Snapshot Reveal: Oh Brother

Here's this week's snapshot story. :) Check out the prompt and link yours up with mine. You can win an add spot for your blog, social network site, etsy account, or whatever other internet-based awesome you have. :)

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Oh Brother

"Did you know you have an action figure stuck to your keys?" Allie sat in the passenger seat looking toward the steering wheel with a crooked smile. The car was a hand-me-down, so old it didn't even have a screen in the dash for the radio, just some weird dial thing. It ran, though, and right now, that's all that mattered.

Dee felt the keys where they were hanging from the ignition. Her head fell against the head rest and she groaned.

"It must be Dylan's. How the heck did that get in my key ring?"

"It looks like it hitched a ride. It's arm is stuck through the smallest one. Maybe he has a friend to rescue, or something, like in that movie."

"Or maybe he's a parasite." Dee's frown twitched up. Her little brother was ten years younger than her, completely annoying and so very cute. He had probably put the little green guy on her keys to keep her company, or to protect her, to give her courage or for some other silly reason.

"At least he'll come off. Not like that lollipop Dylan stuck to your backpack a few weeks ago."

"You mean the one made out of tar?" Of course, the sucker was just sugar, but the way it had melted into her zipper, it might as well have been fusion glue. When she'd asked Dylan about it, he'd said he had wanted to make sure she had a yummy snack for lunch. How could she get mad at that?

Dee pulled into the school parking lot and picked the first spot she saw. She took out the keys to see exactly what her little brother had sent with her today.

"Haha. At least he's a cute tag along." Allie grabbed the bag at her feet and got out. "Don't worry, Dee. There are worse little brothers. Stash that guy in the glove compartment for right now."

"Hmph." Dee watched Allie shut the door, then head inside. She studied the figurine, saw how his arm had been slipped into the smallest key ring. She shook her head, a grin on her lips. Dropping her keys, figure and all, into her bag, Dee got out of the car and headed in.

"Worse little brothers, for sure," she mumbled to herself. Of course there were worse little brothers because none of them were better than Dylan.

Snapshot Reveal - And 5K Views!

OMG, I just hit 5K views on my blog!!! :D Thank you, everyone - I appreciate the love.


I have a Snapshot Reveal for you today. The prompt post went up yesterday, so check it out and don't forget to link up your story over there. Do it by 8pm next Tuesday to be entered into our Monthly Ad Contest.

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Eyes of the Beholder

Nan decorated the hovel with years worth of needlepoint designs. The floors were wood so worn there were holes in some places. The kitchen held only a sink and a fridge, a wobbly table was both prep space and eating space that looked over a grass field. Nan had one bed against the wall, as close to the wood burning stove as I could put it safely. I slept on the floor, as close to that same stove as I could get, looking out the one window in the kitchen every night, staring at the moonrise.

The stitched fabric of her art helped insulate the thin walls of the small home and added comfort and warmth. She said stitching helped the autonomic dysfunction of her digestive system. I just nodded, sitting on the threadbare rug at the foot of her rocking chair, tending to the stove.

I wasn't sure Nan was all there. Though her eyes were sharp, they were always focused on her needle and thread, the only brightness in a body gone lax and gray. But she was all I had, and I was all she had.

Every day I had to leave her, I hated it. I had tried to skip school, but the state caught up with me quickly. It was go to school, or Nan went to jail. Nan told me I had to go anyway, that I had to learn to get a good job. She scoffed every time I brought home a lottery ticket, telling me that jackpot was out of reach, but I could work my way up in the world if I tried hard enough.

I thought it was stupid. School was stupid. The cops were stupid. But I did what I had to to keep her safe. And one day, one day I would win the lottery - or she would, since I wasn't 18 yet - and we would get a real house, and I could pay someone to watch her whenever I had to leave, and we would be happy.

"I am happy," she said, her bright eyes sparkling from her pale face. "I've got my home, my thread, and a grandson who loves me too much."

"Never too much, Nan." Her smile would get bigger and she would nod.

"See, child? We are already rich." I smiled back, lottery ticket crinkling in my pocket.

Snapshot Reveal: Story Time

This story is inspired by yesterday's Snapshot Prompt written by Nicole Pyles and my own little boy. If you would like to try writing a bit of prompted flash, you can link your story up to the prompt post.

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Story Time

It was a warm September day, the sun shining down through blue clouds and heating the air solidly into the 80's. Shelly knew the cold weather would be coming soon and she wanted to enjoy every last minute of the Summer sun before it drifted into in a Winter sky.

"It's nap time," she whispered in her son's ear. They sat out on the curved balcony over looking the apartment complex's courtyard. It was quiet this time of day with most of the residence in work or at school. She was lucky enough to be able to stay home with her three year old son, Kyle. She was just as aware of his growing up as the oncoming Winter and she wanted to enjoy every moment she could.

"No," he whined, snuggling deeper into her lap. "Let's play."

"We can play after nap. Why don't you go inside and pick out a story?"

"Huh-uh." His arms stiffened around her neck, his version of squeezing tighter. Shelly allowed herself a quick smile before putting on her stern face.

"No. Story time, then a nap." Kyle hid his face in her shirt, clearly letting her know how he felt about her suggestion.

"What about the story where the daddy and boy play pretend? They row the boat to that island-"

"Not that one."

"Okay. The mouse book?" He shook his head. Shelly thought through all Kyle's favorite stories. "Oh, there's the story with the bullfight."

Kyle started crying, the warm breeze turning cool on the teardrops against her skin. Shelly rocked her son and whispered soothingly. She began singing a song about their Savior, starting with Kyle's favorite verse. He calmed down to listen, calming Shelly's own heart. She kept singing, listening to his breathing grow deeper, feeling his weight sink against her body.

Shelly closed her eyes, feeling the peace of her world, soaking in the sun above her and the son against her, enjoying her moment before the world moved on.