Day: November 27, 2018

One-Liner Wednesday — Happiness Comes and Goes

Fandango20 Comments

AD579F95-B63C-4680-9C3B-244C156CD8D8“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.”

Irish poet and playwright, Oscar Wilde

Let me honest about this. I saw this quote yesterday on the WoollyMuses site when he posted it in response to my “FOWC With Fandango” prompt, “leave.” He said he saw the quote posted on a blackboard in a pub somewhere.

The quote struck me because of its fundamental truth. I think we all know people who bring happiness and joy to whoever they’re with or wherever they are. But, no doubt, we all know a few people whose very presence is a downer, and when they leave, it’s a relief.

So thank you, Woolly, for the inspiration for my One-Liner Wednesday post. And thank you to Oscar Wilde for your insight.

Daily Writing Challenge — Died and Gone to Heaven

Fandango12 Comments

img_3058“I can hardly believe it,” Mitch said. “When I left New Jersey this morning we were in the middle of a snow storm. Then I land at the airport in Los Angeles and it’s like summer.”

“Why do you think I moved here, silly?” Lynette said.

“And then you pick me up in this bitchin’ car and lookin’ like you do,” Mitch said. “I feel like we’re in one of those 1960s west coast beach movies and you’re Sandra Dee.”

Well then you’ll be happy with what I’ve got planned for us, my big kahuna,” Lynette said. “I’m driving us up the Pacific Coast Highway for a late picnic lunch on the beach at Malibu.”

“Oh my God,” Mitch said,” I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.”

Written for The Haunted Wordsmith’s Daily Writing Challenge using these three things: picnic, summer, and snow storm.

Love Lost

Fandango9 Comments

246FDF51-C3DB-4D54-9E05-7226DA9D6972How much longer were you planning to string me along?

You know that I would be totally lost without you.

Don’t you remember when you promised that you’d never leave me?

I can’t understand how you rather walk away than try to make it work.

Is being with me really that dismal?

Is it just me, or did today’s five daily one-word prompt words seem to weave their own tale of the harsh reality of lost love?

Here are the prompts: Scotts Daily Prompt (string), Your Daily Word Prompt (lost), Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (leave), Word of the Day Challenge (dismal), and Ragtag Daily Prompt (walk).

A Good Guy With a Gun

Fandango25 Comments

B9C60C41-6B49-456E-885A-B5B31B0DE222According to the National Rifle Association (NRA) “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun.” That is unless the good guy is a black man.

Emantic “EJ” Bradford Jr. was allegedly trying to help people in a shooting incident at an Alabama mall by waving them to safety. Unfortunately for EJ, he was carrying a gun, one for which he had a carry permit. And a policeman apparently didn’t take the time to find out if EJ was a good guy with a gun or a bad guy. He saw a black man with a gun and, assuming he was a criminal, fatally shot him.

The local police department has since made a statement saying that Bradford was likely not the gunman responsible for the initial shootings. That person remains at large.

The police also offered sympathy to EJ’s family, but threw in the caveat that his decision to pull out his weapon “heightened the sense of threat at an already chaotic scene.”

When is this country going to recognize that 300 million guns in a nation of 325 million people is not a good idea? When are our legislators going to have the courage to be the real good guys and stand up to the NRA in the interest of their constituents and enact common sense gun control legislation?

FFfAW — I Am Finally Free

Fandango15 Comments

A7537329-AFC2-48DB-A6CC-912899DA49EF“Why are you doing this, brother?” she asked him.

“I must,” he said. “It is my duty. You have shamed the family by having pre-marital sex.”

“But brother,” she said, “I am your sister. It’s not right. You, yourself, have bedded a woman. A married woman at that.”

“I am a male, I am permitted to have relations with a woman outside of marriage,” he said. “You, are not. You have brought this on yourself.”

He continued to row the small rowboat to the center of the lake. Once there, he directed her to take off her life vest and turn around so he could bind her wrists.

“Don’t do this, brother,” she pleaded. “Let me go and I’ll disappear and never return.”

“I cannot….”

But before he said another word, she grabbed an oar and struck him hard on the head. She removed the life vest from his limp body and threw him overboard. “I am finally free!” she shouted, and picked up the oars and rowed to the far shore of the lake.

(175 words)

Written for Priceless Joy’s Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. Photo credit: Yarnspinnerr.