Wednesday's Words on a Friday

The original Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and eventually taken over by a moveable feast of participants when Delores had computer troubles. Sadly, Delores has now closed her blog forever due to other problems.

The aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to mind.

If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please let us know so we can come along and read it.

This month the prompts are supplied by Lee and can be found here.

This week's words/prompts are: 
1. cliché 
2. eccentric 
3. paradise 
4. derogative 
5. capitulate 
6. judgment  

and/or:  

1. direction 
2. sacrifice 
3. dispensable 
4. consequence 
5. outlook 
6. principle 

Here is my story: 

When I first moved into my little subsidised housing unit, I felt a little lost. It was a much smaller place, with very little storage space, but in my previous home, my outlook had not been so good, with escalating rent, less working hours, so I thought I would get used to being here where the rent was low enough that I wouldn't have to worry so much anymore.

I soon settled in and used the closed in back porch as storage space with about 50% of my stuff packed away into plastic crates and kitchen things in the big old kitchen cabinet that also didn't fit into the matchbox sized kitchen. 
I arranged and rearranged furniture, alphabetised books and dvds, and it began to feel like home. Some of the neighbours were a little eccentric, but who was I to pass judgment? I probably am eccentric too. 

I'd seen stories on the TV news programs, several times, about the troubles in many sections of subsidised housing, where the neighbours fought with each other and trashed their homes, I'd heard the derogatory statements about dole bludgers and welfare bums, and in some cases that might be true, circumstances have a way of getting you down, but certainly not here, where most of my new neighbours were quiet, law abiding elderly people. 

I planted things in the little garden bed, bought some pots and planted those too. I thought maybe I had found a little piece of paradise. I was happy. 

Then things began to change. Older neighbours moved into nursing homes, newer younger people moved in. 
And they weren't all nice. 
Things began to happen. 
Pets went missing. 
Doors got slammed. 
Arguments and screams late at night, more than once police were called. 

Often now, there are pairs of police persons walking or driving through, just keeping an eye on things. I know what they are looking out for, but won't mention any of that here. 

Most recently, you've all read that my own little garden has been violated. 

The items stolen aren't valuable, easily replaced if I wish to do so, but the feeling of invasion is so strong, I'm feeling physically nauseous still and as a consequence, my garden is being torn apart. 

Some things I'd planned on removing anyway, so they have been pulled up and thrown out, but the remaining hanging ornaments and wind chimes have been removed from the trees, the standing/sitting ornaments have all been taken in and the empty pots have been brushed clean and stored away. 

I will sacrifice the garden for my peace of mind. 

If there's nothing there, nothing can be stolen. 

As time passes and this awful gut-stirring feeling eases, possibly I will replant, redecorate, but it won't be soon. 

My plans will take a new direction. I'm thinking about large, very prickly/thorny cactus plants. 
And a security camera, something that lights up and whoop-whoops when anyone steps past my boundary. 

Too much? Maybe...


**I've just noticed this is post number 2850, wonder if I can make 3000 by Christmas?**