The Wall #21

Join Jenny Matlock and friends for her weekly writing challenge @ Saturday Centus.  Here's the way it works...Jenny gives us a prompt of some kind, either photo, phrase or both and a word limit.  We take it from there and see what comes to mind and how well we can apply it within these guidelines.   Then we link our post up to Jenny's blog so we, and everyone else, can see each others stories.  Its amazing to see the different ideas these prompts inspire.  Some happy, some sad...some silly, some dark...why not join us?  Add your own story to the list!  Just click the Saturday Centus button at the left.

 

If you follow Jenny at all, you'd know that she loves Halloween.  In her own way of playing trick or treat with her story writers, she's given us a photo of...black.  That's right, she calls it a "Study in Black" - with a word count of 25 words max.

 

So, you little trickster, here's my attempt to weave the blackness into my story of The Wall.

Last week, I was standing outside an old, abandoned house at the edge of a small town.  I'd been drawn there...wait a minute...we don't know that yet but I think it had something to do with my grandfather... and his diary.  Anyway, it was evening and... 

~  Twilight fell like a curtain. The doorway was suddenly dark, like a study in black. Should I go or stay? My knees began to quake! ~

Late Night Meandering

It's been a while.  I wish I knew what's changed to make this crazy sleep pattern my reality...again.  For a while, I was sleeping very well, waking refreshed and feeling good.  Now, a change....again.  Could it be stress?  Could it be worry?  And yet there's been a greater amount of joy in my life lately, too.  Wouldn't that offset any worry I have?  Maybe not.
I really miss my oldest daughter.  I hate not being able to jump in the car and drive down to see her.  But it's too far for a 1 day trip, which costs a lot anyway.  Then to stay over, it's just not in my budget.  I'd like to help her fund her missions trip so I'm saving any money I may have spent on extra trips for that.  I'm praying for a great trip, good memories, inspirational experiences and safety.  I'm trying to put her in God's hands and leave her there but, well...even though I mean to do it, I find it increasingly hard to follow through.  But, since she's nearing 21, and making decisions for herself with our guidance and thoughts in consideration, the best I can do is pray and let God.  He's brought a young man into her life that seems like a near perfect match...except for a few things that are fairly important.  God has the power to change lives and guide hearts so, again, I'm trying to let God.  I have to believe He's made these connections for a reason but I've jumped to the wrong conclusions in this area before.  The difference is in the way she feels about it. 

I do need to pay a little better attention to myself.  Make sure I'm eating well, exercising and getting the supplements I should have to combat this wretched, miserable season of health.

My youngest is entering an exciting time in her life.  A childhood friend has suddenly begun to look more like a young man she'd consider as a suitor than a brother.  A pleasant, yet disarming change of affection.  It's fun to be a part of it and watch it unfold.  It makes me laugh because her sister has been pointing out the virtues of this fellow for over a year but she couldn't get past the brotherly friendship they've always shared.  And apparently, it's been on his mind for a while too.  But he was unsure about her response and held back.  Ah, what a beautiful thing to watch the realization and cultivation of these newly found thoughts and feelings.    But I have to say that he has all the right answers and has really given the entire situation a lot of thought.  It makes me feel a bit more at ease to know that it's not just a random dating choice and that even at a relatively young age, he took the time to think about making this a meaningful relationship before acting.
The scary part is she's been hurt before so it's kinda hard to relax into it the way she needs to and I've been fooled before because I'm such a hopeless romantic.  But he's so good to her in so many different ways that he kinda melts your heart.  I guess time will tell.  Our dating rules/guidelines are a little more strict than his family's so it may put a strain on the next year as he gets more freedom and she doesn't.  Knowing the rules going in should help but let's hope peer pressure doesn't influence his choices.  It hasn't so far.
One thing that makes this a little easier for her is that he's recently become a Christian, which she's been praying for since she's known him.  Maybe that's what changed the way they look at each other.  He finally understands what she believes.  They're on the same page...on so many things.  But there are things they are not on the same page about, too.  Things they have lots of time to sort through and learn about each other.

