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“One for sorrow, two for mirth.” He always said that as he handed out the coins. No one expected anything else. Everyone working for the old miser never thought anything of it as they received their meager pay.

Mister Pennypincher knew he had them right under his thumb and only paid the minimum, in return for whatever he deemed maximum output. The mine had operated this way for over forty years and was the only means of income for the nearby village. Every Saturday after another ten or more hours of labor, the men would line up waiting for him to pull out his purse.

Blackened, dusty and breathing hard, the miners received their coins quietly. No one dared to ask for anything else, as Mr. Pennypincher didn’t take a liking to dissenters. He pulled out the money box from under the wooden table to set up these paydays and never conversed or smiled at the lineup of men. He thought himself clever in his words as he doled out the coins, saying that phrase each time.

The two for mirth was almost laughable in itself, as the total amount was always used for the necessities and each man had no time for mirth. The only mirth they could manage was knowing their family would be fed another week.

https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2018/10/12/first-line-friday-october-11th-2018/

Image: https://www.easyglasssplashbacks.co.uk/pricing/starry-sky

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Imagine a day on a freezing fjord

Or on the edge of a deep mountain gorge

An ice cold lake with a mountain backdrop

Warm sandy beach on which you just flop

A jungle excursion with plants galore

Or a desert venue with cactuses and more.

Beauty abides in this world as a dweller

But the sky above is truly stellar.

http://cyranny.com/2018/10/11/stellar-word-of-the-day-challenge/

It was an ordinary day, ordinary life for two ordinary people who happened to be married for an ordinary thirty years. Such was the life of Mr. and Mrs. Jones, at Number 123, in Smithville, USA. Thirty years of hard worked jobs, three well loved, but too spoiled children, and a modest home that was just getting by as it was also thirty years old.

These two people fell in love at the naive age of twenty. Both had hopes and dreams back then, only to see their wants and needs become crushed by the everyday absurdity of ordinary life. Never being able to take a vacation or spend time with each other as a couple, since children arrived shortly after their union, they relied on those children to keep them together.

In doing this, their own lives as a pair diminished and after thirty years of spending anything extra on their children and their education, the couple found themselves alone to face their now empty lives. The twenty year old dreams were now dim desires of the past.

October Writing Prompts

A very small town in Vermont where I grew up had a few places we were not supposed to go, but as a teenager I thought I was actually in one. I used to babysit when asked. On yes, a dark and stormy night, I went to sit with a baby that was already asleep, so no problem, right?

Before the parents left, they put on a record, LP, of some horrible creepy music they apparently thought I should listen to. Maybe it was a lullaby for the baby to remain asleep, I had no idea. As soon as they left I turned it off. I looked around the living room as this home was new to me. There was a baby grand type piano, old. It was strewn with books, record albums, papers, etc and the whole room was quite dark.

The thunderstorm outside was getting louder. To keep myself busy, I went into the kitchen to wash up the supper dishes. It was at this time I was joined by a cat, jumping on the kitchen shelf next to me. Reaching out to pet her, she jumped back down. Coming from a dairy farm, we had plenty of cats, lots of strays left on our drive, so I was used to any type of behavior from them.

As the storm grew louder, there was banging on the door. I wasn’t about to answer since I was in a strange house and had the baby. The cat yowled and the whole atmosphere was getting creepier. I had just finished the dishes when a louder bang was heard and jumping through the door, literally knocking it down, was a huge dog. I barely had time to think, as the dog burst in, and it proceeded to chase the cat.

When I say chase, the dog and cat leapt on the piano, couch, table, all in a huge frenzy. I was trying to get the door back up in place since rain was coming in, so left the pets on their own. The cat must have found a hiding place because the dog gave up and joined me at the broken door, seemingly friendly, I grabbed his collar and put him in the back yard. I never saw the cat again.

Needless to say, I was paid well as when they returned, saw I had cleaned the kitchen and tried to fix the door. They apologized for the dogs escape and intrusion, but I never went back.

https://thehauntedwordsmith.wordpress.com/2018/10/11/daily-writing-challenge-11/

An activity at a retreat causes concern for those below.

https://rugby843.blog

An open door, where would I want to be on the other side?

Of course with you, my love.

Since you stepped through, I sorely miss you.

If you are truly on the other side, I will come.

Though I walk through unknowing, I will search for you.

I promise to keep on, through whatever there is, to find you.

Would I hope there would be beauty and life beyond the now? Yes.

Will you wait and hope to see me too? I believe yes.

I am sure we will meet again.

https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2018/10/11/tale-weaver-192-an-open-door-october-11th/

Deciding to take the boat out on his own, Jack didn’t realize what was in store. His dad told him never to do it, and there were reasons for that. Reason one, it was an old rickety boat and needed repairs. Reason two, Jack wasn’t a great swimmer at thirteen years old, but thought he was too cool for lessons.

Jack snuck out after dinner and rowed out quite a distance. As the clouds gathered and rain poured down, he lost his bearings. The old wood soaked it up quickly and holes needing filled provided the rest of Jack’s demise.

100 Word Wednesday: Week 92

Finish the Story – October #1

OCTOBER 10, 2018

THE HAUNTED WORDSMITH

The Smallest Acorn

Alice loved collecting acorns and chestnuts with her grandfather. They would spend hour after hour walking through the woods beyond their old log cabin collecting and talking about this, that, and nothing in particular. Even though she was only twelve years old, Alice understood time with her grandparents was getting short. She overheard her mother crying one night and telling her father that it had come back. Alice didn’t know what it was that came back, but she was happy when her mother asked if she wanted to visit her grandparents.

