This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’. Which can be found by following the link below..
This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’. Which can be found by following the link below..
My child has left and gone to work, I lie here alone with my thoughts. I will not stir, I will not move, I am in pain. My little girl Anya is twelve years old. She takes care of everything for us both since her mother left us when the sadness descended on me. Anya gets up at dawn to prepare our meal and fetches water to wash our clothes. She cleans our room and takes good care of me. Anya hides when visitors come to the door. We both need her here to take care of me. Anya works in a sweatshop for twelve hours a day. With homespun fabric, she labours all day making clothes, for the fat people over the sea.
As I lie here alone the rats appear, they scuffle around, then leave, we never drop any crumbs here.
When the landlord calls to collect the rent; I’ve noticed the way he looks at my Anya when she pays him from her paltry earnings, mischievous, malevolent, lascivious looks that bode no good for my child.
School for Anya was a couple of years In a shack for a classroom until her mother left us and she started to work. Anya always returns feeling weary, the dull repetitive drudgery is taking a terrible toll on her wellbeing.
Anya has no time for friends or parties, new clothes or games and playing sports. No time for laughter or enjoying a book. Anya is always too busy working to stop and notice the children around her.
Selfishly I lie here and let things be, I know I can never let Anya leave me to face my sadness alone. We are tied to each other irrecoverably. It’s far too late for me to offer her anything but my sympathy. I know I’m a thief and I can clearly see I have stolen a precious commodity. The innocent freedom of her childhood.
This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’. Which can be found by following the link below..
Old Tom was always thrilled when he had visitors, particularly when his twelve years old Grandson Ferdy came to visit.
‘Where are we going today Grandad?’
‘Well Ferdy, today we shall take a look at Charborough Tower, a well known folly that towers over the surrounding countryside.’
‘What’s a folly Grandad?’
‘A folly is an impressive, costly, ornamental building with no practical purpose, especially a tower or mock-Gothic ruin built in a large garden or park.’
‘Hey Grandad! Why would anyone waste money on something that’s of no use to anyone?’
‘I haven’t got a clue Ferdy! Some people have more money than sense. It will be good to see this impressive tower that was such a ludicrous waste of money when it was built.’
‘Can we go inside and climb to the top Grandad?’
‘I don’t think it’s open to the public, Ferdy. In any case I won’t be able to make it up to the top. It’s five floors high.’
IMPRESSIVE AND LUDICROUS
by John Yeo
There will be words that transcend the words that have built the beautiful poetic cornucopia abundantly displayed on a daily basis via this wonderful social medium. Words to dance to in a pretty pattern…Words to dance away from; full of negativity….Words to inspire a wonderful poetic dance. Dancing to the universal tune inspired by many different poetically inspired minds. Love…Peace…Follow your own unique steps…Keep in tune….Follow these wonderful prompts provided by ‘M’
This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’. Which can be found by following the link below..
This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’. Which can be found by following the link below..
This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’. Which can be found by following the link below..
This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’. Which can be found by following the link below..
Bob and Lil had settled in extremely well into the luxury care home. After a few months, Bob became quite bored with the routine and one day Lil decided they should take a walk into the local park to cheer each other up. They came across a pretty woodland path and at Bob’s insistence they explored the edges of a large wood.
Suddenly they became aware of crashing and crunching of twigs, and bushes as if someone or something was quickly bearing down on them from behind. They froze at this noisy approach which was getting closer. Someone or something was quite near, running through the undergrowth. They looked at each other, held hands and stole along an adjoining path in the opposite direction. They didn’t wait to find out who or what made that noise, birds high above flew away making cries of alarm disturbed by this unwelcome intrusion.
They walked deeper and deeper into the blackness of this huge pine forest, until they collapsed on a grassy bank of a stream, panting to get their breath back. The noisy pursuing sounds had faded away. They had no idea where they were, the stream was running quite fast, there were reeds, rushes and pretty yellow flowers on both sides on the banks. They decided to follow this stream in the hope of finding a way out of the forest.
They came to a clearing in the dense woods covered with many wild flowers and lush green grass, by the side of the stream. They sat down to rest and feeling hungry they nibbled on some chocolate that Lil had discovered in the bottom of her handbag with some wild berries. Bob laughed and remarked that they were enjoying the fruits of the forest.
Lil asked Bob if he knew anything about a group of pretty wild flowers nearby. He gasped in surprise when he immediately recognised them as a group of beautiful orchids. He’d been a keen botanist in his younger days.
