Snapshot Prompt

This week it's my turn to get those creative fires burning. I've spent hours deliberating over which photo to choose. After page after page of duds, I begged my husband for one of his. And how do you choose just five words? (Random word generator.)


So, after all the effort I've put into this, how could you not participate?


See? That's settled. ;-)


Let's look at the submissions from last week, first. As usual, they're pretty amazing and definitely worth the time to read.


Murder at the Amusement Park (3) from Jottings and Writings of Tena Carr
Deal with the Devil by Chessny Silth
In a Room by Sydney Aaliyah
Payback's A .... by our co-host Nicole Pyles at The World of My Imagination
And you can read mine here: Lake House Rendezvous


Before we get to the rules, just a quick reminder that if you are inspired by a previous week's prompt, please let us know so we can help you share it.


And the rules are:


1) There will be one photo, and five words - both of those elements must be a feature in the brief story you create.
2) There is also a 500 word maximum.
3) You have until the next Wednesday to create your post.
4) When you have finished your post, come back here and link up below and let me (or whoever your blog host is) know in the comments that you have done so!
5) We were going to tell you to not take this too seriously, but reconsidered it because we know full well that asking writers to write something means that they will take it seriously. So, take it seriously, but don't fret/panic/pass out/hyperventilate/lose sleep/run in fear over it.

Here's the photo (taken by Kristoffer Sorensen)

Here are the five words (taken from this link)

file


chair


nest


pirate


winner

Once you have your story ready, post it below. Happy writing!

Lake House Rendezvous

I hope you had an enjoyable Holiday Weekend. Now that it's back to work, I have a story to help start the week.

This is my response to Wednesday's Snapshot prompt. If you would like to participate, link your story up to the original post here.

Then, come back tomorrow for for the next Snapshot prompt chosen by me!

But first, read my story. Please. ;-)

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Lake House Rendezvous


"What the hell are you wearing?"

Raul's arms squeaked as he lifted them up. A big grin split his face.

"You said you wanted to scare them."

Will looked at his brother-in-law, dressed in black overalls and a black fisherman's raincoat. Yep. That would do it.

"Let's go, then."

Will stopped Raul at the edge of the forest, just before the old lake house. He ran his fingers through his long hair, making sure it was still greasy, pulling a few of the strands to tangle in his day-old beard.

"Okay. You stay back by the trail in case they see me and try to sneak back," Will ordered. Raul nodded, widening his legs in what he thought was a guard stance, arms down to his sides. "Make sure to stay here," he reinforced, meeting Raul's laughing brown eyes.

"I wouldn't desert you, man." Will nodded, but watched Raul the first few steps. Raul sent a jovial wave, assuring Will he was part of the plan. Satisfied Raul was set, Will snuck toward the lake house.

He knew he wasn't meant to have seen the note. It had been written on an envelope which had been thrown away. Will would have ignored it if it weren't for all the stars sketched on it. He'd stared at the discarded paper, weighing his options. Finally, he'd pulled it out and read the damning words which had led him here.

Reaching the lake house, Will crept around, peaking in the single pane windows. He jerked back, then looked again when he saw them. Wrapped in each other's arms, laying on the old couch. He jerked away with a scowl. He didn't want to see this.

Will began scratching the window with his nail, cursing when it resulted in a paint splinter from the bad paint job. Looking around he found a stick, then tried that against the glass. A satisfying screech made him smile. He heard a thump inside. After a few seconds, he dared to look inside again.

That damn boy was looking out. Will's face morphed into a fierce scowl and he jerked toward the glass. In the background, he heard a girl scream. The boy disappeared along with the girl. He turned around, leaning against the house as he watched them run back toward the forest.

Raul played his part beautifully, jumping out at the pair from the trees, doubling their speed back to the main house.

Will laughed and met Raul at the tree line.

"You think that did it?" Raul asked.

"I'll think of something else if it didn't," Will returned. Raul shook his head and laughed.

"Man, if I ever have a daughter, I'm calling you when she starts to date."

Will grunted, his lips curling in a crooked smile. Yep, that's what brother-in-laws were for, protecting their little girls from those horny bastard boys.

