Tag: Prompts

OLWG #162- The Seafood Station

tnkerr7 Comments

This week’s prompts are at the bottom. The words below are written just for practice. Practice makes perfect.

Here’s how to play along, if you are unsure.

Sissy crouched and smoked behind the swinging door that separated the back of house from the main dining area. From time to time she would rise and peek out to the front. It was during one of those sneak peeks that she saw the old maroon car with New York plates pull into one of the spots flanking the front door. She didn’t realize it at the time but the car was a 1951 DeSoto Deluxe Club Coupe with a big gleaming chrome grill and white-wall tires with the white wrapping all the way around. The car had an in-line six and three on the tree.

The driver was Morty Wohlberg, and with him was his wife Hannah; they were snowbirds wintering here in Kissimmee for the first time. They’d rented a modest place close to the shore at Ashley Cove.

Sissy watched the elderly couple get out of the car. Morty got out first, came around the long hood of the DeSoto and opened the door for Hannah. They held hands and came in.

Candye, a high school kid working after school as the hostess, was not at her station so Sissy scurried over and greeted the pair. They reminded her of her grandparents.

“Good afternoon, folks. Welcome to The Seafood Station. Only two of you today?”

Hannah nodded her head. Mort surveyed the interior of the place.

“Can we get a seat by the windows?” he asked.

“I’m sorry, sir, those two open tables are reserved. I’ll get you as close as I can.” Sissy answered quickly as she spotted Candye returning from wherever she had been.

It was Mort’s turn to nod his head. He grumbled a bit but didn’t seem too bothered, so Sissy led them to one of her tables.

After they were seated, she handed them each a menu. “Anything to drink?” she queried.

“Hot tea,” Hannah.

“Iced tea,” Morty.

“You want Sweet Tea, Hon?” Sissy asked with a big smile.

“Oh God no,” Mort grimaced.

Returning to the Hostess Station Sissy snagged one of the chalkboards with the day’s specials.

Candye glared, “Fuck you, Sissy. Just fuck you.” She whispered under her breath.

Sissy smiled sweetly, “Right back atcha, sister,” and without breaking stride spun towards the bar and slipped through to get the Wohlberg’s their teas.

  1. the ancient gallery
  2. When life and dreams collide
  3. the busker’s patter

OLWG #161- Moving During the Covid XIX

tnkerr9 Comments

 

This week’s prompts are at the bottom. The words below are written just for practice. Practice makes perfect.

Here’s how to play along, if you are unsure.

Guillermo took a moment to look at the house, shrugged his shoulders, twisted the key in the ignition, put the gear selector into reverse, and backed out of the driveway. Kona occupied the passenger seat, content to watch him drive.

“How long’s this gonna take?” she asked.

“Couple o’ days,” Guillermo answered, “it’s about twelve-hundred miles.”

Kona drew a deep breath and exhaled slowly through her nose. “Damn! Are we gonna stay in a motel or something? That’s a lot of driving.”

“What are you complaining about? You won’t be driving. I know you; you’re going to sleep the whole way, and I don’t see you helping out much when we get there either. I see you lying in the sun while I clean and arrange things for when the moving guys get there.”

Kona didn’t even dignify him with an answer she put her head on his lap and went to sleep, as they had both expected her to do.

###

That first day he drove to Kingman before pulling off the road. He found a motel that would allow her to stay. They had some dinner and hung out on the grass outside the room before retiring. Next morning, Guillermo woke with a start, the stupid alarm hadn’t gone off and they had both overslept.

“Wake up, Kona. I’m gonna start some coffee and take a shower. We’re already running late.” She cracked one eye open and glared at him, “I’ve got to pee before you get in the shower.”

“Can’t you hold it?”

“No.”

“All right, then.” Guillermo found the leash he’d hung over the back of the desk chair the night before and clipped it to her collar. Opening the room door they stepped out and pulled their masks up. They made their way back out to the grass where they had hung out the night before. Kona had to sniff around for a while before she found the right spot to relieve herself. It’s hard to smell things wearing personal protective equipment.

  1. Saint Benedict Hotel
  2. a bit coarse for me
  3. armchair anarchist

OLWG #160- Roasted Vegetables

tnkerr5 Comments

 

This week’s prompts are at the bottom. The words below are written just for practice. Practice makes perfect.

Here’s how to play along, if you are unsure.

