The Pedantic Pedestrian

Wandering towards the street, she looked left, right, left…

Her foot rose from the curb. As she stepped, the blast of a horn stunned her. A sting of hot air sliced her face and forced her to stumble backward. Unbidden tears followed.

What happened? Where did that come from? Better question - Where was she?

~~~

Not an Alzheimer’s moment this – just the effects of flipping your world on its axis and walking on the wrong side of life, African-style. It has a main character, plot and climax, therefore I shall call it a short story. A flash fiction, if you will. In 55 words no less! Isn't that interesting? 

I bet that G-Man might think so...

The Pissed Pumpkin

I never meant it to go down like that. Jack was a decent guy, but he just got under my skin. I didn't really mean him any harm. Honest, I didn't!

But when he messed with me before I’d had that first sip of coffee, I kind of lost it and bit his head off…

*Image from http://ow.ly/eekV1

And that my friends is 55 words for the persuasive personage G-Man and his fun Flash Friday 55!

Happy Thanksgiving my fellow Canucks. Hope your pumpkin pie is of the happier sort!

 :o)

Ode to Summer

As much as January is a time of rebirth and renewal, September isn't far behind it. Children return to school. Summer holidays cease and routines begin again. Reality seems to come crashing down with the gentle waves of time with it. Sigh...

It is time though. I am ready. I am going to try to renew some writing here, even as other changes transform the rest of my world. It has been too long and I miss this creative space. On that note, I will toss a little ode to summer poem into the ring for my friend G-Man's perusal and see if he will take me back into the Flash Friday ring.

Have a great weekend, my friends!

~

I skipped through summer,

like a school girl without care.

Lazy days by the water,

only to be thrown in unawares.

Idle books dangled

with pages flipped, like none were there.

Mealtimes;

Whenever…

Bedtime;

Who cares!

But September stole in,

now Responsibility -

everywhere!

So I’ll write those memories

to keep close

as winter glares.

Goodbye summer river!

3-Ply Morning

The sound of birds chirping outside her open window reminded her that spring had arrived, seemingly overnight. She smelled fresh earth and new life in the breezy air. Pushing the curtains aside, something appeared not quite right with the seemingly pastoral scene though.

Spring had obviously awoken the funny bone of local teens as well…

%%%%%

Well G-Man, I had been living in a warmth-induced paradise, resplendent in yellows, greens, pinks and more until this bit of white appeared in the tree this week. I hope that some Mother gives her kids shit for using up the last role of 3-ply. It seems such a waste!

Ah, to be a teen again and delight in such juvenile pranks. After snapping a few pics I had to take it down though, as the forecast had been predicting rain. Nothing worse than trying to pull soggy t-p out of a tree (I would think anyway!).

I've been PAPERED!

heehee  =:-D

Watch That Step!

Looking up didn't seem so bad. One foot in front of the other until you reached the top. How hard could that be? 


It wasn’t until I reached the top and looked down that there was a problem. All I had to do was let go, right? 


So why did my hands shake so badly?

*^^*^^*

I would have kept going higher and higher regardless of the height, rather than look down from the top of the rock wall. Man, who would have known I was afraid of heights?! Ack! I did manage to make it to the pinnacle three times though. Not bad for a first timer, if I do say so myself. The laughter from the bottom was a little embarrassing though, as I tried to pry myself off the side of the wall without having a panic attack. Gotta watch that last step G-Man!

