Posted in Challenges, Fiction, Flash Fiction

Conspiracy

#unicornchallenge – September 24, 2024

Photo Prompt @ Ayr/Gray

He heard the growl of the plane and saw the contrails it left visible in the sky. He was in the parking lot of this development and everyone around him was pointing skyward. What was so special about contrails left by a high-flying aircraft?

The people started running toward the buildings, taking cover. He walked into one of the shops where others were gathered. There was a woman there and he asked her what the excitement was about.

“Why don’t you know about them chem-trails,” she asked.

“Chem-trails.” He pondered the term. “Ma’am, those are just vapor trails left by high-flying aircraft.”

“On no,” she said. “Don’t you know about that government program that uses those planes and those helicopters to drop harmful material into the air?”

Puzzled, he asked, “What material?”

“Heavy metals, plastics, and other stuff.”

The lady smiled and said, “They are trying to block out the sun. Trying to cause us to get sick. The current U.S. administration is trying to mess with the weather.”

“Ma’am, I think you’re mistaken,” the man replied.

“Oh no,” she said. “Ask anyone.”

After the man got home, he researched “chem-trails.” He found that it is a popular conspiracy theory and recently has been attributed to the current U.S. government by its opposition.

He shook his head, astounded. He thought to himself that the people who believe this will be a part of the voting population. What is going to happen to us?

Thanks to C.E. Ayr and Jenne Gray for hosting the #unicornchallenge.

Posted in Challenges, Fiction, Flash Fiction

Danger!

#fridayfictioneers – September 20, 2024

Photo Prompt @ Lisa Fox

She and her mother found it when they were cleaning out the attic. Several boxes of what some call uranium glass. Antique glass with a glow in the dark glaze on it from decades ago.

She looked in her books about antique glassware and discovered that it is a much sought-after collectible.

As they got it ready for sale, they noticed the glow in the dark coating was flaking off. Antique collectors bought it anyway.

Later, she found out that the flaking was radioactive. What about the people who bought their glass?

Thanks to Rochelle for continuing to host #FridayFictioneers!

Posted in Challenges, Fiction, Flash Fiction

You Are Loved

TRIGGER WARNING

#unicornchallenge – September 13, 2024

@Ayr/Gray

The first time she woke up, she was in his parent’s living room. Only partially conscious, she heard his parents tell him to take her home and face the consequences.

The next time she was conscious, she was in her dad’s arms and he was picking her up from the driveway, bloody and broken.

She didn’t remember much of the week that followed. Just the painful injuries and a constant heartache. She started to recover, but even after months passed, she was not the same. Not even after years.

A lifetime passed. The girl went on to be successful professionally and personally. Something was never right. She went to the family cemetery, drawn to it as if she were being pulled. She sat down by her grandparent’s graves to figure out what was plaguing her.

Suddenly, she heard her grandfather’s voice, as clearly as if he were standing there.

“It wasn’t your fault,” he said. “He was an abuser and showed his true colors that night. You almost didn’t survive it.”

In her thoughts, the girl replied, “I must have done something terrible. I must have been an awful person or he wouldn’t have done it. I’ve worked so hard since but never felt good enough.”

She heard her grandfather say, “My precious granddaughter, you’ve been successful in all you’ve ever done. You’ve just not been able to let that one night and a crazy man go. Let it go now and remember how much you are loved.”

Thanks to C.E. Ayer and Jenne Gray for hosting the #unicornchallenge!

Posted in #weekendcoffeeshare, Challenges

Weekend Coffee Share #177

#weekendcoffeeshare #177

September 6, 2024

This is #weekendcoffeeshare #177. Good morning and happy weekend! Come right in and share a cup of coffee or tea with me and we’ll catch up.

I hope you’ve all had a good week. In the U.S., it was a week starting with a Monday holiday. We celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday of September. Labor Day is to celebrate the hard-working middle class and union workers in the U.S.

If we were having coffee, I would share with you what we did for the Labor Day Holiday this past Monday. We went to my cousin’s home, deep in Appalachia. Actually just about 60 miles from where I live. Just a day trip. My cousin passed away back in the spring, but her husband is still living in her family home. He isn’t well and we went to visit. I don’t remember a time when he wasn’t in our family.

He is old now and my cousin’s death has made him older. They were together since they were children, then married. It’s quite a love story. He’s pretty lost without her. It was very good to visit with him.

We took our German Shepherd dog, Sophie, with us. She absolutely love riding in the car and we try to get her out for a road trip as often as we can. Of course, she gets either ice cream or a hamburger along the way as her special treat. Sophie is an excellent traveler. When we make stops, she is gentle and kind to anyone she meets. People seem to gravitate to her.

Sophie got to meet some new people, go for a walk in a different area and visit the county vegetable market. By the time we got home, she was ready to lie down and sleep. She was so excited all day that she totally tired herself out! She is a delight to us, a constant bright spot in our days. As you get older, you need all the bright spots you can get!

The weather here in the Upper South of the U.S. was wonderful all week. September and October are two of our most gorgeous months. It was hot this week, but the humidity was not as bad as it had been in the earlier part of the summer.

I don’t vegetable garden because I live in the forest, but I do some flower gardening. I didn’t do much this year and it’s a good thing. My perennials really suffered in the constant 90 plus(F) degree temperatures. I’m not sure which will come back and which won’t. I may have to replace a lot of plants next summer.

I have so many projects going that I don’t know what to do first! Yes, one of them is a writing project. I don’t know yet if it is the beginning of a novel or a long short story. I’m at a spot where I’m sort of stuck regarding the plot, so I have to figure that out. I am enjoying writing this story and am anxious to see where it takes me.

I’m considering writing a cookbook with a friend. If we go ahead with it, it will be a compilation of recipes from the southern United States. The U.S. South has a special culture and its own food traditions. I think we can make it a delightful read if we can get an outline and get started.

Tell me about your week!

Posted in Challenges, Fiction, Flash Fiction

Take Me Home Tonight

#fridayfictioneers – September 6, 2024

Photo Prompt @Dale Rogerson

The old tavern didn’t look like much. It was a popular gathering place for music and meeting people back in 1986.

The young man, barely of age, stumbled in the door. He was blind with despair.

He spotted a girl dancing alone on the dance floor. He watched her as he drank a beer. This place and that girl made him feel less lonely.

He joined her on the dance floor.

He whispered, “Take me home tonight. I don’t want to let you go until we see the light.”

She just smiled.

Thanks to Rochelle for continuing to host #fridayfictioneers!

*Based on the song, “Take Me Home Tonight,” by Eddie Money, 1986.