Something a little different today. I signed up to take part in Tony Noland’s Great April Fool’s Day #FridayFlash Blogswap. Tony paired me up with Danielle La Paglia, who has in gracious silence endured my haphazard attempt at keeping to a deadline.
(Oy. Just be thankful you’re not my publisher.)
Danielle and I both wrote a story around the same prompt. I’m posting hers here, and she’s posting my story over on her blog. Tony gave us the following prompt to inspire our stories: “three free tickets to a movie.”
-TimK
Substitute
Sandy fingered the tickets in her coat pocket, sliding their slick backs together as she stared at the house. It had seemed like such a good idea when she’d stopped by the theater two days ago, but the thin slips of paper felt inadequate and meaningless now. What good were three free tickets when they’d lost so much? She thought of putting the car in drive and heading home, but John stepped onto the porch and waived. There was no turning back.
A gust of wind whipped her hair across her face as she stepped from the car. The icy blast beat against her exposed cheeks and sent a flurry of snowflakes into the car before she could slam the door shut. Even the wind knew it was a bad idea.
She ran to the shelter of the porch, hoping to sneak a quick hug from John, a small shot of courage and comfort to push her through. But Maddy shoved the screen door open and ushered her siblings onto the porch. Sorrow hung on them like a heavy cloak, paling their skin, darkening the shadows in their eyes. Even seven-year-old Emily had lost her sparkle. The bright pink smile she used to wear was a soft peach line tugged down at the corners.
Sandy knew she was a poor substitute for the mother they’d lost. She wasn’t trying to replace her. She only hoped to give them a break from the reality that had been forced upon them, even if it was only for a few hours. But seeing their somber expressions, she felt the sting of her mistake. Only time would make it better, not her, not this. She wanted to run, make a hasty retreat and leave them to what was left of their broken family, but John spoke.
“You girls behave and try to have a good time.” He hugged each one in turn then Maddy hustled them down the steps. “Thank you,” he said and squeezed Sandy’s hand. They’d been dating nearly a year and, despite the three-year-old divorce settlement, it was still hard on the girls. Sandy gave a weak smile then jogged to the car.
They rode in near silence to the theater. Each of Sandy’s attempts at conversation were shut down with a one-word answer or a half-hearted nod. Resigned to their silence, she turned on the radio and let the music try to warm the stale atmosphere instead.
As they stepped into the lobby, Emily and Sarah’s faces brightened. At seven and nine, they were amazed at the beauty of the grand theater, pointing to heavy velvet curtains held back with gold ropes and the scrolling wood ornaments decorating the walls. Then they lifted their faces in wonder at the elaborately painted ceiling. The knot in Sandy’s stomach loosened until her eyes met Maddy’s. The fourteen-year-old’s face was set in a cold stare. It took all of Sandy’s strength to stand her ground and force a smile.
An usher finally led them to their seats where they once again sat in silence with only the occasional whisper from the little ones pointing out some new discovery. The house lights eventually dimmed and a hush fell over the audience. The first bars of music filled the room. The curtain rose, and the ballerinas took the stage.
Emily and Sarah were spellbound. Their eyes glued to the dancers—children twirled across the stage, tin soldiers came to life, and a sugar plum fairy enchanted them all. The glow in their eyes raised a lump in Sandy’s throat. She’d done the right thing. And as the saying went, two out of three wasn’t bad.
Emily and Sarah’s giggles and high-pitched chatter filled the car on the ride home, a warm contrast to the start of their journey. When they pulled into the driveway, the wind had died, leaving a peaceful blanket of snow across the yard and roof top. The younger girls clutched their shiny red nutcrackers and hugged Sandy goodbye. Again Maddy ushered them through the door as John and Sandy stood on the porch.
“Thank you for this. Their smiles…” His voice cracked; tears glistened in his eyes.
“You’re welcome.” He kissed her cheek then followed the girls inside. She was almost to the car when the screen door slammed behind her. She spun to find Maddy jogging down the steps.
