The Yellow Plane

This photo prompt was provided by Delores at Under the Porch Light

Flying in this yellow box with wings and engine, Florence clutched her new Coach handbag.  It cost her $600, and dammit, she deserved it.

When her fiance, Winthrop, decided to take her up in his brother's plane, Florence hesitated.  James was an excellent pilot, she had been told.

After a spectacular loop and bank, Winthrop turned to her with a giant diamond ring in hand, "Will you marry me, Flo?"

Florence looked at him in a daze.  She opened her $600 Coach handbag.  "Blaaah!" and she threw up.

This was first published in October, 2012.  Delores is brilliant.

...and the soldiers go marching

Memorial Day at Fort Riley

...and soldiers are marching,

Marching,

Faces to the grandstand,

On a windy day.

Marching, marching as 

A Shining Brass Band

Officiates.

The humble and brave

Pass by.

The pompous linger at edges,
Fading away.

 But the Proud
who served selflessly, 
Salute
The parade of young military

Marching...

Marching into

The soup that is past, present,and future 
History.

Source

These italicized word are from Delores at Under the Porch Light from the Wednesday Words of April 18, 2013

Delores posts six words on Wednesdays, challenging bloggers to juggle them around.  This was what I juggled then and now.  Thanks, Delores!

Wednesday Words: Brandon the Great

Source

Brandonni the Great had been his stage name moniker, way back when he had been a youthful and innovative magician.  His Abracadabra actually did put forth something that surprised and delighted all, including himself.

But, here he was, all bent over with arthritis, glowering at those smiling young nurses. “How are we today, Mr. Brandon…Now, let’s drink down the prune juice, shall we?...?” It was a nuisance to be around such darn cheerful pretty women.

When the carillon chimed from the nearby church, the nurses appeared in army formation to wheel the residents to the dining hall. Please…not creamed corn again…but there it was, gray goo.

Brandon summoned all the sparks that had once been part of him, The Great Brandonni.  Abracadabra!

A shower of creamed corn fell from the ceiling, coating each nurse with the gray goo called creamed corn.  The screams and profanities were music to the residents’ ears.

Still got it! Next time...ice cream?

Each Wednesday Delores at Under the Porch Light traditionally provides six challenging words for participating bloggers to wrestle with and defeat.  Recently, her computer betrayed her (bad computer!).  

Stepping up to fill her absence is Elephant's Child , an awesome blogger!  She has provided two sets of six words from which to choose, or to use all 2 X 6 = 12 with which to create something...poetry, prose, fiction...

To access other bloggers who are participating in this challenge, please click on the bright yellow sphere to the right.

Waiting on You Lord

Chris had never been known to be a “waiter”; instead he always threw himself headlong in diversified adventures…here, there, here...his pride and selfishness driving him.

Who Chris was changed radically when he became a man whose greatest desire in life was to wait upon the Lord.  Be intense, diligent… …taking on the most mundane of tasks.  Wait upon the Lord…were the words running through his mind when the alarm bell rang.

“Take it, Chris!” cried out a fellow fireman.  At the clunk sound of hose thrown to him, adrenaline surged. Gripping the heavy hose tightly, Chris reminded himself ”Time to serve!”  as he raced into the blazing house.  

sung by John Waller, scenes from "Fireproof"

These underlined words above were provided by Delores every Wednesday as challenge to  bloggers who enjoy writing flash fiction, poems, prose, vignettes... Words are now being tossed at us at 

The is a repost from May 15, 2020

Wednesday Words...Working for What Is Yours

Source

Ben stood up, rubbing his back and grimacing in pain.  He and his sons had been chiseling through rock hard ground, going on eight hours now. 

The beauty of the landscape had disappeared long ago, leaving desolate what had once been paradise.  As far as the eye could see lay dry dirt.

He swung the pick-ax again and again, another hour then another.

A flicker of dark earth below appeared and he smiled, digging further.  “Keep digging! Boys, keep digging!” Even yet another impending drought and its arid wind could not eliminate the promise of water below.

