went off the rail about gun control. I won’t even go there. People need to wake up and smell the gun powder……but enough said on that also. My blog is not going to be the stomping ground for arguments. I won’t go there. I just feel so terribly sad for the many people affected by one man’s decision. The world is a scary, scary place where you have a place with little gun control and possibly a future president that is just as crazy and egotistical as the shooter.
I love my homeland, the USA but I’m so very sad of where it is right now and where it’s heading.
That’s about as political as I’ll ever get on here. Sorry folks. Just had to get it out there.
On to more personal news. The husband is finished with his chemo treatments. Yay!! This was his last month of them. He says he’s feeling better and his stomach seems to be doing much better. We have one more visit with the Cancer Clinic at the end of the month. Of course, he will have to have another CAT scan and colonoscopy to make sure everything is ok. They have already told us that he will have to be monitored for the next three to five years to make sure he stays cancer free. Still, it’s good to hear him say he’s feeling better.
That’s not going to help his health in other ways. He will always be disabled and in pain because of his back but at least we don’t have to worry too much about cancer now. And believe me, that was one big worry. It will also mean fewer pills for him to take, fewer doctor visits, less hospital visits. Less of a lot of things. So, it’s all good.
As for me. I seem to be in limbo. Ever since my mom died a couple of weeks ago, I feel like I’m just treading water. One good thing that has come out of it is that my sister and I are talking again. We are back to being friends……well…..back to being sisters anyway. Maybe the friend part will come later. I call her every weekend and we talk for a couple of hours. It’s nice. Especially since I was feeling a bit adrift as I used to call my mom every weekend.
Otherwise, I’ve been reading. A lot. One book after another. It’s what I seem to fall back on when I’m grieving. I remember I did it when I found out dad had died too. I just buried myself in books. Maybe I’m hiding. I don’t know. It’s my way to deal with things. I haven’t been writing. I just can’t seem to settle long enough to write. I do hope it will pass. I’m sure it will. Do you think it will?
I’ve also been cleaning house. Getting rid of stuff we don’t use. Just overall cleaning. It tires me out so I can sleep at night. It also makes me sore as hell but the place is looking good! I found out I’m not as young as I used to be. I tell you this getting older is hell. Things I used to do with ease, even ten years ago, is much harder now. I have aches where I never had them. Sigh. I hate that part of growing older. Better than the alternative, eh.
So, as with life, there have been bad things and good things going on. I’m hoping for more good for a while. I need to step back from the bad…..just for a bit longer…..and adjust.
Hello, People! I’m trying to get my life back to normal again. Well, as normal as I’ll ever be, which seems to change with the wind. So it is, so it will ever be.
Today’s post is going to be a TMI post but in a fun way (I hope). My friend (who goes by many names) did a post called ‘The Slightly TMI List of Questions‘. She’s a funny lady and I love her muchly so I thought I would steal the post from her and do my own.
Are you ready? And off we go………..
1 – Boxer shorts or budgy smugglers?
I would have to say boxer shorts. I like using my imagination…….
2 – What color of underwear are you currently wearing?
I’m old….so white it is. Yeah, boring right?
3 – How long have you been wearing them for?
I could lie and say for a week and gross you all out….but I won’t. ha! Since I got dressed, about an hour ago.
4 – Do you ever use binoculars to watch people?
I don’t own any binoculars (note to self…get a pair of binoculars). If I DID own a pair I don’t think I would watch people with them. I prefer nature. You know, birds and animals and such. People I watch anyway, just with my regular old eyes. People are such strange creatures……
5 – Have you ever kicked someone in the groin?
Yes, I have. It was kind of accidently on purpose.
6 – Would you pull a trigger?
Yes, and I have a few times. At targets. Now if you had asked ‘would you pull a trigger at somebody’ the answer would be the same. Yes. I have a couple of times. Don’t worry, I never hit them. Just needed to scare them a bit. Which I did. If I wouldn’t have, I would in all probability not be here today so my conscious is clear.
7 – If you met your favorite celebrity, and they wanted to make out with you, would you?
I’m not even sure if I have a favorite celebrity. So it’s a maybe. Eh, who knows.
8 – Have you ever slept in the same bed with someone you were not in a relationship with (not talking about sex and one-night-stands)?
Sure, lots of times. Haven’t most of us?
9 – Have you had one-night-stands?
Yes, I have. Hey, you don’t get to be this age and not experiment or have a life, right? Right!
10 – Does sex have the same importance to you now compared to when you were younger?
Short answer….no. I’m at that age where I know sex isn’t that important anymore. Companionship, friendship, and communication have become more important. You’ll get there one day, my friends. Wait and see.
11 – Have you ever eaten a worm?
Not that I know of. But saying that, I cannot say for sure, as I used to drink Tequila. 😉 Who knows if I did or didn’t while doing so.
12 – What’s the grossest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Liver! That is the nastiest thing. Ugh. Now I’ve eaten grasshoppers, bees, ants, snake and assorted other creatures, but liver of any kind is just nasty.
13 – How long do you spend sitting on the toilet?
Have I mentioned that I’m old? So I have spent way too much time on the toilet than I should have to.
14 – What do you do when you sit there (besides the obvious)?
I don’t read, text or anything like that. I sometimes come up with story lines, though. Well, I did warn you guys that there will be TMI. ha!
15 – Have you ever been peed at?
