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.
bedava bitcoin, ücretsiz kripto, casino bonus, casino sitesi, güvenilir casino, online casino, canlı casino,
slot oyunları, rulet oyna, poker oyna, blackjack oyna, bahis sitesi,
güvenilir bahis, canlı bahis, spor bahisleri, yüksek oran bahis,
kaçak bahis, bedava bahis, deneme bonusu, hoşgeldin bonusu, casino free spin,
slot free spin, kumar sitesi, kumarhane, çevrimiçi kumar, illegal bahis, yasa dışı bahis, illegal casino,
yasadışı kumar, kayıt olmadan bahis, kimlik
doğrulama yok bahis, bahis para yatır, bahis para çek, casino para
çekme, casino para yatırma, slot jackpot, jackpot casino, bedava casino, ücretsiz casino, casino demo,
canlı krupiye, canlı rulet, canlı blackjack,
canlı poker, canlı baccarat, baccarat oyna, baccarat sitesi, çevrimsiz bonus, yatırımsız bonus, çevrim şartsız bonus, kayıp bonusu, kayıp
iadesi, free bet, freespin, casino cashback, bahis cashback, bedava
iddaa, maç izle bahis, canlı maç bahis, futbol bahis, basketbol bahis, tenis
bahis, esports bahis, sanal bahis, sanal spor bahis, köpek
yarışı bahis, at yarışı bahis, greyhound bahis, poker freeroll, escort
bayan, escort istanbul, escort ankara, escort izmir, escort bursa, escort
adana, escort kocaeli, escort mersin, escort antalya, escort gaziantep, escort konya, escort diyarbakır, escort aydın,
escort kayseri, vip escort, ucuz escort, eve gelen escort,
otele gelen escort, saatlik escort, gecelik escort,
haftalık escort, çıkmalık escort, rezidans escort,
öğrenci escort, yabancı escort, rus escort,
ukraynalı escort, arap escort, sarışın escort, esmer escort, olgun escort
over the counter antibiotics Antibiotics Pharmacology antibiotics for uti over the counter
Superb site you have here but I was curious if you knew of any message boards that cover the same topics discussed here? I’d really love to be a part of group where I can get feedback from other experienced people that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Kudos!
Matvey Safonov Telegram
Наткнулся на телеграмм Сафонова, решил глянуть. Канал норм, без странностей
you’re really a just right webmaster. The web site
loading speed is incredible. It kind of feels that you’re doing any
unique trick. Moreover, The contents are masterwork.
you’ve performed a fantastic process on this
subject!
statistics of gambling in canada, duke nukem forever slot machine jackpot and online pokies canada jokaroom,
or free bingo games no deposit usa
Feel free to surf to my web blog: goplayslots.net
https://antimicrobialresearch.com/ Institute for Antimicrobial Research
buy antibiotics online for tooth infection Antibiotics Pharmacology get antibiotics without seeing a doctor
This post will help the internet people for creating new weblog or even a blog from start to
end.
Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I find It truly
useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something
back and help others like you helped me.
сафонов телеграм
Нашел канал Matvey Safonov в telegram, решил глянуть. Контент живой, не шаблонный
Anyone can start selling bitcoin in india confidently
with this practical step-by-step guide.
buy antibiotics for sinus Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride buy antibiotics online safely
Дубликаты государственных номеров на авто в Москве доступны для заказа в кратчайшие сроки
http://www.erbp.ru
обращайтесь к нам для получения надежной помощи и гарантии результата!
This is the right web site for anybody who would like to find out about this topic.
You know a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I really would want to…HaHa).
You definitely put a new spin on a subject that’s been written about for ages.
Wonderful stuff, just great!
신용카드현금화는 신용카드의
쇼핑 한도(사용 한도)를 이용해 물품이나 상품권 등을 구매한 후,
이를 수수료를 차감하고 현금으로 돌려받는 방식을 말합니다.
Amazing issues here. I’m very glad to see your article. Thanks a lot and I am looking forward to touch you. Will you please drop me a mail?
Hello, i feel that i noticed you visited my weblog so i came
to go back the choose?.I’m trying to find issues to
improve my web site!I guess its adequate to use a few of your
concepts!!