Desire

Taylor’s hand stroked the fender with a gentle, loving caress. The car, with sleek lines and curves like a woman’s body, sat low and lean in the showroom. An almost sexual longing stirred within him.

This Porsche Carrera GT, so beautiful, luxurious and powerful, wanted him also; he knew this to be true. He cupped the smooth body, tilting his head, considering the sticker adhered to the window. She was fast and tight, with six-speed manual transmission, redlining at 8400 rpm and a top speed of just over 300 mph.

He turned away, sighing, his desires unfulfilled. Maybe someday.

This post was inspired by velvetverbosity.com 100 word challenge: "sleek"

Fate

“You’ve had ample warning. Are your things in order?”

“Yes. No! I….”

“What?”

“Nothing. It’s just….”

“What? It’s time to go.”

“Is there another way?”

“We’ve done it this way for generations. It’s too late to complain about your lot. You’ve known this was coming. Why are you acting as though it’s a surprise for you?”

“It’s not that. It’s....”

“I know, I know. You put off thinking about it. Now it’s time and you’re not ready. Well you’re going, ready or not. Nothing you say or do will affect your fate. The die is cast. Your fate sealed.”

This post is inspired by velvetverbosity.com 100 word challenge. This week's word: "Ample".

Grace

Sitting on a park bench,
Enjoying the sunshine,
Listening to the sound of birds chattering and calling to one another,
Breathing in the fresh, heady scent of Spring blossoms;
Eyes closed, face tilted up, the corners of my mouth lifted in a smile.

My smile of contentment reveals the peace I feel,
But it doesn’t tell the whole story.
I am filled with wonder; I am filled with joy.
God’s gratuitous grace abounds.

In this mid-morning reprieve the day pauses in suspense,
Like an inhaled breath, like my life,
Waiting for me to exhale,
To step forward in faith.

(Inspired by VelvetVerbosity.com 100 word challenge: "Gratuitous")

Final round

“Don’t, Bobby. I’m frightened,” she said, but he ignored her. She whispered her fear, knowing even shouts and screams would be ignored. They’d played this game before.

He spun the cylinder with a glancing blow, hand flat against the revolver. One bullet and five holes quickly whirring, coming to a stop faster than any wheel of fortune should.

She heard the hammer click. She felt the barrel’s cool steel against her temple. She sensed the pressure of his finger squeezing the trigger. She met her end.

Bobby reloaded, this time filling every hole. Now it was his turn.

(Inspired by VelvetVerbosity.com 100 word challenge: "Frightened")

Understatement

“I have a small obsession with owls,” she confessed, ushering me into her home.

I’d already noted her sweater (owls knitted into the rib pattern with buttons stitched on for eyes) and jewelry (small, copper owl pendants with tiny turquoise eyes).

Yet nothing prepared me for the onslaught of sights and sounds pervading my client’s house: a large oil painting on the wall facing the front door, a throw rug covering the entry’s tiled floor, a stuffed bird poised on a small table to my right, a hooting soundtrack adding ambiance. On and on, owls everywhere!

“Indeed,” I responded.

(Inspired by VelvetVerbosity.com 100 word challenge: "Obsession")

(This particular entry is also inspired by the darling and delightful @PettyMagic, Camille DeAngelis)

The Bottom Line

“Look at how she engages the little ones,” I said.

Principal Hodges and I watched two members of our assessment staff working with the Special Needs class.

“Yes, Sue’s remarkable,” he commented without expression. “Joe’s good, too.”

Joe, our speech therapist, sat cross-legged on the floor in front of a 4-year-old boy. Joe patiently cycled through flash cards, naming the colors and items shown on each card, highlighting the phonetics, carefully annunciating and encouraging the small boy to do the same.

We exited together, Hodges grim but resolute. The State mandated budget cuts; one position must go.


(Inspired by VelvetVerbosity.com 100 word challenge: "Engages")

Naturally

Jessie and I hadn’t spoken since the argument before our mother’s funeral.

“It’s ridiculous!” Jessie’s concern was more for her own reputation than our recently deceased mother’s.

“Of course it’s ridiculous, but it’s Mother’s last wish. I have to honor her request.”

“Which makes you ridiculous. I’m not coming to the funeral. I want no part of this.”

So Mother was buried in her pajamas, bathrobe and slippers.

Now, five years down the road, Jessie made sure I’d honor her wishes. She’d specified her burial attire in her will, as well as the wording for her tombstone: “Au Naturel”


This is a response to the 100 word challenge put forth by Velvet Verbosity. "Honor"

Regrets

I’d have told anyone who asked it was harmless. The ads and posters touting the dangers had nothing to do with me. I was fifteen.

From my first drag I was addicted. A pack of cigarettes cost less than a dollar. Smoking bans were barely a twinkle in some legislator’s eye. I sat in a restaurant and drew in the poison. I exhaled slowly, watching the smoke rise, loving the new me. On that day I became a smoker.

Forty years later I sit in the stink, stains and ashes that cover my life, wishing I’d heeded the warnings.

This is a response to the 100 word challenge put forth by Velvet Verbosity.

Mystery Dance

When I arrived at the scene no one seemed interested in checking my credentials so I kept my wallet in the pocket of my coat.

As more officers, the coroner and the detective in charge arrived they focused on the corpse; no one gave me a second glance. I remained in the background, observing and considering my options. My only lead, now a dead end, pale and still against a colorful palette of fallen leaves.

The body, daylight and my last hope disappeared about the same time. I humbly approached the detective seeking pity and a possible clue.

This is a response to the 100 word challenge put forth by Velvet Verbosity.

According to one who knows

Mary waited patiently while her friend’s sobs subsided. She patted her back and rubbed her shoulders, making soothing noises and saying things like “there, there.” After a while, Sue’s breathing slowed, with only the occasional hiccup breaking through as she regained her composure.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Sue said. “How can I go on?”

“Don’t worry, honey. You’ll be fine. No matter what anyone else tells you, you can take it from me. You know I’ve got the credentials: three attorneys and seven ex-husbands. There most certainly is life after divorce.”

This is a response to the 100 word challenge put forth by Velvet Verbosity.

Waiting

Margaret sits in the waiting room, alone with her thoughts. The events of this morning, looping in her mind like a tragic news clip, solely hers to witness.

“Mama! I’m imbisible!”

With less than a second’s consideration she’d responded, “You mean ‘invincible’.”

“Yeah!” said her son, her precious dare-devil, only child, wearing last Halloween’s superman costume, now too small, with torn elbows and shredded knees. “I’m IN-VINCIBLE!” pronounced so carefully.

With a shout he was off again. She was grateful for the opportunity to focus on her work.

Now, guilt infuses her waiting. Five year olds are not invincible.

This 100 word challenge post.

The Board

Rodie takes a deep breath, steeling himself for the climb. One foot after the other, one rung at a time, he ascends. At the top he steps forward. A skinny boy in bright trunks, he moves cautiously between rails. Past the rails, he takes five steps to the board’s end. He draws another deep breath, looking down….

Today Rodie stands in a cold room, recalling the day he stood 3 meters above the community pool and conquered fear that stabbed through him like a knife. He turns to the seven men sitting before him, breathes deeply and smiles.

This was *intended* to be a submission to Velvet Verbosity's 100 Word challenge for this week but I appear to be off-cadence. Alas. Maybe next time.

Famous Last Words

“I don’t think I can do this.”

“Put on your game face. You’ll be fine.”

“John, I know tenure is important to you, but I don’t think I can spend all evening with the faculty and their spouses, pretending there’s nothing wrong, expecting to avoid suspicion. Won’t it be worse if it comes out here?”

“This won’t be the first affair disclosed after a few drinks.”

“An affair with another man…?”

“You’ve got a point. If it comes up, act like it’s the most natural thing in the world.”

“If you say so.”

“After you, my dear.”

This 100 word challenge post.

For the Love of Strays

She watched the man swing a denim-clad leg behind him, dismounting his Harley.

“Steer clear of him, Sandy. He’s a wild one. He’ll break your heart.”

The voice took her back to the day her mother came home and found her proudly sitting on the porch steps with a stray cat at her feet. It had taken her all afternoon, a trail of bologna pieces and a saucer of milk to get him this close. She stroked his back, her patience rewarded.

At her mother’s words he darted away, gone forever. She still missed him.

(This is a 100 Word Challenge response.)

Jake's Feast

“I’d like a pizza with everything,” said the gruff voice.

“Including anchovies?”

More gruffly, “I said everything didn’t I? Of course, with anchovies.”

Later, the gruff voice came in to pick up his pizza. The voice matched the man; tall, thick and unshaven.

He arrived at the game well before the dealer opened the first deck of cards and shortly before the players took their seats. “Pizza’s here.”

“Not with anchovies, I hope.”

“I like anchovies.”

“You’re the only one.”

“So pick ‘em off,” because he knew better. “Leave ‘em behind for Jake.”

And so the cat feasted.

(This is a 100 Word Challenge response.)