Well, my eyes are getting heavy again so I think I'll try to get more sleep.  

The Wall #20

She's done it again!  Jenny has pushed us to stretch our minds and come up with a 106 word post including the story prompt, "I planted a little story seed" as the basis for today's Saturday Centus.  That's what Jenny did for me 20 weeks ago when the prompt "the wall was built long ago" was the seed that started this adventure!
Click on the link above or the button at the left to join the fun and see what others thought of when they read the prompt.  What comes to mind when you think of....I planted a little story seed?  Why not write it down and share it with us?

Last week in the story of The Wall, I had walked to a run down, deserted house at the edge of town only to find that it wasn't quite as deserted as I thought.  Click here if you're interested in reading the 19 weeks of the story leading up to today or if you missed last week and want to know what's happening. 

~ I considered running but curiosity got the best of me. Making a wide berth around the edge of the porch I stepped closer.



“You'll have to believe me.... I know who those men are and why they took your key. They've gone off on a tangent because I planted a little story seed while they were drinking at the bar. But they'll be back. You shouldn't be alone.”


Somehow, I instinctively trusted the speaker. But I wanted to get back before dark. As I started to move away from the house a shadow in the doorway caught my eye. ~

Kisses, a Collection ~ Sigh ~

"A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous." ~Ingrid Bergman

"The kiss~a sweet discovery of oneself after a long search." ~A

"The person you've longed to be is really only half of a puzzle that has only one solution.  Once you find it, you can do anything." ~A

"A kiss is a special secret I will only share with you!" ~A

"Give me a kisse, and to that kisse a score;

Then to that twenty, adde a hundred more;
A thousand to that hundred; so kisse on,
To make that thousand up a million;
Treble that million, and when that is done,
Let's kisse afresh, as when we first begun." ~Robert Herrick, "To Anthea (III)"

"Love's first snow-drop, virgin kiss." ~Robert Burns

"I ran up the door, opened the stairs, said my pajamas and put on my prayers - turned off my bed, tumbled into my light, and all because he kissed me good-night!" ~Author Unknown

"At the first kiss I felt

Something melt inside me
That hurt in an exquisite way
All my longings, all my dreams and sweet anguish,
All the secrets that slept deep within me came awake,
Everything was transformed and enchanted
And made sense." ~Hermann Hesse

"How delicious is the winning of a kiss at love's beginning." ~Thomas Campbell

"A man had given all other bliss,

And all his worldly worth for this,
To waste his whole heart in one kiss
Upon her perfect lips." ~Alfred, Lord Tennyson

"When you think of me suddenly, out of the blue, 
it's all the kisses I've blown catching up with you" ~A

"A fire on the hearthe,
candles softly glowing,
drowning in your eyes,
sweetly kissing your lips.
What have I done
to deserve this bliss?
Nothing...It is the gifte
reserved for True Love." ~A. Gimbledorf

"The secret of true love's kiss is one that can only be shared with that special someone for a lifetime." ~A

"A true man does not need to romance a different girl every night. A true man will romance the same girl for the rest of his life." ~Ana Alas

"Be frugal with your first kiss...you only have one to give away." ~A

"What of the man I long to wed?
Be he tall and handsome?  Perhaps.
Be he wealthy and strong?  May be.
But I know that his heart belongs to only me." ~A

"True love's kisse can only be found
In the eyes of the man meant just for me.
In the melding of that soul to mine 
which carries the key to my heart.
In the willing spirit that waits for love
until the time is right to share such things." ~Anonymous

"A love meant to last a lifetime has a passion strong enough to wait for marriage, but kisses volumes of love into your heart in the meantime." ~A

The Wall #19

Today's Saturday Centus challenge from Jenny Matlock is to use the Sensory Details Literary Device style of writing to describe this photo in 100 words.  Sensory Details means using the five senses to describe something so your reader has a better understanding of the image you're trying to convey.  How does it taste, smell, feel, look, sound?  What is your perception of what you're seeing?  How do you "feel" about the picture?  If a picture is worth a thousand words, 100 may only give you a small sense of what you're "seeing" so you'll have to use your imagination for the rest! 

