The Days Are Long But The Years Are Short – 162 words
“Oh my God!” They pushed the door open and peered into the room.
“It’s a swirling vortex of chaos, isn’t it?” He chuckled.
“I can’t even see the floor! It’s all Legos and Barbies and stuffed animals.” She pointed toward a twisted object lying amidst the ruins of her daughter’s room. “What IS that?”
“Don’t know.” He pinched his nose. “But I’m thinking she left an apple core in here again. We might need gas masks to enter.”
She sighed. “Will this room ever be clean? I’m starting to think we’re in an episode of Hoarders.”
He settled his arm over her shoulder, gently squeezing her close. “Patience, grasshopper. One day – and it won’t seem long – we’ll stand here staring at a clean floor. An empty room. And we’ll be missing these days and longing for that little girl again.”
She put her hand over his, her eyes welling up. “You’re right,” she said, leaning back into his familiar warmth. “You’re right.”
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For the past two Flash Fridays, I was on vacation in New Jersey, with no internet access other than my phone. But did that stop me from entering Flash Friday? Heck no! (It did stop me from posting my entries here on my website in a timely manner, however.)
The first story above was written for the June 27th contest. On June 27th I spent most of the day in the car. I wrote my story out by hand before we started traveling (since my husband had already turned off the internet here at home!), and then typed the sucker on my phone while whizzing by other cars on the road (no worries, people – hubby was driving!).
While I thought I’d met the 160 word limit, apparently I was over by 2. Oops. So much for in-my-head math skills. At least I included something about patience, which was this week’s required element. I’d still love to hear what you think, however.
And below you will find the picture and story I wrote for the contest on July 4th. July 4th marks the 3rd quarter of the year for Flash Friday, and I am *gulp* officially a judge for this quarter, so my stories are not eligible to win. No matter; I still love writing them. For the week of the 4th, in addition to the photo prompt we needed to include something about a woman. This one I also wrote out by hand and typed up on the phone, but at least I wasn’t in a car, so I could check and double-check my word count without feeling carsick. Still, I’m glad to be back at my computer for this week’s challenge!
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We Hold These Truths – 160 words
“Abigail wants that line to read ‘all people are created equal.’”
Jefferson sighed. “This is a hard enough sell as it is. We just can’t go there.”
Snorting, Adams turned to Franklin. “What would Mrs. Silence Dogood say?”
Franklin perused the sheet in front of him. “She’d say, ‘Stop wasting paper and get this thing done!’”
“Agreed,” Jefferson said.
“I concur with my wife, gentlemen; we must change that phrase. We must acknowledge the equality of women – and slaves,” he added, staring pointedly at Jefferson.
Jefferson frowned. “We cannot fight a war on three fronts.”
“Says the man who owns slaves.” Adams snorted.
Franklin broke in, eager to defuse the tension in the room. “I agree with Thomas. But the United States is an enlightened country. I am confident the equal rights of all people – men, women, black, white – will quickly be affirmed, after we have freed ourselves from King George’s madness.”
The three men smiled. “Guess we’re done here.”