Happy Birthday @ Small Stories and Stuff

Here’s my contribution to Jenny Matlock’s meme, Saturday Centus. Not familiar with this themed writing exercise? Clint on the Saturday Centus link above and find out all about it. And don’t forget to check out Jenny’s ...off on my tangent... She’s a wonderful writer. Please take time to read all the entries. You will find some very clever little stories.




I snooped in the back of his closet, having struck out in all of his usual hiding places. My birthday present had to be here somewhere. An involuntary gasp of shock escaped my lips when I opened the shoe box and saw the pointy-toed shoes...black strappy Jimmy Choos with 4 inch heels.

I envisioned us dancing at the Wellington’s Christmas party and began to configure the proper outfit in my mind. A little black dress and my ruby and diamond earrings and pendant. Perfect.

Unable to stop myself, I pulled the shoes out and tried them on. Two sizes too small! That cheating #@&*%$^!!!

Wait ‘til his birthday comes along................

My Christmas Elf @ Small Stories and Stuff - The Truth

Before I publish my second Saturday Centus of the week, a word of explanation is in order. My son, Parrish, is 41 and suffers from schizoaffective disorder. The simplest way to explain it is to say it is an unfortunate combination of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. You will find the first post here.






CHRISTMAS ELF - THE TRUTH

She wanted a happy ending so fantasized one. The last paragraph was a lie. The lights were so overwhelming that he sat and cried. They went back to the attic.

The weekend was a series of intermittent confusion and hallucinations and perseverations about every conceivable subject. He wept often, woke her in the night for coffee and company. At Wal-Mart, he spoke only Spanish. He sat in the kitchen while she made chocolate mousse and jambalaya.

Today he was eager to go “Home.” His safe place is no longer with her.

Her heart is shattered.

My Christmas Elf @ Small Stories and Stuff

Saturday Centus again already! Most of you now the rules, but if you need to know more, visit Saturday Centus, the brain child of Jenny Matlock, whose blog, “...off on my tanget” is a must for good reading and great ideas. She has other memes, too!


This week’s prompt is, "The bin of tangled up holiday lights..." We have 100 words, not including the prompt, to write a little story around the prompt. Since it is a writing exercise, I put myself on a timer and usually give myself an hour to complete my entry. How you handle it is, of course, up to you.

Here is my take on this week’s prompt. You will find it in italics.



MY CHRISTMAS ELF

Having her son for a weekend is like inviting a bear to a picnic. Disorganized and distracted by his disease, he forgot to bring warm clothes. The kitchen counter around the coffee maker feels like super glue, and he he obsessing about what he will wear - to Wal-Mart.

At 5:30 AM, she found him on the deck in shorts, no shoes, and a tee shirt smoking a cigarette. Temperature 35º.

But when she pulled the bin of tangled up holiday lights from the attic, he set to work and systematically straightened each strand. She plopped a Santa hat on his head and smiled a mother’s smile.

Horrorscopes Make Her Cranky

Well, Jenny over at Saturday Centus has “done done it agin,” as we say in the Deep South. With the help of Clearspace, she has come up with a writing prompt with a twist. If you are unfamiliar with Saturday Centus, just click on the link above to learn the rules.

You know those horoscopes in newspapers? One of those will be our prompt for this week. We are to pic one randomly from a paper or a web site and write a story using the usual <100 words about the kind of day that horoscope "predicts". When you have linked up your contribution and read the others, be sure to visit Jenny at ...off on my tangent. Please try to read all the entries and give some feedback. That’s what a blogging community is all about, and you will see some very smart, original writing there.

I am and Aries, whatever that means, and I got mine from a web site called dailyhoroscopes.com and here it is:


Saturday, November 27 2010

You may have noticed that your old zest is back and your social life is picking up--you will seek out new people, maybe even a new job. Being more involved with neighbors or sibling(s) satisfies a deep emotional need. A new cycle begins for you, signaling a greater than usual interest in relationships, social connections and the arts. A family squabble helps to show off your problem-solving abilities. You are able to see both sides of an issue. The situation calls for understanding and compromise. Marriage and other close relationships come to your attention today as you express your appreciation for other people in your life. This is a time to enjoy and appreciate your ties to others, and to seek and promote harmony.

