throughout April
expect quiet* – I’m off to Camp
writing Scarlett
***
* What I mean is expect haiku and other short stuff. Maybe even the occasional novel excerpt.
TLT: Public Service Announcement
Month: March 2016
Three Line Tales, Week Nine
Welcome to Week Nine of Three Line Tales.
You’ll find full guidelines on the TLT page – here’s the tl;dr:
- Write three lines inspired by the photo prompt (& give them a title if possible).
- Link back to this post.
- Tag your post with 3LineTales (so everyone can find you in the Reader).
- Read and comment on other TLT participants’ lines.
- Have fun.
Happy three-lining!
From Day One
I soak up the tears so your pillow won’t get wet. Every night you say you won’t fall asleep; you always do. Because I’m here to restore some of the comfort the muffled voices drifting up from downstairs have taken from you.
I don’t understand the words. I don’t need to. I know they make you scared and my job is to make you feel safe and secure. The louder they shout, the more you need me.
You rescued me when they wanted to throw me out. I may look old and threadbare, but you know what I’m capable of.
Glaring Mistake
He got the eyes wrong.
They are gentle creatures, cows – they were rightly chosen as vessels to convey the message of peace. He won the bid to paint them with his flower and heart-shaped leaf design.
It’s a good design: bold colours, strong symbols. It works, it emphasises the message. If it weren’t for the eyes, it’d be a triumph.
Instead of a gentle, peaceful expression, the cows’ eyes burn with hostility. He got so engrossed in the colourful depiction of love, he made a glaring mistake with their eyes – undoing the message.
And he only notices as they’re unveiled.
USP
‘I’m sorry, I don’t know how to do this.’
‘Course you don’t. You’re not supposed to, that’s your whole USP – from what I’ve heard.’
‘USP?’
‘Unique selling point. No ties to family and friends, no emotions – the perfect soldier who’ll do anything for a mission to succeed because she has nothing to live for.’
‘I don’t want to die.’
‘Well, they messed that up, then. And you’ve something – someone to live for now.’
‘I still don’t know if I can do it, Olli.’
‘I believe in you.’
‘I have no idea how relationships work.’
‘Nobody does. We’ll figure it out.’
Check out Nortina’s Moral Mondays challenge and write your own 100-word fable – it’s fun.
A Cat Owner’s Worry
Is he watching
over me or secretly
plotting to kill me?
far beyond
from where we’re at
the edge of reason seems
like paradise
Three Line Tales, Week Eight: Round-Up
I’ve been a bad host this week – my apologies. The round-up is a bit ramshackle, as well (tbh, I’ve no idea where the last few days went…) and I’m still playing catch-up reading all your lines.
- https://erhynireh.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/3linetales-6/
- https://fleetingmuse.wordpress.com/2016/03/23/cacophony-of-colors/
- https://kmmyrman.wordpress.com/2016/03/23/renaissance_faire_haiku/
- http://melindakucsera.com/2016/03/23/unity/
- https://howlingwiththewolf.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/3-line-tales-week-4-amateur/
- http://bikurgurl.com/2016/03/24/three-line-tales-flow/
- https://bastetandsekhmet.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/prayer-flags-haiku-march-24-2016/
- http://dutchgoesthephoto.net/2016/03/24/three-line-tales-week-8/
- http://artisticsmash.com/2016/03/24/tlt-new-hope/
- https://angietrafford.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/tlt-realisation/
- https://ladyleemanila.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/flags-of-peace/
- https://pricelessjoy.co/2016/03/24/tlt-waiting-week-8/
- https://livehomeandaway.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/color-of-the-day/
- https://lynnmlovewords.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/one-short-sleep-past-we-wake-eternally/
- http://lovelycurses.com/2016/03/24/3linetales-potty-training-ii/
- https://swritings.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/tlt-victory/
- https://srisudhak.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/limitless/
- https://sonyca.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/monoculture/
- https://yzhengblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/three-lines-tale-flags/
- http://patriciasplace.me/2016/03/24/what-willie-thought/
- https://sonyca.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/three-line-tales-week-eight/#comment-6873
- https://janedougherty.wordpress.com/2016/03/25/three-line-tales-new-years-honours/
- https://sonyca.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/three-line-tales-week-eight/#comment-6877
- http://elusivetrope.com/2016/03/25/windy-days/
- https://kaymorriswrites.wordpress.com/2016/03/26/harbor-of-hope/
- https://bookyglover.wordpress.com/2016/03/27/in-these-colors/
- https://alixanonyme.wordpress.com/2016/03/27/the-fallen/
- https://simpledimplesite.wordpress.com/2016/03/27/three-line-tales-week-eight/
- https://whosafraidofbigbadwolf.wordpress.com/2016/03/27/3linetales-week-8/
- https://mandibelle16.wordpress.com/2016/03/25/3line-tales-the-luxury-of-colour/
- https://unusualstrangeness.wordpress.com/2016/03/28/three-line-tales-unity/
See you next week when everything will be back to normal, I hope.
Off the Record
Befriending Amy has become easier since they’ve started running by the canal.
‘Things keep getting crazier. Funding cuts, homegrown terrorists, …’
Amy pauses. Gwen has an idea what’s next. For someone who’s fearless, she feels unexpectedly tense.
‘And now we have a vigilante. Heard about her?’
Is it a trick question?
‘How do you know she’s a woman?’
‘Something a low-lives she stopped said.’
‘Is she a big problem?’
‘She’s helping, actually. Don’t tell anyone I said that. The official line is to condemn her actions.’
Gwen smiles. It’s too early yet, but when the time comes, Amy’ll pick her side.
***
Click here for all previous instalments of the Saturday Serial.
Not Quite As Planned
She recognises neither the place nor the time. The machine’s display, after emitting a blinding light, has gone black; she hopes this is where she meant to go.
There’s a knock. She unlatches the window and finds herself surrounded by crude petroleum-fuelled vehicles. Rightish time, it seems. But these people speak a language that doesn’t sound like any of the hundreds she’s learnt. She makes what she believes to be the universally understood sign for ‘I don’t understand’; they shrug.
Before she can stop them from destroying the planet, she’ll have to figure out a way to communicate with them.
Only 100 Words 