Melanie awoke to the sounds of her husband moaning in his sleep. She turned down the volume on the monitor, pulled on a robe and, dashed down the hallway to his bedroom. Although he seldom walked in his sleep anymore, his night terrors could become loud. When that happened it tended to happen quickly and she knew that he would need to be wakened before anyone else heard the ruckus.

“Donny,” she whispered, “Donny?” she nudged his shoulder.

“Packed the courts,” he muttered, still asleep, “I packed the courts and this is the thanks I get?” He let loose with an enormous belch. Mel covered her nose to avoid the toxic smell that always accompanied his burps.

She backed up a couple of steps, “Donny, wake up dammit. You’re doing it again!” He resumed his moaning and murmuring.

“Get away from me.” he began to thrash and yell, “You’re all fat pigs, disgusting animals!”

Mel backed further away and listened, but she didn’t hear anyone else coming. Her beloved husband went quiet and rolled onto his side, one arm hanging over the edge of the bed. Melanie continued to retreat; she went into Donny’s bathroom, where he had left the bowl from his bedtime snack of ‘Cookies and Cream”. She rinsed the bowl in his sink and filled it quite full with warm tap water. When she returned to his bedside she knelt next to the bed and manipulated the bowl of water until Donny’s hand was almost submerged (it had been a good-sized helping of ice cream that evening). Finally, he sighed and seemed to smile in his sleep.

Melanie watched as her husband’s comforter darkened and the stain spread wide across the bed. Soon the aromas of asparagus and ammonia filled the room. She took the bowl back to Donny’s bathroom, emptied it and, returned it to where it had been on the counter before she had borrowed it. On the way back to her bedroom she thought about the dinner they had enjoyed that evening. She must remember to complement Chef Robert on his roasted vegetables. The potatoes had been cooked to perfection and the spears he had chosen were light, thin, delicate – a wonderful complement to the new potatoes and onions.

  1. slow decay
  2. In God We Trust
  3. the night contorted

OLWG #159- Eiji

tnkerr7 Comments

 

This week’s prompts are at the bottom. The words below are written just for practice. Practice makes perfect.

Here’s how to play along, if you are unsure.

Eiji was a warrior

With a sworn allegiance

Foreordained to be immortalized in story and song

 

Lured away from his destiny

 

Her scent enticed him

The swell of her breast distracted him

Her movements seduced him

So he turned from his masters and pursued this slip of a girl

Whose heart was revealed to be as black as her kepatsu hair

 

 

embrittled old man

searching rubbish bins for food

muttering to himself

This week’s prompts are:

  1. keep the margins wide
  2. throwing sand on the floor
  3. tires singing

OLWG #158- Durty Cailíns’

tnkerr7 Comments

This week’s prompts are at the bottom. The words below are written just for practice. Practice makes perfect.

Here’s how to play along, if you are unsure.

Nathaniel Grant left his letter of resignation on Mr Cromwell’s desk. He had worked there scarcely a year, but it hadn’t taken that long for him to realize he wasn’t cut out to be an accountant. He emphasized in the letter that his resignation was effective immediately. That he would not be returning to his position at Cromwell & Bates ever.

The next morning g he took a coach south to Amesbury Harbour where he explored the waterfront looking for pirates. Master Grant was looking for a new job. He was searching for a new life. He sought danger and excitement; life at sea. During the course of his wandering, he noted a particularly rough looking tavern. The signboard that hung in front read ‘Durty Cailíns’. Shouting and sounds of a fight emanated from the doorway. A man with a brown felt tricorne lay next to a wooden barrel on the pavement, and a large, ample breasted girl leaned against the wall, smoothing down her skirt and finishing a gasper.

Surely, thought Nathaniel he could find work as a pirate in such a place. Maybe he could set sail as early as daybreak. He made to go inside.

“Oi,” said the girl, “where dae yeh thing yeh ‘re going?”

“Inside,” Nathaniel answered.

“The hell ye say, what would a bloke like yeh be needin’ in a gaff fancy this, then?” she looked him up and down, scowled.

“If you must know,” Nathaniel said and he straightened, tried to appear taller, “I’m looking for work. I want to go to sea. I want to try my hand as a sailor, preferably a pirate.”

“There r no pirates here laddy, but we could use someone to clean up the rub dub after closin’”

Nathaniel’s eyes were drawn to her chest where her breasts strained to break free of the tight white cotton dress she wore. He blinked. Said nothing.

