“Wash Me!”

PHOTO PROMPT © Russell Gayer

The hurricane wreaked havoc for miles and miles. Flooding affected millions of people, destroying homes and vehicles.

Jim’s big van survived, just barely. Once the floods receded, the van was left with filthy residue, covered with debris. The motor was fatally wounded. Insurance claims were taking months, even years, because of the numbers applying.

But that wasn’t enough. Soon, words were written in the muck: “Wash me, lazy pig!” and worse.

Jim set out buckets of soapy water and rags. He wrote “Help Me!” under the original message.

The vandalism stopped. The van got washed.

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The Fall

PHOTO PROMPT © Brenda Cox

I had stayed overnight at my daughter’s after babysitting late into the night. But I couldn’t rest.

Finally, around 5:30 or 6, I got up, dressed, and quietly left for home.

Our front door was open, but something was off kilter. I noticed the ladder lying flat in front of the garage. Panicked, I parked and ran into the house.

Terry sat in a straight chair with his left leg propped up on another. At the hospital, we learned he had crushed his heel bone.

That was the year of hurricane Sandy. A life-changing Fall.

________________

(Every word is true–no fiction this week. That uprooted tree brought this memory back in an instant. Terry was 69 then, and he’s 78 now. The pain is unrelenting. If you have to climb a ladder, don’t do it when no one else is there to steady the ladder for you. A neighbor heard the clatter and came to see if she could help. We are so thankful that she was there for him until I got home. Isn’t it interesting how closely attuned we become in a long, GOOD marriage! I didn’t know why I was restless and unable to sleep. I just knew I needed to get home!)

The Eye

PHOTO PROMPT © Alicia Jamtaas

“No, LOOK! It’s on the upper right side of the picture. Plain as day!”

“Okay, Detective. Let’s say it’s an eye. So?”

“Does no one ever THINK around here? What does an eye do? It SEES!”

“Sees what, man? You’re going all woo-woo on me here!”

The detective sighed. “US, you idiot! No way for us to sneak up on the cabin, surprise the guy in there. The EYE sees us!”

The Chief looked down, then back up. “Okay, so we get rid of the eye. Then, we go in. All right?”

“Yeah. Yeah, okay. HOW?”

Zing,Zang, and Tang

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

(Be forewarned: This is a semi-true story using my little alien buddies. It really did happen! Just not to them.)

Zing and Zang opted to eat inside. They’d learned to enjoy orange juice, just like earth people.

The waitress took their order. “I’ll bring your OJ right away so you can enjoy it while you wait.”

“Ah, real orange juice right here in Florida! I wonder if it will be freshly squeezed?” asked Zang.

“Real orange trees right outside! I’ll bet it is!” Zing replied.

They both took their first sip, then looked at each other in dismay.

“Blech! What IS this?”

“Why, it’s Tang!” smiled the waitress.

Tang. In Florida. Land of sunshine and oranges.

A Good Girl

PHOTO PROMPT © Liz Young

Her father had always intimidated her. Rarely, he hit her– but just his voice, his eyes and face, could make her feel stupid and do stupid things. She knew he enjoyed himself.

When she said she wanted to take driver’s ed at school, he said, “No. I’ll teach you myself. ”

Every session was an endless commentary on her stupidity, her worthlessness. She began to grow angry instead of fearful.

The day she accidentally hit the gas instead of the brakes ended his litany of abuse.

No one doubted her. She’d always been such a good girl.