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.
Терапия проводится в комфортных условиях с использованием сертифицированных препаратов и современных медицинских технологий. Команда врачей, психологов и реабилитологов обеспечивает поддержку на всех этапах лечения.
Разобраться лучше – наркологическая клиника клиника помощь в казани
online games casino online games casino .
What’s up friends, pleasant post and pleasant arguments commented at this place, I am actually enjoying by these.
мелбет слоты вход мелбет слоты вход .
GoldenPeak Handmade – Loved the thoughtful details in the products; browsing was smooth and calming.
Artisan at GoldenPeak – A lovely range of handcrafted items, and the site felt easy to move through.
http://unmpharm.com/# Unm Pharm
Golden Meadow Collection – Warm, inviting design with carefully curated product selection.
GoldenMeadow Goods – Curated picks with cozy tones give the shop a very pleasant feel.
GoldenPeak Collection – Lovely craftsmanship and a peaceful browsing flow made this a great visit.
GoldenMeadow Hub Online – Curated items with a warm and inviting ambiance.
пин ап мобильная версия пин ап мобильная версия
buildsmartdirection – Great for mapping out goals and creating a clear path forward.
GoldenMeadow Studio – Enjoyed the cozy atmosphere and thoughtfully selected items.
Все шаги фиксируются в карте наблюдения. Если динамика «плоская», меняется один параметр (скорость/объём/последовательность), и через оговорённое окно проводится повторная оценка. Это снижает риск побочных реакций и сохраняет дневную ясность.
Узнать больше – врач вывод из запоя в калининграде
пин ап безопасно https://www.pinup5014.ru
Курс терапии в клинике состоит из нескольких последовательных этапов, каждый из которых направлен на достижение конкретных целей — от снятия интоксикации до восстановления психологического равновесия. Такой подход позволяет добиться устойчивого результата и минимизировать вероятность рецидива. На всех стадиях лечения ведётся контроль состояния пациента, а также постоянная корректировка назначений в зависимости от реакции организма.
Подробнее – наркологическая клиника стационар в казани
Daily Finds Studio – Attractive product variety, fast pages, and effortless browsing experience.
Daily Finds Corner Hub – Neatly arranged products, fast navigation, and pleasant site flow.
YourDaily Picks Online – Easy browsing, neatly presented items, and fast-loading pages throughout.
Curated Global Store – Carefully organized items that make exploring effortless and natural.
Daily Essentials Hub – Smooth layout highlights practical and well-presented items.
YourDaily Lane Studio – Clearly presented items, smooth browsing, and fast-loading pages for easy exploration.
https://nyupharm.xyz/# my canadian pharmacy rx
International Picks Hub – International items displayed in an organized and professional manner.
Global Commerce Hub – A polished marketplace where browsing feels smooth and professional.
Refined Daily Hub – Every product is carefully selected, and browsing the site is smooth and convenient.
helpful site https://toast-wallet.net
Refined Essentials Marketplace – Browsing is fast, with carefully selected products that are practical and stylish.
Home Style Emporium – Easy browsing paired with a fresh, modern selection of items.
indian pharmacy paypal: Umass India Pharm – Umass India Pharm
Modern Living Finds – Browsing feels natural, and the product variety is impressive.
Inspired Modern Living – The store feels organized, stylish, and effortless to explore.
Городская среда Воронежа — яркие подъезды, плотный трафик, шумные дворы — может усиливать вечернюю реактивность. Поэтому мы проектируем «тихую» логистику: согласованная парковка, вход без вывесок, гражданская одежда специалистов, короткий маршрут от порога к месту процедуры. Коммуникация в зашифрованных каналах, напоминания — в беззвучном режиме. Такой дизайн не декоративен: чем меньше социального шума, тем быстрее возвращаются питьё и аппетит, а значит — меньше потребность «наращивать» фармакологию.
Подробнее – вывод из запоя недорого воронеж
Contemporary Lifestyle Emporium – A diverse range of items and a clear, fast interface.
official source russian traditional clothing
Having read this I believed it was rather informative. I appreciate you finding the time and energy to put this article together. I once again find myself spending a significant amount of time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!
canadian pharmacy uk delivery Nyu Pharm canadian pharmacy phone number
premiumbuyhub – PremiumBuyHub offers an enjoyable shopping journey with well-presented and thoughtful items.
pin up demo aviator o‘ynash pinup5014.ru
toptrendstore – TopTrendStore features beautifully presented items and an enjoyable shopping journey.
modernbuyzone – ModernBuyZone has high-quality items and a pleasant browsing environment.
мелбет россия мелбет россия .
FVC Collections – Products seem reliable, exploring the site feels quick and pleasant.
мелбет ставки на спорт скачать на андроид мелбет ставки на спорт скачать на андроид .
online betting sports online betting sports .
Первые часы определяют траекторию. Мы работаем по карте — у каждого окна есть цель, действия, маркеры контроля и критерий перехода. Если ответ «плоский», меняем один элемент и назначаем повторную оценку. Это дисциплинирует решения и защищает от полипрагмазии.
Получить больше информации – https://vyvod-iz-zapoya-petrozavodsk15.ru/skoryj-narkolog-vyvod-iz-zapoya-petrozavodsk
мелбет полная версия сайта мелбет полная версия сайта .
shopandbrowse – ShopAndBrowse makes discovering items easy with well-crafted offerings and clean presentation.
Этот список — памятка на холодильник. Он не раскрывает диагноз, но точно описывает поводы для связи с дежурным врачом. Своевременная эскалация — часть безопасности, а не «подстраховка». Если сомневаетесь — лучше позвонить.
Узнать больше – http://kapelnicza-ot-zapoya-v-chelyabinske16.ru