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.
В этой информационной статье вы найдете интересное содержание, которое поможет вам расширить свои знания. Мы предлагаем увлекательный подход и уникальные взгляды на обсуждаемые темы, побуждая пользователей к активному мышлению и критическому анализу.
Это стоит прочитать полностью – https://noto-highschool.com/2019/02/15/%E6%A5%B5%E9%99%90%E3%81%AE%E4%BF%BA%E3%81%9F%E3%81%A1%EF%BD%9E%E8%83%BD%E7%99%BB%E9%AB%98%E3%82%92%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC%E3%81%AB%E5%B0%8E%E3%81%8F%E9%81%93%EF%BD%9E%E3%80%8C%E6%88%90%E9%95%B7
Simple Styles Hub – Trendy items are showcased clearly, and navigation feels natural.
TrendSelect Hub – Clear layout and stylish products make navigation pleasant.
Simple Trend Hub – The site feels uncluttered and the trendy items are easy to browse.
TCS Trend Corner – Great trendy items, navigation was quick and seamless.
This is the right web site for everyone who really wants to understand this topic. You realize so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I really will need to…HaHa). You definitely put a fresh spin on a subject that’s been discussed for ages. Wonderful stuff, just great!
globalprotect download
Trend Collection Corner – Stylish products laid out well, navigation was very user-friendly.
Trend Collection Hub – Stylish products displayed clearly, moving through pages was simple.
I go to see day-to-day some blogs and websites to read posts, but this webpage presents feature based articles.
Home Trend Showcase – The site felt light and easy to use, making product discovery enjoyable.
Trend Collection Picks – Loved the variety of items, navigation was seamless.
fashionhaven – Great selection and smooth navigation, I found everything quickly.
HomeDecor Picks – Items were displayed attractively, and checking different sections felt seamless.
updated PLANBET access link: PLANBET এ ঢোকার আপডেটেড লিংক – PLANBET Bangladesh official link
PLANBET latest entry link PLANBET লগইন করার জন্য বর্তমান লিংক planbet login
trendboutique – Everything is laid out nicely, made my experience simple.
modernbazaar – Nice layout, made the selection process painless.
краби таиланд цены общественный транспорт краби
RusticFieldShop – Cozy atmosphere, the website was easy to navigate and items loaded fast.
SVH Value Finder – Clear categories and reasonable prices made the browsing smooth.
RusticField Deals – Pleasant interface, site responded quickly and made shopping enjoyable.
RusticField Collections – Rustic vibe throughout, website was easy to use and responsive.
Simple Value Collection – Affordable items showcased in a tidy format, easy to review.
SVH Smart Value – Solid lineup of items priced well, with an easy-to-follow format.
RFM Boutique – Smooth and pleasant shopping experience, everything worked as expected.
Nền tảng QQ88 được tối ưu cho mọi thiết bị, đăng ký nhanh, nạp rút siêu tốc và nhiều chương trình khuyến mãi hấp dẫn cho người chơi mới lẫn lâu năm.v
SVH Savings Hub – Lots of well-priced items, and browsing through them was straightforward.
learn the facts here now https://jaxxwallet-web.org
besten wetten apps
Also visit my blog post; Quotenvergleich Surebets
https://bravomos.ru/ bravomos
https://dabet.reviews/# Dabet Vietnam official entry
TrendyLivingStore – Well-laid-out pages, intuitive navigation, and stylish home products.
Мытищи дают логистические плюсы домашнего старта: меньше перемещений, приватнее, быстрее включается режим. Дом уместен, если нет упорной рвоты, высокой температуры, выраженной дезориентации, резких «качелей» давления/пульса, признаков обезвоживания с угрозой судорог. Если же состояние «по краю» — сочетание рвоты, лихорадки, кардиальных жалоб, второй бессонной ночи, выраженного тремора — врач предложит короткую стационарную стабилизацию на 24–48 часов под круглосуточным наблюдением. Это честнее и, на дистанции, экономнее: дефициты закрываются быстрее, дозы подбираются точнее, первая ровная ночь достигается предсказуемо, а риск экстренных ночных выездов снижается. В любом варианте приватность сохраняется: немаркированные визиты, индивидуальные окна, закрытые каналы коммуникации, доступ к данным по ролям.
Получить дополнительные сведения – https://narkolog-na-dom-mytishchi9.ru/vyzov-narkologa-na-dom-v-mytishchah/
Style Collective Picks – Smooth navigation paired with stylish pieces made the site pleasant to explore.
I do not even know how I stopped up right here, however I thought this post used to be good. I do not recognise who you are however certainly you’re going to a famous blogger should you aren’t already. Cheers!
CityPickCollection – Browsing was simple and quick, the overall shopping experience was excellent.
TrendyLivingSpot – Simple design, easy-to-browse sections, and visually appealing items.
TrendyHomeFinds – Organized pages, easy navigation, and modern home items.
StreetStyleHub – Attractive urban items and smooth browsing create a pleasant experience.
FashionBuy Online – Simple design with dependable speed, perfect for quick fashion browsing.
FashionBuy Market – Quick browsing with a clean structure and a great collection of fashion pieces.
RainyDealsOnline – Fast service and easy-to-use site, made shopping very enjoyable.
RainySelectStore – Easy navigation and fast service, I’ll definitely be back.
LivingTrendsOnline – Organized layout, modern visuals, and smooth browsing experience.
StreetHub – Browsing is simple and trendy urban items are well organized.
CityStyleHub – Intuitive navigation and trendy products make shopping fun.
StyleBuy Collective – Straightforward navigation and fast responses made the visit enjoyable.
CityRainShop – Quick checkout and easy navigation, I’m really happy with the service.
MetroVault – Smooth interface with attractive urban products throughout.
DarazPlay ????????? ???? Bangladesh: DarazPlay updated entry link – DarazPlay ??????? ?????? ??