It could have been a joke. It would certainly fit David's twisted sense of humor. But Julia wasn't laughing.
More likely the wilted black rose in the oblong box of shiny cardboard was David's commentary on the emptiness of social niceties. Julia had been hinting more frequently that a display of affection other than twisted bedsheets would be nice.
Look what that had gotten her.
Look it would get David - no more twisted bedsheets
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Thursday, April 10, 2014
April Splendor
It was an Easter bouquet that demanded a quarter of an acre.
Sun-bright forsythia rose from a carpet of purple hyacinths bordered by attentive daffodils.
All set against a backdrop of a willow tree with drooping branches that fairly glowed with the green of new life.
Such is the splendor of April.
Sun-bright forsythia rose from a carpet of purple hyacinths bordered by attentive daffodils.
All set against a backdrop of a willow tree with drooping branches that fairly glowed with the green of new life.
Such is the splendor of April.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Duct Tape and Dreams
It was held together with duct tape and dreams, she told him.
Startled, he looked up from his bowl of granola. Why would you tape a duck? It seems to me super glue would be better for reattaching feathers.
She wanted to dump his cereal into his lap. He was always deflecting conversations that mattered, conversations about the two of them.
He either didn't or wouldn't understand the duct tape and dreams referred to their relationship. Had he really not picked up on the past tense in her statement?
She was glad her bags were already in the car. It would make things that much easier.
The cereal bowl found its way into his lap after all as she headed for the door.
Startled, he looked up from his bowl of granola. Why would you tape a duck? It seems to me super glue would be better for reattaching feathers.
She wanted to dump his cereal into his lap. He was always deflecting conversations that mattered, conversations about the two of them.
He either didn't or wouldn't understand the duct tape and dreams referred to their relationship. Had he really not picked up on the past tense in her statement?
She was glad her bags were already in the car. It would make things that much easier.
The cereal bowl found its way into his lap after all as she headed for the door.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Pain Released
......continued from previous post
The pressure in his chest, the pain of heartbreak, rose through his body. Acid boiled at the back of his throat. Gavin choked back the sob that wanted to escape. Then the discomfort was between his eyes, a finger point of pressure such that Gavin was certain a bulge must be forming between his eyebrows. And still the pressure grew until tears leaked out from beneath Gavin's closed eyelids.
Then there was nothing. Gavin dared to open his eyes. The room was alive with color: reds that glowed like a just-polished fire engine, greens as rich as spring grass, and yellows that could have been a saint's halo.
Here now Gavin. Get up off your knees. I'll not have you fussin over that old body of mine.
Turning with a gasp, Gavin beheld his Sarah - as full of life as the day they first met.
The pressure in his chest, the pain of heartbreak, rose through his body. Acid boiled at the back of his throat. Gavin choked back the sob that wanted to escape. Then the discomfort was between his eyes, a finger point of pressure such that Gavin was certain a bulge must be forming between his eyebrows. And still the pressure grew until tears leaked out from beneath Gavin's closed eyelids.
Then there was nothing. Gavin dared to open his eyes. The room was alive with color: reds that glowed like a just-polished fire engine, greens as rich as spring grass, and yellows that could have been a saint's halo.
Here now Gavin. Get up off your knees. I'll not have you fussin over that old body of mine.
Turning with a gasp, Gavin beheld his Sarah - as full of life as the day they first met.
Monday, April 7, 2014
A Quick Passing
Gavin was alone. Sarah, his wife of fifty years was gone - dead.
Dead - the word was as heavy on his tongue as it was on his heart.
Dead - the word clearly prohibited negotiation or reprieve.
Dead - the word stood on its own.
Gavin had woken first as he did everyday. He had started the coffee then headed for the shower. By the time he had toweled himself dry, the smell of Maxwell House permeated the house. His stomach had grumbled as he pulled on his overalls.
All the same as everyday. Except that when he returned to the kitchen, Sarah wasn't there. With his pulse rat-tat-tatting a foreboding beat, Gavin returned to the bedroom. The blankets still covered Sarah's still form.
Gavin knelt now at Sarah's side of the bed. Her body was cool, her fingers stiff, her chest still.
They had both wanted it this way. A quick passing without pain. But Gavin had never imagined the pain that would be born by the survivor. He was glad Sarah had gone first.
