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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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.

Flash Friday 55: The Closet

first sanctuary,

retreat from chaos

raging daily…

hiding spot

from harmful ones…

seeking,

yet always found…

eventually filled

with meaningless possessions,

meaningful to her…

until day she returned

finding her treasures,

trinkets,

thrown away, cast aside…

harboring secrets,

concealing cache…

magic crimson elixir

no longer enchanting,

replaced by memories..

flashbacks demanding 

their stories be heard. 

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Saturday Centus: I'm Not Getting Any Younger

Miss Jenny is stirring things up over on Saturday Centus. This week the rule is 25 words to use with the 5 word prompt (30 words total). Since I'm on my way into work I had to come up with a quick little ditty. I hope this is Jenny-worthy. As always, the prompt is in green.

gray hairs grow longer

old times to ponder

while sipping miralax in morning coffee

I’m not getting any younger

the lost years I hunger

the closer I get to 50!

Microfiction Muses #12 and #13

In the middle of her climb 

up the tree of life 

Meg was frustrated to suddenly realize 

more living was needed 

to reach her full vantage point

(140)

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Gramps barely tolerates the child

He remains quite miffed

about the love affair

between his grandbaby and that

low life scoundrel,

Speed Racer

(140)

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Micro-fiction Muse involves writing a very short story (140 characters max-including spaces) based upon a photo prompt. I make it my goal to always use140 characters exactly. Diane Estrella is our host for this weekly meme. Please be sure to visit her blog for complete rules and to visit other participants. 

Microfiction Muse #11: Bubba's Reward

Ada Mae & Killer

passively watch Bubba,

that 2-timing son of a @!#% ,

get his just reward

after passing out

in the bull pen

That’s gotta hurt!

(140)

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Micro-fiction Muse involves writing a very short story (140 characters max-including spaces) based upon a photo prompt. I make it my goal to always use140 characters exactly. Diane Estrella is our host for this weekly meme. Please be sure to visit her blog for complete rules and to visit other participants. 

Microfiction Muse #8: Tommy's Tantrum

MOM!

She’s grabbing my hands

I’m going to catch cooties

This is so STUPID

Dumb music

Dumb costumes

Dumb girls

Are you even listening to me?

MOM?

(140)

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Micro-fiction Muse involves writing a very short story (140 characters max-including spaces) based upon a photo prompt. I make it my goal to always use140 characters exactly. Diane Estrella is our host for this weekly meme. Please be sure to visit her blog for complete rules and to visit other participants. 

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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Flash Friday 55: A Very Lame, Late Post

"55 is the limit!"

so sayeth G, the Man,

challenging our synapses

just to see if we can

write a short story,

a poetic stanza or two

what words do we choose?

which simply won't do?

begin with a topic

an idea - fresh and unique

"write, parse, edit...repeat"

becomes our mantra, each and every week!

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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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Microfiction Monday #72: Disgruntled

Never an easy moment on this job

Always hidden under the pillow, teeth are

Let’s see how the wee brats

 appreciate it when I hide their coins

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Microfiction Monday #70:

You, sir, are no gentleman

Why do you say that?

Your linen shirt and waistcoat

cannot conceal the fact that

you forgot to remove

your corset

Darn

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Can you write a short story or prose

to a photo prompt

in only 140 characters? 

Please click on the link above 

to view other entries 

in Stony River's weekly meme.

Flash Friday 55: The Dance

Plan in place:

give her roses,

ask for dance.

Simple, right?

Easy? Not so much.

Courage finally summoned

towards night’s end.

“These are for you”

he awkwardly mumbles.

Speechless, taken by surprise,

she smiles,

giving hug in return.

He stumbles back

in shy retreat

only then realizing

he had forgotten

to ask for that dance. 

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My 55 word treatise was based on a true story.

(Sorry G-Man...I know you prefer this to be fiction 

but I did take some liberties with the loose facts)

No names were used to protect the innocently awkward.

Now, honestly, who could be afraid of her?

I wish you all a marvelous weekend. 

Please think of me as I begin my usual work weekend of 3 12's. 

If you don't here back from me, you'll know why. 

Microfiction Monday #67: Memories

Memories

light the corners of my mind

misty watercolor memories

Egads Babs!

Must you sing that blasted song

each time we visit The Way We Were?

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: Virgo

(image from Google Images and Gemharmony.com)

Your imagination might conjure stories or pictures that you want to memorialize through writing or painting, but a lack of self-confidence might discourage you. However, it's probably a good idea to do it anyway. These ideas come from deep inside you. Giving them shape could represent a release from old traumas. Keep your work hidden in a drawer if you don't like it.

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“HA!” she thought to herself, “My stories all seem to go to that deep, dark place. Why dredge up the old pain of festering wounds and long forgotten memories of horrors unimaginable?”  

But where had that gotten her so far? Her fears kept her from pursuing her dreams and talents all for the sake of appeasing others. She had put her true self on the back burner so long ago. You see, that was her escape…for if she hid her true nature, maybe, just maybe, she would find the acceptance, love, and happiness that have eluded her all these years. 

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Jenny threw us another loop this week! We were to use our daily horoscope as our prompt to write our 100 word essay around. What a fun change up! Thanks, Jenny for always keeping it interesting. To see the fantastic stories of other bloggers, please click on the link below. 

Horoscope from www.horoscope.com