Saying Goodbye: A Saturday Centus Post

(Prompt is in GREEN)

deep within 

she knew

time was nearing

despite desperate denials

fearful, bitter truth

came through child’s cry

“Mommy, please stop!”

how hard she had tried:

countless times 

countless ways

a few days here 

a few weeks there

eventually succumbing

to his always appealing
seductive spell...

his charismatic charm

controlling encounters:

different places

different times

secretly meeting
hiding

even cheating with others…

never worked
always resulting in

guilt

remorse

shame

deep down she knew

he was toxic…

he could

and would

kill…

destroying her soul

and yet

saying goodbye

was harder than she thought

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My Six Words (x2): A Saturday Centus Offering

...soul soars higher

upon bent knee...

~~~~~

...freedom finally found

within simple surrender...

Oh Christmas Tree...A Saturday Centus Offering

"Oh Christmas tree,"

"it doesn’t have to be this way!"

Sausage festering upon thy branch

when we’d rather have filet!

Could be worse…

I’m just a’guessing:

that pork could be slathered

w/rancid mustard dressing

Thanks but no thanks,

giving this a pass.

Feasting on fudge instead…

Chocolate won’t cause gas!

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This week's Centus includes a photo prompt, word prompt ("Oh Christmas tree"), AND a 50 word limit! Whew! Ms. Jenny certainly is a task master! And then, just for kicks, I decided to make it harder by using last week's prompt as well ("It doesn't have to be this way") due to my absence. I hope you enjoyed my little Christmas ditty that I was certainly fun to pen. Have a great weekend!

16

marching band,

cruising streets,

sneaking smokes

‘neath stadium-seats

first-time love,

heart’s defeat,

death awoke,

brother sleeps

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Ms. Jenny is a sly one. Today's writing exercise was to use 16 words about being 16. I took artistic liberty and threw in a memory from when I was 19 as it was a significant event in our lives, and remains a tender spot to this day.  

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Don't forget to enter my Holiday Giveaway!

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Saturday Census: A Study in Black

Ms. Jenny has played a trick on us...but unbeknownst to her, it's a treat for me! Micro-fiction (25 words) using a photo prompt! Right up my alley! Then I saw the photo. Ooooh, she's a tricky one, that Ms. Jenny. 

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Dreams fade

to black

RELAPSE

road  to abyss

of self pity

blinded

weakened

trapped

struggling against

bondage of self

held captive

by chains

of choice

Copyright 2011

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Written in honor of a dear friend struggling against her slavery
to an addiction that shows no mercy. 

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Saturday Centus: Hunting Season

Oh dear. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! Our beloved Ms. Jenny has decided that this was the week to test our lyric writing skills. She gave us the melody (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star). She gave us the prompt: In the autumn. And she gave us the limitation of up to 32 words INCLUDING the prompt. At this, I take issue...I have always counted the prompt in every single centus limit Ms. Jenny has imposed and kept to the imposed word count exactly. In order to keep true with the notes and rhythm of "Twinkle", I had no choice but to cheat and use 34! Forgive me, Ms. Jenny!

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(image courtesy of Total-Wallpapers.com and Google Images)

In the autumn’s cool, crisp air

Mums abloom with vibrant flair

Leaves hitch ride on fall’s brisk breeze

Bare are now embarrassed trees

Time has come for season’s change

Watch out turkeys! Shooting range!

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Fall is my favorite time of year. Time to break free those sweaters and boots from summer's hiding place. Long morning runs, in the cooler weather, with leaves crunching beneath the feet. Time for harvests and a myriad of fall festivals. And, of course, hunting season commences. It was tradition for my father, along with my brother, and my sister's husbands to go hunting at this time of year. Often times we'd feast on pheasant and quail, invariably biting into a wayward pellet or two. I do miss that (well except for the time my dad took me out hunting and suggested I be the "bird dog" and retrieve the "kill"...ewwww, ick!) Oh, the memories! Hee hee hee!

Saturday Centus/Sunday 160: It's Not Funny!

why does she

laugh out loud...
every minute

of every hour

of every day?

what wickedness,

what cruel curse

is at play?

she’s not laughing?

‘tis hiccups you say?

never mind

Copyright 2011

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As always, the prompt is in GREEN.

Okay...I know, I know...but's it all I could come up with after a 12 hour shift at the hospital. I took the liberty of combining 2 memes into one as tomorrow is another workday for me.

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Saturday Centus: You Are My Munchie-Boy

Mama rocks her babe gently
during their nightly ritual.

While nursing

the little duck plays

“You Are My Sunshine”.

Mama softly sings to her son:

You are my Munchie-Boy

my only Munchie-Boy

You are Mommy’s pride and joy,

Mommy loves you,

this is so true,

for you are my Munchie-Boy!

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Darn that Ms. Jenny...she only gave us an additional 50 words this week, plus the prompt (above in green). I guess we have a half Centus today. She was kind enough, however, to throw us a bone with the permission to use a photo with our story.

I'm only pretending to complain. Honestly, I must truly thank dear Ms. Jenny. Her prompt brought back sweet memories of my nighttime ritual with my baby boy. I would sing to him the above song as I rocked him gently to sleep. Even when he became old enough to put himself to bed, I would still sing this for him as I tucked him in. But that was long ago. Maybe if I ask him nicely, he'll let me sing to him once more.

