Category: Uncategorized

InLaws

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized
“I don’t want to go, it’s our anniversary!”
“We go every year, it’s a thing!”
“I know, and every year we get sent to the horrid bed in the basement to sleep and I have to spend all night clinging to the side not to fall into the hole in the middle of the mattress. It’s a fate worse than death!”
“It’s not that bad, I sleep well…”.
“Of course you do, you get horizontal and you’re instantly snoring. This is our 15th anniversary, can’t we skip old home week even once?”
“I’ve already said we’re coming, as usual.”
It was hopeless every year because their wedding anniversary coincided with a hometown celebration. That wasn’t the worst part, the mother in-law was standoffish, kept strict rules, like what could be cooked in which saucepan etc.; it was a nightmare every visit. She couldn’t even set the table right according to her mil. And so it was.

***

https://athling2001.wordpress.com/2022/11/21/jsw-prompt-11-21-2021/

Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized

Where had he put it?
Was he reading the news?
He couldn’t find it, his missing muse.
It was tragic, the poor writer was frozen in time He’d been sitting there dead, since ‘99!
No one had found him,
he always kept to himself,
a writer ‘s dilemma, never thinking of self.
It was only the story, only the words,
but now looking at him
I think that absurd.
He wasted away,
always alone
with his stale cup of coffee
amid papers and bones.

***

http://fivedotoh.com/2022/11/21/fandangos-flash-fiction-challenge-194/

Fandango’s Story Starter

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized

You Reap What You Stole

This week’s Story Starter teaser is: KAREN WENT BALLISTIC WHEN SHE FOUND OUT THAT HER HUSBAND, KENNETH, HAD GAMBLED AWAY THEIR ENTIRE LIFE’S SAVINGS. Karen was flabbergasted. She knew he had taken a business trip to Las Vegas, but didn’t know he was a secretive gambling addict. He had played a weekly game of poker with the “boys” but all the neighborhood husbands did.

Karen grabbed the car keys and drove to the bank, where she found a mere $23.00 in their account. The savings account was showing zero. She promptly fainted right there in front of the teller’s window. A lawyer rushed over because he was also one of the neighborhood husbands and knew her personally. As Karen regained consciousness, she uttered to him, “I want a divorce and I want it now!”

***

http://fivedotoh.com/2022/11/22/fandangos-story-starter-73/

dVerse Poets Haibun Monday

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized

For today’s inspiration, we will focus on Autumn’s voice (aki no koe), such as rustling leaves, a late emerging cicada, crickets, an unexpected breeze, a crow’s call, etc.

Leafy Plea

The beauty of autumn is in the leaves, and as they give their way to bare snow covered branches, we still hear them protest as they die.

crunching underfoot

sad sounds emit from crisp leaves

don’t rest me in bags

***

http://dversepoets.com/2022/11/21/haibun-monday-aki-no-koe-autumns-voice/

Food Prep

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized
It was a Thanksgiving celebration and always a memorable family tradition. If you peeked in the kitchen window you would observe a harried woman, vigorously folding buttery pastry dough in butterfly fashion for pies. Tiny droplets of perspiration stood out on her forehead as her hands started to ache. This was not unexpected, as the reality of another holiday baking season was predictable. Finally setting the dough into the fridge to chill she sat down and enjoyed a quiet cup of tea.

***

https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/19271780/posts/4394313590

2022 November PAD Chapbook Challenge 21

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized

Prompt: Write a poem using at least three, or all of six provided words.The words are: button, gather, hold, not, sweep, toxic.

Evil Doings

“She’s toxic!” Mike exclaimed, twisting the button on his sweater nervously.

“Not to me.” Joe replied dreamily and conversely.

Cold air started to sweep in with heavy gloom

Mike gathered his coat when evil began to loom

A shiver shook Joe when she entered the room

But he smiled, looking forward to the evidence of doom

Mike took hold of Joe and tried to push him away

It was too late, the spell already took him astray

Mike often thinks fondly of his best friend Joe

Won’t forget when she took him—covered in evil glow

***

https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/2022-november-pad-chapbook-challenge-day-21