She grabbed him by the ear and pulled him inside where she pointed at a man standing behind the bar pulling beers. “See that man behind the boozer? That’s Risteárd. He’s Cailín’s man, and she’s the boss. Tell him thou ’re looking 4 a job and that Gillian told thou to hae a dickey bird with him. That’s me, Gillian.”

Nathaniel just stared at her, his mouth dropped open.

“Go on then, get on yer bike,” she pushed him towards the barman.

This week’s prompts are:

  1. lowdown
  2. put your elbows on the table
  3. this will take you there

OLWG #155- The Aleutians

tnkerr4 Comments

This week’s prompts are at the bottom. The words below are written just for practice. Practice makes perfect.

Here’s how to play along, if you are unsure.

I went to see my brother, Emitt, last night. I’ve been worrying about him. He’d been cooped up alone; in his house for so long with the kids gone. Now that the shelter in place restrictions are being eased a bit, I thought he could use a bit of cheering up. I took the liberty of bringing a six-pack of Coronas, half a bottle of tequila and a “Girls Gone Wild” video that I found when cleaning out the closet beneath the stairs. I had all of these things stuffed into a colorful ‘Trader Joe’s” bag from the Aleutians.

I knocked on his front door before turning the knob and pushing the door open.

“Emitt?” I hollered.

“In the kitchen, Guy,” I heard.

I closed the door and made my way to the back of the house where I found Emitt leaning over a simmering pot of red stuff on the stove. “What’s up, brother?” I asked. He put down the wooden spoon he was holding and we embraced.

“Not much, just whipping up a bunch of sauce. You want to eat?”

“I had something like that in mind,” I said. I opened the top of the Trader Joe’s bag and showed him what was inside.

“Crack open a couple of those cool ones,” Emitt ordered. I set to it and he spotted the tequila and the DVD. His face changed, “I don’t want to watch that, Guy. I’ll drink your beer and tequila but I don’t want to watch that.” He shook his head, “No, nope, don’t think so; but I appreciate the thought.”

“You got to, Em,” I said, “You haven’t had a social life since Louise left you. You can either watch this video with me or we can take your Porsche and go to the Strip Club.”

“Not going to do it, Guy. Louise is coming back home, man. I know she is. She just needs a little more time. That’s all. Just a little more time.”

This week’s prompts are:

  1. don’t tempt me, baby
  2. midnight microphone
  3. tear stained letter

  1. Go ahead and dive in, set your imagination free!

  2. Write something big, Write something small,
    Write something
    Ready, Set, Go – you have 25 minutes, but if that is not possible, take as long as you need and, have fun!

OLWG #154- Damn Fish

tnkerr6 Comments

This week’s prompts are at the bottom. The words below are written just for practice. Practice makes perfect.

Here’s how to play along, if you are unsure.

The widow Margulies was admitted to Hyacinth General Hospital that very afternoon with a severe case of bromhidrosis and when Pastor Perkins heard, he rushed over to see if there was anything that his parishioner needed.

“Parson, I’ve been worried about my neighbor, Donna San Miguel, I’ve been trying to help her out. She’s got a fish shop down by the river. It’s the ‘Fulton Fish Market,’ maybe you know it. Business hasn’t been good for her lately. Could you stop by there and purchase a couple of fish?” she asked. “I was planning to do it myself, but now that I’m here, I obviously can’t. I’d be grateful.”

“I’d be happy to, Sister,” he told her, “I’ll do it straight away.” And he did.

At the Fish Market he found Ms San Miguel behind the display case. He explained to her that he had been visiting Ms Margulies in the hospital and she had mentioned this place. He said that he had wanted to stop in here for a long time but just never seemed to get around to it, so on his way home he decided to swing by.

“What do you have that’s fresh?” he asked her.

“I have these Dam Fish,” she said, “caught just this morning.”

“Please, Ms San Miguel,” the preacher implored, “there is no need to use that kind of language.”

“Sorry, Reverend, I didn’t mean to offend you. I just call them that because we catch them by the dam. So they are dam fish, not damn fish.” She laughed nervously and studied him, waiting for his reaction.

She was relieved when Pastor Perkins laughed it off. He purchased about half a dozen, took them home and gave them to his wife.

“I bought these dam fish at the Fulton Market, Ellie. I was hoping we could fry them up tonight for dinner.”

“Paul, you’re a Pastor. You shouldn’t be talking like that.”

He explained the name and they both had a good chuckle.

 

That night at dinner…

Pastor Paul Perkins-

How was school today son?

Junior Perkins-

Same shit, Dad. How was your day?

Ellie Perkins as she spoons a generous helping of mashed potatoes onto her plate-

Junior! Watch your language! 

Junior Perkins-

Sorry, Mom

Pastor Paul Perkins-

Junior, could you pass me the dam fish, please?

Junior Perkins-

That’s the spirit, Dad. I’ll pass you the damn fish if you’ll send the fuckin’ potatoes my way.

This week’s prompts are:

  1. I can’t shake this
  2. lost dogs
  3. on the way to Kensington

  1. Go ahead and dive in, set your imagination free!

  2. Write something big, Write something small,
    Write something
    Ready, Set, Go – you have 25 minutes, but if that is not possible, take as long as you need and, have fun!

OLWG #153- Hard Times

tnkerr7 Comments

This week’s prompts are at the bottom. The words below are written just for practice. Practice makes perfect.

Here’s how to play along, if you are unsure.

Peggy turned down the Richard Thompson music and gasped, “Oh Jeeze, you’re right,” she glided to a smooth stop and turned on her blinker. She snarled at Jimbo displaying her broken front tooth. He was smiling, and she took a right turn. Three more right turns and she pulled back into the driveway that they’d just left.

Jimbo stayed in the car while Peggy snatched the keys from the ignition and ran back through the front door, only to re-emerge less than a minute later and sprint back to the car. She jumped in, threw her face mask onto the centre console, and started the engine. No one spoke as she backed onto the street. It was like déjà vu when she once again slid up to the stop sign and clicked on the turn indicator.

“You knew, all along, didn’t you Jimbo?”

“Knew what?”

“You knew that I’d forgotten my face mask, and we wouldn’t be able to get into the hardware store.”

“No, baby, I didn’t know.” He was smiling at her again, “I just reached up to feel if I had mine and thought I should ask you if you had yours. I figured you would because you never forget anything.”

Peggy shook her head and kept driving. When they got to McAerde Hardware she pulled up right outside the front door, “Go on in, Jimbo. I’ll park the car and meet you in plumbing.”

He got out and watched her pull to the far side of the lot and back out onto the boulevard, headed for home. He thought she would probably be over it by the time he picked up the pipe and walked back. At least he hoped she would be. He thought to himself, “It’s tough enough to keep a relationship strong during normal times. It’s almost impossible these days.”

This week’s prompts are:

  1. woke up cold and wet
  2. a drop of blue paint
  3. so alone

  1. Go ahead and dive in, set your imagination free!

  2. Write something big, Write something small,
    Write something
    Ready, Set, Go – you have 25 minutes, but if that is not possible, take as long as you need and, have fun!

OLWG #152- Aaron Worthy

tnkerr3 Comments

This week’s prompts are at the bottom. The words below are written just for practice. Practice makes perfect.

Here’s how to play along, if you are unsure.

Aaron turned into the car park at High Desert Industries and eased into a vacant space at the end of the street row of spots. Truth be told, he was a little bit nervous. He’d been quarantined for over 13 months; this was his first day back at work. When the virus hit Aaron had just been promoted to Assistant Manager, Legacy Factors; working for Madeline Stone who was the Manager of the entire Legacy Factors Department. She was a tough old bird but Aaron thought that he would learn a lot from her if he could get her to take him under her wing, mentor him, teach him the ropes. He was looking forward to working for/with Ms Stone.

In the lobby, he flashed his ID at the cute young security girl and headed for the turnstile. She raised her index finger but didn’t speak. She was on the phone. Aaron didn’t see the gesture and kept walking. Lacy Bloom, the security girl, reached beneath her desk and pressed the button concealed beneath the work surface. The turnstile buzzed, as Aaron drew near and was locked by the time he pushed to go through.

“What the hell,” he muttered under his breath and he turned around to glare at Lacy, who sat cool and calm with her index finger still raised in the international gesture for “Wait one minute.”

