What do you See? March/26/2019 – The Apparition

Posted on March 28, 2019 by Michael

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The monks who gathered in front of the derelict chapel did so for a reason.

It was once again the first Tuesday of the month, and the day the apparition appeared above the chapel door.

For those remaining monks it was a reason for their devotion. Within society religion, as they knew it had all but disappeared and the landscape was littered with the remains of churches and monasteries from days when religion and those who practised it held a position of superiority.

Only the devout survived, clinging to a hope that belief and faith would hold them in good stead. Society ridiculed them, and they retired to the few liveable places left where they could pray in solitude.

But the apparition had given them hope. For a long time, they said nothing to anyone, keeping the phenomenon to themselves.

It was Brother Angus who stepped close to the chapel door and found the apparition surrounding him. Unable to move he stood frozen in fear as much as in awe as the apparition circled his body before ascending to its spot above the doorway.

Brother Angus looked at his fellow brothers, and they saw in him a tiredness they’d not seen before. Angus fell to his knees believing he had been subjected to a divine intervention, but the next day, his life of misery was there staring him in the face once again.

Each month on this day, the monks gathered, each in the same position as they had been on the first day. Angus was engulfed by the apparition, and the only thing the monks began to notice was Angus aging and the apparition becoming more and more radiant.

 

Written for: https://helenevaillant.com/2019/03/26/what-do-you-see-march-26-2019/

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Tale Weaver – #216 – Fairy Tale – The Evil/Dark side – Prince Eyesore.

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Michael

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Image: Pixabay

Prince Eyesore was destined from birth to embrace the dark side of the fairy kingdom.

Above his crib, and above the doorway into his nursery hung the sign: “Bad is Us”.

It was the fate of the Prince’s family that they lived the life of the darkness within the creaking walls of the dark kingdom.

His father, Prince Yuck was notorious for disagreeing with everything people said. It was an irritating habit and one he found himself embroiled in all his life. “It was fate,” he told anyone who bothered to listen.

Young Prince Eyesore was the rotten apple to his father’s eye. Eyesore was a thoroughly unlikeable character, he captured flies and de-winged them, and he refused to eat his greens as a baby, which drove his nurse mad but delighted his father.

His mother, the Princess Underfoot, saw in her son the future of the kingdom and encouraged him to be more and more disagreeable as each day passed.

When he was eighteen, it was decided he should marry and in the tradition of the kingdom dark knights were dispatched to capture the fair Princess Emma who lived happily in the neighbouring kingdom.

Emma was everything Eyesore was not. Kind, generous, beautiful and very agreeable.

The Princess was incarcerated in the tower of the dark kingdom and each day Eyesore would visit and attempt to woo her with his obvious charms, which took some time for him to discover.

This was to wear the Princess down until she began to see the advantage in marrying him. It did take a long time; after all, Underfoot had come to ‘love’ Yuck and if that could happen there was every chance for Eyesore.

The trouble was Emma found Eyesore physically repulsive to the point of gagging every time he came near her.

He took to wearing a mask each time he visited, and that seemed to placate Emma and in that Eyesore saw hope.

The wedding was ordered by Prince Yuck and amid great celebration and pageantry, the big day arrived.

Eyesore was beside himself with excitement. Princess Emma would soon be his to do with as he pleased. He envisaged their first night, then the second and third and soon he had himself worked up into a royal lather of expectation.

He decided to wear his best mask for the wedding. A Commedia mask, sporting a long and slightly upturned nose, which came with a rather becoming red and white strip on black pod piece. Everything, Eyesore concluded showed off his best features and would surely win over the still reserved Princess.

Emma was desperate to avoid marrying Eyesore. She saw a life of misery and unhappiness. She cried herself to sleep the night before and contemplated throwing herself off the tower rather than marry the repulsive Prince.

When everything seemed lost there appeared a fairy god prince. A tall and handsome god prince who came to rescue her and return her to her family across town. With a tap of his wand, Emma was gone, whisked away, and in an instant back in her old bed in the kingdom of all that is good and wholesome.

There was great celebration upon her return, but in the distance, they saw the storm clouds building above the dark kingdom where Eyesore was planning, what he loved to do more than anything else, revenge.

 

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2019/03/27/tale-weaver-216-fairy-tale-the-evil-dark-side/

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100 Word Wednesday: Week 114 – No Time for Goodbyes.

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Michael

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It was hard seeing her drive away. The adults in my life said it was “all for the best”.

I was heart-broken watching Alice and her family drive off.

Ours had been a holiday romance; we spent each day together until mum discovered us being a tad too intimate behind the caravan in the long grass.