They had promised each other there would be no extravagance. No costly funeral. No viewing. No embalming. They shared a fear of premature burial and had agreed no one would be called for three days.
Gavin was prepared to spend those days right here. On his knees. With his beloved.
Dead - the word was as heavy on his tongue as it was on his heart.
Dead - the word clearly prohibited negotiation or reprieve.
Dead - the word stood on its own.
Gavin had woken first as he did everyday. He had started the coffee then headed for the shower. By the time he had toweled himself dry, the smell of Maxwell House permeated the house. His stomach had grumbled as he pulled on his overalls.
All the same as everyday. Except that when he returned to the kitchen, Sarah wasn't there. With his pulse rat-tat-tatting a foreboding beat, Gavin returned to the bedroom. The blankets still covered Sarah's still form.
Gavin knelt now at Sarah's side of the bed. Her body was cool, her fingers stiff, her chest still.
They had both wanted it this way. A quick passing without pain. But Gavin had never imagined the pain that would be born by the survivor. He was glad Sarah had gone first.
They had promised each other there would be no extravagance. No costly funeral. No viewing. No embalming. They shared a fear of premature burial and had agreed no one would be called for three days.
Gavin was prepared to spend those days right here. On his knees. With his beloved.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
A Horse is a Horse.. Unless of Course
...continued from previous post.
Unable to fee himself from the clinging vine, Ian toppled headfirst and dangled like a wild animal caught in a snare. Staring into the wall of tree trunks and broken branches, Ian watched in horror as the same choking vines holding his ankles crept toward his neck.
From behind him Ian heard the stacatto of horseshoes striking stone. Horse hooves pranced around his head in a vicious dance, then went still went an agonized shriek filled the air. A heartbeat later the stranglehold on Ian's ankles released and his face squelched into the muddy ground.
Spitting foul smelling peat, Ian found his feet - but astonishment dropped him back to his knees. The wizened face of a bearded wizard topped the neck of Ian's stallion.
The wizard spoke. The memories of your mount cast you in a fair light, else I would have left you to the yamouk.
Unable to fee himself from the clinging vine, Ian toppled headfirst and dangled like a wild animal caught in a snare. Staring into the wall of tree trunks and broken branches, Ian watched in horror as the same choking vines holding his ankles crept toward his neck.
From behind him Ian heard the stacatto of horseshoes striking stone. Horse hooves pranced around his head in a vicious dance, then went still went an agonized shriek filled the air. A heartbeat later the stranglehold on Ian's ankles released and his face squelched into the muddy ground.
Spitting foul smelling peat, Ian found his feet - but astonishment dropped him back to his knees. The wizened face of a bearded wizard topped the neck of Ian's stallion.
The wizard spoke. The memories of your mount cast you in a fair light, else I would have left you to the yamouk.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Regretted Decision
The rains had left the freshly plowed field a sodden mess. Tracking the spirited stallion had been easy - until now.
Ian would have sworn he knew all two hundred acres of the family farm, but the barrier before him was unfamiliar. Years of accumulated deadwood intertwined with thorny brush formed a wall as impenetrable as anything man might have built. It seemed impossible the young stallion could have vaulted the barricade, yet here the tracks ended.
Searching for a way through the dead fall, Ian took notice that the swirling morning mists curled back on at this border. Ignoring the suggestion that even nature absented what lay beyond, Ian climbed upon one of the more recently fallen tree limbs. In the short moments that he stood searching the shadows cast by false dawn, Ian felt vines constricting around his ankles. Sensing that if he didn't either retreat or advance, he would become just another part of this unnatural barricade, Ian struggled forward. And quickly regretted his decision.
Ian would have sworn he knew all two hundred acres of the family farm, but the barrier before him was unfamiliar. Years of accumulated deadwood intertwined with thorny brush formed a wall as impenetrable as anything man might have built. It seemed impossible the young stallion could have vaulted the barricade, yet here the tracks ended.
Searching for a way through the dead fall, Ian took notice that the swirling morning mists curled back on at this border. Ignoring the suggestion that even nature absented what lay beyond, Ian climbed upon one of the more recently fallen tree limbs. In the short moments that he stood searching the shadows cast by false dawn, Ian felt vines constricting around his ankles. Sensing that if he didn't either retreat or advance, he would become just another part of this unnatural barricade, Ian struggled forward. And quickly regretted his decision.
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