A Health Update…

I think that I could most likely write a book over my recent visits, yes more than one, to the local hospital. There were moments of hysterical laughter, with some good natured nurses, aides and Dr.’s. There were moments of sheer terror of all the needles. So far, so good. One day at a time.

The list of things wrong with me kept getting bigger, so did the list of medications and their lovely side effects. Do you remember the lyrics to the song from decades ago entitled “Go Ask Alice?” Same name and performed by Jefferson Airplane. I am reminded of the line, “One pill makes you larger…”

Boy, did it! This one pill gave to me about twenty pounds in a week.

Fat feet and legs

Remember that post I did a while ago and there was that question of “Can you imagine getting sick at the airport and having the terminal Dr. wait on you?” I forgot to include “Why is it that we see Dr.’s that just practice medicine?” I think I met a few that still just practice.

Some of the patients whom I shared the rooms with were great, and others not so. Miss you Janet!

I am now 8 days into radiation, 2 days of chemo, and I think I am pretty good so far. The side effects could be worse, and I knock on wood that are not. While I have wanted to write for this blog, I have had to put it off and have just worked on the Mondays Finish the Story blog.

Arnold said in one of his movies, one of the Terminator movies, “I’ll be back.” I will be with some updates every now and then.

Be well… ^..^

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Jean-Pierre – Mondays Finish the Story

Today, the start of a work week, is the day that I devote to hosting the Mondays Finish the Story challenge. In the challenge, I ask that you write a story using between 100-150 words and that you use the opening line and the photo prompt to create your story. The opening line of the challenge is not included in the word count. Here is my story with the opening line in bold and italics.

© 2015, Marcy B. Ayanian

As her mount shifted uneasily under her, she grasped the brim of her old felt Stetson, gazed upwards and remembered Jean Pierre,” and what a jerk he had been to her. She was not going to forget the lessons she learned while with him.

It was a delicious romance at first, and then at around the three-month mark he began to show his true colors. His biggest problem was alcohol. When cleaning up his house one day, when she asked him where the broom was he replied, “Where did you park it?”

In an alcoholic haze, he would have flashbacks of his ex. Instead of the ex’s face, the visions changed the face to hers. She remembered the morning when she awoke to find him on the couch. He told her that in the middle of the night she had kicked him out of bed telling him, “This is no place for little boys.”

The night that he almost struck her with a chair was the last straw. Jean-Pierre died that night.

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I would like to thank my dear friend Marcybee for not only supplying the photo for this week’s challenge, but the opening line as well. If you would care to join in on this challenge, then click HERE!

Thank you dear reader for taking the time out of your busy day to drop on by for a quick read. Be well… ^..^

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Sacred Ground – Mondays Finish the Story

Monday is usually the day that I write a story for the Mondays Finish the Story challenge. Still in recovery, I am a bit late in getting my story in. The challenge, asks that you write a story using between 100-150 words and that you use the opening line and the photo prompt to create your story. The opening line is not part of the word count. Here is my story with the opening line of the challenge in bold and italics.

The Devils Abode – © 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

“The cemetery spread along the area known as Devils Abode.” It was a sacred burial site for the Yunki tribe. Years later, the gold miners overtook the area. Recently Smithkin and Kerns, a developer, bought the land.

S&K was putting up a multi-unit condominium. It was a stick building. Framing to the third floor just completed. All burned down. Fire investigators could not explain the cause.

The insurance company paid the developer. Construction began again. Framing went up and the building burned down for the second time. What was uncovered was part of the original Yunki burial ground. Burned bones were found and the only explanation was there was a curse.

The third and last time they tried to build, someone saw a man leaning against the building. He chewed on a toothpick, and was sharply dressed. He did not approve of the building. Flipping the toothpick from his mouth, end over end it went, igniting as it landed.

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I hope that you enjoyed my bit of flash and that you have had a wonderful day.

You too can join in on this challenge by clicking HERE!

Be well! ^..^

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The Gamberetto – Mondays Finish the Story

Today, the start of a work week, is the day that I devote to hosting the Mondays Finish the Story challenge. In the challenge, I ask that you write a story using between 100-150 words and that you use the opening line and the photo prompt to create your story. The opening line of the challenge is in bold and italics. Here is my story.

Photo taken of an old photo in 2014 Barbara W. Beacham

The family had no idea that little Luigi would grow up to be not only a well known cheese artisan, but also shortest mob boss on record. For years, the kids teased him calling “Gamberetto.”

