writing

Regaining Equilibrium – Weekend Writing Prompt

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Title: Regaining Equilibrium
Source:  Weekend Writing Prompt # 97 – Equinox
Objective: Write a poem or piece of prose in exactly 83 words.
Word count: 83 words

Photo by Kimson Doan on Unsplash

My phone buzzed. Flicking the screen, I read the message and smiled. Time to go. I loaded the car, anticipating the celebration.

The end of ceaseless nights, frigid temperatures and depression-soaked days was never guaranteed. Hope sparked an ember, which ignited a promise of sunny days surrounded by dear friends. It buoyed my soul, focusing my resolve to preserve.

Against the odds, the vernal equinox arrived. My friends kindled the fire, as the sea breeze kissed my cheeks. The worst lay behind me.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Observing Rites – 100 Word Wednesday

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Title: Observing Rites
Source:  100 Word Wednesday: Week 112
Word count: 100 words

Image by Bikurgurl

Conversation wasn’t Dad’s forte. Every Sunday he woke me. With fishing gear and a brown paper sack loaded with egg sandwiches, we headed to the sound. As dawn kissed the sky, our bobbers rode the waves.

The ritual had been absent for a month when he finally returned.

“Your mom -”

Dad’s voice drifted on the breeze and salt spray accumulated in his eyes. My throat tightened. Unable to speak, I wrapped my arm around his waist. His arm clung to my shoulder, pulling me close. We stood there in silence for what seemed like forever. We needed no words.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Holding On – Friday Fictioneers

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Title: Holding On
Source:  Friday Fictioneers sponsored by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple
Word count: 100 words

PHOTO PROMPT © Anshu Bhojnagarwala

Sal collected things people threw away, a trait his daughter, Cecilia, hated. Sal’s workshop was overflowing with his treasures.

One day, a piano appeared in the shop.

“What are you going to do with this?” Cecilia asked.

“It holds life.”

Cecilia looked at him and shook her head.

“Wait, you’ll see,” Sal promised.

Sal pulled the piano apart, selling the ivory and ebony keys, veneer, strings, anything of value until only the carcass remained.

“Papa, this is garbage,” Cecilia said.

“It holds life.”

The next morning the piano carcass sat outside the shop, planted with her favorite flowers. Cecilia smiled.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Along the Primrose Path – #Thursday Threads

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Photo by Alex Iby on Unsplash

Raindrops splatted, plonked and plopped on the leafy canopy as we made our way forward on the squishy trail. Lightening flashed in the distance, I sucked in my breath and counted.

“One Mississippi, Two Mississippi, Three–” before the thunder rolled over us. It grabbed my stomach and heart and shook until I thought I would vibrate off the trail.

Ahead of me, I watched Thora’s back stiffen, and she stopped. She raised her hand, and I also stopped, obeying her command.

“What do you hear?” It was a strange question to ask since Thora didn’t “hear” in the normal way. She shot a glance at me which clearly told me to “be quiet.”

It was then that an oversized, white rabbit jumped onto the trail. It stared at Thora. There was something familiar in the rabbit’s eyes. Recognition struck me as Thora bent to scoop him into her arms.

“Thora, no. It’s Zeus.”

It was too late, Zeus had wrapped all four of his bunny paws around her.

“Damn it, Zeus. Can’t you control your animal desires?”

Zeus smiled when he looked at me.

“Oh, Pan. Who do you think you are? You dare to reprimand me for my animal desires? You can’t protect her. She is mine now.”

Zeus’ momentary distraction was all Thora needed. I watched her lips move, and her body shimmer in a diaphanous transformation. Thora’s laughter floated on the breeze. It shook the leafy canopy and doused Zeus with a cold shower of raindrops.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Story Board – Stock Photo Challenge

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Title: Story Board
Source:  Stock Photo Challenge
Word count: 100 words

“No, no, no. You’ve got it all wrong. Haven’t you heard a word I said?”