Anyone who has ever changed a diaper of a little boy has been peed at. I don’t have kids but I’ve babysat them. I’ve also been peed at by dogs when they get too excited. So yeah, I have.
16 – What’s the grossest thing you have ever swallowed?
Oysters. I swear it’s like swollowing snot. Ugh. Or liver….again.
17 – What’s the constantly dirtiest place in your home?
My friend said cat box and I have to agree with her. I have two huge cats. So yeah, I would say the cat box.
18 – Why don’t you clean it?
Why don’t you clean it! Sorry…..got a bit defensive there….. um, I DO clean it. Every day. They like to come in right after I’m done and do their thing. Sigh…..it’s never ending because they are cats.
19 – Do you eat your boogers?
Really? You had to go there? I don’t eat them. Eck. I knew a kid in school who used to. He would sit in class all day and munch down. He didn’t have any friends. Kids are like that.
20 – Can you describe the one smell that makes you gag?
I have a very strong stomach. It would take something major to make me gag. I’m sitting here thinking, give me a minute……. Ok, all I get is rubbing alcohol. It doesn’t really make me gag, it’s more like a rolling of the stomach and a faint feeling. Yeah, I’m weird.
21 – Have you ever had head lice?
No. Even in school. Most of the kids would get them but I never did. Believe me, my mom checked.
22 – Have you ever been utterly disappointed in someone?
Yes, too often.
23 – Have you ever been scared of someone?
Yes, I have. When you look in the eyes of stone cold killer, you tend to get scared.
24 – What do you do when you’re drunk that you wouldn’t want anyone to know about?
I had to really go back a ways on this one. Way back. I came up with…nothing. Even when I was young, I never got that drunk that I didn’t know what I was doing. I might not have cared if I did it, but I never did anything I was ashamed about. I like being in control.
25 – Have you tried pole dancing?
No. If I was younger and more in shape I might as I’ve heard it’s good exercise. Plus have you ever seen what those people can do on one of those poles? They are fantastic!
26 – Have you been in a strip club?
Yes and I have never seen the fascination with them.
27 – Have you ever run over an animal?
Yeah, I did once. Even though it was a skunk I felt terrible for days.
28 – Have you ever peed in snow?
I don’t remember ever doing so. So I’m going with no.
29 – Have you ever made fun of someone and then regretted it?
Once. I did that in grade school. Felt bad about it and tried not to do it again. Unfortunately, I probably did do it again. Sigh, I’m bad.
30 – What’s your favorite kind of question on Cards for Humanity (if you know the game)?
Never played the game.
31 – If the father of your best friend hit on you, what would you say to him?
I don’t believe the father of my best friend is alive anymore. Well, I know one isn’t. The other best friend is almost my age and her father is very old. Doubt it would happen.
32 – Would you go out on a date with someone half your age or double your age?
I had to laugh at this one. Half my age? If I wasn’t married. Maybe. haha! Double my age? Not unless I’m into dating dead guys. As believe me they would be way dead!
33 – Do you clean the sink after brushing your teeth?
I don’t clean it no. I do however rinse it out….because ewwwwww.
34 – Have you ever spat in someone’s food or drink?
Ugh, no!
35 – Have you ever kissed someone only to be grossed out afterwards?
Oh gods, yeah I have. Like my friend’s answer, my ex used to do snuff. Now that is some nasty crap. Also, I never liked beer, so any guy that was drinking beer. Ugh.
36 – What is your number one goal in life, and are you living it?
Well, right now, my number one goal in life is to live, so yeah, I’m living it. hahahaha
37 – Do you spy on your neighbor(s)? If yes, why?
I wouldn’t call it spying. More like an interested bystander. Yeah, that’s so much classier than ‘spy’. Why? Because people are weird.
38 – Have you ever danced and/or cried in the rain?
Yes to both. I’ve cried in the rain when my heart was broken and it just happened to be raining and I was outside. I danced in the rain because I could.
39 – Have you ever ditched work to just chill out on your own (with or without Netflix)?
Yes, because I am an introvert and I need to recharge. When I used to work outside the home I would take a day here and there and just enjoy the silence and be at peace for a little while.
40 – What do you wish you were doing right now (uncensored)?
Right now? I wish I was talking to mom on the phone and telling her I love her. Since I will never be able to do that again, I wish I was in the forest taking a long walk with nature and enjoying the sounds of it, the smell of it, the peacefulness of it.
Or I was sitting watching and listening to a violent thunderstorm.
There you have it folks. If you want to do this let me know and link up! If not, I understand. Love you guys.
As many of you know, my mom passed away last Wednesday. Later today is her funeral. There will be a viewing from 4 -7 pm in Wabeno, Wisconsin with a service afterward. After that, she will be cremated and her ashes scattered close to where my dad’s ashes were scattered years before.
I won’t be there in physical form, as I live in Canada now, but I most certainly will be there in spirit. I’m sure, if she can, mom knows my heart is with her. I’m also sure her services will be lovely.
Since I can’t be there to pay my respects, I thought I would dedicate this post to her. It’s not really a poem, more like free-falling thoughts.
This one’s for you, Mom. I love and miss you.
Mom
I won’t pretend that you were an angel
Now that you’re gone
You would have hated that description
I won’t pretend that you were perfect,
As we both knew you weren’t
You were happy just being you in all your
imperfections
You had a fast temper and your brown eyes would snap
with fire as you told whoever displeased you to…
“knock it off!”
You could hold a grudge better than anyone I ever knew
Life, Love & Strength 