She spoke into her headset, the mouthpiece wrapped around and suspended below her red lips in front of her chin, “Yes, ma’am,” she said, “I’ll let him know when I see him come in.” She reached up and pushed a button on the headset that must have disconnected the call. With her index finger still raised and Aaron still pushing the bar of the turnstile, she clicked her ballpoint pen open and scribbled a quick note on a yellow Post-It. She then lowered her finger and addressing Aaron asked, “May I help you, sir?”

“You most certainly can help me,” Aaron blustered, “you can let me in the building!”

“I’m sorry sir, visitors are required to sign in.” she indicated a Plexiglas clipboard on the counter in front of her.

“I’m not a visitor. I work here,” he held up his ID badge and shook it at her.

“Please step to the side, sir and bring me your badge,” she turned to a coworker seated next to her, “Jimmy?” she asked her colleague, “can you cover the turnstile while I sort this out please?”

Jimmy nodded his head and took her seat when she stood and moved to the end of the counter. Aaron gave up his place at the turnstile and walked over to where she stood. He held his ID badge towards her as far as the lanyard would allow.

“My name is Aaron Worthy,” he said. “I’m the Assistant Manager up in Legacy Factors on the fourth floor. I work with Madeline Stone. You must be new here.”

Lacy’s mouth formed an almost perfect ‘O’ and when Aaron drew closer she studied the photo on his badge. “Ah, it is you, Mr Worthy,” she said, “looks like someone grew a quarantine moustache, and you opted for a big old Gunslinger one, too. It looks nice on you, sir.” She smiled.

Taken off guard, Aaron responded, “You think so, gee thanks.”

“Mr Worthy, I just got off the phone with your boss, Ms Stone, she asked me to tell you to go straight to her office when you arrive. Her office is on the fourth floor. Do you know where it is?”

Aaron nodded an affirmation. “Do you know what it’s about?” he asked.

“Oh, I couldn’t say, sir,” Lacy said, “but if she doesn’t fire you, you might think about getting a new photo on your ID. You can step this way, sir. Bypass the turnstile.” She gave him a most professional smile and went to take her duty back from Jimmy.

Aaron was worried.

This week’s prompts are:

  1. banging on the table
  2. Porsche and Buick
  3. I’ll be alright

  1. Go ahead and dive in, set your imagination free!

  2. Write something big, Write something small,
    Write something
    Ready, Set, Go – you have 25 minutes, but if that is not possible, take as long as you need and, have fun!

OLWG #151- Green Eyes and All

tnkerr4 Comments

This week’s prompts are at the bottom. The words below are written just for practice. Practice makes perfect.

Here’s how to play along, if you are unsure.

It was a storm, of sorts.
Not a storm in the typical sense of the word.
There was plenty of thunder and enough lightning to illuminate the entire city.
But, it wasn’t what most would call a storm.
It was just Abigay on a tirade
Might just as easily been called a train wreck or a calamity.
Weren’t any stopping it once it began.

This all got rolling when I give Gus a ride home and he offers me a drink.
Not one to turn down a free drink; I say OK. I pull up to the curb and shut down the car.
Gus lives in a second-floor place and we get up the stair.
He opens the door and hollers to the house, “Baby, I’m home.”

He points to the kitchen table, “Have a seat, man.”
Then he tosses his coat on a TV-watching chair and heads around the counter and into the kitchen.
He pulls open the fridge door and leans down to study the contents.
“Aha,” he says and straightens back up with a couple of longnecks.
Opening one with his lighter, he hands it to me before he pops the second one and sits down.

From the back of the house, we hear a toilet flush and shortly after Alma walks in.
She and I used to be a team. Gus didn’t know this.
“TN,” she says and kisses me on the cheek, her brown eyes were sparkling and her softly freckled skin shone.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Gus says, “you two know each other?”

“Yeah,” says Alma, “TN and I lived together for a while back before I met you: and before he met Abigay.” She leaned over and kissed Gus on the cheek too. I could see his mood changing. He was getting jealous. We drank our beers pretty much in silence while Alma talked on and on about nothing in particular. Then I left and she called my house. Don’t know what she said, but when I got home; Hurricane Abigay was already there

This week’s prompts are:

  1. how about that?
  2. when the dust clears
  3. four on the floor

  1. Go ahead and dive in, set your imagination free!

  2. Write something big, Write something small,
    Write something
    Ready, Set, Go – you have 25 minutes, but if that is not possible, take as long as you need and, have fun!