The deep crater filled with water, rising slowly. Ben leapt into the air, filling it with loud bellows of laughter. “Boys, we hit water!  We’ll start drilling tomorrow!”

Raising his fist and shaking it to the sky, Ben shouted, “Take that, Jerry Brown!  My land has water, and it’s mine!”

In your face!

Source: Off the grid news

Delores at  Under the Porch Light provides bloggers with an opportunity to play with six words and create flash fiction, a short story, poetry, etc.  This week Delores delivered two lists of six words each.  Oh, the fun you may have!  Please have a go at this and see what you might create!  By clicking on the voluptuous grapefruit above, you can access her site.

Wednesday Words: Old Miz Guthrie and the Fire

Arsonist squirrel

A moratorium was now placed on church potlucks. The last one caused a flash fire when the Barbeque Pit exploded, sending miscellaneous pork bits and ribs, along with Bob’s Secret Ingredient (lots of whiskey) flaming sauce, flying over to Old Miz Guthrie’s tiny old house.

Old Miz Guthrie heard screaming coming her way, and then smelled the barbeque fire on her roof.  “Oh, Lordy, Lordy!  My house ‘s afire!”  As fast as a squirrel on a live wire, she scampered out the door, wringing her hands while the fire department extinguished the barbeque flickers of flame.

No damage done, Old Miz Guthrie thanked everyone, shushing them away, and hurried back inside.  Looking around at her immaculate, nicely decorated home, she raced down the steps to her basement, which was packed with fire-proof chests of gold coins, jewelry (oh, how she love nice jewelry), and packs of one-hundred bills. 

Unbeknownst to the community, Old Miz Guthrie was quite a spendthrift made possible by her late husband’s last bank robbery in 1955 in Chicago.  I better get outta this town.

The next day her brother Raffert showed up at night with a big van and they moved everything from the basement during the big school dance.  Just before she closed the front door, Old Miz Guthrie turned the cooker on high, with bright flames crawling to a dishtowel.

The town mourned for her. Damned BBQ sauce.

zzzzzSnapzzzzz

Kudos to Delores at Under the Porch Light!  These six underlined words were a challenge for me this time.  Just could not find a common thread to weave through and tie together.
Moratorium? Congratulations, Delores!  You got me.
Ahem.  If you would like to access her site and read other participants, please click on the lonely grapefruit in the sidebar.  And, please, join this challenge!

Wednesday Words...Jenny and Jim

Yum

The wedding was tomorrow and Jenny was definitely jittery.  Her future mother-in-law was hosting the rehearsal night dinner at her own home, with her future husband Jim requesting his favorite foods for all to enjoy.

“Wait ‘til you taste Mom’s meatloaf—it is her specialty.” 

That alone raised alarms. Jenny had a refined palette while Jim would eat anything, even with a shovel.

They entered Jim’s boyhood home and his mom Ella greeted them warmly.  Jenny was clinging to Jim as she met every relative known to mankind.

Every one sat down as Jim’s dad Harold lifted his glass to toast the couple.  “Here is to Jim and Jenny.  We toast you with this raspberry wine, laid down by Great-Aunt Ethel (who giggled demurely) in 1947.”

Here! Here! And the wine was tossed back, followed by murmurs of pleasure.

Jenny gagged as she tried to swallow, but then spit the wine that had turned to raspberry vinegar,into her linen napkin.  She looked around at these relatives, who nodded in pleasure.   Oh, no…can't they taste that?

The meatloaf, covered with serpentine gelatinous gravy, was served with a glob of creamed peas and lime jello.  Jenny’s stomach gave one big spasm. 

She gave the meal her best shot, ate a few bites, and then stirred the rest into the heap of green and brown.  When asked why she hadn't eaten, Jenny took a few more bites. 

The plates were removed, only to be replaced by tapioca pudding. 

I personally love tapioca pudding.

“This is my favorite!” Jim cried as his mother smiled indulgently.  Jenny cautiously took one bite and then she stood up,  whereupon she covered the relatives with one big blast of projectile vomit.

And that is all there is to say.

