Photo © 2011 Gerald Pereira CC BY 2.0
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.
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안녕하세요, 저는 Bette 입니다.
High Hatton (Great Britain) 출신이고 나이는 27 살입니다.
취미는 Collecting cards, Antiquing, 그리고 American Dad 보기 등입니다.
좋은 하루예요!
저는 Bette 라고 합니다.
요즘은 Mineral collecting 에 푹 빠져 있고, 시간 날 때마다 Vietnamese 를 조금씩 공부하고 있어요.
새로운 사람들을 만나고 대화 나누는
걸 좋아합니다.
|
간단히 제 얘기를 하자면,
저는 Great Britain 출신의 34살 Bette 입니다.
현재는 Physical 를 공부 중이며 미래에는 Mineral collecting 관련 일을 하고 싶어요.
|
안녕하세요, Bette 입니다.
저는 High Hatton 에 살고 있고 곧 Physical 전공으로 졸업을 앞두고 있어요.
여가 시간에는 Footbag 또는 American Dad 보는 걸 즐깁니다.
|
안녕 친구들!
저는 Bette (26살)이고 Great Britain에서 왔어요.
성격은 조용한 편이지만 새로운 걸 배우는 건 정말 좋아해요.
특히 Vietnamese 배우는 것에 흥미가 있어요.
|
저는 Bette 이고 현재 High Hatton 에서 혼자 살고 있어요.
요즘 취미는 Table football 하고 Antiquing 입니다.
언젠가 Great Britain 전체를 여행해 보는 것이 꿈이에요.
|
안녕하세요!
제 이름은 Bette 이고 나이는 29살입니다.
저는 Physical 공부를 시작한 지 2년 되었어요.
이번 해에는 Mineral collecting 를 더 깊게 배워보고 싶어요.
|
Great Britain 에 사는 Bette 입니다.
저는 High Hatton에서 자랐고 지금도 그곳에 살고 있어요.
특히 주말에는 American Dad 를 정주행하거나 Mineral collecting 를 하며 시간을 보냅니다.
|
저는 Bette 이고 39살이에요.
일하면서 틈틈이 Vietnamese 를 배우고 있어요.
언젠가 해외여행을 가서 직접 사용해 보는 것이 목표입니다.
취미는 Metal detecting 입니다.
|
안녕! 제 이름은 Bette.
지금은 Physical 를 공부 중이고 졸업 후에는 관련 직종에서 일하는 것이
목표예요.
쉬는 날에는 Insect collecting, Airsoft
그리고 친구들과 American Dad 보는 걸 좋아해요.
|
안녕하세요, Bette 입니다.
저는 Great Britain에서 태어났고 High Hatton에서 자라왔어요.
성격은 활발한 편이고 사람들과 이야기하는 걸 좋아합니다.
취미는 Mineral collecting 와 Airsoft 에요.
|
저는 Bette.
현재 High Hatton 에서 가족과 함께 살고 있고, 1마리의 반려동물을
키우고 있어요.
주말에는 주로 American Dad 보거나 Mineral collecting 하면서 시간을 보내요.
|
안녕하세요!
제 이름은 Bette 이고 나이는 21살 이에요.
저는 High Hatton 출신이고 지금은 Physical 를 공부하고 있어요.
목표는 외국어인 Vietnamese 를 유창하게 말하는 것입니다.
|
저는 Bette 이고 매일 Mineral collecting 를 하면서 스트레스를 풀어요.
집은 High Hatton에 있는데, 이곳은 정말 조용하고 살기 좋아요.
기회가 된다면 다른 도시도 알아보고 싶어요.
|
하이!
저는 Bette 입니다.
일을 하면서도 꾸준히 Locksport 를 배우고 있어요.
최근에는 American Dad 에 빠져서 시간 가는 줄 모르겠어요.
|
제 이름은 Bette (38살)입니다.
가족 구성원은 3명이고 모두 Mineral collecting 을/를 좋아해요.
저도 여가 시간에는 독서나 Bus spotting 를 즐깁니다.
|
저는 Bette 이고 현재 Physical 관련 일을 하고 있어요.
지식 늘리는 걸 좋아해서 외국어 Vietnamese 도
배우고 있어요.
좋아하는 취미는 Photography 와 American Dad 입니다.
|
안녕하세요, 저는 Bette 입니다.
새로운 사람들과 소통하고 여러 가지 취미를
공유하는 걸 좋아해요.
특히 Mineral collecting 에 관한 이야기를 하면 시간 가는 줄 몰라요.
|
저는 Bette 이고 Great Britain 의 작은 마을에서 자랐어요.
현재는 High Hatton 에 있지만 가끔 고향이 그리워요.
취미는 Petal collecting and pressing 입니다.
VGR는 남성 건강을 위해 흔히 사용되는 약물입니다.
정확한 복용법과 효과는 의사와 상담
후 확인하세요.
|
비아그라는 발기 부전 치료에 도움을 줄
수 있으며,
적절한 사용 시 안전하고 효과적입니다.
|
많은 남성이 VGR를 통해 삶의 질을 개선하고 있습니다.
복용 전에는 안전 정보를 꼭 확인하세요.
|
VGR는 일반적으로 성인 남성에게 사용되며,
심혈관 질환이 있는 경우 복용 전에 전문가 상담이 필요합니다.
|
비아그라는 빠른 효과를 원할 때 주로 사용되며,
효과를 높이려면 정해진 시간에 복용하는 것이 좋습니다.
|
비아그라는 식사와 관계없이 복용 가능하지만,
과도한 알코올 섭취와 함께 복용 시 효과가 감소할 수 있습니다.
|
VGR 복용 후 일부 남성은 두통, 얼굴 홍조, 소화불량을 경험할 수 있습니다.
문제가 지속되면 전문가 상담을 권장합니다.
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비아그라는 정기적인 건강 관리와 병행하면 더욱 효과적입니다.
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비아그라는 다양한 제형과 용량으로 제공되므로,
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В «ЛадаМед Выезд» при оказании наркологической помощи на дому используются современные препараты и методы дезинтоксикации. Ниже приведена таблица с основными видами терапии и их эффектами.
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