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 to read it and add a few encouraging words.

This month the words/prompts are supplied by Messymimi and can be found here

This week's words/prompts are: 

1. opinion 

2. shell 

3. clue 

4. seed 

5. attention 

6. sit 

and/or: 

1. story 

2. makeup 

3. corn 

4. emotion 

5. mess 

6. circle

Here is my story:

 The children ran into the park, every one of them filled with excitement. School was finished and the next two weeks were all holidays! They ran to the big clam shell shaped concert stage that had been constructed to house the plays that Khoral Kai and Sonya Harding were going to put on. It wasn’t a fancy structure, just a frame covered with canvas, but a more permanent one was planned. Today it would be used for story time, a new thing that had been happening since the Twilight Terpsichoreans Ballet. The stage under the canvas was a full circle, while the canvas was a quarter circle, but high enough for actors to stand tall without bumping their heads.

As they all found seats in front of the stage, softly flashing lights began lighting portions of the stage in turn. Every child’s attention was now firmly fixed on the stage and a few parents who had accompanied them were also transfixed. Flute music was heard next, then Khoral entered the stage through a gap in the curtains. “What do you think children? Don’t be shy now, I really value each opinion you all give. Is this stage a good enough setting for stories and plays?”  Various answers were shouted, “yes!”; “we love it!” “when is the next play?” Khoral looked around at the empty stage. “Hmmm, I see a problem here. I have nowhere to sit.” And then pretended to sit on a chair that wasn’t there. Everybody laughed.

“This shell gives me a clue for today’s story,” he said. Some of the children wriggled with excitement. Khoral’s stories were always fun. Maggie, seated at the front of the crowd, asked, “How can a stage give a clue?” Khoral answered, as he sat properly on a chair that Sonya brought in,  "Not the stage Maggie, the shell. Do you notice the shape is like a clam shell?” “I’ve never seen a clam shell,” said Maggie. “We’ll have to find some pictures in the library tomorrow then,” said Khoral. “But for now, take my word for it, this canvas cover with the scalloped edge, is like a clam shell. And now, let me tell you all about the time I went fishing for oysters and clams with some natives on an island in the Caribbean Sea.”

Khoral enthralled them all with tales of diving in the warm waters and bring up bags filled with clams which were emptied into big tubs filled with sea water to keep them fresh. He described the small fishing boats, the wind and the waves, the games the natives played as they worked and most importantly how he learned to open the clams with a small knife, without cutting off his own fingers! “Some of those fishermen had so many scars from knives and sharp edges of shells!” he said. He told of the excitement whenever a seed pearl was found inside a shell and the bigger emotions when a full sized pearl was found. “These are rare now, with the clams being fished so often, because the meat of the clams is sold to restaurants for clam chowder, creamed clams, barbecued clams on skewers and so on.”

 “I spent a whole season there,” Khoral said,  "and gained a new appreciation for clams and the hard work involved in getting them. There are specialised farms now, out in the ocean, where things like clams and mussels, and other shellfish are raised specifically for the food markets. Any questions?” Maggie and Joan both asked together, “did you find any pearls?” “Not me personally,” said Khoral, “but a few were found while I was there. Now, I noticed you ate lunch while I was telling the tale, so if you would kindly pick up any mess such as paper bags and wrappers, we can walk across to the rubbish bins and then go to the Ice-Creamery, if your parents agree.” “Ooh! Yes please!” came several shouts of agreement as the parents nodded their okays.