Thanks go to Delores at Under the Porch Light for challenging writers to create poems, prose, fiction, etc.  Each week Delores provides six unrelated words with which to create something comprehensible, or not.  The underlined words above are the words provided. Please click on the freezing cardinals in the right sidebar to access her site. Interesting stuff, there.

Wednesday Words: Charlotte

Nat'l Geo

He had been in Charlotte’s house for an indeterminate amount of time, and days blended into each other until there was no distinction. She moved from place to place, always watching him, as if she were a spectral being and not herself.

Being a female, her enhanced spider-like sense could detect his slightest movement and shift.  It was not as if he was dissident in any way; he was just different and destructive.  She stared down at him in wonder.

Wherever he moved, immediate mayhem followed.  Finally Charlotte scooped him up.  “That’s enough for you, Wilbur!  You need a diaper change, and badly.”  They both giggled and Charlotte covered his face with kisses.

An unexpected writer


The above bold underlined words are from Delores at Under the Porch Light, 
who faithfully provides 6 words and/or a phrase prompt.  Writers can grab those words and take off with a poem, prose, fiction, whatever.  Please click on those frozen cardinals in the sidebar to access her site.  There are some strange people out there.

Wednesday Words: Claudia

Broccoli! Dana Carvey

When Claudia purchased an expensive franchise, she knew what to expect.  Money flowed from her investment account like Cola from a drink dispenser. 

Even though Claudia was a CPA, and had examined a thorough spread sheet, she was nervous about taking such a leap.

Claudia and her large family painted and created a restaurant that could never be called mundane.  Her mother held up a paint can, noticing the color label, and called out.

“Mija! Quien quiere comer en un restaurant estάn pintados con el color de broccoli?”**

Claudia smiled.  “Todos, Mama!  Todos!”***

**Sweet girl! Who would want to eat in a restaurant painted in the color of broccoli?"

***Everyone, Mama!  Everyone!"

These underlined and bold words, sentence phrases are provided by Delores from Under the Porch Light.  Each Wednesday,  Delores provides six daunting words for any who wishes to participate in this writing challenge. Please visit her site by clicking on the frozen cardinals in the sidebar; you will find other writers who have taken different slants on these words!  You should be intrigued...

Wednesday Words: Richard, the Robber

Richard huddled in his jail cell, pulling the retroactive duster closely around him.  His secretary Heather had given it to him yesterday during their latest tryst. Now he was watching his world disintegrate.

Where had it all gone wrong? He wondered.  Surely everyone in the investment business embezzled from his clients now and then.  It was part of the investment game.

With the untimely arrival of the arrest warrant, he was for a moment left spellbound.  Richard’s travel carry-on sat by the door, stuffed with one-million dollars and a change of underwear.

Five more minutes!

Five more minutes and he would have been out the door, heading to Jamaica.

Bummer.

These underlined and bold words, sentence phrases are provided by Delores from Under the Porch Light.  Each Wednesday,  Delores provides six daunting words for any who wishes to participate in this writing challenge. Please visit her site by clicking on the frozen cardinals in the sidebar; you will find other writers who have taken different slants on these words!  You should be intrigued...

Wednesday Words...Frank and the snow

Keep shoveling..

Weathermen in the Northeast called the latest snowstorm an anomaly.  Frank was called in to the warehouse to forklift pallets of salt for the snow plows.

He had wished to be part of the snow plow guys, but he wasn’t ambidextrous which was great help in such a job and meant better money.  Frank continued to deliver bags and bags of salt.

Finally tow trucks were able to pull abandoned cars to the impound lots, including Frank’s new sports car.   Always deleterious in care of his belongings, Frank discovered heavy salt residue mixed with icy snow covering the car had eaten through the snazzy black paint, creating zebra stripes in the paint.

Frank shook his head sadly.  At least he had been faithful to pay his car insurance.

These italicized and bold words, sentence phrases are provided by Delores from Under the Porch Light.  Each Wednesday,  Delores provides six daunting words for any who wishes to participate in this writing challenge. Please visit her site by clicking on the shivering cardinals in the sidebar; you will find other writers who have taken different slants on these words!  You should be intrigued...

Wednesday Words: Medic! Corpsman!

