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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Adding this site to my regular reading list, the post earned that on its own, and a quick stop at luxrova sealed the decision, the kind of place worth checking back with from time to time because it consistently produces material that holds up against a critical reading too which I really value.
Going to come back when I have more time to read carefully, the post deserves more than a quick scan, and a stop at vuzmixo reinforced that, this is the kind of site that rewards a slower read which is hard to find in this fast paced corner of the internet but really worthwhile.
Liked how the post handled an objection I was forming as I read, and a stop at tavzoro similarly anticipated where my thinking was going next, the rare writer who can predict reader concerns and address them in advance is doing something most online content fails to do despite that being basic editorial work.
Салют, Екатеринбург Ситуация аховая Жена на грани срыва В клинику везти страшно Короче, единственное что вытащило из запоя — капельница от запоя быстро и эффективно Поставили капельницу с детокс-раствором В общем, не потеряйте контакты — капельница после похмелья капельница после похмелья Не ждите пока станет хуже Перешлите тем кто в такой же беде
Found a couple of useful angles in here I had not considered before reading carefully, and a quick stop at qonzavi added more, this is one of those sites where the value compounds the more you read rather than peaking at one viral post and then offering nothing else of substance afterwards which is common.
I came here looking for a quick answer and ended up reading the whole post because it was actually interesting, and after zorlumo I had a much fuller picture, no stress and no confusion just a clear walk through the topic that made everything fall into place without much effort.
Здорово, Екатеринбург Голова раскалывается Нужно что-то серьёзное Короче, нашел реально работающий способ — капельница от похмелья быстрый результат Приехали через 30 минут В общем, телефон и цены тут — капельница от запоя на дому круглосуточно капельница от запоя на дому круглосуточно Звоните прямо сейчас Перешлите тем кто в такой же ситуации
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Appreciated the way each section connected smoothly to the next without abrupt jumps, and a stop at molnexo kept that flow going nicely, transitions are something most blog writers ignore but the difference is huge for the reader who is trying to follow a sustained line of thought today across many different topics.
Skipped breakfast still reading this and finished hungry but satisfied, and a stop at luxrivo kept me past breakfast time, content that displaces basic biological needs is content with serious attentional pull and the writers here are clearly capable of producing that level of engagement which is genuinely impressive these days.
Well done, the writing is professional without being stiff, and the topic is treated with care, and a look at cryptbeach reflected that approach, the kind of site I would point a colleague to if they asked for a reliable starting point on this topic in the future without any hesitation at all.
Decided to write a short note to the author if there is contact info anywhere, and a stop at octanenebula extended that intention, the urge to thank the writer directly is a strong signal of content quality and this site has triggered that urge in me today which is a fairly rare event for my reading.
Reading this slowly because the writing rewards a slower pace, and a stop at visionalignment did the same, the pace at which I read content is something I now use as a quality signal and writing that earns a slower pace earns my attention as a reader looking for substance these days.
Now thinking about how to apply some of this to a project I have been planning, and a look at milknorth added more material for the planning, content that connects to my actual creative work rather than just being interesting in the abstract is the kind that earns priority placement in my reading rotation consistently going forward.
Вывод запоя на дому позволяет сохранить приватность: соседи, коллеги и знакомые не узнают о визите врача. Наркологическая служба работает анонимно, поэтому постановки на учет не происходит, а информация о пациенте не передается третьим лицам. Гарантия конфиденциальности особенно важна для тех, кто постоянно работает с людьми, занимает ответственное место или переживает за репутацию близкого человека.
Подробнее можно узнать тут – анонимный вывод из запоя сочи
Just wanted to drop a quick note saying this was a useful read on a topic I have been circling, no fluff, and a stop at intentionalmomentum added a few extra points that fit the same simple style which makes the whole site feel coherent rather than thrown together by many different writers with different goals.
Люди подскажите Брат совсем потерял контроль Соседи стучат в стену Нужна профессиональная помощь на дому Короче, единственное что вытащило из запоя — вызвать капельницу от запоя на дому быстро Сняли ломку и стабилизировали состояние В общем, жмите чтобы сохранить — капельница от запоя на дому капельница от запоя на дому Капельница — это реальный выход Перешлите тем кто в такой же ситуации
Салют, земляки Тошнит, трясёт, сил нет Рассол уже не лезет Короче, единственное что реально спасает — капельница от похмелья купить с выездом Через час состояние нормализовалось В общем, телефон и цены тут — прокапаться на дому от алкоголя цена прокапаться на дому от алкоголя цена Не мучайтесь рассолами Перешлите тем кто в такой же ситуации
выездная наркологическая служба оперативно приедет по указанному адресу, имея при себе все необходимое оборудование и медикаменты, в том числе для оказания неотложной помощи.
Исследовать вопрос подробнее – вывод из запоя на дому цена сочи