On this particular trip through the woods, her grandfather led her down a new trail rather than their usual one that went down by the lake. It didn’t take her long to figure out why. The entire trail was lined with oak trees as tall and as thick as she had ever seen.

“These trees been here as long as I have,” her grandfather said, sitting on a fallen log to catch his breath.

“They’re wonderful,” Alice said, looking at all the colors that blanketed the clear, blue sky.

Alice started looking around along the ground for more acorns while her grandfather began telling her a story about these woods. She was really only half listening, but when the words magic, healing, and acorn reached her ears, she stopped and started listening. However, it didn’t take her very long to become distracted by the smallest acorn she had ever seen.

This acorn was perfect in every way, except it was only a third the size of a normal acorn. When she picked it up, it felt electric. As if some energy flowed out of the acorn and up her arm. It tickled and made her giggle.

“Whatcha giggling about,” her grandfather asked.

“This little acorn,” she said, holding it up so he could see it.

Her grandfather began to shake with joy. He couldn’t believe his eyes. It was the …

(part 2:) the exact acorn he hoped she would find. He knew she wasn’t listening all that carefully, but finding that particular acorn was the goal. The longstanding oaks surrounding them seemed all at once closer to him. Alice didn’t seem to notice the oaks were closer, almost sheltering them both. She handed the acorn to her grandfather. He closed it in his hand and his smile grew big.

Alice noticed a change in him, it had been a while since she saw that broad smile he used to have when they played together. “Did it make your fingers tingle, grandfather?” She looked more closely at him.

“Yes, my child. Your finding this littlest acorn is the best thing!” He looked around him and up at the trees.

Part 3 – I challenge Fandango, at fivedotoh.com

https://thehauntedwordsmith.wordpress.com/2018/10/10/finish-the-story-october-1/

You’d better put that down!

Why? Everyone knows you can’t get warts from a frog.

Oh, really? Been reading “National Geographic” again?

Well, yes, but you know I only look at it for . . .you know.

Uh huh, bet you got your mom fooled, thinking you’re reading it for a report. No problem, we all do it.

This frog is a beauty. Guess I should put him back in the water.

Yeah. Hey, look over there!

Cool, lets go! Maybe we can find something cool to take home!

The two ten year old boys walked over the bridge to the village. Some vendors were setting up near the pond and others had tent like extensions from their trucks. As they came upon a freestanding tent they stepped in. An old man dressed as a wizard sat at a table and motioned the boys to sit down. “Place your hands on the ball and I’ll tell your future.” The curious boys did what they were told and the wizard made up a story for each boy.

On the way home, their palms started to itch. They both looked down to see something odd. Their palms were covered in wizard warts.

I thought you said you couldn’t get warts from frogs!

As they looked again, the warts were gone. The old wizard always was a trickster.

🐸🐸

http://puttingmyfeetinthedirt.com/2018/10/01/october-writing-prompts-2/

Daily Writing Challenge (DWC)

One of my favorite Halloween/horror characters is the vampire. Vampires have been portrayed as lost souls, blood-sucking monsters, romantic interests, proper ladies and gentleman, and children forever trapped by a curse.

Your challenge for today is to explore the world of vampires and see what you find there.

Three Things Challenge (3TC)

For today’s Three Things Challenge, the words are: aging, life, timeless.

For those who may be unfamiliar with the 3TC…simply consider the three words above and follow where they lead you.

I don’t usually do interviews, but since it is October and ghouls pervade the everyday, I consent. Many names have been given to me over the thousand years of my existence, but I prefer Nosferatu. I do not show any further deterioration since the thirtieth year of my life when I succumbed to my father. Now aging is but a memory. If I had known I would look like this forever, I would have preferred a younger version of myself. The photo above is a rare one, showing my worst self. It does make it more difficult to seduce my victims, but in a darkened alley, it matters not.

Once I have made my selection–usually a young woman with a long neck and timeless beauty, I may take her in the alley or I may follow her home and wait till she sleeps. I may drain her completely or keep her for my own. Sometimes they become vampires that seduce men if I need to quench my thirst at a later time.

I never wanted this life, it does get tedious, being immortal. If only there weren’t so many changes, it’s hard to keep up with the enemy of the decade, wars, styles of clothing. After all I must be discreet and maintain in order to fit in. Of course only a few decades and I have to change venues before someone notices my looks haven’t changed. Therefore I have been all over the world without being suspected of being what I really am. A monster you think. . .was it my choice to be fed upon by my father who made me? I have no choice. When my thirst turns to excruciating pain I have to feed and of course my preference is a young and healthy body. Many others like me were so desperate they fell from diseased bodies. You have to be careful, which is one reason to keep a few living vessels in store. Gruesome, you think, I’m sure, but it is no different than keeping a well stocked cupboard in your kitchen.

I must say you seem rather relaxed at my words where others would be frightened and back away. You are a lovely young lady, and such a beautiful décolletage. It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed such. . .beauty, pardon me.

***

Nosferatu takes out a perfectly folded handkerchief and dabs his lips, careful to swab his drool. The interviewer shifts uneasily in her seat. As he looks away to subdue his desires, the woman jumps onto his body, rips open his neck with her teeth, and drains his weakened body.

🎃🎃

https://thehauntedwordsmith.wordpress.com/author/thehauntedwordsmith/