The Bettermost Drabblefest: Please Join In!

[notBastet]

Open Spaces

July 19.  Her nightly ritual since spring, she made a careful "X" on the calendar before climbing into bed, looking at the neat row of "X's" behind it and the many open spaces that lie ahead.

Closing her eyes, she tried yet again to picture exactly what he was doing at exactly that moment.  She imagined he wouldn't have much to do at night, hoped he wasn't too lonely...

Tossing and turning, she giggled softly at the idea of counting sheep, and a smile remained as she slept peacefully through a night of hopeful dreams for all those open spaces. 

~~~~~~~
100 Words

I am obviously quite behind here with the drabbles, but yikes Marie!

[notBastet]

     Ennis opened the crematory box.   At the bottom lay a half-empty plastic bag held closed by a green paper covered wire tie. 
     
...

     He stretched trembling arms full length, slowly upended the bag and a small cloud of ash and crushed bone that had once been Jack Twist dropped toward the rocks and scrub below.


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Sorry, no prompts, no word limit.  This needed doing all of a piece.

Indeed.  Well done.

[notBastet]

He jumped in the truck, and KE slammed the door shut.  His dad said "what ya grinnin about? "  "Oh nothing special."  He replied.  "Where we goin?"   "I got something i need to show ya."  He said, and they just looked at him, questioningly.  He offered no explanation   and turned as he backed the truck out of the yard and headed for the road.

 

[mariez]

Some Sunday prompts to start the week:   

• football
• ignorant
• safety

Marie

[jpwagoneer1964]

THE DANCE

FALL 1990

Ennis and Jack both climb into Ennis's Ford pickup, each pulling the seat belts around them until the buckles clicked in unison.  Ennis, starts the motor, shifts onto low, heads out their dirt road to the two lane highway.

"Ennis...ya seem a little quiet...yer nervous 'both the dance?" Jack nudging him with his knee,

"Huh?....No 'course not......." Stopping to look both ways before turning on the blacktop.

"Seem ta be worrin' that blond head of yers....ya sure?"

"...Yep....Just....."

"What is it Ennis?"

"The...the ...ladies that 'll be there....ones that ain't married....Might want one of us ta be askin' 'm out......don't know what ta say ta 'm.....'bout ....ya know...."

Jack turns to Ennis, grins. "So ya tellin me ya want mebe ta take one home that catches yer eye?.....that it Ennis?" Jack laughing. "Ya could use the guest room if ya want."

Ennis flustered, straightens the truck out nearly going into the oncoming lane. "Jack!.....Course not!....wouldn't 'xpect they'd....not right  away....want to..."

"Want to what Ennis? ....what is they'd want ta do with ya?" Jack hardly able to contain himself.

"Damn you Twist!.....Can't talk ta ya 'bout nothing....always gotta be a damn comedian!" Ennis both hands on the wheel looking straight ahead. "...Just don't know whut ta say 'bout." Turning to Jack.

Jack reached over, hand on Ennis's shoulder, now comforting and more serious. "Be okay Eniis..... We been livin' here over five years now....folks around always see us together....know a lot of 'm....don't think any would pay no mind if we don't be askin' any ladies out...."

Ennis looks back, wide eyed.

"Don't ya be worrin' non ya hear....be okay.....Sides...accordin ta Rita...where  her 'n Andy go....the ladies that don't have husbands...are mostly widow women.... least in their 70s....though I rekon they'd like you ta take 'm home...." Jack laughs again slapping Ennis on the knee.

Tightly holding the steering wheel Ennis looks ahead."Damn you Twist......." Ennis theN mumbles something Jack can't quite hear.

"What is it Ennis? Ennis is silent.

"What did  ya say Ennis?"

".....Ah ....Ah said" Ennis taking in a big breath. ".....Ain't ..nobody Ah want ta ge goin' ...home with but..you Twist.........Got that?"

Jack leans way back in the bench seat, knee against the dashboard, takes Ennis's right forearm, gently taking it from the wheel, laces   fingers with Ennis's, then resting their hands on his leg, looks out the window.


 

[notBastet]

THE DANCE

That was real, real, sweet...

[mariez]

.....
".....Ah ....Ah said" Ennis taking in a big breath. ".....Ain't ..nobody Ah want ta ge goin' ...home with but..you Twist.........Got that?"

Jack leans way back in the bench seat, knee against the dashboard, takes Ennis's right forearm, gently taking it from the wheel, laces   fingers with Ennis's, then resting their hands on his leg, looks out the window.

Yep, that sure was sweet.  Mark, your J&E always make me smile. 

Thanks,
Marie

[mariez]

Measure of a Man

"Run, you bastard, run!" L.D. was in his glory, surrounded by cronies and worshipping at the altar of "real men" – football.

Jack surveyed the crowd with a mixture of amusement and dismay.  None of these good old boys knew what it was to feel a man tuck a blanket up under your chin when he thought you were sleeping, to hear a man hum a lullaby in your ear, to see a man's eyes mist over when he spoke of missing his little girls.  He almost felt sorry for the ignorant sumbitches.

They didn't know what a real man was.

~~~~~~~
100 Words

[mariez]

Is it Monday again?  Let's try these:

• manners
• invisible
• "at first glance"

Have fun!

Marie

[ifyoucantfixit]

     Nice little road trip Mark...sweet.


     Loved that Marie....so beautiful.