Source

Staff Sgt. “Buffalo” Bill Wheeler slung his army duffel over his shoulder, every inch a dignified soldier. Passing the baggage claim carousel, he stepped outdoors onto the cold cement where buses and taxis created clouds of diesel and roars of engines.

Sounds grabbed, yanking him back.  

Frenzied screams tore through the smoke.  “MEDIC!  Medic...Corpsman, over here!” Bill trudged through blood and blue shadows, searching for the sources of the screams.  

Looping around slopes and brush, he found his wounded comrades.  Gazing into the wounds, Bill realized most were almost dead.  Hang on, Private!  That’s an order, son!

Artillery explosions threw debris and billowing smoke filled the sky, sheltering them under the midnight sun.

“Hey! Staff Sgt!  Over here!  Corpsman!...”

A familiar voice pulled him back to the cold cement.  “Hey, there! Buffalo, you old man.” He hugged Staff Sgt. Bill.  “Why, you got yourself a new leg, dude!  Shiny thing, too.  And…” he looked at Buffalo’s face.  “Those scars make you look better.  Ladies like the scars, man…”

They walked on, Bill wondering if he would ever feel harmonious and safe with this new life.

These italicized and underlined words, sentence phrases are provided by Delores from Under the Porch Light.  Each Wednesday,  Delores provides six daunting words for any who wishes to participate in this writing challenge. Please visit her site by clicking on the shivering cardinals in the sidebar; you will find other writers who have taken different slants on these words!  You should be intrigued...

Wednesday Words: Emma

Ocean floor

 Emma had retreated to the basement  of her mind as years passed and words came less and less.

A gentile in a kind Mormon rest home, Emma heard the nurses as they changed shifts and discussed patients, as if they were inanimate objects.  “Her extremities are more spastic” and “Exhibits increasing imbecility daily” were the diagnoses and observations expressed. 

Rage and anger filled Emma’s mind, but words could not break the barrier the stroke had given her.

A new orderly, Kevin was hired for the night shift and was assigned to Emma’s care.  His kindness was a gift.  Kevin spoke to her with gentleness, a relief after her silence had muted her voice.

One late, late night night, Kevin softly entered Emma’s room and awoke her.  “Emma, you know you have fulfilled your life’s purpose.  Now,” he covered her mouth and nostrils with his big hands.  “Let’s go swimming in a cool ocean.  Take a deep breath, and dive to the bottom.”

Emma’s mind grew darker and darker as she reached the ocean’s floor.  “How lovely!”  were her last thoughts. 

These italicized and underlined words are provided by Delores from Under the Porch Light.  Each Wednesday,  Delores provides six daunting words for any who wishes to participate in this writing challenge. Please visit her site by clicking on the shivering cardinals in the sidebar; you will find other writers who have taken different slants on these words!

Wednesday Words: Plasma Globes

Source

No one had been injured…that was important to remember.  As hindsight with spectacular telescopic vision showed, the procedure was not smooth in its execution.

Science Fair Booth 206 wanted to create floating incandescent orbs by using plasma globes with various neon gases within, connected to stacks of framed sheets of copper. Then five car batteries would be connected, the switch thrown, and Bob's your uncle.

Many scientific safety protocols and principles were not applied here. Booths 206 through 210 were not occupied at the time.

Thanks go to Delores at Under the Porch Light for challenging writers to create poems, prose, fiction, etc.  Each week Delores provides six unrelated words with which to create something comprehensible, or not.  The above underlined words above are the words provided. Please click on the freezing cardinals in the right sidebar to access her site. Interesting stuff, there.

Wednesday Words: It is never too late...

Kazuko Renees

Delores  challenges Wednesday Word participants with a variety of words or a phrase to write a poem, prose, or fiction each week.  This week, Delores provided us with this quote:

"It is never too late to be what you might have been."  by George Eliot

As it happens, my wonderfully crazy Aunt Vada had just sent me this from her wealth of wild emails. I thought, "Well, what the heck..."

