Saturday Centus ~ Hanging

It's Saturday, or in my case, the very remnants of Saturday ... on the verge of Sunday ...

Another cold rainy day here on the West Coast ... will summer ever come?

Our Dear Miss Jenny has surprised all of Centusians with another photo prompt and a total of 100 words to play with.  Here is my little entry, I came in at 99 words ... 

Hanging

Suspended mid-air

I feel like I can float.

Closing my eyes, I lean back as far as I can,

I feel like I am the cloud, 

that blots the heat of the sun,

from the cold earth. 

Leaning from  side to side 

I can sway,  

softly,

gently.

The cloud, now buffeted by angel’s wings.

Their gentle feathers just out of reach,

But in my mind I can feel them, 

smell them, 

and see them.

I am at peace in my sway,

in my dream .

Reality is,

I am still just hanging

Not up,

Not down  

just suspended  

mid-air.

Happy Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians ... we are a grand 145 years old ... and Happy July the 4th to my American friends ... 

I hope you can grab some time to read some other short offerings ... just click on the Jenny button below to get to the linky!

Saturday Centus ~ The Whine

Late ... again ... and it's not that I have been procrastinating,(which is the usual cause of my lateness) ... I have been diligently writing my saturday centus posts ... I just have not felt like posting them ... and I'm not to sure why ... and lately I have been writing only conversations ... hmm, i wonder why?

So this week, I'm rejoining Jenny's meme and posting ... The prompt this .... actually last Saturday was "It's an amusing little whine"
That gives us 100 words plus the 5 prompt words ... here's my little offering.

“Oh Karen, it's an amusing little whine you are employing, but it won’t open my pocketbook.  You will have to come up with a much better approach than that.”

“But Mom, puuuullease “ the impatient little 6 year old cried.

“Karen, if you want something, just ask, but do it without whining.

“But Mom, I’m only six” the girl exaggerates.

“Honey, remember what I told you … what two things never go out of style?”

“Good manners and being polite” chirped Karen.

“That’s right my little sunshine, now ask your question again, and do it in style!”

Thank you so much for taking time to stop by and read!

Saturday Centus ~ The walk

Here we are again, another Saturday, another prompt!  We are doing another photo prompt.  This photo is the entire photo from last weeks prompt.  My story does not work with this new prompt at all so I have written a new one and not a continuation.  I hope you enjoy!

She walked on the hard floor in her “too big” pair of gold sandals. 

“Baby”, her mom yelled from the sidelines,“you got no swagger, how the heck do you think you are going to win the ultimate grand supreme at the Miss Peach Pageant.  Now let me see those hips move, and look at the pretend judges and smile, that’s right baby, now purse your lips and blow them a kiss!”

She hated this, practicing every day and the heavy makeup that made her skin itch.  “I just want to go home and play with my puppy” she sighed.

What, me mock Pageants ???  Okay, now off with you all, and remember to click the Jenny button below to read some wonderful little stories all based on this photo prompt!

Saturday Centus ~ The Dress

Okay, I was totally busy on Saturday, girls day with stops at a fabulous vintage fair and a 50's diner for lunch ... so my Centus is late.  This week, Jenny has given us another picture prompt ... and 100 words.  I came in at 100 exactly but I really needed another 500 or so ... lol!

Jenny couldn't get this picture to load correctly and neither could I, please excuse the awkward orientation.

From the moment she saw the Balenciaga in a copy of Glamour, she knew she wanted to make it as her junior year sewing project. She had fallen for the large vertical stripes of ocean blues, greens with a hint of sand.  The local Walmart didn’t have a large selection of fabric so the cheap striped polyester would have to do.  She had done her best work with the dress, toiling for hours, hand basting the slippery and heavy fabric.  Days later she was finished, she slipped on Mama’s gold sandals and carefully slid the dress over her head …

Thanks for stopping by! Just click on the Jenny button below to visit other takes on the picture prompts.  The reads are quick, and fun!

Saturday Centus ~ The Wind

Our fabulous Centus Leader, Jenny, has given us a picture prompt and 100 words this time ... I hope you enjoy!

He saw it first in the birds, they came sweeping across the sky heading east. With his next breath he drew in an unfamiliar acrid smell and started to sense the danger. As he looked to the west, he saw the bursts of red and orange high upon the mountain.  The sky began to blacken, though it was a bright spring day.  Instinctively he turned north, to his home and his beautiful Sinopa.  He knew she would be deep in the den and nursing, their pups, just born would have no chance.  The wind would make the decision for them.

Now click on the Jenny button and read some other fab 100 word stories.

Peace, love & paper ~ Jo

Saturday Centus ~ I know, right?

Well, I am finally back to writing, playing along with Jenny's meme.  This week's prompt is "Cream together butter and sugar" and we have our usual 100 words plus the prompt words.  Here's my little offering ...

"Cream together butter and sugar” she instructed, in a voice that was sweet enough to melt honey from a hive.

Tonya reached for the remote and snapped the show off.  “I cannot believe that they cast her instead of me … gawd her voice is sickening and her hands are huge.

“I know, right?” said Tiffany.

“And word on the street is that most of the recipes in her new book were “lifted” from some foodies blog.”

“I know, right?”

“Tiffany, either say something real or shut up” Tonya snapped as she stormed out of the room.

“I know, right?” yawned Tiffany.

Just click on the button below to read offerings by some fab writers!

Saturday Centus ~ The Ring

It is week 98 of the Saturday Centus, and to celebrate, Jenny has challenged us with only 98 words including the use of the prompt which is "it was only 98 cents ..."  Here's my little offering!

It had been a beautiful life; years spent in each other’s company, first just the two of them, then the growing family.  Finally just the two of them again until the day that he passed.  It was her turn now, she felt the cold coming, but she was not afraid, she knew that she’d be with him soon.  Her daughters found her the next day … curled up in her bed, clutching his photo and a dimestore ring.  It was only 98 cents back then, but it was with this tiny token, they had cemented their young love.

thanks so much for joining me ... late as usually but i am blaming St Patrick's Day ... tee he he ...

If you want to read other 98 word tales, just click on Jenny's button below and follow her linky!

Saturday Centus ~ The Machine

Well, seems like our dear Centus leader is back to her old tricks ... this week, we don't get a prompt ... and we don't get 100 words .... instead we get Fives ... you heard me ... fives!!!  which means we must write on any topic, any style, and tell the story in Five sentences ... and if that is not enough, we also must limit each sentence to Five words only ... oh this was a struggle ... easier said than done!

She fed the noisy machine.
Grey descended and enveloped her. 
It this all that remains?
Tiny shreds of my existence.
Is anyone out there ... anyone?

okay, okay, so i was shredding documents on this cold grey day while listening to the Beatles and yes, Eleanor Rigby was playing ...
well, thats my Five & Five.  Just click on Jenny's button below for some interesting reads!

Saturday Centus - eeeks!!!

Well, our dear hostess Jenny Matlock, has thrown us for a loop this go round ... today, we are to write our autobiography in 6 words.  You read that write, 6 little words!  hence the eeeks!!!  Here's my wee offering!

maiden to crone

dreaming

loving

learning.

So now that you know, just about everything there is to know about me, take some time to read some of the other offerings ... just click on Jenny's button below!

Saturday Centus ~ The Superbowl

Once again I am joining Jenny's Saturday Centus meme!  This weeks prompt was written by Nonna, and is "two peas in a pod".  You know the drill by now, i have 100 words plus the prompt words to come up with a nifty little tale ...  I hope you enjoy my offering

“Ma’am, can you tell us anything, that will help us figure out what happened at that house and how you know the two deceased?”

“Detective, they are  … were my older sisters, identical twins  and for all of my life they have been as close as two peas in a pod.  They lived together, ate the same foods, wore the same clothes, voted the same ... well except for one thing,” she sobbed.

“What’s that?” asked the detective.

“Football, one liked the Giants and the other liked the Patriots.”

“Death by Superbowl?” the detective queried. 

“Yes”, she cried as she burst into tears.

And now, I am off to a SuperBowl party ... Go ______ Go!!!!

Just click on the button below to read other nifty short stories

Saturday Centus ~ The Director

Late again for Saturday Centus ... I am beginning to wonder if I will ever be on time  again ... Luckily we actually have a week to hand these in to Jenny, and her Saturday Centus Meme.  Jenny played no tricks this week, we had an 8 word prompt which is "We know where all the bodies are buried."  We also had 100 words, plus the prompt words to play with, and wouldn't you know it, i came right in at 108 ... after i did a major edit ... lol!

The Director, the genius of both his genre and his generation, was having a tough day.

“Take 108”

“Action” yelled the Director.

