This is a 6 minute rough draft for the photo prompt.
Sitting in the window seat, I was watching the squirrels at play. We had a lot of trees and that drew a lot of squirrels. I enjoyed watching them scamper through the trees chasing each other and searching the yard for food to store up.
My father was outside doing yard work, which he thoroughly enjoyed and the squirrels were used to him and a few would even approach him warily.
As I continued watching the sky opened up and it started raining. My dad put his yard tools away and the squirrels in the yard scamped to the covering provided by the trees. I was surprised to see a red squirrel this time. They are not usually found in the area, but this one didn’t like the rain and I saw him fly through the air and land on a branch of a tree near my window. I continued watching, fascinated by the actions of these little critters.
The rain came down harder and they all were hiding in the tree’s branches trying to stay dry. I got up from my seat and headed to my bedroom to get a book to read. There would be no more squirrel watching while it was storming out there.
**********207 words**********
Tessa–
Advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses
A magical new weekly writing opportunity from me – Jenne Gray – and him – C. E. Ayr. Visit this blog every Friday, read an amazing story from each of us, and then post your own even better effort in the comments below. Or on your own blog and stick the link down in the comments. The rules are: Maximum of 250 words. Inspired by photo prompt above. That’s it.
**********
Lost!
By Tessa Dean May 2024
“Are you absolutely certain this is the right address, Annie?” Martin’s voice quivered with uncertainty as he turned to face her in the car’s front seat. The dilapidated building they were parked in front of looked eerily deserted.
“Yes, I remember it well. Mama and I always came here to have the car serviced. She mentioned just the other day that she had to come in for servicing the used car she had just bought.”
“This place is not open at all from what I can see. Maybe you forgot the address, and the GPS brought us here instead.”
“No, the address is correct, and I remember the building from all these years of coming here with her.”
“Did your mother actually bring the car in for servicing?”
“Well, I don’t know. I haven’t talked to her for a couple of weeks.”
“I will walk up and try the doors, but this place looks deserted, I’m telling you.”
“Fine, whatever.”
Martin got out of the car and approached the doors. He tried the handle, but it was locked. He knocked, waited a few minutes, and then knocked again. There was no answer.
“Call your mother, Annie, and find out if she brought the new car here.”
“The number is disconnected. That’s strange.”
“We’re going home now. I’ll find a place to take the car. You find your mother.”
**********228 words***********
Tessa–
Advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses
The format of the piece is not restricted, and there is no last date either unless you wish to be featured in the Weekly Wrap.
Any post that is found to be offensive, vulgar, or hurts ordinary sensibilities will not be included. This needs to be a safe space.
Create a post on your blog and copy-paste the link in the Comments. If you use a pingback, check to see if it has worked.
**********
Sitting at my desk I pulled the fancy nib holder toward myself and opened it to select the nib I wanted to use with my current fountain pen. My parents gave the fancy box to me for my college graduation since they knew I liked to do my writing by hand and had started to collect fountain pens and nibs. The nibs were easy to lose so a holder was a necessary item and they had taken the time to find one that showed off my love of writing.
I also had a real quill made with a feather. Although I loved using it, it required me to refill the nib every few words to keep the ink flowing. My fountain pens lasted much longer and so I used them more often. I had numerous nibs for both pens and the box came in handy as a holder so I wouldn’t lose any.
**********
Tessa–
Advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses
Use the above image as inspiration for a poem or short story.
Alternatively, if you are an artist or photographer, use this as an opportunity to showcase your own work.
You have 1 week to complete this challenge.
When you’re done, TAG the post ‘Photo Challenge’ and ‘Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie.’ Create a pingback and add your link to the comments for others to read.
I was lost. I followed my sister’s instructions, but I found myself on what appeared to be a back road. My attempts to call her just produced more anxiety, as the phone showed no service where I was. I looked at the instructions I had written down but couldn’t spot where I went wrong.
Undeterred, I made a decision. I would retrace my steps, determined to find my way. I turned the car around and headed back the way I had just come. The area was deserted, and I couldn’t even see a street sign telling me how far it was to Martinsburg. But I was not about to give up because I didn’t want to still be out here once darkness fell.
Thankfully, I had the foresight to bring a small cooler with me, stocked with bottles of water and a salad. This resourcefulness was a small comfort in the midst of the deserted land, where I hadn’t even seen another car in the last hour or so. It made me wonder just how far off the beaten track I had ventured.