So I am providing this from an anonymous writer, since it does address this quote in some way:

Yesterday my daughter e-mailed me again, asking why I didn't do something
useful with my time.  "Like sitting around the pool and drinking wine is not a good thing?" I asked.

Talking about my "doing-something-useful" seems to be her favorite topic of conversation. She was "only thinking of me", she said and suggested that I go down to the Senior Center and hang out with the guys.

I did this and when I got home last night, I decided to play a prank on her.
I e-mailed her and told her that I had joined a Parachute Club.

She replied, "Are you nuts? You are 78 years old and now you're going to start jumping out of airplanes?"

I told her that I even got a Membership Card and e-mailed a copy to her.

She immediately telephoned me and yelled, "Good grief, Mom, where are your glasses?! This is a Membership to a Prostitute Club, not a Parachute Club!!"
  
"Oh man, I'm in trouble again," I said, "I really don't know what to do. I signed up for five jumps a week!!"

The line went quiet and her friend picked up the phone and said that my daughter had fainted.

Life as a Senior Citizen is not getting any easier, but sometimes it can be fun.


Please note that I did not write this, but I wish that I had.

This quote was provided by Delores at Under the Porch Light .  Words, phrases, photos--Delores challenges all.  Please click on the fall church in the right side bar to access her site and visit some other participants. 

Wednesday Words: An Aggrieved Heart

Source: wikipedia, may God bless 'em

It wasn’t until his fifth venture up to Granddad’s attic that Jackson discovered a burlap covering a satchel, knowing instantaneously what it contained.  The randy old man had told him about a battered bag that held purloined jewelry from his younger days.

“Jest you be sure, lad, that yer Granny never sees what else is inside…”  So Jackson pawed through jeweled rings, necklaces and minute lockets, until he found a crumpled letter.  “You scoundrel! You absconded with everything I held dear…” and some other words he dare not read.  “Damn your unfaithful heart!   Sincerely, your aggrieved and betrayed, Mary Dent…”

Hmmm, Jackson pondered as he closed up the satchel.  Mary Dent? Aunt Mary Dent? Granny’s sister? Hmmmm...

Wednesday Words: Victor at Thanksgiving

The Kids' Table

This is THE Thanksgiving! Victor laughed as he placed two casseroles in the back seat of his new hybrid Toyota Prius.  His new pristine, low maintenance Prius—Victor eagerly caressed the leather seats around the Jell-O™ salad and hot vegetable dish.  How I love the new-car smell!

After years of wishing that he could finally sit at the Thanksgiving Adult Table never seemed feasible, Victor squirmed excitedly as he started the engine. The Adult Table!  And, I am only 25! Great-great Aunt Agnes had died in August, moving Victor up the roster from the Children’s Table.  At last!

Jell-O is Utah's official specified snack.

  He glanced back at the assigned dishes he was bringing.  Man, I was lucky with these!  Improvising, Victor had thrown together a lime Jell-O™, along with some fresh kiwi and fresh pineapple (see note belowꜜ).  These guys were on the verge of rotting…sure lucked out!

Source

The odoriferous steaming hot Brussel sprouts,  swimming in Cheese Whiz™, wafted fragrantly through the car. Victor opened the window, and in those few seconds, that precise moment, the beat-up Honda ahead of Victor’s precious Prius braked suddenly.

Victor braked hard and swerved, barely missing the damned Honda. 

That one moment sent the gelatinous Jell-O flying, covering the precious leather with green slime.  Brussel sprouts bounced merrily around the leather seats, leaving ball-sized Cheese Whiz dots there and on the ceiling.

What to do?? What to think??  Victor’s mind spun in search of an answer.

What do you think he should or will do? 

Note from Jell-O box: Do not use fresh or frozen pineapple, kiwi, ginger-root, papaya, figs or guava.  Gelatin will NOT set.

Again Delores has lobbed some interesting words our way! Every Wednesday, Delores chooses 6 random words, inviting writers to create a poem, prose, short story from these words (seen above underlined).  Visit her site by clicking on the lovely Methodist Church in the right sidebar. Enjoy! 

Wednesday Words: Oscar

Door

Oscar retrieved a torn box in the back of his closet.  I remember this!  Didn’t think it still existed….