“Give up, we know where you … um, hid”

“Cut” roared the Director,  “It’s a simple line you idiot, We know where all the bodies are buried”

“Quiet on set, Take 109”

“Action”

“Give up, we know you buried …”

“Cut” the Director shouted as he thought to himself, I know where all of the bodies are buried and that’s where this idiot actor is going wind up … right beside my dear old Auntie Astrid, the Gardner and the neighbour’s yappy dog.

“Quiet on set”

I hope you enjoyed my little offering this week.  As always, just click on the Jenny button below to read other interesting short stories!

The Climb ~ Epilogue

Well Jenny gave us another twist this week.  This time around we have 150 words .... yeah!!! and we have to write an epilogue to our previous entries.  So I have repeated part 1 & part 2 from the last couple of weeks and I have tried my darnedest to wrap the story up with this weeks epilogue.

Part 1

Hanging off a cliff  “keep moving” he thought, “don’t lose momentum,” as he dangled by two arms from the top of the cliff, a bead of sweat trickled into his eye, stinging.  A second passed in an hour, his arms began to shake.  “Focus!” he yelled at himself, knowing full well that his arms could only support his dead weight for a few more moments … he had underestimated the climb … a tragic mistake for any free style climber …he shifted his weight on to his right arm as his left hand searched for something other than sand and soil to grab onto.

Part 2

Panicking now, his left hand sweeping blindly, he finds a root to grasp onto. Summoning his remaining strength he pulls his body up only to hear a loud snap.  He lets out a yelp as he falls. “Jon, you’re having that dream again,” she says sleepily as she pokes him.

Epilogue

“Sorry Babe,” he replies, voice low and shaky.  He hastily wipes the sweat from his brow with the sheet. 

“Jon, what’s going on? I mean is the dream getting worse?”

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” he says, still shaking “I have been seeing someone”

“What the?”

 “No, babe, I mean not like that, I have been seeing a therapist … for a couple of weeks now actually.”

“Whaaaaat?” she says emphatically.

“Yeah, um, I’ve been seeing this guy about my dreams, and at first I thought well he would just tell me it’s no big deal and to just get over it, take a sleeping pill or whatever.

“And?” she whispers

“Well it turns out I have anxiety issues about becoming a father”

“Jon you are an amazing, loving husband, don’t worry, you are going to be great.  Here, feel him kick” as she gently places his hand on her belly.

Thank you so so much for reading, and extra thanks for leaving your comments ... and if you have some time, check out some other 3 part stories ... just check on the Jenny button below.

Saturday Centus ~ The Climb, part 2

Last week, Jenny challenged us to write a cliffhanger using the prompt "Hanging off a cliff" and using only 104 words.  This week we are to finish our story, but with a measly 50 words ... talk about a tough challenge.  My first draft was 132 words, and it took me forever to edit it down to 50 ... but here it is, finished!  I hope you enjoy!  Part 1 is repeated, below is part 2.

Part 1

Hanging off a cliff  “keep moving” he thought, “don’t lose momentum,” as he dangled by two arms from the top of the cliff, a bead of sweat trickled into his eye, stinging.  A second passed in an hour, his arms began to shake.  “Focus!” he yelled at himself, knowing full well that his arms could only support his dead weight for a few more moments … he had underestimated the climb … a tragic mistake for any free style climber …he shifted his weight on to his right arm as his left hand searched for something other than sand and soil to grab onto.

Part 2

Panicking now, his left hand sweeping blindly, he finds a root to grasp onto. Summoning his remaining strength he pulls his body up only to hear a loud snap.  He lets out a yelp as he falls. “Jon, you’re having that dream again,” she says sleepily as she pokes him.

I actually wanted to make this about a man have repeated nightmares over the impending birth of a first child ... but the shorter version leaves it to your imagination.

Thanks so much for stopping by, if you want to join us or read other entertaining entries, just click on the Jenny button below!

Saturday Centus ~ The Climb

okay, so i am really really late this week ...  but i figure it's better than not doing it at all (which is what i have been doing lately!)

And that darn Jenny!  This weeks was tough ... first we had to use a literary device, namely a cliffhanger, and on top of it we had to use the following prompt "hanging off a cliff."  and as usual, we had 100 words, plus the prompt words ... and I came in right on target at 104.  Here's my take ...

Hanging off a cliff  “keep moving” he thought, “don’t lose momentum,” as he dangled by two arms from the top of the cliff, a bead of sweat trickled into his eye, stinging.  A second passed in an hour, his arms began to shake.  “Focus!” he yelled at himself, knowing full well that his arms could only support his dead weight for a few more moments … he had underestimated the climb … a tragic mistake for any free style climber …he shifted his weight on to his right arm as his left hand searched for something other than sand and soil to grab onto.

Thanks so much for reading and commenting ... you know i love your comments!  Linking up to my favourite meme, Saturday Centus.  If you want to follow along, just click the Jenny button below!

Saturday Centus ~ The Season

Ah, Jenny .... I am so glad we got our 100 words plus the prompt words back.  This week's prompt is:  It doesn't have to be that way.  Here is my offering ...

“Jon, it doesn’t have to be that way”

He glared at her. “Are you kidding me Sam?  I’ve had the plans drawn up since May, it took me two months just to write the computer program and I’ve spend thousands on the electronics alone, so yes, it has to be that way.  I’m not going to let that jerk Sanderson outshine me again.  This is going to be a red, white and blue Christmas that will blow away his pathetic, done before, lollypop lane display”

“But driving two towns over just for one string of lights?”  “Tis the season” she muttered to herself.  

I hope you all can click on the Jenny Button below and join us in our weekly short short stories!!!

Saturday Centus - 16

I'm back ... yes ... after a couple of weeks of silence i am back and ready to post ... and there is no better way than to start off with a centus.

This week, dear tricky, dastardly Ms Jenny has challenged us to use 16 words ... it must be autobiographical and it must be about ourself at the age of 16.   Here goes nothing ...

At 16

      I lost you

             and I lost me

The road back,

            hard

   and lonely

Writing that was surprisingly difficult ...  and in my mind "at 17" by Janis Ian is playing in the background ...  well, off to grab a fresh cup of coffee, and read about others at 16 ... come join us!

Saturday Centus ~ The Dark

well Jenny has played a trick on us ... and a nasty one at that ... we have 25 words ... yes just a 25.  And the prompt is a picture.

Do not adjust your screens, that is the picture, just that wall of black... here is my take on it all ...

When I close my eyes

The world does not fade to black

It comes forward in micro splashes of light and colour

Dismantling the dark.

To visit other 25 word stories, just click on the Jenny button below.

Have a wonderful halloween weekend!!!

Saturday Centus ~ The Seed

I'm back ... I have really missed doing my Saturday Centus posts, but I am back and joining in the fun.  This week Jenny challenged us with the prompt "I planted a little story seed".  I clocked in at exactly 100 words ... here's my take on the prompt.

I planted a little story seed several weeks ago … and oddly I haven’t written since. Somehow despite the lack of attention, this seed has flourished, becoming at once a strong seedling, with roots tentatively exploring the earth and with plenty of space to grow.  Little vignettes have branched off of the main trunk, and as these little vignettes grow, they begin to reach up to the sun for warmth and food and the sun gifts them with blossoms … whispered phrases, and conversations, names, setting and nuances.   And still I cannot commit them to paper.  My pen lies silent.

Thank you all for visiting and reading and commenting!  If you want to read other brilliant little tales, just click on the Jenny Button below.

Saturday Centus ~ The Leaves

Okay, this is the meanest prank that Jenny has played ... not only do we have a max. of 32 words, we have to sync this up to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star ... and use the prompt, "In the autumn" ....arrrrrg!
Seriously, I just felt another grey hair sprout ...  so here it is, my teeny tiny contribution for this week.

In the autumn, crisp leaves fly
dancing across the darkened sky
In the autumn, chill winds blow
bringing hints of winter's snow.

I guarantee you some quick reads today ... all you have to do is click the Jenny button below!

Saturday Centus ~ The Game

Geez, Jenny's prompt started off so innocently for me as I jumped back in time and remembered playing the game in the school yard. The prompt "mother may I" ... my word count came in at 99.  Here's my offering ...

The school yard was busy with the games of recess ... watching the kids play "mother may I" he singled her out.  Her blonde curls were almost obscured by the hood of her red jacket, and she was at the back of the pack ... too shy to call out "mother may I", and too nervous to make a big move in the game.
Watching from across the road, he took a long drag on his cigarette and smiled in anticipation.  "Oh yes, he thought, she is just perfect ... she will be mine before the day is over."

eeeks, something sinister came as i wrote that ... i hate when that happens, but there you go ... make sure you visit other Centus players by clicking on Jenny's button below.