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Strength in the sea, we’re always learning down here.

You may think you know, but we watch constantly.

And because of this,

we will survive longer.

***

Four Line Fiction (2418)

This week’s Story Starter teaser is:

With a sudden rush of panic, I realized I had no idea where I was.

The woods surrounding me were creepy, dark and menacing. The tree branches seemed to be surrounding me and I swear a couple of branches were moving! There was no wind, only a dank, musty smell of rot and decay. I looked down to see blackened leaves, damp and moldy. My feet seemed covered in them although my pant legs were dry. I looked up to see straggly black crows sitting in rows on ugly bare snaggly branches—seemed like hundreds of them!

My shirt was torn a bit from one of the pointy branches and I was starting to chill, but my main concern was trying to move my feet. I tried lifting them and like quicksand the other foot sank deeper. I’ll just grab a branch and pull myself out of this quagmire, but reaching up found them slimy and too slippery to hold on to.

I started to panic a little, but thought, I’m a grown man for Pete’s sake, I’m just in the woods, I grew up with woods, I can certainly get myself out of here. I reached in my pocket for my handkerchief and used it to cover a section of a low branch to pull myself up. It worked well and I got one foot out of the leaves and then saw a log to put my other one on so to have something solid under me. That also worked, I even smiled!

I looked around for some light to get out of these woods to a clearing. There was a tiny section where I could see through to open land. Looking around I spied a few large rocks and jumped from one to another till I was on solid dry ground. I glanced back to the dark trees and felt relief but still didn’t know exactly where I was. As I turned to the trees a stick tree like figure stood out from the rest and I think it was laughing. Or it could have been the wind that started to pick up.

My cel phone chimed and it was my wife wondering where I was. I said I don’t know! She said, “check google maps, it will tell you. Aren’t you in your car? It has GPS, too. Honestly Frank, you’d lose your head if it wasn’t attached!”

I of course, saw where I was and even my car seemed to suddenly appear up on the roadside near me. I have no idea why I was clear down here. I walked up to my car, got in, locked the doors and felt saved, as if I had woken from a nightmare. Then I remembered why I had walked down to the woods…I had to relieve myself…oh my gosh, I had to pee and went to find a tree! Guess I won’t be doing that again. Frank turned on the car and quickly drove home.

***

Fandango’s Story Starter #147

1.  Have you ever had a hangover? How old were you? No

2.  Was your favourite social gathering place a pub, club, or restaurant? Chinese Restaurant

3.  Which do you prefer to play: darts, pool/snooker, table football or a card game? Cards or board games

4.  Do you still meet up with your friends on a regular basis? No. We’ve moved away.

I am grateful to my family here that has helped me transition while having a bum leg and adjusting things at home.

***

Sharing my World for 29th April

The childhood past is not a clear memory. Friends are gone and the chatter, laughter, are only whispers now, secret thoughts that stop and play in my mind at melancholy times.

MLMM Wordle #370

Weekend Writing Prompt #361 – Pilgrimage

The weirdest thing that I experienced in the rehab hospital after giving myself a spiral fracture in my left leg was the constant question of “what is your pain level—rate it from one to ten, one being none and ten being the worst you’ve ever had”.

Okay I’m sitting there with the inside of my leg doing the chicken dance and not in a nice way, I didn’t want to appear a wimp so I said “a five”.

“A five/six meaning moderate or 7-10 meaning severe?” Okay, I pushed the buzzer to call them in because I’m in pain, not to play twenty questions. If it was just when I asked for help I didn’t mind, but every time they were to give me scheduled meds?

All in all I’d say a hospital is not a place to fudge your answer, if you’re in pain, say so.🙄😵‍💫😩

***

Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt!

Dragging the axe as he walked among the shadows, mangled roots of bare limbed trees rimmed the secretive path. It was an ordinary task performed as a habit by the old man.

The brim of the simmering kettle was almost too full and he opened a tiny valve that sent a trickle of the salty brew into the urn. A vast collection of herbs accompanied the basic tree root mixture and all the oval stones in the bottom of the pot were essential for success.

The old man’s mind drifted to his younger days watching over this ancient concoction as it came to a boil. His mother was never outright called a witch but the village was reliant on her cures. This batch was for an old lady up the hill, suffering from some malady that this recipe would end.

He wondered who he would pass this important ritual on to since his children had moved away.

***

Wordle 652

You probably don’t remember, I admit, I scarcely do

That “folly” came into the public after a certain view.

It was an invention, odd looking as it was

A steamboat with two sets of sails, gave onlookers pause

It was successful as Fulton hoped it would be

First one propelled by steam along rivers with ease.

***

W3 Prompt #104: Wea’ve Written Weekly

Joe was sitting around reading a spy novel and when it came to the hero saving the woman from a thrown grenade, he thought maybe this plot was made into a movie about ten years ago. He was disgusted; why can’t authors turn over a new leaf when writing? It was then the baby’s monitor started chiming and it was time to take her for a stroll. The big bacon and egg breakfast had soothed her long enough for Joe to finish the last chapter in the book, but it was daddy duty now.

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Lucky Dip – Saturday Mix, 27 April 2024

Dragged, damp, dirty, discouraged, disillusioned, disgusted, dispirited, diligent, dutiful.

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No Theme Thursday: 04/25/24