Wednesday's Words on a Friday
On Wednesdays, assorted
people have been taking monthly turns at putting up a selection of six (or
twelve) words which is called “Words for Wednesday”.
We have taken over this
meme from Delores, who had been having computer problems
This month the meme
continues here, with words supplied by Susan Kane.
Essentially the aim is
to encourage us to write.
Each week we are given a
choice of prompts: which can be words, phrases, music or an image. What we do with those prompts is up to
us: a short story, prose, a song, a
poem, or treating them with ignore...
Some of us put our
creation in comments on the post, and others post on their own blog. I would really like it if as many people as
possible joined into this fun meme. If
you are posting on your own blog - let us know so that I, and other
participants, can come along and applaud.
I’m hopeless at poetry
so I always do a story.
It’s a fun challenge…why
not join in?
This week's words are:
1. depart
2. lick
3. register
4. free
5. text
6. shout
or
1. avenue
2. cower
3. charismatic
4. swim
5. fold
6. notebook
we also have a phrase to use if we choose: The horse came back alone
Here is my story:
Her charismatic nature had been evident from the first moment he saw her.
Over the years he had taught her so much; how to lick an ice-cream cone so that it didn't drip all over her hands, how to swim, how to ride her bike. He remembered the gleeful shout as she rode down the avenue for the first time alone.
He taught her how to wash and fold laundry, marvelling at how quickly the fairy themed t-shirts became school uniforms, then lacy blouses.
Like her mother, she had never been one to cower before any challenge. He smiled at the memory of the notebook her first grade teacher had handed him, with lines of carefully printed text, "I can do this, I can do anything" in her childish six year old hand.
The fact that she might one day depart his life, to be free and go her own way, simply did not register in his mind.
Then one day, she went out riding, striding angrily towards the stable after yet another argument about her choice of boyfriend.
Three hours later, the horse came back alone.
He stood nuzzling the soft velvety nose, tears streaming down his face, as he read and re-read the note attached to the saddle. "I'm sorry you don't agree Dad, Tony is the best thing that ever happened to me. We have to be together..."
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Wow. I love this. I actually teared up reading it River - but I am so glad the reason she went off to find her future instead of meeting an unfortunate end, as is so often the case when a horse becomes riderless. I hope her dad was wrong!
ReplyDeleteI know I've said this MANY times, but I LOVE your stories!!
ReplyDeleteLOUD applause from here too.
ReplyDeleteYou really rock this challenge.
WOW you always grab and hold me till the sometimes sad end. Hug B
ReplyDeleteWell done, River. I'm glad she ran away...and had not come to harm. When I read the horse returned rider-less...my mind went off in another direction. :)
ReplyDeleteHere's my contribution to this week's words....
"Time was of the essence. Already running late, she hurried down the street. It didn’t REGISTER that she’d left the front door unlocked in her panic to DEPART.
She’d unintentionally slept in. When she looked at her bedside clock she’d let out a SHOUT that she was certain would’ve woken up the whole AVENUE. In one movement, she’d leapt out of bed. There was no time to waste. Of all days to sleep in!
Rushing around her unit she gathered together discarded clothes and magazines as she went, giving the area a superficial LICK and a promise. Too bad, she thought. They would judge her on her housekeeping no matter what. That was how they were; and it was how they’d always been. Leopards don’t change their spots!
After the wonderful week she’d experienced and conquered even their withering looks and critical comments wouldn’t make her COWER. Those days were long gone.
Anyhow, their short holiday would be FREE. It wouldn’t cost them a cent! Surely that would suit their penny-pinching ways!
Generously she’d offered up her home to them for their first, begrudging visit to the city. Her gesture was much more than they’d ever made towards her.
With no time for her daily SWIM that morning, she quickly showered and dressed. Again for the millionth time, she re-read the TEXT on her electronic NOTEBOOK. She still couldn’t believe they’d decided to pay her a visit. She wondered what was it they really wanted from her, knowing nothing was ever black and white with them.
She’d grown up under their disapproving looks and words. Nothing she could do was ever right in their eyes. In that house – it wasn’t a home, there had been no warmth – an air of gloom and doom had persisted. The atmosphere had always been depressing and harshly oppressive.
How she dreamed of the day she would be able to shrug it and them off; how she dreamed of the day she would escape from the FOLD; from their enveloping nastiness. And that day had finally come three years ago!
Tom had always told her they were jealous of her because of her CHARISMATIC nature and her natural, untethered love of life."
Lovely story, you do write so well.
ReplyDeleteI had a go today whilst it was raining.
At last it has decided to rain very heavily. I was to register a parcel at the Post Office today, it can wait. The thunder came as a free text message arrived on my phone. After reading the message I went to the fridge and got myself and icy pole which I began to lick when I heard a shout at the back door. It was his lordship wanting to come in as he couldn’t undo the door due to his hands being full of shopping.
Susan F; yes, her dad was wrong, probably just a little choked up over losing his little girl to another man so soon. The years between birth and 18 go so quickly.
ReplyDeletefishducky; thank you so much. I love all your funnies, which bring me laughs just when I need them.
Elephant's Child; I thought I heard someone clapping...thank you.
Buttons Thoughts; I had a sad ending, but changed it at the last minute. a change for the better I think as I now have an opening for a chapter two.
Lee; your stories are getting as long as mine! This needs more, you have to write chapter two!! I want to know what happens. :)
Margaret-whiteangel; I like this, the rain, his Lordship doing the shopping (there's a dream). Thanks for playing.
I've never tried anything like this. Must do! You did an amazing job of it!
ReplyDeleteHow neat. You always come up with the best stories. Your imagination knows no bounds. lol
ReplyDeleteJean DelightfulRepast; welcome to drifting and thank you. Let us know if you start writing with this challenge, so we can all come over and read your stories.
ReplyDeleteManzanita; thank you very much. If only my imagination would stretch as far as a book. Alas, like me, it's a lazy imagination, doesn't like to work too hard.