(no subject)

Last week's Great Write Way challenge, "Parade." I finally got a chance to write it.


Morning finds them looking smart, arrayed in their uneven ranks, white shirtfronts gleaming, black coats smooth. They march off to the morning's task, bright-eyed and focused on business. Each one moving along, slipping a bit on the icy route but determined on reaching the goal. They reach the edge of the ice and dive purposefully into the surf. The ones that make it past the orcas' gauntlet will swim out to the fishing grounds and hunt all day, before swimming home, sharing the catch and sleeping until morning and time for the next day's parade.

(no subject)

Last week's Great Write Way challenge, "Parade." I finally got a chance to write it.


Morning finds them looking smart, arrayed in their uneven ranks, white shirtfronts gleaming, black coats smooth. They march off to the morning's task, bright-eyed and focused on business. Each one moving along, slipping a bit on the icy route but determined on reaching the goal. They reach the edge of the ice and dive purposefully into the surf. The ones that make it past the orcas' gauntlet will swim out to the fishing grounds and hunt all day, before swimming home, sharing the catch and sleeping until morning and time for the next day's parade.

(no subject)

X-posted to Great Write Way

"Near-death Experience"

Cellophane crinkled enticingly, and my 10-month-old laughed and reached. Surely there was a reason why he shouldn't have it? I tried to rip it but it didn't tear, so let him have it. A moment later, he gagged, and before my eyes started to choke. I scrambled to my feet and grabbed him up, and slung him over my shoulder, hard. I heard as well as felt the whump of air leave his body. He started to cry, and I swept my finger over his tongue. Nothing. But on the floor lay a wet patch of cellophane, two inches in diameter.

(no subject)

X-posted to Great Write Way

"Near-death Experience"

Cellophane crinkled enticingly, and my 10-month-old laughed and reached. Surely there was a reason why he shouldn't have it? I tried to rip it but it didn't tear, so let him have it. A moment later, he gagged, and before my eyes started to choke. I scrambled to my feet and grabbed him up, and slung him over my shoulder, hard. I heard as well as felt the whump of air leave his body. He started to cry, and I swept my finger over his tongue. Nothing. But on the floor lay a wet patch of cellophane, two inches in diameter.

(no subject)

X-Posted to Great Write Way

"Near-death Experience"

"Can the baby have a life-saver?" the little girl asked.

I knew there was a reason not to, but I couldn't think of it. "How nice. Thank you."

Minutes later the 13-month-old gagged, and I remembered why not. His daddy went pale and shook him a little, but I grabbed him and slammed him belly-down across my knee.

"Whuhp!" A sticky red lifesaver sailed across the cement floor like a stone skipped on a lake surface. The baby coughed. I sat him up on my lap and he looked at me, eyes round, his expression clearly asking, "What?" and burped.

(no subject)

X-Posted to Great Write Way

"Near-death Experience"

"Can the baby have a life-saver?" the little girl asked.

I knew there was a reason not to, but I couldn't think of it. "How nice. Thank you."

Minutes later the 13-month-old gagged, and I remembered why not. His daddy went pale and shook him a little, but I grabbed him and slammed him belly-down across my knee.

"Whuhp!" A sticky red lifesaver sailed across the cement floor like a stone skipped on a lake surface. The baby coughed. I sat him up on my lap and he looked at me, eyes round, his expression clearly asking, "What?" and burped.

(no subject)

X-Posted to Great Write Way

"Near-death Experience"

There was green brush and piles of paper from the old office that needed to be burnt. The day was damp, and Hank decided to use gasoline to help the fire along. He splashed it over the pile. I picked up the cat and started toward the house.

"Where're you going, chicken?"

I turned to answer him as he struck the match. There was little wind to spread the fumes. The fireball was twenty feet in diameter. The whump was felt a block away.

He ran, dove, rolled, got up, and ran to me, "I'm all right." He really wasn't.

But eventually, he was, again.

(no subject)

X-Posted to Great Write Way

"Near-death Experience"

There was green brush and piles of paper from the old office that needed to be burnt. The day was damp, and Hank decided to use gasoline to help the fire along. He splashed it over the pile. I picked up the cat and started toward the house.

"Where're you going, chicken?"

I turned to answer him as he struck the match. There was little wind to spread the fumes. The fireball was twenty feet in diameter. The whump was felt a block away.

He ran, dove, rolled, got up, and ran to me, "I'm all right." He really wasn't.

But eventually, he was, again.