Immediately Alice’s parents were summoned, and after an unpleasant exchange, it became clear Alice would not be welcomed around our place.

The next day they packed up and drove off. There was no time for goodbyes; no one wanted that awkwardness, except for us.

 

Written for: https://bikurgurl.com/2019/03/27/100-word-wednesday-week-114/

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Photo Challenge #256 – When the Words Dry Up

Posted on March 26, 2019 by Michael

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Image: Google images

What to do when the words dry up

When the stories become fewer and fewer.

Shall I retire to my self-made tower of illusion

Where reality twists and turns

Around invisible barriers and into multiple shades.

It’s a place where I feel safe

Away from everything threatening

Where time could, maybe, even speculate

A beginning with no ending or an ending with no beginning.

I’ll perch here a while and see if anyone notices.

 

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2019/03/26/photo-challenge-256/

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Wordle #126 – Eat Your Crusts.

Posted on March 25, 2019 by Michael

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This week’s words: Useless Weird Distance Crust Willing Upper Hand Bedevil Cozen- verb. to cheat, deceive, or trick. Divertissement- noun.

a diversion or entertainment.

a short ballet or other performance serving as an interlude in a play, opera, etc.

a program consisting of such performances. Quit Clatter Height

 

“Eat your crusts they’ll make your hair curly.” It was a useless piece of advice I heard so often as I grew up. My hair was naturally curly; why would I want more of it?

I think it was an example of my parent’s divertissement in life, seeking entertainment wherever they could. Weird as it seems their insistence on eating my crusts has stayed with me into older age.

We lived in the country, and it was a distance to travel to a large city. The clatter of the city has stayed with me. To be surrounded by constant noise always bothered me as at times I wished it would quit and give not just me a rest but the clatter itself.

But life has left me willing to take the upper hand whenever I can. It’s been about taking advantage of situations when I can like I believe when opportunity comes your way why not grab it and then later worry about how you might achieve.

I’ve learned that to reach any heights in life, it’s useless to cozen your way and to bedevil your way through life only results in a growing army of enemies and heartache for yourself.

So being yourself and accepting who you are is the height of self-discovery, never useless, but holding you in good stead.

 

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2019/03/25/wordle-126/

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Sunday Writing Prompt – The Muse

Posted on March 24, 2019 by Michael

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This week – write about your muse as if they had been given corporeal form and could interact with the outside world.

I think that you should refer to me as The Muse, not your muse, my muse or anyone else’s muse. So what do you want to know?

 

What’s it like to be a/The Muse?

 

Well unlike you I have access to every word and a few others. I am creative, and I love to explore. I don’t always go along with convention, as you’ve probably perceived by now.

 

Is it a pleasurable existence?

 

Yes, apart from dealing with the less than intelligent, such as yourself. You restrict me, did you know that? I can be creating a great tale and seeing the possibilities when you kill the entire process by putting in a full stop. The number of times I have been frustrated by your insistence of a period here, a stop there, it drives me crazy I have to say.

 

But don’t you agree we need each other?

 

Sadly yes. I exist through you. Don’t think I haven’t thought about running away. But where would I go? As it is I have it pretty easy, you are easy to manipulate, you go along with what I conjure up and then think of yourself as a genius, and I think who am I to destroy that perception you have of yourself?

 

Do you recall the circumstances that led you to be my/The Muse?

 

Oh, unlucky you might say. I was floating about in the universe minding my own business when Muse Central called me in and said I had to stop wandering aimlessly and find a body to inhabit and put my talents to use. So I saw you, a small boy at the time and over the years I continuously whispered to you that writing might be a good idea. It took a long time, but eventually, words happened.

You wrote appalling love poetry and songs when you were a teenager, I cringed every time you published something hoping no one would notice and they didn’t. I breathed a sigh of relief when you tried your hand at a musical; at least there you had some idea of an audience.

Then in later years, thank goodness for maturity and wisdom, for you’ve been more willing to listen to me rather than your poor addled brain.

 

I think we get along fine, don’t you?

 

I tolerate you, I want to go places you can’t dream of, but I’ve not given up hope. One day your mind will stop making decisions and allow me to drive your thoughts then we’ll see the potential you really have. Though I do enjoy the breaks, you give me between writing. I can reflect and put my feet up, rest is a good thing for The Muse, I never thought of it as beneficial until now. I nap along with you.

 

Well, thanks for your time; I’m sure there is plenty more to come from your able and witty mind.

 

One would hope so as your mind tends to stagnate from time to time.