Click on the button to join the challenge and read what others are saying about this picture.  So don't look at the photo until you've read the post.  Then let me know how I did....

To give you and idea of what's happening so far, I'm on a quest.  I've made a discovery, been mugged, overheard two thugs talking about killing me, thought about giving up and tried to call for help. The first 18 weeks of the story can be read here.
Here's where we ended up last week...

~That's strange. Maybe I'd dialed the wrong number. A sinking feeling crept over me. I dialed again. It was ringing!...and ringing. The television in the next room was blaring the Friday night football game. Maybe that's where he is...at the high school game. I let it ring a long time before hanging up.


I sat by the window looking out at the meandering downs, gentle hills and majestic mountains. The cool rains had brought out the fall colors. Everything was blanketed in a patchwork covering with dusky purple edges where the heather faded.

I waited about an hour and dialed again.

No answer.~

And so continues the saga of The Wall...

~ I'll try again later.


I decided to take a walk...not far.


No contact from the thugs who stole the key.


In an overgrown grove of trees, shadowed by heavy green boughs, stood a lonely, weatherbeaten house. It's unpainted lap siding curled and sagged. The porch floor had fallen through, it's boards worn with time. Cement blocks propping the corners looked out of place. The door was ajar. A dank draft sifted through the opening leaving a strange taste in my mouth. The air was still and quiet. Too quiet.


As I walked closer, I heard a, “Psssst!” from inside! ~



So....could you see it, feel it, smell it, taste it, hear it?

See photo below.

The Wall #18

It's time for Saturday Centus with Jenny and friends!  Even though Jenny is not feeling well she's put forth another challenge to keep us on our toes.  Feel better soon, Jenny!

Today's writing prompt is Friday night football with a limit of 100 other words for a total of 103.  To join the fun, click on the button at the left.

So far, I'd visited my family's native country looking for answers, discovered an ancient key, been hit over the head,  had my room ransacked, the key stolen and overheard 2 thugs discussing whether they should kill me or not...I needed help!  To read the full story,  click here.  

In an effort to keep The Wall going, here's my centus.

~That's strange. Maybe I'd dialed the wrong number. A sinking feeling crept over me. I dialed again. It was ringing!...and ringing. The television in the next room was blaring the Friday night football game. Maybe that's where he is...at the high school game. I let it ring a long time before hanging up.

I sat by the window looking out at the meandering downs, gentle hills and majestic mountains. The cool rains had brought out the fall colors. Everything was blanketed in a patchwork covering with dusky purple edges where the heather faded.
 
I waited about an hour and dialed again.

No answer.~

The Wall #17

Hey, It's week number 17 in the continuing saga of The Wall. I'm an early riser so I tune in at 6AM to get the latest story prompt/challenge from Jenny Matlock and start writing!  I'm having so much fun! 
Today the parameters are 100 words plus the prompt (in purple) for a total of 110 words, a picture if you like, any writing style.  Have at it! 
To join the fun, click on the Saturday Centus button at the top.
If you're reading here for the first time or missed some of the story and want to see what's going on, click HERE to read all 17 weeks of The Wall.

Week #17 of The Wall...

~ I couldn't believe my ears! Having entered the pub through the back, I was still out of sight. There were two men sitting at a small table in the corner. Both had their backs to me. The British voice was definitely the same one I'd heard in my room two nights ago...and he was right about me. I had been afraid but now my resolve hardened. I knew I was in over my head.  I couldn't tackle this alone anymore.  I decided to call Wally.  He'd know what to do.
Once in my room, I dialed. But the operator said, "The number you have reached is no longer in service."  ~