I pulled over to the side of the road and pulled out a bottle of water. I would save the salad for later since I didn’t know when I could get more food at a store or restaurant.
Sipping from the bottle, I headed back the way I had come, looking for a street sign or even signs of civilization. I don’t know why I didn’t notice that the area showed no signs of a town before now.
I followed my notes in reverse and hoped I hadn’t gotten off on a wrong turn which would make it even harder to find someone to help me.
I had been driving for about an hour when I came to what appeared to be a fork in the road and lo and behold there was a street sign on the other side of the road. I pulled over to the sign and looked for Martinsburg.
I shook my head in exasperation as the sign simply pointed left to City 2.3. I had no idea if they meant feet or miles, and there was no name for the city. The sign actually just said City.
I pulled out my phone to see if I had service yet. Thankfully, it showed 4 bars, so I dialed my sister’s phone number. She answered and asked me where I was.
I told her I had no idea as I had been driving for hours with no sign of civilization, and the sign I just found didn’t tell me how far it was to Martinsburg.
“Martinsburg?” she asked. “I don’t live in Martinsburg, I live in River Falls. What made you think I lived in Martinsburg?”
“I am sure that is where you said you lived.”
“I told you not to head toward Martinsburg. You must have heard me wrong. That town is a ghost town nowadays.”
“So now you tell me. Where should I go from here?”
“I know the sign you mean. It was put up by pranksters, most likely. Take the right fork and go straight for about 30 miles, and you will come to River Falls Main Street. Put my address in your GPS, and you should be here in less than an hour. If you had been using the GPS all along you shouldn’t have gotten so far off track.”
“I hope you are right because this has been a terrible trip so far. I don’t know how I got so far off track and I didn’t think I needed the GPS since you gave me directions although I must have written something down wrong..”
“Relax, you are almost here. I can’t wait to see you.”
I decided I might as well eat my salad now before going any further. I was hungry and since I was sure I was now on the right track I should be able to get more food once I arrived at my sister’s house.
Tessa–
Advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses
John, with heart pounding and sweat trickling down his forehead, attempted to climb the tree. However, the lower branches, too flimsy to hold his weight, betrayed him each time he put his foot on and pulled himself up. He would hit the ground, thankful for its softness, except for the roots that were showing through the ground.
The stronger branches were out of his reach. He would need a ladder to hold his weight and reach the more solid branches above his head. He looked around, but his dad’s shed was locked, and he didn’t have a key to it.
**********100 words**********
Tessa–
Advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses
This is a 6 minute rough draft for the photo prompt.
The duckling struggled in the water as this was the first time it had been in the water since its birth just a few days ago. Its mother and father were training it to be at home on the water. They watched as their duckling struggled to swim.
The duckling spotted a log not far away, and on the log was a whole row of turtles sitting shell to shell. The duckling paddled over to the log, stepped gingerly on the first turtle, and walked down the row from one to the other until it reached the end and flopped back into the water. The parents simply watched their baby and then went over to lead it back to the shore.
**********121 words**********
Tessa–
Advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses
Image credit; Marianna Smiley @ Unsplash “Thrive” by Danial Pooper a sculpture in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a giant female figure who is opening her chest to show the greenery inside.There are cracks on the visage and torso of this sculpture.
**********
The Masterpiece
By Tessa Dean May 2024
Larry spent weeks working on a clay sculpture for his front yard. He didn’t have the materials for a real sculpture like the one he saw at the museum, but he figured out a way to create a figure using squares of dirt and grass, carving out the figure, and covering it with clay. He thought it turned out well.
He added the finishing details to the figure, carving out the face, hair, and hands. It took forever to dry so he could place it in the yard. He had no idea if this would even hold up to the weather.
He put it in the yard and put it proudly on display. He noticed a few cracks, which he smoothed out before he went to bed.
The next morning, he rushed to the window to check out the sculpture and see how it had survived the night. He was disappointed to find it had multiple larger cracks, and the grass and dirt inside were now out for display. The clay hadn’t been strong enough to keep his masterpiece safe from what was most likely the wandering night creatures. Now, everyone knew it wasn’t a real sculpture, and he was mortified.
Tessa–
Advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses
Tessa Dean - Author 