Happy Halloween...a family ghost story.

she was watching
"Friday the 13th" part I,
fearless on old Hallow's Eve.
Alone in the living room.
Babysitting her younger brother
who was at play in the basement.
Her mom's black penny loafers
resting at the bottom of the staircase
that lead from the living room
to the upstairs bedroom.
Suddenly they began to
step by step climb the stairs.
"clomp, clomp, clomp"
they slowly ascended.
Upon reaching the top, they
tumbled right back to the bottom.
Suddenly, a scream enveloped the room
as her younger brother came running
up from the basement.
A bright red hand print
spread boldly across his cheek.
"Something down there slapped me..."
________________________

They return home from their grown up
Halloween party.
The house is dark and quiet.
what had those kids been up to?
With a flick of his wrist, father
turns on the light upon entering the house
and mother screams at
the sight spread out before them....


**Happy Halloween.  My mother use to tell us all sorts of ghost stories that she witnessed in a little house growing up with her five brothers and sister.  She swears her mom's shoes ascended the stairs by themselves.  She swears her mom's purse lifted itself from the coffee table in front of her and her brother's eyes, she swears that her younger brother got slapped by an invisible spirit while playing in the basement alone, she swears doorknobs would spin by themselves, and she swears that some invisible person walked towards her in her bedroom one night that she was home alone...my gram invited a priest over, and he told them evil spirits were haunting the house and out to get my mom's soul.  Nice, huh?  Was my mom just a vivid storyteller...or did she grow up in a haunted little house with spirits wreaking havoc on her soul??

Autumn 160

tis the season for pumpkins,
apple cider, and chicken dumplings
the weather still fairly warm
with the sun rays
but gets a bit chilly
by then end of the days

**this is a post for Sunday 160 hosted by Monkey Man.  What can you say in 160 characters (including spaces)?  Try it and see.  Visit the original 160 here.

Exhaustion in 55...

my eyes are sagging and
my brain's buzzing dull.
I feel like there's
just a big rock in
my skull.

my arms and legs
they're tired and limp,
with no energy to share
i feel like a blimp.

Heck I don't even know
what i just said.
Guess I should really
just go to bed.



write something in 55 words, post it, and then go tell G-Man by visiting here.  He hosts the weekly Friday Flash 55 :)

A Bee's Romance

He flew courageously

around the feast

meticulous in his task

persistently coming back.

with each swish of 

my hand, he would dodge

and soon return to land

on my plate to steal a 

piece for his own.

I watched intrigued

as he gathered

a small bit of 

tomato with his claws

and tucked it securely

in his jaws.

Off he flew 

and I could only 

imagine he was taking 

the prize to his queen.

Returning for seconds

this time gathering

a small broccoli

floret and tucking it

away, flying away to 

the receiver of his gift.

making a final attempt

he snagged a 

piece of cheese

as my salad disappeared

before my eyes.

What a romantic

display of loyalty and

affection I was privy to 

witness as a little

yellow jacket risked

life and wing

to take a few treasures

to his queen.

** I found this beautiful photo on picsearch.com.  

**At lunch during work today, we ate outside to enjoy the beautiful weather.  I had a yellow jacket companion who had the same idea.  I had no idea bees were interested in human food, but he stole right from my plate three times-he even nibble on my leftover chicken breast-as I was watching.  Each time flying off with his prize only to return for more...that's bravery.  His hive's honey may be tasting a little tomato-ey this year.  He's lucky it was my plate he gathered from; I'm afraid anyone else might have ended his thieving days.  

**this is a post for One Shot Wednesday.  Visit here to post some of your own creativity and read some other fantastic pieces.  It's a great place to go for community and encouragement.  

The unsaved [life] text

A life altering moment
a lesson learned too late
she drove along
the highway
right hand on the
steering wheel, left hand
on her cell phone
sending a text to Meg
about the boy in
the grocery store.
her heart aflutter
with excitement, then
a quick peek and a
stolen glance of blaring red
lights too close to avoid
brakes screeching, unsuccessful.
steering wheel turned hard right
the car flipping and turning
the sound of metal
crushing like a beer can,
glass breaking, bones breaking
heart breaking...
and the last things she
saw were the beautiful
wet leaves smashed
on her severed
windshield just before
the lights went out.
the text left unsent...

**this is a magpie tale hosted by the wonderful, Willow.  Visit here to read some amazing pieces and meet some great writers.  Join in the fun.

**Time i spend in the emergency room of hospitals has opened my eyes to the many preventable child and teen tragedies; it's always a heartbreaking scene.  Hopefully, some day, we can educate them enough to convince them that they too are mortal.

The fair in 55

They will fry you anything
at the good ole county fair
snickers, bananas, butter
they'd probably fry some air.

You'll see all kinds of folks
at the good ole county fair
a variety of unique souls
and boy, the clothes some wear.

Be sure to ride the ferris wheel
at the good ole county fair.

  


**Went to the fair tonight and ate way too much food...but isn't that the purpose of going?  Playing along with Friday 55 today-hosted by the always entertaining, G-man.  Visit his blog here.

birthdays and memories

Today is your birthday.
Your flame having
been quenched
leaves only memories
lingering in my mind.
Memories of the
fire for life you
dazzled me with.
My psyche is engulfed
with cherished images
of a childhood
full of giggling,
hugs, and cookie
making. 
oh, those summer
weekends at Gramma's.
I remember your smell
the feel of your arms
and the way
the spark in your eyes
revealed your love
as a blazing lantern
reveals a darkened path.
I miss you still.



**My grandma (my dad's mom) died 13 years ago, today is her birthday, and it's still hard to imagine her not around. She left an impact on our whole family.  Her "family" cheeks, her smile, the love she showed for the grandkids, the passion she had at keeping the family together.  She was a wonderful woman and I am so blessed to have my childhood memories of her forever a part of me. I wrote this for Magpie Tales 34 hosted by the wonderful, Willow.  Stop by and check out some pretty terrific writing!

A tree's point of view (160)

they said it was impossible
that I could grow right here
they said I'd never make it
that i wouldn't dare
between a rock-n-hard place
I still don't have a care

**during an exhilarating hiking trip today, I came upon this cute little tree in a very odd spot.  It just reminded me of something that is surrounded by hardness and is still flourishing.  Nature's daily lesson.  What can you say in 160 characters? This is a post for Sunday 160 hosted by Monkey Man.  Visit here to try it yourself, see what it's about, and read a few more :)