The Bettermost Drabblefest: Please Join In!

[Penthesilea]

Hey Chrissi - great to see you here and drabbling.  This is just so damn good on so many levels, and especially in the way you did this kind of 180 degree turn.  It's so damn truthful it makes me want to cry.  And the picture is just gorgeous - so poignant. 

Thanks,
Marie

Hey Marie,
thanks so much for your sweet FB. Makes me ashamed of the fact that I'm  such a bad (read: rare) commenter. But be assured that I read and enjoy the drabbles in here. 

[mariez]

The Old Man

1953

His favorite of all the stories his mama told him was Old Man Coyote and His Many Voices.  Old Man Coyote's howling and yelping could sound like a crowd of coyotes and could mean many things.  He could be letting the other coyotes know where he was, he could be angry, he could be playful, or he could be giving a warning that danger was near…

As he heard the high quavering sounds in the distance he pictured yet again what his daddy had shown him that day: the old man he used to see in town turned into a bloody pulp without a nose.

He clutched his covers tightly and stared into the darkness, wondering what the Old Man was telling him. 


1983

It was unusual for the howling to wake him, and he could see that Jack was still sound asleep, oblivious to the high quavering sounds in the distance that, this night, called up for him so clearly the image that never completely left him: the old man he used to see in town turned into a bloody pulp without a nose.

He clutched Jack tightly and stared into the darkness, wondering what the Old Man was telling him. 

~~~~~~~
200 Words

Note to Chrissi:  No reason to feel bad - please don't.   

[August7th]

In response to the prompts: yokel; yucca; and yelp.
_______________________________________________

Damn, but it was good to get out of that house for a while, he thought. Out here there was nothing but him, the horse, the dog, and brush interspersed with yucca as far as the eye could see. No noise but the wind and an occasional yelp from the dog when they spooked a jackrabbit.

How did things get so fuckin’ complicated, he wondered. He liked Lureen a lot; they’d had some real good times together. And he certainly liked her daddy’s money. But, since the baby was born, she hardly had interest in anything else. Plus, her parents were constantly underfoot, spoiling the baby and looking down their noses at their yokel son-in-law. As for the baby, he really didn’t know quite what to make of him. Cute, smiled a lot; cried a lot too. Frankly, he didn’t feel as excited about being a father as people seemed to expect he should.

Last night, the baby’s crying had woke him from a dream about Ennis Del Mar. Out of the blue that dream; hadn’t had one in a while. His mama said that dreams sometimes were messages from God. Well, he doubted God had much to do with the likes of last night’s dream. But it had got him thinking. Maybe he should try to drop Ennis a line. He’d been thinking about going up to Wyoming to see the folks. Maybe he and Ennis could get together for a beer . . . or something.

[mariez]

In response to the prompts: yokel; yucca; and yelp.
_______________________________________________

Damn, but it was good to get out of that house for a while, he thought. Out here there was nothing but him, the horse, the dog, and brush interspersed with yucca as far as the eye could see. No noise but the wind and an occasional yelp from the dog when they spooked a jackrabbit.

How did things get so fuckin’ complicated, he wondered. He liked Lureen a lot; they’d had some real good times together. And he certainly liked her daddy’s money. But, since the baby was born, she hardly had interest in anything else. Plus, her parents were constantly underfoot, spoiling the baby and looking down their noses at their yokel son-in-law. As for the baby, he really didn’t know quite what to make of him. Cute, smiled a lot; cried a lot too. Frankly, he didn’t feel as excited about being a father as people seemed to expect he should.

Last night, the baby’s crying had woke him from a dream about Ennis Del Mar. Out of the blue that dream; hadn’t had one in a while. His mama said that dreams sometimes were messages from God. Well, he doubted God had much to do with the likes of last night’s dream. But it had got him thinking. Maybe he should try to drop Ennis a line. He’d been thinking about going up to Wyoming to see the folks. Maybe he and Ennis could get together for a beer . . . or something.

August, Jack's voice here is pitch perfect - thanks!

Marie

[mariez]

Some hump day prompts:   

• supply and demand
• melt
• unleash

Marie

[August7th]

August, Jack's voice here is pitch perfect - thanks!

Marie

Thanks for the positive review, Marie. And thanks for keeping this thread going by posting the prompts!

[mariez]

Melting Away

It was the best stew he'd ever eaten, hot and hearty, and the biscuits melted in his mouth.  The lavender sky was disappearing into the dark and the chill was falling around them, but their fire was warm as it crackled in the wind, and he could smell the sweet, cold mountain air …..

"You like it, then?"

Alma's voice broke his reverie, and he started a bit, opening his eyes to see her smiling at him with the hopeful look of a young bride.

He forced his own smile and nodded, swallowing hard as the biscuits turned to stone.

~~~~~~~
100 Words

[Luvlylittlewing]

Melting Away

It was the best stew he'd ever eaten, hot and hearty, and the biscuits melted in his mouth.  The lavender sky was disappearing into the dark and the chill was falling around them, but their fire was warm as it crackled in the wind, and he could smell the sweet, cold mountain air …..

"You like it, then?"

Alma's voice broke his reverie, and he started a bit, opening his eyes to see her smiling at him with the hopeful look of a young bride.

He forced his own smile and nodded, swallowing hard as the biscuits turned to stone.

~~~~~~~
100 Words

Beautiful, so beautiful!  I can smell the stew, feel the cold air descending.  Your writing is always so descriptive.  You're very gifted, Marie!

[mariez]

You're too kind, Marie!  Thank you... 


Okay, here are a few phrases to ponder:

• one for the road
• just in time
• high and dry

Marie

[stonebiscuit]

High & Dry

The grey sky had turned the trailer into a dark cavern. His large hand swallowed the hole punch as he restlessly drove the spikes through the holes. He was ganna take it easy today, finish off some lagging paper work before heading down to the bar for a few quiet drinks with mates. But his mind turned like the blades of the fan swinging from the ceiling like a metallic monkey.
Heading out to his truck he gazed over in the direction of the mountain, it's peak spot lit by a small gap in the clouds. The radio blared as he turned the ignition, promptly switched it off, the twanging guitar only conflicting with his turning thoughts today.
Picking up his horse at the jump-off, he had a uncomfortable feeling, the trees before him momentarily blurring into a green haze. Almost turning around he was drawn on by an invisible hand, his hunger unsatisfied.
He galloped along the main track before pulling onto a ridge above the camp where he knew the boys should be. Slowing to a trot he reached into the saddle carry bag for his binoculars. The campsite was deserted, but the wind carried voices up to his lonely perch. He turned his attention to a clearing just in time to see two shirtless figures buttoning up their pants.
Just in time.