Saturday Centus: Too Late

Oh that Ms. Jenny! What a taskmaster she is. This week, rather than 100 words to work with, in addition to the prompt, she has only allowed us 15. Normally, I try to write my story in exactly the number of words she dictates but I could not this time. So I added my 15 word allotment prior to the prompt below (in green). 

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Straining to be heard

over cacophony of alarms,

from monitors 

at her bedside,

she whispers:

“Before I die I want to….” 

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Centus-The End

no choice but

giving

into silent past

forgiving

bringing

the end of my

grieving

learning to fly

on silver wings

you had lent

to me

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Normally, the Centus is a 100 word essay or story based on a word prompt. Well my dear friend, Ms. Jenny,  decided to throw us a curve ball: a 2 word prompt and limiting us to a measly 25 words. This is what I came up with on my break at work. The prompt, as always, is in green

Centus: Reflection

She wakes up late,

as usual,

unwilling to face the light

of another day.

Consciousness creeps close,

bringing with it

those terrorizing thoughts,

that threaten slumber’s false serenity.

Her eyes slowly open

to the harsh reality

of the horror

that her life has become.

She stumbles towards

her inevitable release,

the daily purge 
of emotional pain,

down the porcelain throne.

She pauses at the sink,

finally taking that hard, honest appraisal

of what her life has become.

The reflection in the mirror says it all.

Falling to her knees in prayer, she cries out,

“God, I can’t do this alone!” 


(100 words, prompt in bold green)

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Saturday Centus: Exit 181

It's that time again...another story, 100 words or less, based upon a single prompt. This week's prompt is in green.

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The sign caught her off guard: Exit 181, ½ mile ahead. She veers off and pulls into the Quick Stop, finding an inconspicuous parking spot near the back of the station.  Panic begins to set in. What, in heaven’s name, is she doing here?  Could she really go through with this? She thought of her family back home:  the kids depending upon her, the husband supporting her. Deep down she knew what was right. With determination, a silent prayer, and a heavy sigh she pulls out, continuing her journey towards recovery, ever grateful for the intervention of the previous night. 

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Centus: Opportunity

I have not participated in Ms. Jenny's Centus in a couple of weeks so I am bending the rules and using last week's prompt (in green) and this week's prompt (in blue) together! I hope it works. Below is my story in exactly 100 words, prompts included. 

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Everything depended upon this single card:  

her key to a whole new life, 

her passport to great adventure.  

She hadn’t planned on leaving so soon, but it was time. 

Opportunity had knocked and she is 

poised to open that door, 

ready to grab its hand, 

never to look back on her life 

with the regret of “what if”.  

Removing her shackles of fear, 

she slides the card in place, 

punching in her password. 

The ATM machine began dispensing twenties.  

Her savings now depleted, 

she steps up to the counter 

and purchases that one way ticket 

to her life’s dream destination. 

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Saturday Centus: After the Silence

Ms. Jenny's prompt this week is from the Bruno Mars song, "Grenade". My 100 word prose is wrapped around the prompt, bolded and highlighted in green, below. Please feel free to critique in your comments below...how else am I going to learn? Enjoy.

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Once upon

this life of mine

there was his promise.

Promises of love,

of hope spoken

in soft gentle voice,

of dreams yet to be fulfilled.

I laughed through tears

when he burst out in song

and sang sweetly to me,

“I’d even catch a grenade for ya!”

I believed him.

Reality set in.

The silence is deafening.

Soundless shouts erupt

from my heart,

loudly, clearly.

I listen to inner truth.

Wisdom gained

through epiphany

that no one,

not even him,

can catch that grenade

while wandering through

personal minefields

battling demons of their own.

My first step towards healing.

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Saturday Centus: Be My Valentine

Oh my! Our dear Ms. Jenny decided today's Centus should have a twist. In honor of Valentine's Day, we are to compose, in 50 words or less, a Hallmark card style post based upon the photo prompt. Oh dear, I don't know about this. Regardless, here's my attempt. Please be kind.

Let me be your wonder woman

Let me be your girl

Allow me to sniff your butt

Let’s give love a whirl!

I promise not to nibble

Slippers or your shoes

Nor eat from the litter box

Upon your love I’ll chew!

(42 words)

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To view much better works than this, please click on the link above.

Saturday Centus: Two for One!

Last week I was at work when our dear Ms. Jenny posted a wonderful story prompt. She was heavy in my thoughts as I penned this little100 word story (taking place FAR into the future). The prompt is in red. 

The elderly woman shuffled towards the old shed she used for storage. She was grateful that she needn’t worry about inclement weather destroying her possessions as the hot Arizona sun beat down upon her bent frame.  She stepped through the creaky door into the stuffy interior. She spied the trunk. Fumbling with the old skeleton key on a chain around her neck she unlocked and raised its lid. There they were. She lifted the stack of letters from the ancient chest. Smiling she began to read:  “A is for…”

And that is where her children found her the next day. 

(In no way was this meant to be morbid but rather an honor to the woman whose memes helped me find my inner voice and strength through the alphabet!)