What am I supposed to do with that, and in less than 100 words, to boot? This will take some thought, but my on-call day has been quiet so far, so maybe I will get it done today.

Here goes:


Horrorscopes Make Her Cranky

Her “old zest” having turned rancid the day before Thanksgiving with the return of profound depression, cj certainly disputed the first sentence. Not her. Ditto the garbage about “greater than usual” interests. She was satisfied with the ones she had.

A family squabble? Happened weeks ago when she
admonished her stepchildren to “Be Nice or Leave” on family night - AKA the Jerry Springer Show.

Marriage? After only 18 months, she still felt very married to her late husband.

Who ARE these people?

She decided to climb back into bed and pull the covers over her head.


© cj Schlottman

Chalice of Hope

11/26/10

Give Thanks


Today is Friday, which means it is Six Word Fridays at Melissa’s Making Things Up. To learn how it all works, visit her Six Word Fridays info page.

This week’s prompt, “Give Thanks,” is a hard one for me this Thanksgiving season. I almost skipped it altogether. My depression, after lurking beneath the surface for a couple of months, has manifested itself in a great sadness in me. To illustrate, here is a link to my last post, Cupcakes.

It is hard for me to be grateful when I am so bogged down in my heart and my spirit and my soul. However, this morning, I read a post by Christine over at Hope Despite Depression in which she states that she is grateful for her depression. I am not grateful for this black cloud, but Christie inspired me to search my soul for reasons to be grateful.

So here goes.


Chalice of Hope

A blue sky through a veil
of tears still lights the earth
and sea, creates a backdrop
across which birds soar and butterflies
flit from flower to flower, dancing
in the wind on their rounds.

Sad dog eyes, soft pawings of
concern still carry utter belief in me
soothe my wounds, stop the bleeding.

A tear stained face can still
reflect hope of climbing from the
pit into light, escaping the chill
of frozen hopes into warm sunshine.

A fractured heart holds the possibiity
of mending, pieces melding once more
to weld it, cracked and crooked,
into a chalice filled with hope.


© cj Schlottman

Thanksgiving at Small Stories and Stuff

11/20/10

"Pardon me," said Tom T. Urkee..."

That’s this week’s prompt from Jenny Matlock’s Saturday Centus. Trot on over to her site by clicking on the Saturday Centus link above to learn all about it. You will find a diverse community of talented and supportive writers. Be sure to read all of the posts. If you don’t, you’ll no doubt miss something really good. Also, check out Jenny’s ...off on my tangent. She’s a great writer.

My take on this week’s prompt:


Sitting in the Corner Café, the group spoke of Thanksgiving - where they would be, who they would see, the most dreaded relative who would attend.

They chewed on toast and drank coffee, and the conversation died away as they lost themselves in thought.

"Pardon me," said Tom T. Urkee, as he waddled to the table. “May I sit down?” He perched on a chair, and the conversation once more sprang to life.

“We were discussing Thanksgiving. You know, the holiday we love to hate.”

“Jeez, folks,” gobbled Tom. How the heck do you think I feel? I’m on the menu.”


© cj Schlottman

Early November - 11/17/10

Well, here I am again, entering my Saturday Centus on Wednesday. On call all weekend, then two drives to Atlanta for concerts. Enough excuses. As most of you know, Saturday Centus is one Jenny Matlock’s many ingenious writing exercises. If you aren’t familiar with it, please click on her Saturday Centus link above and learn how to become a participant. You will find a community of great - if somewhat disturbed - (and you know who you are [Tom] ) writers. Please read and comment on all the posts. You will find some fine writing and want to join in yourself! And be sure to check out Jenny's Blog, off on my tangent....

This week’s prompt from Jenny is:
"The early November sunshine cast golden rays..."
Here is my conribution. The prompt is in italics.


Early November at Small Stories and Stuff



The early November

sunshine cast golden rays

on the creek, shone amber,

glinted on the marsh grass.

Tide running low, dolphins

rolled their way back to sea

in the afternoon glow.

Great Blue Herons took flight

soaring to their roosting

trees across the expanse

of waving fingers of gold.

In flocks, Egrets joined in

winging their way home.

The sun shone its last sparks

of light, dropped beneath

the horizon, seeking

its own resting place.


© cj Schlottman