The Secret Keeper #130 – Skater’s Remorse

There was no doubt it wasn’t fair. He had practiced these moves a thousand times at least, achieving perfection the last two or three. He had a tendency to overcompensate in the last twirl, but had eventually remained standing in the last two attempts.

He had perfected the twist part of the routine, however that took a couple of years to really stick the maneuver. His dream was about to be fulfilled.

Teetering on the edge of the arena, he slowly moved onto the ice, spotlight following him, hushed crowd anticipating his routine. He surprised himself as he literally glided into the center of the ice. He glanced toward the announcer as he took his stance, head bowed, arms out, bending close to the surface. The announcer took his glance as a cue to start the music, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Applying a serious determined look on his face to adhere to the music, he looked out at the crowd.

Barney let one arm drift up slowly and come down dramatically to the music. Unfortunately his skate was untied, and the laces were sitting between the blade and icy surface, therefore refusing to move. Barney’s other foot, anticipating the next move, slid out causing an extra, too wide gap of his two legs.

Barney was carried out on a stretcher.

Weekly Writing Challenge #130

Daily Prompt: Dim

Sometimes my imagination’s a bit thin

Like today for example thinking of dim

Of course a friend used that “wit” term yesterday

Describing himself in an untoward way

I’ve been haunted all day by a particular tune

It visits me often, with Ray Charles in croon

Maybe my memory or is it a dream

A haunting melody refusing to leave.

*it’s more the melody than the words

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/dim/

MLMM Wordle #186 – Assumptions

He was always thought to be a cancer in society, always present when not invited, always layogenic, but you could feel his creepiness. He was always lurking, it would not be considered far fetched to assure yourself of that fact and keep vigilant. Rumors of his violent behavior were never suppressed even in what some refer to as polite society.

Some suggested he had autophobia, with his constant lurking, but there were no granite facts to prove this. In fact his kind were rarely social butterflies. He always seemed to be looking at you with a sideways stare, obvious and transparent to everyone. His gaze could drive you to consume copious amounts of calming chamomile tea if that was your drug of choice.

A constant stare from him and your face might bleach white with fear, thinking you might be his next victim. But this is no fairytale and he didn’t really devour Red Riding Hood’s grandmother, or did he?

https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2018/02/26/wordle-186-2/

Movie Monday

I like Russell Crowe in practically every movie he is in. This one, “The Insider” features him as Jeffrey Wigand and you can hardly tell the difference between the actor and the real person behind these true events.

“After seeking the expertise of former “Big Tobacco” executive Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe), seasoned TV producer Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino) suspects a story lies behind Wigand’s reluctance to speak. As Bergman persuades Wigand to share his knowledge of industry secrets, the two must contend with the courts and the corporations that stand between them and exposing the truth. All the while, Wigand must struggle to maintain his family life amidst lawsuits and death threats.

Release date: November 5, 1999 (USA)

Director: Michael Mann

Box office: 60.2 million USD

Awards: Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Actor, Satellite Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama, Satellite Award for Best Director, National Board of Review Award for Best Actor, National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor, MORE

Screenplay: Michael Mann, Eric Roth“

https://rugby843.blog

Sunday Photo Fiction – Unexpected

The wooden planks creaked with every step, even though he was walking slowly. He listened carefully, almost enjoying the comforting rhythmic sounds. The path was familiar and he often sought solace in the quiet forest. It had been a month now, and he still couldn’t believe it.

Last month he was working at his office when his wife called, asking to meet him for dinner. She said she had a surprise for him. He wondered what she could mean by that, but then remembered they had met with a realtor and looked at a home they dreamed of owning. They had only been married a few years but both were successful and thought the time was right.

He shut down early and went to meet at their special restaurant. Anything important to them both was always discussed there. Hurrying down the street, his cell phone rang. It was an unidentified number.

The dinner meeting never took place. The unknown number was a hospital. His wife had been in a car accident and pronounced dead at the scene. As he identified her body, the coroner approached with condolences for both deaths. He asked, “both”?

“You didn’t know? Your wife was pregnant”.

200 words

https://sundayphotofictioner.wordpress.com/2018/02/25/sunday-photo-fiction-february-25th-2018/

SYW 2-26-18

Monday, February is flying by, and time for ceenphotography.com‘s Share Your World. Her questions and my answers below:

1. What are you reading right now?

Nothing outside of blogging at the moment. Too much going on.

2. What was your first adult job?

My first adult job was a clerk in the USA Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory in New Hampshire. I had just graduated from high school, taken the civil service exam with high scoring and it was a great first job. Of course the way things are done in the Army is very different than a regular office with tons of carbon copies for everything and files! The system is very different. But it was a learning experience in lots of ways. And if you don’t know about carbon paper, you’re too young to read this!😂

3. What is your favorite breakfast cereal?

I don’t eat breakfast, I try but rarely do. I find cereal, if I have milk, is good at night for a snack. But I don’t like milk, rarely have any, so cereal isn’t a priority.

4. What made you smile this week?

It doesn’t take much to make me smile. I’m usually smiling or laughing at something, even if it’s just in my own head. Sound like a grinning dolt, don’t I? Ha! Had fun yesterday with grandsons. One stayed the weekend and yesterday helped mop my floors, thank heavens! Then we celebrated his birthday by going to the “Black Panther” movie which he was anxious to see. It was a smiley day.

Share Your World – February 26, 2018