Author Topic: The Bettermost Drabblefest: Please Join In!  (Read 1184412 times)

Offline mariez

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Re: The Bettermost Drabblefest: Please Join In!
« Reply #2520 on: October 29, 2007, 09:54:06 pm »
Dear Abby …..

He'd gone out again without a word, after a dinner that would've been silent but for the chattering of the girls. She would be fast asleep, or pretending to be, when he finally came to bed, their backs facing each other through the night in silent reproach.  There were times some mornings she was surprised to see her reflection in the mirror - she hadn't disappeared after all

She went through the paper in her usual order. Headlines, recipes, "Dear Abby."  She used to be amused by the letters, but now found herself envying "Lonely in Des Moines" and "Confused in Wichita." She couldn't fathom writing a letter; why, even wise and worldly Abby would be at a loss for words – and they could never print such a thing! - but she knew how she'd sign it. 

Invisible in Riverton.

~~~~~~~
140 Words
The measure of a country's greatness is its ability to retain compassion in times of crisis         ~~~~~~~~~Thurgood Marshall

The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself.    ~~~~~~~~~ Mark Twain

Offline mariez

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Re: The Bettermost Drabblefest: Please Join In!
« Reply #2521 on: October 30, 2007, 01:17:39 pm »
Here's a few Tuesday prompts:   :)

  • haunted
  • mask
  • trick

Marie
The measure of a country's greatness is its ability to retain compassion in times of crisis         ~~~~~~~~~Thurgood Marshall

The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself.    ~~~~~~~~~ Mark Twain

Offline outrider

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  • riding beyond the pale, beyond the veil.
Beyond the pale of human knowledge,
beyond the veil of human thought,
a whole mystic dimension.

Offline mariez

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Re: The Bettermost Drabblefest: Please Join In!
« Reply #2523 on: October 31, 2007, 12:20:04 pm »
Happy Halloween, drabblers and drabble readers!  How about:

  • Halloween
  • scary
  • excited

Marie
The measure of a country's greatness is its ability to retain compassion in times of crisis         ~~~~~~~~~Thurgood Marshall

The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself.    ~~~~~~~~~ Mark Twain

Offline mariez

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Re: The Bettermost Drabblefest: Please Join In!
« Reply #2524 on: October 31, 2007, 03:58:38 pm »
Pumpkin Patches and Whiskey Springs


"Do you wanna watch 'The Great Pumpkin' with me, Daddy?  It's gonna start any minute."

Jack laughed.  "What in the world is 'The Great Pumpkin?"

"It's a Charlie Brown show, Daddy!  You never saw it?" 

"No, bud, Charlie Brown wasn't around in my day, and we didn't have a TV, anyway."

Bobby was astounded.  "No TV!  Well, you have to watch it, it's my favorite. See, every year Charlie Brown's friend Linus spends Halloween in the pumpkin patch waiting for The Great Pumpkin to show up.   He writes him letters and everything – but every year he's disappointed.  All his friends think he's stupid to keep waiting for something that's never gonna happen."

Jack swallowed hard.  "What do you think, bud?"

"I don't think Linus should give up. I'll bet The Great Pumpkin surprises everyone and shows up next time!" 

Jack sat down and pulled Bobby close, his heart sinking a little with the realization that his son had inherited more than his dark hair. 

~~~~~~~
165 Words
The measure of a country's greatness is its ability to retain compassion in times of crisis         ~~~~~~~~~Thurgood Marshall

The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself.    ~~~~~~~~~ Mark Twain

Offline MaineWriter

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Re: The Bettermost Drabblefest: Please Join In!
« Reply #2525 on: October 31, 2007, 04:01:01 pm »
Ah, Marie, that's sweet...and a little sad. Thanks!

L
Taming Groomzilla<-- support equality for same-sex marriage in Maine by clicking this link!

Offline MaineWriter

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Re: The Bettermost Drabblefest: Please Join In!
« Reply #2526 on: November 01, 2007, 10:14:08 am »
Hello everyone,

How about...

  • "the morning after the night before"
  • paring knife
  • ace of spades

L
Taming Groomzilla<-- support equality for same-sex marriage in Maine by clicking this link!

Offline mariez

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Re: The Bettermost Drabblefest: Please Join In!
« Reply #2527 on: November 01, 2007, 08:46:34 pm »
A Special Touch

May 1983

Her hands were deft and sure with the old paring knife, the cracked handle worn down to the shape of her thumb.  He smiled at the familiar sight, and a sense of wonder came over him as he took in the beauty of her hands - thin but strong, etched but graceful, sinuous veins against creamy skin. 

As she rose wordlessly from the table and ran a warm hand gently down his cheek, he reached up and cradled it to his face, closing his eyes against the overwhelming emotions and surrendering himself to the special comfort of his mama's touch.   

~~~~~~~
100 Words
The measure of a country's greatness is its ability to retain compassion in times of crisis         ~~~~~~~~~Thurgood Marshall

The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself.    ~~~~~~~~~ Mark Twain

Offline fernly

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Re: The Bettermost Drabblefest: Please Join In!
« Reply #2528 on: November 02, 2007, 08:29:57 am »
http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php/topic,9354.new.html#new
Very insightful...really enjoyed this.

THE DANCE
....
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.
Rings so true, Mark, thank you.


Measure of a Man
....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.
Sure didn't. And he was sitting right there in the midst of them all the time.

Dear Abby …..
.... There were times some mornings she was surprised to see her reflection in the mirror - she hadn't disappeared after all....
the despair she felt...what a perfect image to express it...

Pumpkin Patches and Whiskey Springs

Jack sat down and pulled Bobby close, his heart sinking a little with the realization that his son had inherited more than his dark hair. 
Great title, heartbreaking drabble.

A Special Touch

May 1983

As she rose wordlessly from the table and ran a warm hand gently down his cheek, he reached up and cradled it to his face, closing his eyes against the overwhelming emotions and surrendering himself to the special comfort of his mama's touch.  
We heard his daddy's take on that last visit, now you show us a different moment. Thank you.
on the mountain flying in the euphoric, bitter air

Offline mariez

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Re: The Bettermost Drabblefest: Please Join In!
« Reply #2529 on: November 02, 2007, 01:01:10 pm »
How about some "O" words for our Friday prompts:   :)

  • obvious
  • obstinate
  • ostracize

Marie
The measure of a country's greatness is its ability to retain compassion in times of crisis         ~~~~~~~~~Thurgood Marshall

The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself.    ~~~~~~~~~ Mark Twain