THE PICNIC

Challenge No. 43

PROMPT:

The “Romantic Picnic”

Who initiates the picnic; is this a first date or dedication to the continuing relationship?

Is there an agenda to the picnic: marriage proposal, pregnancy announcement, promotion or new job assignment?

Is the picnic all about the continuing romantic relationship: one lover affirming their devotion to the other or a mutually shared, opportune moment of togetherness?

*** Any genre, any POV; just remember to include a romantic element and a picnic in 400 words or less. ***

Here is my contribution:

THE PICNIC

I read his text again, ‘Saturday, forecast good, fancy a picnic?’

I took a deep breath and shuddered, he keeps trying to be romantic

I’m sure he has high hopes that this tryst he has planned will be idyllic

He’ll make sure that we have a nice hamper with white linen fabric

Nightmare visions from my childhood of trudging through fields, over stiles

Arms piled high with bags and rugs and cushions tramping for miles and miles

The adults would find a beautiful spot always avoiding dried out cow pats

Thistles and nettles always broke through the tartan rug and caught me out

The wasps would start to swarm and the ants scurried back to their nests

Traversing over the paper plates holding the soggy jam sandwiches and Scotch eggs

I felt quite safe as the black and white Friesian cows stayed at the far end of the meadow

But during the course of the lengthening shadows they’d approach us with a low moo

Saturday dawns bright and clear so we can’t cancel and go for a lovely pie and a pint

My beau arrives in a chipper mood as he ushers me to his Bentley Continental GT V8

The smell of the luxury leather seats, hood down, the wind tousling my hair

The roar of the engine, gliding round leafy lanes, the smell of the hedgerows

As I relaxed my mood lifted considerably my heart became lighter and gladder

I realised how lucky we were to be spending this quality time together

We slowed down as he indicated to pull in, the sound of the engine died

The quietness engulfed us as we became aware of the sounds of the countryside

His eyes crinkled gently at the corners as he smiled at me, catching my hand

Laughing we gathered up the hamper and accoutrements and started over the farmland

The blanket on the ground held an array of tempting titbits, with a glass of wine

I was feeling pampered and spoilt, loving every minute, our fingers entwined

‘You know I love you,’ he whispered softly turning his head to look at me

Crikey, I thought, he is so adorable today, as I smiled and nodded nonchalantly

‘Your fingers are so slim and elegant,’ he said as he turned my hand over inside his

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a dark blue box.  Oh my! Gee whiz!

Word Count:  400 (without title)

Week #55

100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week#55

http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week55/

Here are Julia’s instructions for this week’s prompt:

“Remember I did warn you that I was plotting something a little different? Well it’s my son’s 36th birthday this week. We have a tradition in our family that my husband chooses his card so it is always from the humorous section.

For the challenge this week, I want you to write the words to go with this picture. You don’t have to use 100 words.

Now some of the cards in the humorous section can be a bit cheeky so make sure your words can have a PG certificate! The link will be open until Monday 27th August. If you are a new visitor here, do pop into ‘What is 100WCGU?’ For some answers or leave a comment below or tweet me @jfb57.”

Here are my thoughts on the picture:

I’m looking at you dude

I don't mean to be rude

I can act all nonchalant

Sometimes I’m deviant

Today I am avante-garde

Tomorrow I will party hard

I think you get the image

Please don’t take umbrage

I won’t hide in the shade

‘Cos I am not afraid

To enjoy every minute that beckons

Every day, every hour, all the seconds

My personality shines through

I can be a little frou-frou

Wearing something bijou

A little colour here and there

There is no-one to compare

I am an individual

Everyone’s equal.

MY LEGACY

http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2012/08/13/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week54/

 WEEK #54

The prompt for this week is: LEGACY

For those of us in the UK it is a word we’ve heard and are hearing incessantly. You don’t have to write about the Games or include the word but I would like 100 words on what it says to you. As usual, make it suitable for a PG certificate and do go and visit the rest.

The link will stay open until Monday 19th August

MY LEGACY

I haven’t got lots of money to leave you

I haven’t got an estate for you to inherit

I haven’t got antiques hiding in the attic

That will finance your way through life

I do have my eternal love to give you

And my morals and ethics to leave you

I taught you the difference between right and wrong

If I was a clever lady I could find those words in a song

I will leave you the family photograph album dating from 1848

I hope the future generations will add to it with more very special dates

Word Count: 100

The Wedding

http://imagine-today1.blogspot.co.uk/p/knights-of-microfiction.html

The Knights of MicroFiction is a bloghop hosted by Kathy McKendry and Jess on the 15th of every month (except April, because the A-Z Challenge makes things crazy!).  We came up with it as a way to meet new friends, help build the blogging community and (hopefully) spark your creativity! 

Here's the prompt:  Your character is trapped in a dark space of your choice and all they have with them is a broken coffee mug, an unlit candle, and a cellphone with a dead battery.  What happens?

Click on the above link to participate. Your entry cannot be longer than 400 words and we won't be taking entries after midnight on the 15th EST.



Here is my entry:

THE WEDDING

Ellen woke up bright and early before her alarm clock just as dawn was breaking and beginning to shine through her curtains.  

She loved her new job.  Her boss could have been a bit nicer but you couldn’t have it all.   She arrived at work bright and early knowing it was a special day. 

The 100 year old Mansion was booked for a sumptuous wedding reception starting at four o’clock in the afternoon.   Ellen and the team had worked hard getting all the preparations in place and all that was needed were the finishing flourishes.

She heard the lions greet their keepers as they approached the enclosures slinging the haunches of meat onto the ground.   They had managed to persuade the bridal party that an evening safari would be difficult, so a select number of their group had booked to enjoy a sunset safari excursion the following day.  All she had to do now was to worry about today’s event.

