November 23: Flash Fiction Challenge – Five a Day

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The old sage looked up at me: “Five a day?” he asked as if the thought had never occurred to him before.

“Well let’s start with life. See what’s around you, then live a life, don’t take anything for granted.

Love the people around you, you can never do enough of that.

Be creative, people won’t think you boring.

And lastly, reflect on all you have done. Reflect so that the next time you can improve on your five a day.”

He looked away signalling our time was over. I left invigorated. Stepping outside, I took in the view.

 

Written for: https://carrotranch.com/2017/11/23/november-23-flash-fiction-challenge/

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Tale Weaver – #147 – What Brings you Joy?? – Morning Tea with Mansur Stigglefod

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Like most days when Miss Marble awoke she had the feeling today was going to be one of those days like most days in her life where something interesting would happen.

Only yesterday she opened her door to a young couple on a religious evangelical crusade to save her from the fires of everlasting torment should she not renounce her evil ways and embrace their version of happiness. She listened as she did every time someone came to her door, often in the hope that she might learn something or make a new friend.

But this couple she determined where destined to not provide her with anything of that kind.

When such times occurred she reached behind her door for a small vial and sprinkled the dust from it over the relentless young couple.

It stopped them in their tracks and their faces lost their stern scolding look and were replaced by the smiles of happy contented young couple whom Miss Marble knew in about thirty seconds would find a new and exciting love for each other which would take them far from Grimace Street. And so they skipped off down the path, hand in hand, not knowing just how attractive they were to each other.

So this morning it was about organising her day and looking at her calendar to see what was in store.

Her aging Swedish neighbour, Mansur Stigglefod, broke her revere. Mansur was a small lady with an aging face and the most becoming grey bangs. As normal for Mansur, she hobbled in and sat herself at the kitchen table asking Miss Marble how she was and in the same sentence telling her of her increasing aches and pains.

She was having trouble with her teeth. They kept falling out and it was making life difficult when it came to eating as Mansur wasn’t all that keen about living on a liquid diet.

Miss Marble loved Mansur, as a neighbour she was the best she’d ever had and as a morning companion such delightful company.

So she put the kettle on, grabbed their favourite cups and made the best cup of tea Mansur ever tasted.

The tea was of Miss Marble’s own making and always contained a pinch of joy designed to make you feel better even on your worst day. It worked well on Mansur even if the payoff was a more vociferous neighbour who suddenly had the answer to the world’s ills.

By ten o’clock their morning came to an end with Miss Marble suggesting Mansur go home for a nap. Mansur looked at her watch, jumped up and said her farewells and was off out the door.

For Miss Marble it was a lovely way to start the day, the interactions with Mansur always filled her with joy and lay the foundation for a satisfying day.

 

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2017/11/23/tale-weaver-147-what-brings-you-joy/

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100 Word Wednesday: Week 46 – Dougal McMouse

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Image: Mert Guller

Dougal McMouse was a mouse who loved scurrying around his neighbourhood on the lookout for a morsel or two.

He couldn’t believe his luck when he came upon a half empty latte.

Dougal had a liking for latte and found he could stick his snout in and gorge himself.

He liked a good gorge, it left him feeling bloated and that made him think he had eaten well. Besides, a good latte always gave him a delicious feeling of wellbeing. Usually enough to give him the confidence to flirt with Esme O’Mouser, the white mouse from Cheeses are Us.

 

Written for: https://bikurgurl.com/2017/11/22/100-word-wednesday-week-46/

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In Other Words, gobble

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Write a story or poem of 5 Lines or Less using the word gobble

 

Mum spent hours in the kitchen preparing the dinner and this year she was going all out to not only to feed us all but impress us with her cooking prowess.

There was every form of vegetable baked and or boiled to perfection.

She called us to the table and we stood agape at the plates she had for each of us.

As was the practice in our family it was eat everything as quickly as you could then there might be seconds.

Mum was disgusted with us as we gobbled our plates clean not stopping for a second to savour her efforts.

 

Written for: https://patriciasplace.me/2017/11/22/in-other-words-gobble/

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Writespiration #142 52 Weeks in 52 Words Week 47

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This week your story needs to include the following phrase:

“I don’t believe you.”

 

The small boy in front of the Principal looked angelic in his denial. His stony-faced teacher stood behind him staring into his scheming brain.