Happy Memorial Day

It is Memorial Day. It's a day to honor those protect our Freedoms. This is not about politics, but about those who serve our Nation despite who sits in padded leather chairs in Washington D.C. Men like my dad, my uncle and my cousin. Women like two of my friends.

So as you enjoy your cookouts, your day off, your shopping for sales, your home improvement projects (guilty), please remember those who make all who ensure our rights to do those very things.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day.

Unexpected Fate - Part Four of Riley's Story

"Fate leads the willing, and drags along the reluctant."

Riley's day continues with a new job. If you need to catch up, or would like a refresher, visit these links below.

Part One: Riley's Story
Part Two: Fate Calls @ The World of My Imagination
Part Three: The Hands of Fate @ Confessions of a Pixel and Ink-stained Wretch

Time to get started ....



------------------------

Part Four: Unexpected Fate

© Photographer: Matthias33 | Agency: Dreamstime.com

The ride to the hospital wasn't a long one. The nice thing about having a bicycle was I could park it right next to the entrance. My first stop was the gift shop. I picked out a large crystal vase filled with red and pink roses. I told the cashier they were for room 320. She made a note in her computer, then waved me along.

I walked the hospital like I knew where I was going. I followed the signs to the elevators and went up to the third floor. The nurses on the floor directed me the rest of the way. I found the old lady's room where she was sleeping upright, head tilted slightly to the side. Her transparent skin looked bruised and thin over the IV in her arm. I moved quietly, setting the vase gently on her bedside table and turned to leave.

Stretched out in a leather chair was a man in a crumpled business suit. He was slouched to his shoulders in a padded chair, his phone still resting on his stomach, though his hand had fallen lower. I went directly to him, picked up the phone and manipulated it until there was a past reminder to buy flowers, the notification already setting his phone blinking.

Shrugging my shoulders, I left the room with the knowledge of a job complete.

"My dad will know you changed it."

"His phone?" I turned quickly to see a girl leaning against the pale green wall of the hallway. Her ankles and arms were crossed. Big sunglasses acted as a headband to her chocolate hair. I tried to judge the thoughts behind her honey eyes. Thankfully she seemed more amused than accusing.

"Nope. The job," she countered. "Have you changed all of them?"

A trickle of sweat tickled my spine. I started to walk away but the girl just followed.

"You know, he looks out for stuff like that."

"Then why hasn't he said anything?"

"He wants to see how far you'll take it."

Awesome. I was being tested and didn't even know it.

We made it to the elevator. I jabbed the button for the main level as she watched.

"Don't you want to know why? What for? Any of the usual questions?"

"Who are you?" I demanded. Her grin was too bright for the confining elevator car.

"I'm Kate, and don't you make a single joke about how that rhymes."

"Rhymes." I wasn't sure what this girl was talking about.

"You know. Kate. Fate. I've heard them all."

"Because you're Fate's daughter." I just wanted to hear her say it.

"Boy, you're slow," she glared as the elevator bell rung. Her bouncy stride led the way out. I followed with cautious steps.

"I'm actually one of three sisters," she informed me. "Patti is Keeper of the Weaving. That means she guards the happenings of the past. Right now she's off on some pilgrimage to try and discover her worth. Turns out humans are caring less and less about what happened before them," she ended in a conspiratorial whisper.

"Then there's Desta, the Spinner. She's currently teaching Yoga. Thinks she can tame humanity one chakra at a time, or something like that. She wants to have better thread for the future."

"Wait. Past and future? So you're present." There was that brilliant smile again.

"Yeah, the Weaver."

"As in the three blind sisters who share an eye."

"Ugh, don't remind me," she gagged. "Good thing we can remake ourselves as time goes by. New names and everything. Gotta fit in, you know."

"Uh-huh." I was ready to leave. When I looked up to orient myself, I realized we were at the cafeteria, not the entrances.

"Come on. You're hungry," she informed me.

"Look, I really gotta go."

"No you don't."

"Yeah, I do. This may be a weird job, but there's only so much I'll get involved in."

"You don't trust us."

"You seem surprised," I noted dryly.

"But we're the Fates."

"That doesn't mean you can't lie. I've done it for your dad. He's lied to me-" Kate's laugh stopped me.

"Dad doesn't lie. Why do you think he needs an assistant?"