From outward appearances, Luigi was just a regular guy who had a passion for making string cheese. He had a store on Fordham Road in New York. Cheeses hung from hooks in the window, and the smell of the cheese shop drew people in by droves. Samples were always available to anyone who wandered in.

Where the operations took place was, of course, in the back. Hidden underneath one of the workbenches, if you stepped on a particular brick on the floor of the cheese making area, a door swung open revealing a huge office. This is where Luigi’s conducted the family business. Little did anyone know that the Luigi the Gamberetto, or shrimp, was also the big cheese.

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Mondays Finish the Story

I hope that you enjoyed my little bit of flash. 😀

You too can take part in this weekly challenge.  Get creative!  I challenge you!  To get to the challenge click HERE!

Thanks for dropping by today and be well… ^..^

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Arc of the Covenant – Mondays Finish the Story

Today, the start of a work week, is the day that I devote to hosting the Mondays Finish the Story challenge. In the challenge, I ask that you write a story using between 100-150 words and that you use the opening line and the photo prompt to create your story. The opening line of the challenge is in bold and italics. Here is my story.

Nightshade – © 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

“The team employed the use of Nightshade to get the information they wanted from their captive.” He was the last of the Knights Templar. They wanted him to reveal the location of the Arc of the Covenant.

Many believed that the Arc is located inside the money pit on Oak Island. The team was unsuccessful at finding it there.

They held the prisoner’s nose closed and put the cup to his lips. He had no choice but to open his mouth if he wanted to breathe. Some of the liquid dripped into his mouth. After a half hour, they could see the drug was taking effect.

His pupils dilated, his speech a bit slurred. They began questioning the knight who responded with one word. “Frog!”

The team looked puzzled. What did a frog have to do with the arc? They poked at the knight and asked again for the location of the arc on Oak Island.

“Wrong,” said the knight, “Frog Island.”

New excavations began immediately.

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I hope that you enjoyed my story today! You too can join in on the Mondays Finish the Story challenge by clicking HERE!

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week. Be well… ^..^

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In Trouble – Mondays Finish the Story

Today, the start of a work week, is the day that I devote to hosting the Mondays Finish the Story challenge. In the challenge, I ask that you write a story using between 100-150 words. I ask that you use the opening line and the photo prompt to create your story. Today, I am using the opening line of the challenge at the end of my story. It is in bold and italics. The photo prompt follows the story.

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It was an ordinary day for him. After having a good stretch and getting out of bed, he made his way into the kitchen. He walked over to two legs. He made himself known by rubbing his body against those legs and meowing loudly saying, “Stoke my belly.”

After getting his ears rubbed, a bowl of gravy and shrimp appeared on his placemat. Finishing the meal, he sat, licking the left paw to clean his face, then switching to the right. Purrfect.

He jumped up on one of the dining room chairs, hidden by the tablecloth. The wimpy dog walked by so he had to take full advantage of his concealment. He shot out his right paw, claws extended, swiping the dog on the nose.

The dog yelped and ran. Two legs ran to the dog. The cat heard his name. He was in trouble. Moving from the chair, he thought he found the perfect hiding spot.

You Can’t See Me – © 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

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I hope that you enjoyed my story today! You too can join in on the Mondays Finish the Story challenge by clicking HERE!

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week. Be well… ^..^

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Big Foot – Mondays Finish the Story

Today, the start of a work week, is the day that I devote to hosting the Mondays Finish the Story flash fiction challenge. In the challenge, I ask that you use between 100-150 words that uses the opening line and the photo prompt to create your story. Here is today’s photo and the opening line is in bold and italics. I hope that you enjoy my story.

© 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

“The petroglyphs told the story of an unusual event.” Now most would look at all the symbols that cover the rock in this photo. What they should be looking at is the area on the upper left.

Do you see the two figures at the left? The one on top is a dog. The one below it is Stands Tall and Points. The two of them used to travel together. The art depicts a story he told the Anasazi.

He tells them that not only would there be a migration of big horned goats, but also snakes. Hunting will be good.  He says the rain is coming. He lets them know to secure the ladder to the cliff dwelling. They were all good signs.

The grandfather looks at his sleeping grandson. He is now asleep. Too bad the grandfather thought. I was just getting to the part where Big Foot comes in. Few paid attention to that symbol.

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Mondays Finish the Story

You too can take part in this challenge. To get there just click HERE!

Enjoy the day and sorry for the late post today. A bit under the weather… Dear reader, be well… ^..^

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Delphine Takes Flight – Mondays Finish the Story

Today, the start of a work week, is the day that I devote to hosting the Mondays Finish the Story flash fiction challenge. In the challenge, I ask that you use between 100-150 words that uses the opening line and the photo prompt to create your story. Today’s post features fellow writer Martin Furman who came up with this week’s opening line. Here is today’s photo and the opening line is in bold and italics. I hope that you enjoy my story.

© 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

“Delphine always wanted to pilot her father’s plane and when he forgot his keys on her tenth birthday, she knew that taking off would be easy.” She certainly had watched him often enough. Heading out of the house through the hangar, she opened the door to the cockpit. Climbing inside, she buckled in.

The key slid into the ignition. She pushed in the mixture knob in to send fuel to the engine. She followed this by pushing in the carburetor knob. She flipped the master switch up. Then she primed the engine. She then opened the throttle. Turning the keys, she heard to engine fire up.

Delphine headed onto the runway, excited as she took off. She saw the world below her get smaller. There was her house and the orchards. When flying with her dad, he always pulled on the little yellow button. She pulled it and heard a whoosh. Fluid sprayed out behind her.

Circling back, she flew over the house. There was her Dad in the driveway waving his arms wildly. “Uh-oh,” she thought.

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Mondays Finish the Story

You too can join in on this fun challenge! To get to the Mondays post, click HERE!

A huge thanks to Martin for taking on the challenge of coming up with an opening line!

I hope that you enjoyed my bit of flash, and I would like to thank you for taking the time to drop on by. Have a magnificent Monday and be well… ^..^

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The Hedge – Mondays Finish the Story

Happy Monday! Every Monday I devote my post to a flash fiction writing challenge that I host. It is called Mondays Finish the Story. This is a flash fiction challenge where I provide a photo and the opening line to a story. The writer is to use the opening line and write a story that goes with the photo. The word limit is 100-150 words, not including the opening line. Here is my contribution to this week’s challenge. The opening sentence is in bold and italicized letters.

The Hedge – © 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

“The barista shook his head. That hedge couldn’t have moved closer overnight. Could it?” He scratched his head and wondered.

He went about his morning chores getting ready for the morning rush of coffee drinkers. Time ticked by and no one came in. “Strange,” he thought to himself. Going to the door, he looked out through the glass. He put his hands in his pockets, and looked towards the street on his right.

“Funny,” he thought, “I don’t recall seeing that hedge trimmed in the images of people.” He ventured out the door and walked over to examine the hedge. The leaves appeared newly cut. He turned to go back in.

He felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning, he saw a green man that was transparent. “What?” asked the barista.

He began to feel strange. The green man moved him over to the hedge. Looking down at his hands, he saw leaves sprouting. The green man smiled and said, “Welcome to the family.”

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Mondays Finish the Story

I hope that you enjoyed my story. You can join in too just by clicking HERE!

Thanks for dropping by and have an amazing week. Be well… ^..^

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Sarah Investigates – Mondays Finish the Story

Happy Monday! Every Monday I devote my post to a flash fiction writing challenge that I host. It is called Mondays Finish the Story. This is a flash fiction challenge where I provide a photo and the opening line to a story.  The writer is to use the opening line and write a story that goes with the photo.  The word limit is 100-150 words, not including the opening line. Here is my contribution to this week’s challenge. The opening sentence is in bold and italicized letters.

Sherman City Hall – © 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

“The Mayor and the town manager waved as their next victim approached.” Their smiling faces were welcoming. Sarah waved back at them as she hopped off the train.

“Welcome to Sherman,” said Mayor Gillespie.

“Thank you!” she replied.

“And, what brings you to our small hamlet?”

“I heard that there are some good hiking trails to the wilderness beyond.” What she was here for was to investigate what happened to her brother. His last call to the family was from the train that would drop him off here.

Heading into the building, they offered her a coffee, which she gratefully accepted. It was hot and slightly bitter.

“So, where are you from?” asked town manager Wilco.

“Eugene Oregon.”

“We had another visitor from there. Now isn’t that strange?”

As Sarah looked around the room, she saw her brother’s jacket hanging on the coat rack and stood up. The room began to spin.

“Got us another,” said Gillespie to Wilco laughing maniacally.

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I hope that you enjoyed my bit of flash!  You too can join in on this exciting challenge.  To get there click HERE!

Thank you for taking the time to drop on by! Have a magnificent day and be well… ^..^

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