“I don’t believe you,” the Principal announced, “your mother would not have put your maths homework into the turkey stuffing.”

The boy said, “It’s thanksgiving, please pardon me?”

 

Written for: http://sachablack.co.uk/2017/11/22/writespiration-142-52-weeks-in-52-words-week-47/

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Photo Challenge #189 – The Deity Within Us.

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Image: – Carlos Quevedo

When I was young, the world was all so clear

I was told what was right and what was wrong.

I learnt about angels and demons

I knew the devil’s handiwork in everything that went wrong.

As I grew I learned new perspectives

I discovered lies I never envisaged as a child

I began to feel the pull of doubt and suspicion.

I explored my beliefs, I read and listened,

I stepped out and found myself alone

But I felt safe where I was

Belief in one thing or another began to fade

I was more comfortable in skin

Knowing there may be a deity out there

But He or She was not the oppressive God of my teachers

Rather he was God of subtle humour, of love and forgiveness.

The struggle is a daily one, within us, lies a deity

We embrace that notion, or we reject,

Either way, it becomes a basis for living.

 

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2017/11/21/photo-challenge-189/

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Twittering Tales #59 – 21 November 2017

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Image: Hands by Pexels at Pixabay.com

His ancient hands float across the keys.
He holds us mesmerised as the music takes us with him.
His focus is far away, his fingers dance and intrigue us
we too see the pale girl, the troubled waters,
we feel her pain, we feel reconciled with her
the final note brings satisfaction.

Written for: https://katmyrman.com/2017/11/21/twittering-tales-59-21-november-2017/

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Wot I Shot Wednesday

This week there are two things I shot. One is a capsicum/bell pepper. It’s the first time in a long time I have grown these  and the first time in a piece of garden I have not planted vegies in…..so this is one of the first of the fruit, I now await to see if I can get it to go red….

My other image is of a rather large spider I found on the wall. It would easily cover your hand, I didn’t measure it to see but its an educated guess.

If you have anything you shot on your Wednesday please feel free to add it to this post…

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Wordle #179 – The Actor

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This week’s words: Pig Stow Limbo Malaise Tick Cordate ((adj.) heart-shaped) Mental Soliloquize ((v.) talk to oneself) Aghast Accountability Transition Ligament

The actor breathed deeply as his big moment arrived. The audience was hushed, expectant as he began the most important soliloquy in the play.

To soliloquize at this stage of the play required him to transition from good guy to bad guy. So nervous was he the tick in his neck became more and more pronounced. It caused such violent head movements he was soon snorting like a pig but still the audience clung to his every word.

He knew in his heart of hearts, which right now was as cordate as it would ever be that the audience held him to a degree of accountability.

Stuff this up, show some mental failing and his career may well be over.

“I’ve stowed away my love,” he soliloquized, “ the malaise (snort) of you not being in my life has left me floundering in a limbo of my own making (grunt). I cling to the hope the ligament that joins us (snort) will be strong and unbreakable. I know this malaise (snort) will fade, I shall see you again I know, (snort snort) in future days, when we shall find our cord (snort) ated love enough to lift us from the tortuous limbo I find myself in.(grunt)

He paused as the audience aghast at his performance drew breath themselves before breaking into rapturous applause.

 

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2017/11/20/wordle-179/

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Sunday Writing Prompt #229 “Collage 37” – Memories

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Behind the washed out washing

On the worn out old clothes line

The woman sits with her morning coffee.

It’s hot today, so she doesn’t bother

Dressing in any other way than to be cool.

Mornings allow her to remember,

Reminiscing is all she has now.

Children, grown and moved away

Husband left her for she was unlovable,

A crone and a bitch deserving of nothing.

After years of hearing it, she accepts her reality.

Last week she heard from one child

The artist boy was in Paris, doing well he said

She smiled at the news, and now she recalls

Paris when she was younger,

the Ballet School of the Opéra national de Paris

Where she spent ten years before marrying the man

Who fathered her children and promised so much.

She wonders what course her life may have taken

Had she ignored his advances and not been so needy.

The beauty of hindsight she knows is wondering

What might have been?

Her lithe body is now spent,

Who would believe she was once prima ballerina material?

 

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2017/11/19/sunday-writing-prompt-229-collage-37/

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