The Bag Lady

“What’s your story?” The old man asked the man sitting next to him at the bar. The younger uniformed man was drinking a few shots in succession.

“A pretty bad one, actually and you wouldn’t want to hear it.”

“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to know. I think I’ve been right where you are now…just returned from the front?”

“Yes, got back this morning. I don’t know why I thought “coming home” would be easy. No one cares, no one knows or wants to know about the war.”

“Like I said, I’ve been you, coming back from Vietnam. No parades for sure and even apathy. Have you found a place to stay yet? There’s a veteran owned hotel on Smith Avenue where you can get a good rate, in the meantime.”

“Thanks, sir. I’m Jack, thanks for the advice.”

***

Today’s Prompt: Story

Hours of whispered prayers were conjuring relief to the woman who was on her knees, thanking the gods. She was deep in the forest where the wonder of the gloaming offered a sense of calm and peace. Seeds of regret continued to smudge and stain her thoughts, but the compassion she was feeling started to emerge. She had taken chances with her actions but after feeling a connection to forgiveness, she was grateful.

***

Wordle 645

Weekend Writing Prompt #354 – Tap

Your three words today are:
BROKEN SHATTER SMASHED

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Three Things Challenge #M628

Puzzle This – Saturday Mix, 9 March 2024

Internet problems so late:

Haunted by rugby843 10-17-20

“One potato, two potato, three potato, four…”

I don’t want to play!

I know you’re scared, we all are, but you lost!

Everyone says it’s haunted!

Well, that’s why we’re here, it’s Halloween!

But, but. . .but, I’m the smallest one here, and if there really is a monster in there, I will be easy prey! Why not send Biggie Roberts? He’s a bully anyway, who cares if the monster gets him? Sam starts to cry.

That’s why they call you Snivelly Sam. You’re always blubbering about something. You lost the count. Now go in!

Sam hesitates and then pulls himself up to his tallest three foot five and wipes his eyes and noseon his sleeve. Okay, he thought, I’ll show them! He put one hand in his pocket to hold onto the lucky penny his grandad gave him and squeezed it as he opened the creaky door and stepped inside. The door shut behind him.

It’s been fifteen minutes, did you guys hear anything? I didn’t either. Think we should go in after him?

After another five minutes, Sam came outside with a big smile on his face, and the boys outside were shocked.

What happened? What was inside, was it scary?Why are you smiling?

Sam just kept on walking home. The rest of the boys just looked at each other in amazement, following along behind with their questions. Sam walked into his house and left them outside. His mom said, hello honey, did you have fun today? Sam smiled and told her about the friendly old grandma in the haunted house who fed him cider and donuts as a Halloween treat.

Tourmaline .’s Halloween Challenge – Pumpkin

Fandango’s Flashback Friday — March 8th

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS March 9, 2024

I liked it, ideas of principles that will benefit we Americans. I especially liked the tax parts, hope it happens. What really bothered me was Johnson and his expressions which I thought were disrespectful, but typical of him. And heckling should never be allowed at a state of the union speech. It is embarrassing and shows the world what type of people have influence in our country.

https://rugby843.blog

Poetry Prompt: Include AT LEAST ONE of these in your poem, from Pablo Neruda’s ‘Book of Questions’. [suggestion – regard these as rhetorical, i.e. self-reflective]. I like to use as an opening epigraph with nod to the author of course

• Why was I not born mysterious?
• Why did I grow up without companions?
• Do unshed tears wait in little lakes?
• How long do others speak if we have already spoken?
• Why does Spring once again offer its green clothes?
• Isn’t it better never than late?

Poetry Style:
• Write your poem as a Ghazal*
• 5 -15 rhyming couplets

***

“Do unshed tears wait in little lakes”

Streaming from a heart that aches sorrowful

—

Flowing freely without sound

Shed tears disappear in lakes quiet

—

Secretly letting the salty flow

Offered as a gift to keep and take saving

—

The sorrow hovering inside

Set free from words I forsake depression

—

Melancholy lessening then

Heart opens and awakes feelings lift

—

Soothing now the tempest flow

Tears taken for my sake. relief

***

**from Pablo Neruda’s ‘Book of Questions’

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MTB: Echoing Back

Your three words today are:
RUNAWAY ESCAPEE FUGITIVE

***

The prison escapee ran out of the lot and into the nearby forest. The heavy New England rain pour helped hide the runaway. By the time he had gone a few miles he was exhausted and took shelter under a big oak tree. The man decided he would rather try to run than face more years in confinement. The next day the sun was shining and he felt he was safe. Then a man with a gun told him to stop moving. He stopped.

“Caught you in my forestry tree camera and checked you out. I called the authorities who will be here shortly. Sit down and don’t move.” The fugitive was tired, wet, cold and defeated.

***

Three Things Challenge #M626