“Sandy?” Her face was softer, her eyes wider, more innocent somehow.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.” Maddy gave a soft smile then ran back into the house.
Sandy stood beside her car letting the words of a child warm her. Today wasn’t a substitute, but it had been a welcome reprieve, and that was more than enough for her.

сайты игровых автоматов рейтинг
https://pennivermectin.xyz/# PennIvermectin
бездепозитные бонусы казахстан за регистрацию в казино с выводом
DailyValueShop – Convenient interface, items easy to explore.
DailyShopCorner – Clean and tidy design, easy to move through pages.
Для компаний, которые стремятся улучшить качество коммуникаций и ускорить обработку запросов, решение ватсап crm становится эффективным инструментом. Оно объединяет переписки в одном интерфейсе, автоматизирует часть задач и позволяет контролировать работу сотрудников в режиме реального времени. Такой подход помогает избегать потери обращений, повышать скорость ответа и строить более структурированную систему обслуживания клиентов, что особенно важно в условиях роста нагрузки.
ShopDailyDeals – Great selection of everyday items, very easy to navigate.
a href=”https://evertrueharbor.shop/” />EverTrue Picks – Nicely organized sections made the experience smooth and stress-free.
a href=”https://evertrueharbor.shop/” />EverTrue Harbor Finds – Nicely grouped categories helped make the visit pleasant and organized.
a href=”https://evertrueharbor.shop/” />EverTrue Online – The categories were simple to follow, and the pages felt well-structured overall.
DiscoverGoods – Lots of interesting finds, browsing was very smooth.
SmartShopper – Wide range and smooth experience throughout.
QuickDiscover – Items are varied and the overall experience is smooth.
Bright Pine Fields Store – Browsing was smooth thanks to the clean sections and simple flow.
Trendy Picks Store – Had a good experience overall; the site ran efficiently with no hiccups.
FreshFindsShop – Loved the range, everything loaded quickly.
Unquestionably consider that that you said. Your favorite reason appeared to be at the internet the easiest factor to consider of. I say to you, I definitely get irked at the same time as folks think about concerns that they just do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the highest as well as outlined out the entire thing with no need side effect , folks can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks
UrbanTreasureHub – Good fashion selections, moving through pages was simple and fast.
BrightPineFields Online Shop – The website felt efficient, helping me jump between pages easily.
BrightPineFields Outlet – Everything loaded nicely, making the experience feel efficient.
noblecraftlane – Well-laid-out sections and fast-loading pages, made shopping simple.
Urban Trend Shelf – Easy to explore and full of appealing modern styles.
Этот информативный текст отличается привлекательным содержанием и актуальными данными. Мы предлагаем читателям взглянуть на привычные вещи под новым углом, предоставляя интересный и доступный материал. Получите удовольствие от чтения и расширьте кругозор!
Открыть полностью – https://www.defining-blog.ru/tag/ekspertiza-proektov
UrbanStyleVault – Items look appealing, moving through pages was comfortable.
UrbanExplorerSpot – Lovely assortment of items, site feels modern and intuitive.
AvTadalafil: AvTadalafil – AvTadalafil
Style Essentials Hub – Everything displayed neatly, making shopping smooth and easy.
умные шторы умные шторы .
бездепозитные бонусы за регистрацию в казино с выводом
minecraftshopcentral – Smooth pages and intuitive navigation, shopping was quick and pleasant.
умные шторы умные шторы .
nobleartstore – Fast-loading site with neat product sections, picking items was simple.
Style Deals Corner – Everything is positioned neatly, and the navigation creates a relaxed shopping flow.
DiscoverPlusOnline – Good mix of insights, and the site format made navigation effortless.
Top Style Collection – Simple, stylish layout that keeps navigation fluid and shopping comfortable.
Smart Trend Market – Great user-friendly design paired with easy access to every product section.