55 Minutes, Plus 5

Arms up!

Keep moving!!

Almost there; you can do it!

Ok, arms down…

1, 2, 3…

Now arms way up!

Give it all you’ve got!!

Don’t forget to keep breathing.

That’s it.

Oh f---! Pant, pant, pant…

I’m going to sink to the bottom of the pool before the hour is up! Damn aquafit

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~

Made it to the end of class with a new instructor today, but suspect that my abs will be screaming at me tomorrow. And I do this for fun? What is wrong with me some days I wonder? Any guesses G-Man?

First Stop on the Author Trail

The audience shifted in their seats. Excitement crackled round the room and filled the air with expectation. Gentle murmurs were heard in anticipation of the stories to come. A throat was cleared. A chair scraped.

Then silence...

This was it. It was my first stop on the author tour.

"Allow me to introduce...
        Rylie's Mom!"

*~~~*

Isn't this how all famous authors get their start? They get ten minutes of fame on the kindergarten circuit before fading into oblivion once again. Well if this was it for me, I went out with a blaze of glory that included take home gifts of personalized fan mail in the form of cheetah pictures by all my baby's classmates. Plus,  they hung on every word of my African tales, with eyes like saucers on the gory details.

And darn it all, it felt good! 

Heck, I even managed that riveting account in 55 words (in case you didn't notice), so go tell G-Man & see what he has to say! Any bets it will be something about a Kick-Ass weekend? ☺

CT2T6KNGN4JC

In A Dream

His smile fills the room and charms all that pass. Eyes sparkle and make the world feel like no one else exists. Words of love float on daybreak.

Until he turns from me in a dream that leaves you gasping for breath and reaching for the phone. What horrors lie unspoken that gives nightmare wing? 

*/*

Fifty-Five words of caution for those of you daring enough to write a story for G-Man's Friday Flash Fiction. 

The Pick-Up

Arms swinging wildly, she swam. Desperate to escape her thoughts, she pushed off the wall and struck out for the far end. Blurred vision forced her to pause, but she pressed on again and again.

Finally limp, she pulled herself from the pool, only to be met by the young man’s gaze.

“Come here often?”

*???*

And with that our heroine ran screaming for G-Man's place to escape those few 55 words. But hey,

"It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A!"

Fallen Angels

fallen angels

trapped between heaven

and guttersnipe's heels

on the way to nowhere

and tomorrow's hopes,

dreams and fears.

yea, thou I

fly

on fashionable highs

at the end

of this day

I curl around

my solitary pillow dreams

and leave

deposits of soulful

sorrows, wet

as my promise

that

tomorrow

is a new

day

What are your dreams for a new day? Go mention them to G-Man. He will listen, offer commentary in 55 words, then book! Sorry G, I will have to work on that central plotline, but this is 55 words! 8:01 and posted!

Christmas on Repeat

Jingle Bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way…

Jingle Bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way…

Jingle Bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the…

WHY did I bring that electronic book upstairs? With cookies still to bake and presents to wrap, I think I need another rum & eggnog.

Merry Christmas from my corner of chaos

(Psst. That was also a scant 55 words that I shall offer over to G-Man!)

A Rainy Christmas

Twas the week before Christmas

Outside, who’d guess?

Rain and gusty wind

Replace white stuff, no less!

Nary snowflake, nor snow bank

For Santa to mount

But those hungry reindeer

Still have green grass about

So while I debate rainboots

For my midday stroll

I pray that Santa still visits

To fill up my soul