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And the following is this week’s essay. Consider it my little 100 word public service announcement. The prompt is in blue. 

She knew she needed to leave it alone, let it go its course, but she couldn’t stand it. She couldn’t help herself. She had a date that night and didn’t want that monstrosity remaining on the tip of her nose. So she did what any naive 17 year old would do. She squeezed and picked at the darn thing.  Unfortunately for her, this was no ordinary pimple. It was infected. MRSA to be exact.  It was growing bigger by the minute. She missed out on that date as she was rushed to the hospital with a severe case of cellulitis. 

I am sorry for the "Ewww" factor of this particular story. Please, however, visit the following links for further information on MRSA or cellulitis.

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Saturday Centus: Dichotomy

That Ms. Jenny certainly keeps on our toes. This week's Centus adventure has us exploring the genre of science fiction. The following is my 100 word essay (minus the prompt in GREEN). Science fiction or reality? You decide. 

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Inter-Galactic Star Date 2758.122

We arrived on this alien planet

in the name of peace.

In order to keep accord,

armed forces were dispatched

to occupy this foreign land.

Their primitive society

and governments

did not conform to

standards as set forth

by the Articles of the

United Federation of Planets.

It was deemed necessary

to instill puppet regimes

on sovereign soil

to make way for progress.

Technological medical advances

were introduced

to this strange world.

These were no help

to the many natives

who succumbed to diseases

in which they had

no natural immunity.

“Beam me up, Scottie.

My work here is done.”

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Catch Up Time: Saturday Centus, Sunday 160, Micro-fiction Monday

I have been busy working at my "real job" the past several days and have had absolutely no time to keep up with my blog. This morning I arose before daybreak to play a little catching up with my favorite memes!


First shall be Ms. Jenny's Saturday Centus, combined with Susan's Micro-Fiction Monday. 


Susan, from Stony River, leaves us a unique, unusual picture each and every week for us to design a 140 character story (spaces included). It is definitely a challenging exercise in brevity and one I've come to really enjoy.


Normally, Ms. Jenny gives us a 100 word essay limit for her weekly Centus. But not this week. Never to be one to do the same ol' same ol', our dear Jenny decided to mix things up a bit abbreviated and limit our essay to a minuscule, measly, 25 word flash fiction using a word prompt. (Her prompt will be in red in the story to follow)


140 characters usually approximate 25 words. What better way to challenge myself than to use both as prompts. Right? Well, you all be the judge of that. 

Koeru-San

I shall be your escort

as you redeem the lottery ticket.

Never mind that, Tamotsu-San.

Go fill my parasol, to the brim,

At Benihana’s.

Note: Koeru means to “grow fat” and Tamotsu means “defender, protector” in Japenese

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Next shall be Monkey Man's Sunday 160. Since I am still recovering from a crazy busy work weekend this is a short piece belaboring an unfortunate truth about hospital work.   

Nothing.

Hot soaks,

Massages,

Nor even a brand new pair 

Of top of the line work shoes

Will prevent foot pain

Or leg cramps

When one is on their feet

For over 36 hours!

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Saturday Centus: Mama

The miracle happened on a cold, dark January morning.

You see, Mama left Daddy an eternity ago.

The cold Nor’easters of the New England coast never

agreed with her native Floridian blood.

That was her excuse.

My best guess is Daddy’s cold hearted affections,

his stormy temper,

left an unbearable, icy chill upon her soul.

Not long after, she died

from a cancer kept hidden from us.

I had planted the orange sapling

as a symbolic gesture

near her headstone the day she was buried.

I never considered it would actually grow,

let alone bear fruit.

Mysterious are God’s ways.

 

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This week Ms. Jenny changed things up and hit us with a photo prompt, instead of a word phrase, for our 100 word essay. She's a sly one, that Jenny! I had an inkling of an idea before I left for the morning's responsibilities.That inkling developed into the story above. If I had more words, maybe I could have woven a more complete tale. But for now, this will have to suffice. 

Saturday Centus: Unresolved Resolution

(This week's prompt is in yellow)

Sirens broke the silence of the night in the sleepy little suburb. Police scoured the subdivision in search of the suspect.

Meanwhile, prying her crumpled up list of resolutions from the cold, lifeless fingers that held them, the detectives carefully unfold the wadded parchment in search of clues. Words, penned with crayon in a childish scrawl, are what they read:

Maybe if I am good he won’t hurt me anymore.

Just in case I resolve to find a better hiding spot.

She never had a chance. The following day the coroner placed her time of death to have occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. January 1, 2011. 

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I have not written much these past few weeks due to the hectic pace and general all around "busy-ness" of the holidays. So what better way is there to begin anew then participating in my favorite lady's weekly meme. I know it's rough but be kind...it's a new year and a new start! 

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I would like to wish each and every one of you a New Year's filled with peace and joy! You all have been such a blessing to me as I struggle to find my true voice in these loud and raucous times in which we live. I pray that God deliver you all abundant blessings as you, too, find your own unique way in life's grand journey. Thank you and God bless you!