Marissa strutted along the deep carpeted hallway to the wedding venue casting her professional eye quickly along the seating arrangements and place settings.

She called Ellen over to her and handed her a broken coffee mug.  

“This will not do.   You will have to find a replacement immediately,” she said.  Marissa pursed her lips together and tutted, “I also need you to find twenty-five more candles like this one.”   She handed Ellen an unlit candle.    “Go quickly.  You will probably find them in Room 22 in the West Wing.”

Ellen scurried along the corridors holding the mug with the candle resting inside it.   After a couple of wrong turns she managed to find the entrance to the West Wing.  

“Hi there,” said the security guard, whose name spelt out Fred.   “How can I help you?”

“I need to get to storage room 22,” Ellen replied holding up the items in her hand. 

Fred waved her through and pointed down the corridor, “third on the left,” he whispered.  She smiled her thanks. 

Pushing open the door she walked into a closet tightly shelved bulging with assorted items.  It’s going to take me forever to find these things she thought. 

She jumped as the door slammed shut tight behind her plunging her in to darkness.   She reached for her mobile clipped to her belt.  “Oh sugar!” she exclaimed.  

“Flipping battery is dead.   I hope Fred remembers I am here.”

Word count: 399

 

ROMANTIC FRIDAY WRITERS

CHALLENGE NO 42

 

This is a first-person challenge! You are sick of your life! You feel the need to break out of the box! You are doing what you want for a change!  Yes! You’re taking that break you’ve been promising yourself – you’re heading for a tropical island paradise to:

-finish that project you’ve been working on

-just do nothing but sunbake, eat, party

-think about your relationship (does that need to change too?)

Perhaps your love may surprise you with a welcome or unwelcome visit to enhance/spoil your island idyll...

Perhaps your love decides to move on while you’re gone...

Perhaps you miss your love so much that you hurry home before your time

This could be exhilarating ... or tragic ...

Your story, your way!  Surprise us.

Here is my contribution :

 A WEEK AWAY

I wanted to achieve so many things in my life

The main priority and just one of them was to be his wife

My job, although different, was no less stressful than his

I needed a week away to rethink and recharge my batteries

The opportunity to have a break came at the end of the week

Take this holiday booking for me said my brother, the geek

Work is sending me to troubleshoot at a secret location

So please, please take my sun, sand and sea vacation

That’s just the change I need, thank you, I whooped with glee

I’ll have some time to think and be phone and internet free

The perfect spot was in the hammock strung in the picturesque bay

I lay cocooned in its enveloping embrace, whiling away the day

  

Lulled into a calming sense of security by the rhythmic lapping

Of the waves gently licking against the shore line and receding

I let my mind wander as it would of its own free will

In and out of thoughts and scenarios, leaving work behind me still

My hunger pains were becoming stronger so I strolled along the beach

Until I found something I fancied some fresh fruit, a golden peach

I added a bottle of cold water I decided to explore my little paradise

Where I could ponder on some wonderful advice

I sat at my table in the restaurant on my last evening

Savouring the exotic flavours and tastes while dining

Overlooking the moonlight shining on iridescent blue water

Imprinting peacefulness in my mind to recall the picture

May I join you, asks a deep masculine voice

The chair opposite was empty so I had no choice

To be polite I said but of course you may

As I became mesmerised by his vibrant green eyes

He held my gaze with an ironic twist to his mouth opening to a grin

He grasped my hand as he said, my name is Charles Darwin.

Gulping on my café au lait I swallowed burbling laughter

His eyes twinkled as he gave me his card, meet me for dinner?

I’m flying to London catching a plane early tomorrow

His eyes filled with dashed hope and what looked like sorrow

Turning his card over in my hands I saw ‘Saturday for a date?’

I smiled as I left the restaurant, maybe he will be my lifelong mate.

Word Count:  400

PIGGY BANK

100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week #53

Posted on August 6, 2012 by jfb57

The prompt is:-

… would seven prove to be too much? …..

As usual, you have 100 words to add to these 7 making 107 in total to produce your piece. Please make sure it is suitable for a PG certificate and do go and visit each others to support each other.

If you are not sure what this is all about, do go and read ‘What is 100WCGU?’.

The link will stay open until 13th August.

Here is my contribution:

PIGGY BANK

Her family has gone out so now was her last chance to count

Dashing up to her bedroom she shut the door anticipation mounting

Tipping the pink piggy bank upside down she struggled with the black stopper

Finally it came loose; she shook the coins out on to her bed, silver and copper

 On her pink flowered counterpane she builds a few teetering piles of money

It’s taken several months for her to attain this goal, it wasn’t achieved lightly

Yelping with delight, she counts again and again, pounds, shillings and a few pennies

Would seven prove to be too much to stop those horrible school bullies?

Word count: 107 – 109 with title

 

THE FIREPLACE

100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week#52

The prompt for this week continues along those simple lines that you all like (I will have my revenge later *evil cackle*!)

Please use 100 words to produce a creative piece with this prompt:-

…together the flames…

The link will stay open until Monday 6th August

If you are a bit confused about you need to do, please read ‘What is 100WCGU?’

THE FIREPLACE

I can help, I know how, piece by piece, bit by bit

I’ve watched it all and learned how the grown-up does it

Crinkle, crushing paper in my hand, black and white newsprint

Squashed to meaningless words, letters scrambled into a jumble

The smell of burnt wood, soot and ashes, leaving a mish-mash

Of cinders, waiting to rake out the coals and cold embers

My dad and I watch as together the flames catch the nuggets of coals

Then pure magic happens as the kindling catches and grows

With a whoosh and a whoomph I’ve made the fire place glow.

Word Count: 100/102 with title