~~~

Oh G-Man, how is Santa ever going to come, if he has to drive those soggy reindeer through the rain? I am sure they will just stink up the house to high heaven like wet dog! We better leave out some towels too, so that Santa can sop up his dripping boots, or else I am going to be ticked. There are only a few days a year where the house is sparkly clean, and you better bet that will be one of them. If I have to remop the floor, well...
um...
uh...
I...

I guess I will dear Santa, because the kids said they asked for a new car for Mama and I've been very good this year!


Please!

NightTime

Day after day

Tapping words for others

Happy, busy, I portray

(yes, the right answer)

But as the sun sets

Time crawls

Walls hum

and the dark

turns a cold shoulder

to this moment’s passage

Alone

Life is a gift

so they say

Make of it what you wish

you pray

This

Ideology

Must
End

~

Well, that was 55 words

written about time

so I guess I am tipping my hat

to Patti & G-Man 

tonight

Lest We Forget

They fought for our freedom

They gave us their lives

Their families fall weeping

I’ve a tear in my eye

I stand by the cenotaph

Brace cold in the wind

Think of the trenches

Where they hunkered in

The least I can offer

Is this little pin

To say thanks for fighting

Pray never again

~~~

Lest we forget...

This is my tribute to all the brave men and women who put their lives on the line in the name of our freedom.

I offer it up for G-Man's Flash Friday as well.

Thank you

♥

55 Words for Giving Thanks

Turkey

Hunting for you

Gobble, gobble, gob-

ble -ble -ble

GULP!

Ah…

Can’t

wait for my

Thanksgiving feast

When I get to

Flip the bird

Again

Stuffing

Moist, delicious

Stuffing, stuffing, stuffing

To fill turkey full

Dressing

~

Sunshine

Autumn days

Walking, laughing, spinning

Children at merry play

Dancing, singing, living

Family round

Smiles

~Thanks~

***

Well G-Man,

you can tell what I have on the brain already

Thanksgiving this weekend!

and I have a hankering on for some 

TURKEY!

I shall be bringing 

STUFFING

(Yum)

PICKLES

(that's why I make them don't you know!)

and PIE

(with apples that we gathered on our recent trip to the orchard)

God, I'm hungry now.

 Maybe I will grab an apple while I wait.

Oh, my mixed bag of poetry 

(think I have a little free verse/shaped, cinquain & diamante in there) 

sums up to 55 words as well

in case you were wondering.

BOOK!!!!

What are you up to this weekend?

Monkeying Around

I am "monkeying" around today.

Yep, happily enjoying a special present that arrived in the mail this morning.

Hoo, hoo, haa, haa!

Can you guess who might have sent it to me?

The sender is someone we know and love, who hosts a weekly meme that challenges writing abilities in 160 characters or less.

Hmmm…

Thanks Monkey! Not only did you help to put a special smile on my face today, but you also helped me to write a fun little Flash 55 for another great guy - G-Man, our favourite Mr Knowitall! So if you get a chance, go visit G-Man for his Friday Flash 55 and then on Sunday swing on by Monkey Man's Sunday 160 challenge. They are both worth a visit. Have a great weekend all!

The "One"

There she stood, perfect. He slowly approached with eager anticipation. She was interested. He could see it in the curve of her hip, as she watched him draw near. Mmhmm!

“MOM, HOW DO YOU MAKE SOMEONE GO AWAY THAT YOU DON’T WANT TO PLAY WITH?”she called towards the beach.

Deflated, he paddled his floatie away… 

Oops, being silly with a Flash 55 for G-Man. He's one holiday, but I have had this picture kicking around that I have wanted to write a caption to. Poor little guy never stood a chance...

Matched Strides

Hand in hand

black and white strides

matched perfectly

stepping into the future

together; now

Fist against fist

black and white shots

struck against each other

in anger over

Yesterdays past

Colour barriers

hard fought and won

on a quiet side street

for them today

and tomorrow's dreams.

I smile

watching

them pass

linked

together.

*{}*

55 words

crafted into a semblance of a story

for the G-Man today

(yeah, its more poetry 

than anything, I know.

What of it?)

The Tickle Dance

Sitting in bed between them, they beg me to read this one and then that.

   “Read Mulberry Bush,” they squeal.

Okay. First one,  then the other.

   “Here we go round the mulberry bush. One step, two step, tickle you under there!”

Laughter fills my ears and heart.

   “Yes you can have a sleepover again.”

Smiles.

My blissfully sleeping angels have made my evening complete.

Happy Friday 55 my friends.

I Have Succumbed...

I tried. I really did. I dragged my feet, refused to jump on the bandwagon, and swore it would lead to no good!

 I didn’t even look at it. Not a peep!

But the pressure grew. 

AND I COULDN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE!

I give up! You win!

You can now find me on Twitter @KatherineKrige

( ^ )

There. A measly 55 words for you folk who have pushed me to the brink of sanity. Now I will never get any work done, sleep or probably even see my family ever again! 

Twitter! Why have you forsaken me!!!

Oh G-Man, what does the future hold now? I shall just have to avoid any more work for the day and tweet out all of the Flash 55s I come across at your place. 

(Please Lord save me from the social media world I have been sucked into. I am weak!)

But Geez its FUN!