Yesterday I bemoaned the fact that I was unmotivated and uninspired. Some of my friends quickly came to my rescue when a friend of mine explained a lesson she had her students do to fight writers block. The lesson…pick a name, a place and an object and write a blip about them. I was so uninspired that I couldn’t come up with these things myself. So…a few of my friends gave me suggestions and I ran with them. I promised to post. So…here is my post! I only got two of the four done. But, I’m going to work on the other two over the weekend and share them.
Prompt: Skeets, LaJolla, Model Airplane
From Marty Coleman aka Napkin Dad
Skeets held tight to the little box and ran as fast as he could. He crossed the street in Frogger fashion, narrowly colliding with a couple in bikini’s wearing rollerblades. He heard them call out profanities but he didn’t stop running. He didn’t care, he wouldn’t ever see them again. He hoped.
His worn gym shoes hitting the concrete sidewalk with a thwack and his breath coming out in huffs due to exertion. Finally, when he figured the coast would be clear, he slowed to a fast walk and tucked the package inside his jacket. It was a beautiful day in La Jolla, the skies were clear and the breeze just brushed over the unusually calm ocean.
Skeets noticed how busy the beach was, especially for a Thursday. Happy families building sand castles too close to the tide, their laughter bubbled through the air as the oceans foam hands hugged their creations. He couldn’t remember the last time his family went anywhere together, let alone just spending a day at the beach. Ever since they moved to the big house in La Jolla, their lives had changed dramatically.
Skeets and his little brother Andy were pretty much left to raise themselves while their parents worked, basically caring only about bills and lifestyle which neither Andy nor Skeets fit into. Worse of all, today was Andy’s birthday and their parents were off on some excursion or another while Skeets and Andy were left home with the cook and cleaning lady. They always had full bellies and empty hearts.
Patting his chest, Skeets made sure the small box was still tucked securely inside his jacket where he had hidden it once he was able to slow down and breathe. Ten was a big deal, double digits. Skeets remembered when he turned ten, five years ago. His parents had taken them out for Japanese food and Andy cried because the Hibachi chef scared him when the fire danced along the table. They had to leave because no one could calm him down. To make up for Skeets disappointing dinner, they ended up going out for ice cream and to the movies. It ended up being one of the best birthdays he ever had. Skeets felt badly for Andy because he wouldn’t have the same memories of their parents.
But, Skeets was going to make sure that Andy got something for his big birthday. He didn’t care about himself anymore, he just wanted his brother to be happy, to have some decent memories of his childhood. He’d do anything to make sure that happened. Even if it meant stealing that model airplane kit from the toy store.
Prompt: Sharon, Tree House, Yo-Yo
From Janet McReynolds my old friend on Facebook
She put the last piece of bubble gum in her mouth, the wad was so huge now that she could barely chew without drooling. Inside the house, Sharon could hear her parents fighting again through the open kitchen window. They always fought when it was time to pay bills, they took their financial failing frustrations out on each other.
Sharon always knew when their arguments were about to get heated, it was her time to exit the house. They never took anything out on her, they were good parents and knew their lack of money had nothing to do with their daughter. Guilt drove them, when it came to Sharon. She was spoiled, she got whatever she wanted. At sixteen, she was now about to become the proud owner of a new car. It wasn’t going to be anything fancy but it was going to be all hers. She had no idea how her parents were going to pay that bill but somehow, they always found a way.
Climbing the one and only tree in their backyard, Sharon made her way to her old treehouse. She and her dad had built it together the summer Sharon turned seven. It was rickety now, nails were popping out in hazardous positions and the wood was being eaten through by ants. It still was the perfect hideout for Sharon when she needed an escape, to get away from her parents arguments or when she was feeling angsty.
She brushed away dead leaves that had accumulated around the entrance and she plopped herself down, letting her legs dangle over the edge. Closing her eyes, she took a couple deep breaths and pulled her old yo-yo out from under the sit upon she had made when she was in her Brownies troupe.
It was a warm evening, the sun was disappearing between the houses. Bats were swooping in search of mosquitos. Neighborhood kids were squealing in the distance. Sharon was oblivious to it all. As she concentrated on the rise and fall of her yo-yo, in her mind she traveled far distances. Until she reached the top of a snowy mountain where she was alone, all the troubles of her real life were far below her. She was at peace.