His daughter Beverly called from somewhere in the house.  “Dad!  You be careful in there!!”  Her hopes of moving Oscar into a geriatric care facility had always seemed improbable. But here she was and didn't want to be detained one moment longer. “See you tomorrow, Dad!!”  Slamming the door with a sigh of finality, Beverly drove away.

Oscar pulled out the rags and eased them over his aged body, smiling at the memories…from his days as a transient.  The final touch was tucking his souvenir Luger from war days into the back of the belt.

After living a philanthropic life, Oscar stepped out the door eager to lead his former misanthropic existence.  Slamming the door behind him, Oscar ambled away with a broad smile...back into the memories of the past.***

Source

***Arleen from Starting Over...expressed concern about the possibility of another lost elderly person.  Dementia and Alzheimer's are dangers for elderly.

Oscar will not go far, I assure you.  

Delores at Under the Porch Light has again tossed out six words as a challenge for any writer who would like to see what could be written using them.  Words this week are the underlined words in above story.  You can access what creative writers have done, but clicking on the Methodist Church in the right sidebar.  

Wednesday Words: Utopia

It is a TV Reality Show!

Utopia…Utopia… Just thinking that word sent chills through Sir Edward St. James, as the steam engine carried him to the place of his dreams: Utopia. He smiled smugly, straightening his necktie, recalling how he obtained funds for this great venture.  After all, a little plagiarism to boost sales on my latest book should not surprise anyone these days.

The ideal society where logic and elevated thought processes was Sir Edward’s expectation.  A gleaming white hall with pillars would be filled with men of his class and intelligence, sharing discourse with the great thinkers of the 19^th century.

The Great Awakening

As the train nudged to a stop, whistle sounding, Sir Edward settled his silk top hat and valise, preparing to step out into the 1872 version of heaven.  Not only did an intellectual paradise wait for him, but a mail order bride as well.  Cynthia Brighten was a devout spinster who would fulfill his selfish needs and do laundry.

Stepping out onto the platform, Sir James was immediately seized and squeezed tightly by an obese homely woman who covered his face with sloppy kisses. Cynthia?  Oh God please noooo…

Before he could pull away from the passionate woman, Sir James gazed in horror at what was the real Utopia.  A white crude wooden barn-like structure dominated the center of the town, and was surrounded by muddy streets. Fellow Utopians stomped through the muddy streets in their elegant finery, struggling to discuss Descartes and anything else except the hellish Utopia and its damn mud.

New Harmony, Indiana, 1831

 Sir Edward’s automatic response to this horror was to ask, “I would like a ticket back to Philadelphia, one way, for one person.  Immediately.”

Many thanks go to Delores at Under the Porch Light for her dedication in stumping all participants in "Wednesday Words".  Delores provides six words for writers to shape into poetry, prose, story, flash fiction... You will find some excellent contributions at her site above.  If you would like to jump in, please click on the Methodist Church in the right site bar.

Wednesday Words: Dear Martha.....

16 October 2014

Dear Martha,

Your letter pulled me from a pit of despair.  If ever there were awards for "Surviving Multiple Plethora of Childhood Illnesses", I would be inducted into the Hall of Matriarchal Fame.

The triplets have developed a chain of cursed plagues:  Influenza, chicken pox (despite the vaccine), strep throat, ear infections, and worms (?).

Is this God's thunderbolt of retribution for swearing during Mass?  Loudly swearing at Clarisse-the-She-Devil, the mistress-of-insubordination?

As you know, my house was never a museum, but now a City Inspector would cover the house with "Condemned" yellow tape.

Must go. Alex-the-Spontaneous is vomiting on the cat. Christopher-the-Wild-Child is smearing the vomit on the bathroom mirror.

Your sister,

Mary-the-Desperate 

Source: Wikipedia

May thanks to Delores at Under the Porch Light for providing the six words (above, underlined) with which to wrestle and write.  Please click on the Methodist Church in the right sidebar, to access some fine writing.  AND please join this wildly-diverse writing group and put your own take on the crazy words.
Delores is awesome and such a joy!