‘I’m certain these are rare, valuable, Fairy Slipper orchids.’
They continued on their way, leaving a makeshift trail of twisted reeds hanging from the branches of the trees and bushes along the path next to the stream. Suddenly, again there was an approaching crashing and breaking of twigs coming towards them from behind. They realised to their horror that they must have been followed and their pursuer was not far away.
To their relief, the bushes parted to reveal a familiar face.
‘There you are! I’ve been trying to catch up with you for ages. You must let someone know if you decide to go out for a walk.’
Bob looked at Lil and they both chorused. ‘Sorry it was my fault.’
This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’. Which can be found by following the link below..
(A continuation of the misshapen reality of Bob and Lil)
After a long examination of both Bob and Lil with many questions, the Doctor had this to say to Bill.
‘I’m sorry to say, I suspect your parents are both in the early stages of dementia. They are both living under the influence of a misshapen reality, it’s unusual for a married couple to both suffer together. The misshapen reality usually applies to one or the other. Interestingly they are both living in the same timeframe located many years ago when these friends they invited to the party were still alive.’
Bill and his wife Pattie were shocked at this development, although they were not entirely surprised, as they had both begun to notice some odd behaviour by the couple lately.
Bill’s first response was to ask Dr Blake, ‘What happens next?’
‘Well; there will have to be more tests before the final diagnosis and we will have to await a report from a consultant. Meanwhile the family will have to ensure they are both continuing to manage to look after each other.’
The family, of course, was ready to rally round and everyone sat down and began to discuss the arrangements of looking after Bob and Lil.
‘That’s not a very nice eightieth birthday present for Bob!’ exclaimed Lil.
‘No, and we don’t want any family being nosey and interfering in our lives.’ responded Bob.
There was a sudden unexpected knocking at the front door. Bob opened the door to a short, dark-haired gentleman, in a grey suit, carrying a black briefcase, beaming, with a wide smile.
‘Hallo; Mr. Robert Simkins? I’m Agent Million! I’m delighted to inform you that your premium bond number has been drawn and you are the lucky winner of one million pounds.’
‘That’s great news!’ said Lil, ‘Which one is it? We both have an old £1 bond each. I’ll go and find them, we keep them in the kitchen drawer, they’ve been there for 20 years.’
Agent Million was stunned to hear this, ‘You mean you have won a million pounds from an investment of £1 on a twenty-year old bond you keep in the kitchen drawer?’
‘Yes that’s right! Now, that’s the sort of birthday present Bob deserves.’
Several months later, after this incredible windfall was safely invested, the dreaded diagnosis arrived and Bob and Lil went off to stay in a luxury care establishment, where they lived happily beyond bliss together for over 10 years, absolutely in tune with each other.
This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’. Which can be found by following the link below..
Bob Simpkins planned to celebrate his eightieth birthday in style. He’d always been a popular man in the village with a quick sense of humour and impish blue eyes with crinkly laughter lines, people were drawn to him. Bob’s wife Lil was excitedly calling up their local friends and neighbours, spreading the word.
Lil and Bob had been married for forty years. Lil was Bob’s pride and joy, they were so close, people who knew them thought they were possessed of one mind, sharing each other’s every thought and feeling. Lil was a splendid-looking, matronly lady with blonde curls and a charming smile that lit up her face. Her youthful looks wildly belied her 79 years of age.
Bob would brag to all and sundry. ‘She was a stunner when I met her and she hasn’t changed a bit.’
Lil would blush instantly if she happened to be present. Their three children had arranged to set the celebrations up, and left the invitations to Bob and Lil.
Bob and Lil were soon excitedly discussing who to invite from their numerous friends and acquaintances and filling in the invitation cards together.
Finally when the big day arrived the family were surprised to see so few people present apart from the family.
‘Bob! Did you remember to post the invites?’
‘Of course Lil! I’m not daft!’
At that moment the postman arrived with a bundle of returned mail. mostly marked deceased or gone away.
Dr Blake, the local GP, happened to have attended the party and pricked his ears up when he realized what had happened.
He asked Bob and Lil and their son to attend the surgery.
After a long examination of both Bob and Lil with many questions, the Doctor had this to say to Bill.
‘I’m sorry to say, I suspect your parents are both in the early stages of dementia. They are both living under the influence of a misshapen reality, it’s unusual for a married couple to both suffer together. The misshapen reality usually applies to one or the other. Interestingly they are both living in the same timeframe located many years ago when these friends they invited to the party were still alive.’
This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’. Which can be found by following the link below..
