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.
pin up jonli yordam https://www.pinup5011.ru
Great website. A lot of helpful info here. I am sending it to some buddies ans additionally sharing in delicious. And naturally, thanks in your sweat!
My programmer is trying to convince me to move to .net from PHP.
I have always disliked the idea because of the expenses. But he’s
tryiong none the less. I’ve been using WordPress on several websites for about a year and am worried about switching to another platform.
I have heard very good things about blogengine.net.
Is there a way I can transfer all my wordpress content into
it? Any kind of help would be greatly appreciated!
Mountain Star Picks Hub – Well-arranged items look great, browsing the site feels enjoyable.
Mountain Star Trends – Trendy mountain items showcased nicely, browsing feels fast and smooth.
Mountain Star Curated – Attractive products displayed well, navigation feels simple and fast.
Решение о срочном выезде принимается не из «желания поторопиться», а когда домашняя стабилизация действительно снижает риски. Ниже — ориентиры, при которых не стоит откладывать звонок. Любой из перечисленных признаков — повод для консультации, а их сочетание — для немедленного осмотра.
Разобраться лучше – https://narkologicheskaya-pomoshh-v-kazani16.ru/narkolog-kazan-kruglosutochno/
Creative Market Studio – Vibrant items with organized displays, really enjoyed seeing the selections.
ValueExpressStore – Easy browsing, attractive picks, and smooth site experience.
пин ап игровые автоматы https://pinup5012.ru
Mountain Star Creations – Trendy items showcased neatly, shopping is intuitive and pleasant.
pin up qanday pul yechiladi pin up qanday pul yechiladi
Fantastic site. A lot of useful information here. I am sending it to several pals ans additionally sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks on your effort!
Creative Shop Collective – Eye-catching and carefully curated, browsing felt effortless today.
ValueChoiceHub – Well-structured layout, fast access, and enjoyable shopping flow.
Creative Hub Collective – Smooth navigation and vibrant designs make browsing very pleasant.
ValueTreasureStore – Neat design, solid selections, and effortless browsing.
RainyCity Market Hub – Well-structured categories and fast loading made exploring easy.
Creative Discoveries Studio – Vibrant and interesting items, browsing felt smooth and enjoyable.
UrbanValueHub – Quick navigation, appealing items, and clear, simple layout.
pin up kod orqali ro‘yxatdan o‘tish http://pinup5011.ru
Tall Cedar Online – The market feels warm and inviting, enjoyed exploring the products.
C168 phát triển hệ sinh thái cá cược trực tuyến đa dạng, đáp ứng nhu cầu giải trí từ thể thao đến casino và game slot.
RainyCity Hub Online – Intuitive navigation paired with a lovely, themed design.
TallCedar Finds – Pleasant shopping experience with well-organized categories.
RainyCity Corner – Themed sections loaded quickly and exploring products was very simple.
TallCedar Essentials – Pleasantly arranged items and a friendly market feel throughout.
Elevated Clicks Market – Sleek design with intuitive browsing and responsive page flow.
Анонимность и конфиденциальность гарантированы. Мы обеспечиваем полную анонимность и конфиденциальность на всех этапах лечения.
Получить дополнительные сведения – вывод из запоя капельница
Tall Cedar Hub – Easy-to-navigate layout and a cozy atmosphere make exploring fun.
http://heartmedseasybuy.com/# Losartan
Rainy Collection Hub – Well-organized sections and smooth browsing enhanced the shopping experience.
Modern Click Portal – Contemporary visuals and simple navigation make browsing easy.
Daily Web Clicks – Clean, modern design ensures effortless browsing experience.
пин ап отзывы пользователей http://pinup5011.ru
пин ап играть в демо авиатор https://pinup5012.ru/
My family always say that I am killing my time here at web, however I know I am getting know-how everyday by reading thes good articles.
Для сохранения приватности мы ведём коммуникацию через одного доверенного представителя, используем нейтральные формулировки в документах, а инструкции выдаём в неброском виде. При невозможности создать тишину дома (ремонт, маленькие дети, гости) предложим краткий «тихий» стационар с отдельным входом и камерным режимом, после чего сопровождение вернётся в домашний формат.
Получить дополнительные сведения – https://vyvod-iz-zapoya-v-ekaterinburge16.ru/vyvod-iz-zapoya-na-domu-v-ekaterinburge/
пин ап регистрация узбекистан пин ап регистрация узбекистан
Daily Digital Hub – Clean interface ensures fast access and simple navigation.
фен купить дайсон официальный фен купить дайсон официальный .
getx официальный сайт getx официальный сайт .
дайсон стайлер официальный сайт дайсон стайлер официальный сайт .
Trazodone: duloxetine – Trazodone
DiabetesMedsEasyBuy: Metformin – Empagliflozin
get x казино официальный сайт t.me/getx_site_official .
Everyday Forest Corner – Browsing feels comfortable, and finding what I need takes minimal effort.
pin up cashback uz https://pinup5012.ru/
официальный дайсон http://www.fen-ds-1.ru .
пин ап отзывы пользователей https://pinup5011.ru/