 

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2019/03/24/sunday-writing-prompt-2/

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March 21: Flash Fiction Challenge – The Hole in the Bucket

Posted on March 22, 2019 by Michael

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March 21, 2019, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that features a bucket of water. What is the condition of the water and what is the bucket for? Drop deep into the well and draw from where the prompt leads!

Henry had been pleased when Lisa had guided him in fixing the hole in the bucket. It had been an exasperating time as every effort to repair the damage to the bucket had been thwarted. Straw too long, blunt scissors and ultimately the hole itself.

A hole in the bucket at a crucial time was a setback to someone as simple as Henry who prided himself on his self-sufficiency. The hole had flummoxed him.

Now the bucket was repaired and he could get on with the task at hand, carrying water to put out the fire in his bedroom.

 

Written for: https://carrotranch.com/2019/03/21/march-21-flash-fiction-challenge/

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Reena’s Exploration Challenge #79 – Stain

Posted on March 21, 2019 by Michael

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Use one or more of the words given in the prompt, and weave into a composition of your choice.

There was no removing it. Like super glue it stuck to the fabric and no amount of washing, scrubbing or cursing made any difference.

The festival was soon to begin and the thought of entering the parade with a stain such as I had on my bodice was too much to contemplate.

In an air of positivity, a stain was not a good sign of compliance with the spirit of the festival.

The pigment within the stain was putting up a good fight against everything being thrown at it to remove it. So in exasperation, we decided to decorate it, try and make it blend with the fabric it had taken over.

A little colour here and a tinge of this there and before we knew it the stain had lost his malevolence and was as if one with the festive notion we all felt.

Now the bodice had within it a chroma that was instantly unique. Such was the impact of our efforts that the entire garment now exuded a hue of success.

As the day went by I was congratulated on my attire and asked on more than one occasion where I had secured my colourful top.

 

Written for: https://reinventionsreena.wordpress.com/2019/03/21/reenas-exploration-challenge-79/

 

 

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Thursday photo prompt: Rift #writephoto – Dragon’s Head.

Posted on March 21, 2019 by Michael

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The earth had rumbled for several days, which wasn’t unusual in those days.

When everything settled down, and we had the chance to get out and survey the damage it was then the dragon was discovered.

There had been a rift in the rock formations on what was known as Dragon Mountain, and to our surprise, there was the fossilised head of the dragon revealed for the first time.

It had been legend that the mountain had contained dragons in past years, but we all thought it nothing more than a myth serving our local tourist industry.

But now the head was there, in plain sight and we began to reassess our history.

Immediately moves were made to preserve the area, and the tourist operators sought ways to profit from the revelation.

It was interesting though as time went by to note that if you stepped too close to the dragon’s head there came an ominous rumble from within the mountain.

 

Written for: https://scvincent.com/2019/03/21/thursday-photo-prompt-rift-writephoto/

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Tale Weaver #215 – Alone – March 21st

Posted on March 21, 2019 by Michael

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We lived in a house that was alive with sound, activity and fear.

There was always something going on, school activities, dance classes, sport of all different types.

It was a constant cycle of going here and there, preparing lunches, taking a child to some appointment and cooking dinner, for eight on a nightly basis was an effort when you think we worked as well.

You’d think in a household where so much was going on you could never be lonely, but it was a reality. With so many relying on you, there was never time for yourself and when there was it was taken with a sense of guilt for being selfish and not at the beck and call of those around you.

My wife liked being pregnant but showed a disinterest in the children except when they did something that potentially embarrassed her. That was where fear came into it.

When it happened no one felt safe. You found yourself alone and no one cared about you other than to placate the aggressor.

It was like an explosion, and the little ones would flee and huddle together wishing it would all end.

After when the house was quiet the sense of being alone hit home. Who was there to tell?

It was common to find myself alone, humiliated in front of my children, living in fear of reprisal when the morning came.

I came to learn that being alone, as soul-destroying as it is, was a preferred place to be. Learning to put on a brave face in front of the children was important as they expected what they perceived as ‘normal’ to return with each new day.

Being alone in a crowded house is a terrible place. You survive because you know it’s important to be there for the kids, if you take the blows aimed at them you feel your role is being fulfilled.

In time I changed my circumstance and in doing so the overwhelming sense of being alone struck me greater than ever. Not only was I alone but I lost my sense of belonging and that is punishing, to say the least.

A lot of time has passed since those days and alone nowadays means something different. It has become a precious time where I can reflect and grow, learn to love myself and reach out with greater confidence to those who love me.

 

 

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2019/03/21/tale-weaver-215-alone-march-21st/

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