WOTD

The Collection

Fandango1 Comment

afa6f2fd-a690-4593-8898-e559ee1b1cb1“Okay, so what’s the plan?” Eric asked.

“I think the first thing we should do is take up a collection at the church service this coming Sunday,” Don said. “We should hit up those who are his avid supporters, those who share his ideology, as they’re leaving the evangelical church.

“Well,” Eric said, “we’d better do it sooner rather than later. His support is starting to decay somewhat.

Don laughed. “You’re watching too much fake news, Eric. Dad still has plenty of support on the Christian Right. We’ll take in a boatload of money from those zealots as they are exiting the building.”

Written for these one-word prompts: Word of the Day Challenge (plan), Ragtag Daily Prompt (collection), Nova’s Daily Random Word (service), Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (avid), Your Daily word Prompt (ideology), and Daily Addictions (decay).

Give Me Some Space

Fandango3 Comments

3e013d37-d459-40b7-86e3-787d06265fc3“You need to give me some space,” Ned snapped at his wife.

Nancy was shocked by her husband’s rebuke. “I just can’t imagine your going to the coast alone, without me and the children.”

“Look,” Ned said, “the cardiologist said that it’s vital for my health to reduce my stress level. I think going to the beach house by myself will do me a world of good. I can spend a week or so just chilling out.”

“But if the kids and I go there with you, I’ll stay out of your way and keep the kids out of your hair. You’ll be able to take the time to wind down and relax,” Nancy said.

“Nancy,” Ned said sternly,” If I don’t get my blood pressure down, I won’t have many tomorrows left. I need this.”

Tears started streaming down Nancy’s cheeks. “Ned, I’m just so afraid that if you go there alone, it will mean that tomorrow’s forever.

Wriitdn fof these daily prompts: Nova’s Daily Random Word (space), Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (rebuke), Word of the Day Challenge (imagine), Daily Addictions (coast), Ragtag Daily Prompt (vital), and Michael’s Writing Prompts (tomorrow’s forever).

Sunday Photo Fiction — Enjoy the View

Fandango7 Comments

a5f62dd9-e447-4649-9816-1fb0665af5d6“It’s exquisite, isn’t it?” Anna said.

Hearing no response from her boyfriend, she repeated her question. “The view of the city from here, it’s stunning, don’t you think?”

Still no response. “Earth to Michael,” she said. “Come in, come in.”

Michael turned to Anna. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I was lost in thought.”

“Let me guess,” Anna said. “It’s a beautiful day and you can’t stop obsessing about that moron who believes he’s a legend in his own mind.”

“I just can’t get over the inane things that he says and tweets,” Michael said. “He’s crazy. Shutting down the government over his stupid border wall. His constant lies, his detrimental actions. I can’t inderstand why Mueller hasn’t been able to wrap up his investigation in a more timely manner. It’s clear to anyone with half a brain and who isn’t living in a cave that Trump is guilty as shit of colluding with the Russians, of obstruction justice, and of being a total charlatan.”

“It’s Sunday, Michael,” Anna said. “You have to give it a rest before you make yourself sick. Let’s go get some mussels and wash them down with a pitcher of beer.”

“You’re right. Let’s enjoy the food and the view.”

(198 words)

Written for Susan Spaulding’s Sunday Photo Fiction prompt. Also written for these one-word prompts: Word of the Day Challenge (exquisite), Your Daily Word Prompt (lost), Nova’s Daily Random Word (legend), Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (inane), Daily Addictions (border), Ragtag Daily Prompt (timely), and Michael’s Writing Prompts (cave).

Page 238, Line 1

Fandango1 Comment

Here’s another one of The Haunted Wordsmith’s page and line number prompts. The way it works is that we’re supposed to grab a book…any kind of book…and flip to the designated page and then to the specified line — in this case, page 238, line 1 — and take the quoted line and use it in a story.

caf3afc4-42af-4d06-9282-5c9dee4b7349The book I chose for this exercise is “Murder on the Mind” by L.L. Bartlett. Line 1 on page 238 reads, “and I found the second victim. While I spoke.” So given that, here’s my story.

Detective Rob Hayden stepped into the living room where his partner, Detective Jim Morrisey was examining the corpse of the first victim. “I just came up from the basement and I found the second victim. While I spoke to the officer who was looking around down there,” Hayden said, “I felt a drop of liquid fall on my hand, looked up, and saw blood stains on the dropped ceiling panels.”

“Is it….”

“Yeah, it’s Samantha.”

Morrisey shook his head. “This is going to be surfacing some bad memories in this town, Ron.”

“Tell me about it,” Hayden acknowledged.

“There are more victims to be found, I’m sure of it,” Morrisey said. “This guy turned into a real sicko ever since he joined that radical, political splinter group. I’ll head up to the attic. Take Flynn and check out the storage shed out back by the river bank.”

“Will do, Jim,” Hayden said.

“And watch out for booby traps,” Morrisey warned. “This lunatic’s greatest ambition is to create as much terror as possible. Nothing would surprise me when it comes to this perp’s sadistic nature.”

In addition to Teresa’s Page/line number prompt, this post was written for the following one-word prompts: Michael’s Writing Prompts (Samantha), Your Daily Word Prompt (memories), Word of the Day Challenge (splinter), Ragtag Daily Prompt (river), and Daily Addictions (ambition).

MLMM Tale Weaver — Be Careful What You Wish For

Fandango4 Comments

5e7192d9-6efa-47e0-97b9-c5a625aead0c“If I were you, I’d stay away from her. She’s trouble,” Chris advised his friend.

“But, dude, she’s gorgeous and she’s available,” Andrew said. “Look at this photograph of her on Instagram.”

“Yeah, I know she’s hot,” Chris admitted, “but I know a guy who went out with her for a while. You’ll be working overtime to try to keep her happy.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Just look at her Facebook page,” Chris said. “She’s been zigzaging all over the freakin’ globe for the past two years.”

“So what does that have to do with the price of tea in China?” Andrew asked. “What are you hoping to accomplish by telling me this?”

“Oh jeez, man,” Chris said. “Do I need to spell it out for you. Do I need to write you a letter?”

“No, but I just want to know why you are so down on this girl, dude,” Andrew said.

“I’m just saying, Andrew, that you need to be careful what you wish for.” Chris said. “That chick is ultra high maintenance.”

Written for Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie’s Tale Weaver prompt where the topic is “maintenance.” Also for these one-word prompts: Your Daily Word Prompt (photograph),  Michael’s Writing Prompts (overtime), Daily Addictions (zigzag), Nova’s Daily Random Word (globe), Word of the Day Challenge (accomplish), and Ragtag Daily Prompt (letter.)