Roy shoved the sketchpad towards the artist. As Roy stood, his chair toppled backward and bounced on the cement floor.

Startled, the sketch artist lunged, saving the sketchpad from the chair’s fate.

“Mr. Neary. Please. I’m trying.”

“Try harder,” Roy yelled and then, regretting his rough tone, he wiped his hand across his forehead.

“Ok,” he said, calmer now, “How about less ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’ and more ‘E.T.’ with Christmas lights?”

The sketch artists beamed, turned the sketchbook’s page and began again.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Dragon Deal

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Photo by Jared Rice on Unsplash

Once upon a time, Princess Lola watched as her father drew the lottery name for the annual sacrifice. The name was hers.

Her family cried, but Lola had a plan.

Late at night, she made her way to the Dragon’s Den.

Smoke billowed from the cave.

“You’re early,” the dragon’s voice echoed through the cave.

“I have a deal for you. It’s just between us,” Lola said.

“I have a deal with your father,” the dragon countered.

“Your deal is for girls. Wouldn’t you like a juicy boy?”

“You are scrawny.” The smoke heaved and billowed as the dragon chuckled.

“I’ll bring a boy if you’ll spare my life.”

“Are boys tasty?”

Lola promised the dragon a boy and several hours later she returned.

“Where are we going?” the chubby boy asked as he clung to Lola’s hand.

“It’s not much further,” Lola said pulling him along behind her.

“Is this the Dragon’s Den?” the boy asked as they reached the end of the trail.

“Dragon,” Lola called.

The dragon’s claw grabbed the boy, and he was gone.

“Remember our deal, Dragon,” Lola called over her shoulder. Not waiting for the dragon’s answer, she hurried home.

The next day the festival led Lola along the same path to the Dragon’s Den.

Like the previous night, the dragon’s claw reached from its den, this time the dragon grabbed Lola.

“Hey, we had a deal,” Lola screamed.

“Deal? What deal?” the dragon asked.

“Remember, I brought you a boy and you promised you’d spare my life.”

The dragon laughed.

“Promise? I made no promise. Besides, girls are made from sugar and spice and everything nice. Boys are not as tasty.”

And Lola was gone.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Mighty Mouse – Flash Fiction Challenge

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Title: Mighty Mouse
Source:  Flash Fiction Challenge
Prompt: Write a story about a mouse.
Word count:  99 words

red computer mouse

Photo by MacMillen on Unsplash

I stumble to my desk. The coffee sloshing in my cup slips over the edge trickles down the side and drips onto my freshly printed manuscript.

I blot the drop, but the damage is done. Adding insult to injury I mark the draft with a giant coffee ring. I have no fear. Mighty Mouse will save the day. The laptop purrs, Mighty Mouse chases clicks across the laptop’s screen while I sip my coffee.

The printer springs to life, spitting out pages as the Mouse commands.

The pristine draft restored, it awaits the torture session of the red pen.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

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

Seeking Knowledge – 3 Line Tales

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From Sonya’s 3LineTales at Only100Words.
You can find the original prompt here. Thank you, Sonya.

photo by Clem Onojeghuo via Unsplash

Stacks upon stacks of books accumulated, collected, hoarded in the quest of knowledge.

Formats change, culling the best, the rest released into the wild.

The quest became more focused, the never-ending search for the forgotten truths.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

To New Friends – Weekend Writing Prompt

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Title: To New Friends
Source:  Weekend Writing Prompt # 96 – Seashore
Objective: Write a poem or piece of prose in exactly 59 words.
Word count: 59 words

lighthouse on a rocky seashore on a misty day

Photo by Erwan Hesry on Unsplash

Francois walked the rocky seashore daily. Passing the lighthouse, he hoped to spy the keeper. The old man was reclusive, reluctant to make new friends. Undaunted, Francois waved whenever he saw him.

Today he stood, surveying the misty gray horizon. Francois waved and smiled with delight when the old man laid his finger to the rim of his hat.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer