Mondays Finish the Story – They say Life is a Game of Chess!

December 19, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 13 Comments

The Photo and Sentence Prompt: “They say that life is a game of chess…”

They say that life is a game of chess. Okay, I’m good with that, after spending (in my previous post – the story for Sunday Photo Fiction) a cold, drafty hungry weekend at a castle, I’m really into the whole game of chess thing. Just one question – who made the queen so powerful?

Could we have a little more sharing of powers going on here. I mean the king can barely take a step in any direction without getting stomped on, and he’s the king. You know, head honcho, main dude, Number Ono, and the big prize on the board, still he’s pretty much powerless. But perhaps there’s a truth in this.

Maybe it’s true for everyone. Perhaps the meaning of life is that the king’s not much different than the lowly pawn. Well, except the king has people wait on him and wears groovy clothes and things, but other than that, oh and he probably eats really well and has people (probably the pawn) help him find his way around drafty castles”… no wait this isn’t working out the way I thought …

I guess life is like a game of chess because they both confuse the heck out of a person.

For more information about Mondays Finish The Story (flash fiction) Writers Challenge, where the writer uses both a photo and an opening sentence for the prompt: click HERE. Barb will guide you through the process, be sure and read some of the other well written entries while you’re there.

Thanks for stopping by and reading,

~ Penny

Mondays Finish the Story – This is as Deep as it Gets!

December 11, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 12 Comments

The Photo and Sentence Prompt: “Donning her fins and snorkel, she headed out into the deep water.”

My Entry:

Donning her fins and snorkel, she headed out into the deep water. She knew deep water well. At the moment in her personal life she was over her head in deep waters. Deep troubles, deep problems, deep,deep deep!

Here, in the ocean she could let it all go, for at least a short period of time. Forget about her cheating husband, her loss of her job this week, all the ever increasing bills, and the amazing fact that she really didn’t care all that much about any of it.

The deepness felt because of great weariness, an exhaustion from trying to do so much for so many.

However with each stroke, as she swam through the waters, she felt an increasing sense of freedom for the first time in a very long time. Yes she thought, it’s my turn now. Her strokes became fuller and stronger as she swam. I believe the only deep thing I’m going to let myself get into going forward is this big, beautiful ocean. With a quick kick off and a few more strokes she headed for shore.

Yes, she thought, finally time for me to live my life – for me.

*****

Thanks for stopping by, have an excellent weekend, and if you live here on the West Coast of America, be careful, a lot of rain and wind going on … take care of you!

With affection,

~ Penny

Mondays Finish The Story – The Dream of Longevity!

December 1, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 26 Comments

Prompt sentence that accompanies the photograph: “In the compound on the hill, lives a man with a dream.”

My entry:

In the compound on the hill, lives a man with a dream. An ordinary man, if exceedingly wealthy. His dream is to live forever, and at the age of 95 and in good health, many believe he’s found some clue to immortality.

But he hasn’t. What he has done is take very good care of himself, shoring up the weak parts of body and mind with the aid of very expensive doctors and other professionals. His quandary is his acute awareness of his mortality and the statistical averages regarding the longevity for humans. He knows he’s running out of time for figuring it out and then one day sitting on his private veranda, sick and tired of being alone while gazing at the expansive and expensive land around him, he knew.

It wasn’t so much about living long as it was about living a full life. He donated most of his many millions to worthy charities and causes, and lived a modest but happy rest of his life (which turned out to be a fair amount of time) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (oh no wait that’s this writer’s dream, well anyway I hope it comes true, re: millionaires giving their money and hearts to the needy! Definitely a wishful dream on my part!)

Thanks for stopping by and reading, I hope you enjoyed.

Happy beginning of the week, I hope your week is a great one for you,

~ Penny

Mondays Finish the Story – Dancing for the life of it!

