100WW

Cultivating Joy – 100 Word Wednesday

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Title: Cultivating Joy
Source:  100 Word Wednesday: Week 111
Word count: 100 words

Image by Arno Smit

As a Customer Service Supervisor, Imogene solved other people’s problems and smoothed ruffled feathers. She loved her job, and she did it well.

Occasionally, silly complaints, abusive attitudes, and stretched truths wore on her nerves. Today was one of those days. Imogene counted the minutes, waiting to rush to her sanctuary.

The potting shed wasn’t fancy, but it belonged to her. Here, she could sink her hands into warm dirt, feel the sun’s heat on her back and hear the bird’s sweet songs. The breeze caressed her, and her plants grew and flowered as she tended them with loving care.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The Climb – 100 Word Wednesday

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Title: The Climb
Source:  100 Word Wednesday: Week 110
Word count: 100 words

Image by Bikurgurl

It had been a long climb. Now, at the trail’s summit, Jill realized it was worth every hard-won step. Along the path, Jill sometimes wanted to give in, give up, admit defeat.

But Bobby was with her, holding her hand. He yelled when she needed him to yell and coaxed when she needed coaxing. He picked her up, carrying her over the toughest steps. Because of Bobby, she stood awed by the view.

Jill wrapped her arms around him as a tear broke free.

Bobby wiped it away and smiled.

“See? I knew you were stronger than cancer,” he said.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Loves Legend – 100 Word Wednesday

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Title: Loves Legend
Source:  100 Word Wednesday: Week 109
Word count: 100 words

Image by Bikurgurl

The legend said their love would last while their initials remained on the Lovers Tree.

Nick carved his initials deep into the bark. His knife traced her initials again. He wasn’t taking any chances.

She hadn’t noticed him, but he had waited, been there for her, loved her. He hadn’t dared to dream, hadn’t imagined she would be his or declare her love.

She swore Todd meant nothing after he broke her heart. But Nick saw the way she looked at Todd when she thought he wasn’t looking.

He gouged the letters deeper and prayed for Todd’s initials to fade.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The Reward – 100 Word Wednesday

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Title: The Reward
Source:  100 Word Wednesday: Week 107
Word count: 100 words

Photo by Bikurgurl

Allie shifted, tired of waiting and watching she rubbed her neck and surveyed her immediate area. Maybe the intelligence was wrong. She glanced at her wrist then refocused her sights to the bridge’s far end. Fifteen minutes past the appointed time stretched to half past the hour.

“Any movement?” the voice in her ear ask.

“Negative,” she whispered.

“Should we abort?”

Stifling a groan, she felt the muscle in her temple throbbed.

“Negative. Hold your position.”

Another half hour passed, but still, Allie waited.

A flash from the far end of the bridge set Allie’s pulse racing. They had escaped.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Book Savant – 100 Word Wednesday

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Title: Book Savant
Source:  100 Word Wednesday: Week 106
Word count: 100 words

Photo by Darwin Vegher

Viola surveyed the books piled floor to ceiling in no clear order. It was a place Sebastian would like.

“Can I help you, Miss…?” the voice behind her paused, waiting.

“Viola,” she said turning toward the old gentleman.

“Call me, Captain,” he extended his hand which Viola shook politely.

“I’m looking for my brother, Sebastian.”

“Viola and Sebastian?” he repeated before dashing down an aisle.

Viola blinked as the Captain reappeared and pushed a book into her hands.

“Shakespeare, Twelfth Night,” he said answering her confused look.

Viola held the book but said nothing.

“Your answers are there,” he said.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Devil in the Details — 100 Word Wednesday

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Title: Devil in the Details
Source:  100 Word Wednesday: Week 104
Word count: 100 words

Photo by Filip Gielda

Loralai worried. She obsessed about details. Worry made her good at her job. Her job required precise planning, contingency plans, escape clauses and backdoors. One miscalculation could spoil everything.

Cold fingers hugged the warm coffee cup as Loralai punched her mental checklist. The snow shovel and the spade were clean and dry. The spade returned to the utility shed and the snow shovel leaned next to her new red snow boots. Her old snow boots and coat were cleaned and donated to a homeless shelter.

As the snow piled higher Loralai relaxed and smiled.

They would never find the body.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

O Tannenbaum — 100 Word Wednesday

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Title: O Tannenbaum
Source:  100 Word Wednesday: Week 100
Word count: 100 words

We passed the tree lot as we were finishing our Christmas shopping, and Sissy begged me to stop.

“Can we get one?” she pleaded, painting on her ‘Daddy’s best girl’ smile and clasping her hands under her chin.

Who was I to say ‘no’? Besides, it brought back memories of my childhood.

We loved it.

“It is a Charlie Brown tree,” my wife stated.

“It is full of needles.  They’ll drop and make a mess,” she proclaimed.

She banished the tree to the den, far from her picture postcard perfection.

Christmas morning, we discovered Santa’s gifts under our beautiful tree.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Intervention — 100 Word Wednesday

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Title: Intervention
Source:  100 Word Wednesday: Week 99
Word count: 100 words

Image by Andre Hunter

Anton checked. No bars. How did people live here? If he had a signal, he’d get an Uber and go. Where he wasn’t sure. Anywhere would be better than here.

“Give it up, man.”

Anton turned and saw Carpenter.

“It’s jammed. You ain’t goin nowhere til you see light.”

Anton pursed his lips, the furrow on his brow deepening.

“It ain’t so bad. I know. I am just like you.”

“You know nuttin bout me,” Anton said, shoulder checking Carpenter as he strode past.

Carpenter watched him walk away.

“Sorry, my man. But I know all about you. You’ll see.”

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Triumph — 100 Word Wednesday

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Title: Triumph
Source:  100 Word Wednesday: Week 97
Word count: 100 words

No one noticed Jacques-Louis. In the streets no one stared, only brushed past him as he hurried to his destination. Those who met him found it difficult to hide their disappointment. He was not the man they had imagined, not the image they had conjured in their mind. Surely, he was not the epitome of strategical genius, wielder of power, a titan of business?

Jacques-Louis average looks, his middle-class clothes, disarmed his adversaries, made them discount him, discredit and dismiss him. He smiled, pressed his advantage and struck the killing blow.
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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Time Capsule — 100 Word Wednesday

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Title: Time Capsule
Source:  100 Word Wednesday: Week 96
Word count: 100 words

Eiffel-tower-at-night

Photo by Paul Gaudriault

Life changed after Grandmama died. Papa, a quiet man, retreated further while I mourned. He signed Grandmama’s death certificate and handed me the apartment keys. I wouldn’t live there long.

I was twenty, and I knew Grandmama’s lessons on survival. The apartment, the jewels, the Boldini painting, they bore testament to a woman’s ability to live well.

Soldiers were marching into the city when I fled. I wouldn’t speak of those years again, although I thought of them daily. I kept the apartment and the secrets it held while the memories lived in my heart and the child I carried.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer