Writing

What Lenny Would Build

Na'ama Yehuda Anecdotes of Life, Life and love, Muse and Flow, Uncategorized, Writing Tags: , , , , , , , , , 19 Comments

 

“I don’t know what to make of it,” Arlene shook her head.

“Of the sunset?” Molly’s already reedy voice rose higher.

Arlene took a deep breath. She forgot just how literal her sister-in-law was.

“No, the sunset is beautiful,” she stated. “And the arches.”

Molly turned to face Arlene. The glow from the ball of fire in the distance rendered one of her cheeks fire-orange, the other ashen-gray.

“So what did you mean?”

Arlene pointed to the oddly shaped building to their right. “This. Looks like what Lenny would build.”

“Lenny is three.” Molly noted.

“Exactly,” Arlene said. 

 

 

 

For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers

Photo by Dale Rogerson

 

Exactly

Na'ama Yehuda Anecdotes of Life, Good stuff!, Life and love, Muse and Flow, Writing Tags: , , , , , , , , 24 Comments

 

 

“There!” Tim pointed.

“The rough without the diamond,” Robert snorted, hands shoved in the pockets of his too tight jeans.

Melissa giggled. 

Tim felt his heart sink. This was exactly what he wanted. How come the others could not see?

“You’d do better in the junkyard,” Robert walked away. “He must’a hated you to leave you that”

Melissa pranced behind him.

“I’m sorry,” Tim whispered to the old car. “Mr. Evans left you here, yes, but he kept your engine in his shed. Wrapped like a present. Safe.”

“I will put you back together,” he promised. “Exactly as he’d asked.”

 

 

 

For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers

Photo credit: © Ted Strutz 

A Rare Show

Na'ama Yehuda Anecdotes of Life, Life and love, Muse and Flow, Reflections, Things Kids Say, Writing Tags: , , , , , , , , 26 Comments

 

“So?”

Ivor fished a tissue out of a pocket, buying time. Though not really a fan, Elena’s excitement had rubbed onto him, and he found himself trying to hide his disappointment. He didn’t think he could face hers.

“Isn’t it amazing?” Elena pulled on his arm, pitch high in delight.

“It sure is something,” he managed, relieved. 

“Just like the Iron Throne, but made of crystals,” she rocked on her heels, and wriggled her fingers into his. A rare show of affection reserved for joy edging near to overwhelm.

He smiled and squeezed her hand. “I’m so glad we’ve come.”

 

 

 

 

 

For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers

Photo credit: © Marie Gail Stratford 

 

Aloft

Na'ama Yehuda Anecdotes of Life, Life and love, Muse and Flow, Writing Tags: , , , , , , , 43 Comments

 

“When, Mammie?” Sally fidgeted on Bella’s lap. Bony butt on bony thighs on a hard bench. It hurt, but Bella ignored the discomfort.

“Any second now,” she responded. The crowd’s hum amplified the thumping in her chest. Heart to ribs. Heart in throat.

A rumbling started. Imperceptible at first, then a rattling that shook the ground, and a moment later, sound.

Two beams shot up. Lit the night sky.

“Goodbye, Eric,” Bella mouthed, tears overflowing. She held Sally so tightly that the child protested. “Find hope, my love. Find life. Then come back for the rest of us.”

 

For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers

Photo prompt © Roger Bultot

 

The Third Drop-Off

Na'ama Yehuda Anecdotes of Life, Life and love, Muse and Flow, Things Kids Say, Trauma and Development, Writing Tags: , , , , , , , , 57 Comments

 

“Is that it?”

The girl’s face remained pressed to the window.

“Yes,” the woman nodded. This was the third drop-off today and it better be less dramatic than the previous two. It was late, and she still had reports to write. 

She thumbed the folder to remind her of the names, exited the car and walked around to open the child’s door. It could not open from within. For safety. Some kids escape.

“Come,” she said. 

The child blinked, swallowed hard. “It looks nice,” she managed.

The woman’s eyes softened. “Yes. It does. I hope this foster placement works out.”

 

 

 

For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers

Photo prompt © David Stewart

 

 

Rock-a-bye Rock

Na'ama Yehuda Funnies, Life and love, Muse and Flow, Writing Tags: , , , , , , , , 43 Comments

 

“You must rock them or they’ll never hatch.”

Emilio sighed. His arms ached. This wasn’t what he had in mind when he’d traded a cushy private school spot for an ATM position.

Early mornings, late-night assignments, mediocre food, bedbugs. A ton of work, literally. Zero glamor.

He’d quit but this would give his parents the last laugh.

“Apprentice-To-Magi?” they’d chortled when he told them he’d signed on. “Muddy misery and miserly masters. You wouldn’t last a week!”

He grit his teeth, planted his feet, and rocked, singing under his breath, as he’d been instructed: “Rock-a-bye-rocks, in a crib box …”

 

 

 

For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers

Photo by the lovely Dale Rogerson

 

For Humanity

Na'ama Yehuda Life and love, Muse and Flow, Reflections, Trauma and Development, Writing Tags: , , , , , , , , 22 Comments

 

A cage is a cage is a cage.

It doesn’t matter that they put colors and cute things and soft lights and children’s music. Nothing could mask the fact that they could not get out, that there was always someone watching, that there was no place to hide.

An experiment, they said. For humanity.

As if that made confiscating liberty a palatable thing. The withholding of sunlight. The absence of the outdoors.

They hadn’t given permission to rob their present as justification for the planning of others’ future.

But they were orphans. Disposable cogs in the wheels of interstellar travel hopes.

 

 

 

 

 

For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers

Photo prompt © Lisa Fox

 

The Real Deal

Na'ama Yehuda Funnies, Life and love, Muse and Flow, Writing Tags: , , , , , , , , 31 Comments

 

It wasn’t supposed to end this way, but no one really knows how things end once started. Not really. Not entirely, at least.

And everyone knows nature is unpredictable.

This mishap simply proves it.

And anyway, it cannot be her fault when it was they who did not bother to say what they mean, nor mean what they were saying.

She literally heard them say they wanted a Lava Cake as celebration. “The whole nine yards. The real deal, hot and melting.”

How was she to understand that they did not intend for her to actually deliver it?

 

For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers

Photo prompt © Ken Arnopole

 

The Way Down

Na'ama Yehuda Anecdotes of Life, Life and love, Muse and Flow, Reflections, Trauma and Development, Writing Tags: , , , , , , , , , 27 Comments

 

“The way down is longer way than it seems.”

Mama’s words echoed in her head, soft warnings or an encouragement, she never really knew. Never did ask.

Not even after.

Because she understood.

Every time the fog rolled around.

The wonder. The urge. The pull of the opaque. The damp air on her face, her heart, her bangs.

It was, perhaps, something in their blood that called their soul to enter mist.

And yet.

Torso pressed against the bridge, her city’s pulse drowning all sound,

She did not dare repeat what Mama had done.

Abandon.

Her daughter. Her young son.

 

 

 

For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers

Photo prompt © Roger Bultot

 

Rocket Science

Na'ama Yehuda Funnies, Life and love, Muse and Flow, Writing Tags: , , , , , , , , 52 Comments

“You know how to work it?” Timothy hurriedly stuffed his bag.

“Sure,” Liz shrugged. “Been a while, but not like it is rocket science.”

Timothy paused. An odd joke…but he didn’t have the time to explain anyway. “Just make sure to bring water,” he pressed.

Liz shooed her brother out. He’s been hovering ever since she’s been discharged. As if she’d never lived in a City. Never used a phone. So what if only Before?

A block later, she stood staring. Mystified.

“Water them before you dial,” a passerby offered. “Plants won’t connect your call otherwise. Rocket science, you know.”

 

 

For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers

Photo prompt © Sandra Crook