"Bullshit."

"Look," she ordered. "Think about his words. Think about what they could mean, other than your first knee-jerk reaction to them."

I looked at Kate for a long minute, her eyes boldly meeting mine. No flinching. Not even a blink.

I'd had enough. I shoved my hands in my pockets and walked away from this last job, from Kate, back toward the outside world where I thought things made sense.

----------------------

.... And only two more weeks go to! We boomerang back to Leonard's Confessions of a Pixel and Ink-stained Wretch next week, then Nicole Pyles' World of My Imagination finishes it up. Be sure to check in and see how it all turns out.

Snapshot Prompt

Nicole has put together a new prompt for us. And, and ...

Next week, it's my turn! So check out today's prompt, write away, then come back next week to see what I choose. :-)

Happy Writing!


---------------------------------


Okay, third times a charm. I've tried writing this post twice and my laptop keeps freaking out on me...so here we go!


We had an awesome turn out last week! I'm so proud to share the posts we received -

Enchanted by Chessney Smith
At the Top of the Stairs by Syndey Aaliyah
Alicia's Soul by Chasing Revery
Cool Things Always Happen in New Houses by The World of My Imagination
Dogwood Days by Jade (this is from a prompt a few weeks ago)

By the way, if you ever see a writing prompt from previous weeks ago that you would like to respond to, go ahead! I will still promote it with next week's post!

Here are the rules:


1) There will be one photo, and five words - both of those elements must be a feature in the brief story you create.
2) There is also a 500 word maximum.
3) You have until the next Wednesday to create your post.
4) When you have finished your post, come back here and link up below and let me (or whoever your blog host is) know in the comments that you have done so!
5) We were going to tell you to not take this too seriously, but reconsidered it because we know full well that asking writers to write something means that they will take it seriously. So, take it seriously, but don't fret/panic/pass out/hyperventilate/lose sleep/run in fear over it.

Here's the photo (taken from this link)

Here are the five words (taken from this link)

Stars

Envelope

Wave

Nail

Desert

Once you have your story ready, post it below! 

Part Three of Riley

So exciting! Leonard Suskin has answered a few questions, and set a direction. Go read

Part Three: The Hands of Fate @ Confessions of a Pixel and Ink-stained Wretch

But first, make sure you catch up with the story in parts one and two.

Part One: Riley
Part Two: Fate Calls @ The World of My Imagination

(Giving you time to read ......)


Fantastic, isn't it? I'm next! See you Thursday to find out what this next task could possibly be ....

Alicia's Soul - Snapshot Story

The Snapshot Prompt took me to a little darker place this week. But where else can a spiraling staircase go?

----------------------------

Alicia's Soul

Down, down, down the harlequin stairs. One hand on the snake-like rail, the scaly indentions feeling like speed bumps to her fingertips. A tube of lipstick in the other was wearing down to a nub, the bright berry color marking each turn she took, arrow pointing to the exit like they did in mines. There hadn't been many turns for a while, except for the smooth curve of the narrow staircase.

Alicia had been at work on her computer, sorting through emails and arranging projects by priority. A note scratched in pencil on masking tape pressed to the underside of her keyboard had caught her attention. It was an odd place to leave a note. She had only found it because a few paperclips had spilled on her otherwise neat desk. Once she read the words, she ripped it off quickly. Shredded pieces found themselves in different waste baskets around the office.

Easily destroyed, they were not words to ignore. They stayed with her through talking to clients, laughing with co-workers and taking notes at meetings. She packed up as the clock rolled onto the 5, calling out goodbyes from the elevator. Behind the wheel of her car, Alicia closed her eyes, whispered a prayer, then headed downtown.

She handed over her keys to the valet, then nodded to the gatekeeper of the Chameleon Bar. Insults were flung at her back by people waiting in line as Alicia pushed through over-sized doors into a low-lit den of shifting colors. Weaving through bodies projecting sticky warmth, she made her way to a door that blended perfectly into the aubergine walls.

"Don't lose your way," warned words so decorative they could only be separated by the damask sheen in the paint if you knew where they were. Alicia had dug out her lipstick, then headed into the tunnels.

Left a dozen times, right at all the lines. Down the tiny turns, back to where it burns.

The words penciled to her on the flesh-colored tape, directions through the LED-lit maze. Now she was at the bottom, passing under an arch painted with leaves, a symbol of the life that never found its way this deep.

There, in a round chamber, sat an alter in the middle, a fire kindled along the surface. The fickle light was no match for the LED's, but it was the heat that mattered.

Alicia stepped forward softly. Orange light danced over her without the benefit of shadow. Her hand reached into the flames, pulling out the vial. Without the contact of the vial, the alter lost its fire, growing cold as Alicia turned her back, clutching her prize to her chest.

She had it now, much better than any of the others locked in her freezer at home. This would be enough to make all her dreams come true, and even a few more.

After all, a soul on fire was worth much more than one on ice.

Riley's delayed, but the weekend isn't!

There has been a glitch in the Riley story - Life! ;-) It is being worked on, though, so don't fret we forgot. Once it's ready for you, be sure I'll post a link.

In the meantime, you can feast your hearts on my two little boys. ;-)

What's up there, Big Brother?

We have a great weekend planned for these two. There's an open house at our local model train club as well as at the Firehouse. Our town is also hosting an event called Art At Your Feet where local businesses and artists create chalk art on the main street through town.

So, other than putting together your 500 word story for the Snapshot, what are your plans for the weekend?

Passing on the Kreativ Blogger Award

Yay, another go-round with the Kreativ Blogger Award. :-) Thanks to our Wednesday Prompt producer, Nicole Pyles for including me.

The number is 7 - 7 facts about me, then 7 bloggers to pass the award to.

The fun facts are (in no particular order):

1)  I changed my degree program five times during college, yet still graduated within 4 years with a B.S. in Family and Child Development

2)  I will only kill an insect if it's inside my house.

3)  I don't like going to the movie theater. I can't pause the movie, (I think) the screen is too big and dI can't yell at the characters.

4)  I didn't play video games until I was 24.

5)  When I was in middle school, my mom banned me from reading books under 500 pages because I read so quickly.

6)  The first 500+ page books my mom bought me were the Magic's Pawn series by Mercedes Lackey.

7)  Those books are what inspired me to write novels.

And no, that's not cheating. Though 5-7 are one story, they are 3 different facts. ;-)

And the blogger's I'm going to award are:

1) Misadventures in Motherhood

2) Life's Like That

3) Confessions of a Pixel and Ink-stained Wretch

4) Judy H-J's Thoughts - A Twinless Twin

5) Mayra's Secret Bookcase

6) Writer's Space

7) Elusive Elucidation

So there are my double sevens. Be sure to check out the blogs above, then comment below and tell me a quick fact about you - or make fun of any of mine. ;-)

Snapshot Prompt

Here's your Creative Wednesday Snapshot prompt along with the wonderful stories inspired from last week. Don't forget tomorrow we get a new install in the Riley story!

Let the inspiration spark your brain. :-) Remember, if you want to participate, but don't have a blog, let me know and I can post for you.

---------------------------

Wow! There was an amazing turn out last week! I am so impressed by all the creativity out there! Last week's photo really got everyone going and I am proud to present last week's amazing submissions to our weekly writing prompt:

Cow Whisperers by Randy Lindsay
A Thousand Words by Chasing Revery
Horoscope by Chessney Silth
A Day in the Park by Anne
Conversations with an Ex by Me (The World of My Imagination)
Sydney Aaliyah's piece

I am so proud of this turn out! I hope more and more people join in!

So, here's the rules as usual just as a fresh reminder:


1) There will be one photo, and five words - both of those elements must be a feature in the brief story you create.
2) There is also a 500 word maximum.
3) You have until the next Wednesday to create your post.
4) When you have finished your post, come back here and link up below and let me (or whoever your blog host is) know in the comments that you have done so!
5) We were going to tell you to not take this too seriously, but reconsidered it because we know full well that asking writers to write something means that they will take it seriously. So, take it seriously, but don't fret/panic/pass out/hyperventilate/lose sleep/run in fear over it.

Here is the photo (from this link)

And here are the five words (from this link)

Masking Tape

Chameleon

Hand

Computer

Lipstick

And when you have completed your story, post the link to it below!

Spread the word about the hop and let us know what you come up with!