November 24, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 14 Comments

Dancing For the Life of It

“Dance as if no one is watching!” Now where have I heard that before? Oh yes, it’s part of a Mark Twain quote. But I digress. I am only a dancing statue but if I were flesh and blood …

… you’d find me running barefoot through open fields and meadows. I’d be scaling the tallest majestic mountains, breathing in the beauty of never-ending surrounding vistas.

If I were alive I’d swim to the bottom of the ocean, meet mysterious creatures residing in the murky, dark and sometimes luminous “other worlds” of the ocean’s depths.

Being on earth as a human, I’d explore, without hesitation, the wonder and uniqueness of every single living entity … and glory in its creation. I’d meet as many forms of life in the wild and learn of their ways in nature. I’d embrace the natural behavior and order of things. And after I had done all those things … I’d dance … because I have the gift of life!

Thanks for stopping by and reading, I hope your enjoyed.

Happy beginning of the week, I hope your week is a great one for you,

~ Penny

Monday’s Finish the Story: The Porta Potty Portal

November 17, 2014November 17, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 19 Comments

The Outhouse aka an old fashioned Porta Potty

“When I rented the room, I did not think it would be this one! But its worked out pretty good after all.”

“Why is that?”

“Because this is the Portal.”

“What do you mean this is the portal?”

“What do you mean … what do I mean? This is the Portal. You know the gateway to another dimension?”

“You’re kidding? I’m not going in there!”

“Why not? It’s just a place where people do … well .. their thing. No big deal.”

“Yes, it is a big deal. And I’m not going in there.”

“Well then I guess you won’t be following me into an alternative universe then, will you?”

“Ah, come on. If anyone see’s both of us going in there at the same time, what are they going to think?”

“We’re in the middle of nowhere, what anybody are you talking about?”

“Okay, so we step inside and then what happens?”

“Well there’s a flusher installed in this one … so we flush.”

“We flush?”

“Yes, that’s what I just said, we flush.”

“Are you telling me we’ll be flushing ourselves into another universe? Seriously?”

“Look, I know it sounds a bit unusual …”

“… a bit unusual … a bit UNUSUAL?”

“Yes, but I think you’ll find it all works out in the end!”

Thanks for reading, I hope I got a few laughs out of you with this one! Have an excellent rest of your week, stay warm and safe.

Mondays Finish The Story – Life’s Perspective

November 10, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 20 Comments

Would anyone know if there truly was an alien invasion? She thought. She pondered this question for a second longer and then laughed to herself. In a heartbeat we would! They are so noisy.

However, this was just one of the many thoughts passing through her mind while cleaning her mandibles. She paused to consider her forearms. They are beautiful, aren’t they? She reflected, her thoughts continuing on.

She’d debated whether or not to stay where she was. The alien beings had a habit of showing up and invading her space at all the wrong times, and she really didn’t wan’t anything to interfere with her mating. He’d be here soon. She’d been looking forward to this moment. It was sad that it seemed to last so very briefly, but then again this was just the way of things.

There was a crashing sound from nearby shrubs.

Aliens, she thought, disgustedly. Well, grass sticks, too late to move. The aliens made their way noisily through the underbrush. Even louder screechy sounds emanated from the heads of their bodies. She sighed in resignation, holding still, preparing for the onslaught of another interaction with alien humankind.

“Hey George, look. Isn’t that a preying mantis? Get your camera out, we should be able to get a good shot of this one.”

***

For more information about Mondays Finish The Story (flash fiction) Writers Challenge, using both a photo and an opening sentence as your prompt: click HERE. Barb will be happy to assist, should you wish to write and enter a story of your own, or just read some of the other entries.

Thank you for stopping by and reading, have an excellent rest of your day and better tomorrow!

~ Penny

Mondays Finish the Story – Grandpa’s Collection of Company

October 27, 2014October 27, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 13 Comments

Grandpa’s Collection of Company

Little did we know that Grandpa was a collector. He’d never shown any inclination to collect anything of any kind. The few old vehicles out in the barn were there only because when one would stop running, it was easier to leave it parked and go get another one that did. When my sister suggested we visit Grandpa one weekend, I must admit neither one of us were prepared for what we would find.

Even though it had been a fairly long time since our last visit, we decided to surprise him one weekend by dropping in unexpectedly. When we arrived he was surprised but seemed happy to see us. We were invited in, and then couldn’t believe what we found inside.

There were books everywhere. Piles upon piles of them. Stacked in every conceivable place. I’m sure there had to be thousands of them.

“Grandpa” when did you start collecting books,” my sister asked. “And why?”

“A few years back,” he replied. “I get very few visitors, family being busy and all, so I decided that books would keep me company. They don’t leave or forget about me, so I’m never disappointed or alone.”

My sister and I had nothing to say.

For more information about Mondays Finish The Story Writers Challenge, click HERE. Barb will be happy to assist, should you wish to write and enter a story of your own, or just read some of the other entries.

Hoping your Monday was a positive one for you and that your Tuesday will be even better.

~ Penny

Mondays Finish the Story Challenge – X Marks The Spot!

October 20, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 14 Comments

Time for some more lighthearted fun – Monday’s Finish the Story. Your writing challenge (if you choose to accept) is to write a story, based on the photograph shown and an opening sentence provided by your hostess Barb Beacham. (Try for between 100 – 150 words not counting the opening sentence) This week the sentence is:

Do you remember the old saying X marks the spot?

… For more information and to enter … come on, join in … it’ll be fun, click HERE!

Do you remember the old saying X marks the spot? Well, while X doesn’t always have to mark the spot there was this huge X in the sky this morning when I got up. Couldn’t miss it. There it was right in the middle of a clear blue sky and I had to wonder if it meant something mystical.

I thought about it as I showered and got ready for the day. I mused about it over my morning coffee and breakfast. I even turned on the radio in the car on the way to work, although I didn’t really think I’d hear anything about it.

But it did hang in the air for quite a spell so with the picture I had taken earlier I tweeted a few people I knew and asked if they had seen the X in the sky also. Some had and were curious like myself and some hadn’t and couldn’t care less and then I got a tweet from our of my neighbors. It went something like this.

George Murphy @farmer.com @pennycoho HA HA! Henry hit the sauce last night and never stopped. He’s up there fertilizing his fields. HA, HA. The X was his first attempt, Can’t wait for the second one!

Well, not so mystic after all, just a reminder of how human we all can be. I hope Henry gets his next fertilizing run squared away and makes it back home safely. I do admit to being disappointed, though!

Hope this was a fun read for everyone and remember to take care of you,

~ Penny

Flash Fiction – It doesn’t always pay to be first!

October 10, 2014October 10, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 17 Comments

Going Ashore

The team headed toward the island, not sure what they’d find when they arrived, but it didn’t matter. After being at sea for months the sight of land, any land, was incredible.

John cheated in the drawing that would determine who would be among the first to go ashore, feeling no remorse whatsoever. So anxious was he to be on dry land he would have done far worse to win a spot in the boat.

Nearing the land, no surprise, John was first to jump out, wading the rest of the way to the sandy shore.

He disappeared among the tall palm trees before any of the others.

From the interior, his piercing scream was horrifying in intensity. The crew, looked at each other in terror, pushed the boat off, and rowed quickly back to their ship.

Proving the point – It doesn’t always pay to be first, especially if you cheat!

Congrat’s Barb, on your new flash fiction weekly challenge -” Monday’s Finish The Story. The rules are easy to follow: Just write a short, very short, story (100-150 words) using the photo as a prompt, begin your story with the line that Barb shares with us. This week the line is: “The team headed toward the island not sure what they would find when they arrived.”

This one looks to be great fun so be sure and give it a try (if you enjoy writing). For more details or to view other entries just click here!

Hope everyone has an excellent weekend and no scary trips into the interior of things,

~ Penny