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.
Для жителей Красноярска организованы два конфиденциальных пути. Первый — немаркированный выезд бригады на дом с заранее согласованными порогами связи. Второй — «тихий вход» в клинику через отдельную дверь, где приём проходит без очередей и «коридорных» разговоров. На первичном звонке администратор уточняет только клинически значимые факторы: частоту рвоты, наличие мочеиспускания, ЧСС/АД в покое, эпизоды спутанности, актуальные лекарства и аллергии. Биографические подробности и лишние вопросы не задаются — мы придерживаемся принципа минимально необходимой информации.
Подробнее можно узнать тут – https://narkologicheskaya-klinika-v-krasnoyarske17.ru/narkologicheskaya-klinika-krasnoyarsk-otzyvy
<Global Excellence Shop – Excellent global products arranged in an organized, easy-to-navigate layout.
shop deal picks – Deals look solid, navigating the site feels effortless.
ModernFashionVault – Items are well-organized, navigating the site felt simple.
shop deals corner – Products are neatly organized, navigation feels natural.
pin up bonus ro‘yxatdan o‘tish orqali pinup5013.ru
Artful Finds Market – The selection feels fresh and inventive, and moving through the site is simple.
shopfornewdeals.shop – Deals are great here, browsing feels smooth and enjoyable overall today.
ChicFashionVault – Great variety of items, moving through the website was effortless.
Imaginative Finds Store – The items look inventive and browsing around is pleasantly quick.
Ниже представлена таблица с основными препаратами, используемыми при выводе из запоя в Тюмени:
Получить дополнительные сведения – https://vyvod-iz-zapoya-v-tyumeni17.ru/vyvod-iz-zapoya-v-staczionare-tyumen
Creative Market Spot – Lots of artistic variety shown cleanly, and navigating feels natural.
I could not refrain from commenting. Perfectly written!
https://www.canadavideocompanies.ca/author/melbetvip7/
get more https://cakepad.digital/
here are the findings https://yieldfi.pro
pin up demo aviator o‘ynash https://www.pinup5013.ru
pin up virtual sport tikish https://www.pinup5013.ru
pin up mobil kirish pin up mobil kirish
Futurecrest Hub – Great mix of style and usability; scrolling through everything felt satisfying.
pin up ruletka https://pinup5013.ru/
DiabetesMedsEasyBuy: buy diabetes medicine online – DiabetesMedsEasyBuy
World Lifestyle Finds – The layout is clean, and exploring authentic items is enjoyable.
UrbanRidge Finds – Sleek design with a wide selection, exploring the store was fun.
Futurecrest Styles – Loved the engaging visuals, and the navigation felt light and intuitive.
Fashion Daily Deals – Variety here is impressive, site navigation is seamless and simple.
Worldwide Essentials Hub – The interface is simple, and every item feels thoughtfully sourced.
Worldly Essentials – The selection feels unique, and shopping is quick and pleasant.
Urban Ridge Treasures Online – Stylish store layout with a good variety of products to explore.
pop over here https://usdai.cloud/
Fashion Deal Center – Store offers trendy picks, navigation feels simple and pleasant.
FDS Daily Deals – Store selection is solid, navigation feels fast and straightforward.
Genuine Global Collection – Navigation is intuitive, and the assortment of items feels authentic.
Urban Ridge Studio Online – Clean and contemporary layout, exploring the store was fun.
The Futurecrest Studio – A visually appealing shop with an organized layout that made exploring simple.
Refined Home Finds – The interface is tidy, showcasing functional and stylish items.
my explanation https://dexrp.wtf/
FDS Picks – Items appear curated and stylish, browsing feels enjoyable and quick.
Everyday Home Picks – The site feels tidy and discovering practical items is simple.
Home Essentials Hub – Smooth interface paired with useful items ensures enjoyable shopping.
пин ап сайт на узбекском pinup5013.ru
пин ап бонус код pinup5013.ru
Design Picks World – Layout is clear and inviting, each design feels unique and curated.
пин ап мобильное приложение пин ап мобильное приложение
Curated Home Essentials – Easy navigation and clean design make exploring products enjoyable.
bestfindshub – BestFindsHub provides a curated range with well-presented details for smooth navigation.
Design World Hub – Loved the variety here, browsing through the designs felt smooth and effortless.
Global Design Emporium – A clean layout with a great selection of designs, very pleasant to browse.
pin up yangi bonus pinup5013.ru
pin up blokdan o‘tish https://pinup5013.ru/