Always a bridesmaid

What were you thinking? Were you even thinking?

I don’t know. I guess I thought that if I treated him like he treated me, he’d see. If I blew off dates, or didn’t call him back, he’d miss me, realize he wanted to be with me. That if I talked down to him in front of his friends, he’d understand how much it hurt.

Yeah, how’s that working for you?

He called me yesterday.

Oh, really? What’d he say?

He wanted to know if I was available to take his and Stephani’s engagement photos this weekend.

Wow…

I know, right?

100 Word Song, is a writing challenge from Lance based on a weekly music prompt. The Challenge is to compose a story in exactly 100 words. This week’s challenge is inspired by Matchbox Twenty’s, “Push.”

Peel me a grape

“I don’t like how he talks to her. Like he’s commanding a dog rather than speaking to his wife.”

The new engineer and his bride were the latest topic of gossip at the company picnic.

Ross schmoozed with bosses while Betsy lingered on the fringes, speaking only to Ross when he snapped his fingers for another burger or beer.

She kept her eyes down and her responses monosyllabic.

Whispers ran through the crowd, judging Ross as a miserable, possibly abusive husband.

Once at home, behind closed doors, their demeanor transformed, transposed.

Betsy knew how to discipline without leaving a mark.

100 Word Song, is a writing challenge from Lance based on a weekly music prompt. The Challenge is to compose a story in exactly 100 words. This week’s challenge is inspired by Diana Krall’s, “Peel Me a Grape.”

The Playground

Pumping his legs up and down, leaning forward then throwing his body backward, he tried, but failed miserably, to get his motions in sync. He wanted to swing free, to feel the wind in his face and the exhilaration of flying, but only managed to hang motionless, dejectedly going nowhere.

It was a sad foreshadowing of how pathetic his life would be. His was a constant struggle to learn the life skills he’d need to be successful. Never catching on to what came so easily for everyone else.

The playground became an incubator for all his insecurities, all his defeats.

100 Word Song, is a writing challenge from Lance, based on a weekly music prompt. The challenge is to answer the prompt in exactly 100 words. This week’s challenge is inspired by “Swing Life Away,” by Rise Against.

Crush

I gave up my dreams for you. You didn’t demand it, you never would. Being with you is all I wanted.

You never disappointed me, never let me down, never cheated on me. I knew what to expect and willing turned over my life to you.

My family tried to convince me you were up to know good, but they don’t know you like I do. They don’t know how good you make me feel, how I can’t live without you. I would lie for you, beg and steal for you, I would die for you.

You are my everything.

100 Word Song, a writing challenge from Lance based on a weekly music prompt. Give 100 words, not 99, not 101. This week’s challenge is inspired by Garbage, “#1 Crush.”

But no one’s home

Two women, dressed in colorful surgery scrubs, lingered at the nurses’ desk sorting through resident files to leave evening reports for the attending physicians.

“How was she tonight?” With a nod of her head, the younger of the two indicated the occupant of Room 24, one of their Alzheimer patients.

Most days she thought she was back in 1962. Her family had found a box set of television shows from that era, and she would spend hours watching black and white episodes of the Jack Benny Show.

“She was actually in the moment most of today. The lights were on.”

100 Word Song, a writing challenge from Lance based on a weekly music prompt. Give 100 words, not 99, not 101. This week’s challenge is inspired by Tim Eriksen’s “Leave the Lights On.”

Driving since midnight

The impromptu picnic was his idea, a rare moment alone with her dad. He spread a blanket under “their” tree overlooking the river. Her favorite sandwiches, peanut butter and dill pickles, were packed along with thermoses of Hawaiian Punch and Sprite.

“I don’t understand,” her voice cracked. Fighting against her tears, she was shocked to see her daddy’s eyes were wet too.

“Mommy had to go far away, but she loves you very much.” He avoided looking at his young daughter.

“She’s never coming back?” Pauley asked in a soft, scared voice.

“No, baby. It’s just you and me now.”

100 Word Song is a writing challenge from Lance based on a weekly music prompt. This week’s challenge is inspired by Ani Di Franco’s “Cloud Blood.”

A little snippet from the childhood of my favorite female hit man, Pauley.

Motivated seller

NEW, never worn, wedding gown – $900 OBO

Strapless, mermaid style with sweetheart neckline. Chapel train. Organza with tulle overlay, extensive beading and hand-embroidered lace.

One of a kind, custom-made… like I thought our love was. Double stitched throughout, while our relationship fell apart at the seams.

Heirloom veil is also available – sheer, antique tatted Irish lace. I should have seen what was coming, but my eyes were veiled from the truth.

A church is also booked, but couple would have to schedule own event around set date. It’s the old white one on Grey Street.

Motivated seller.

100 Word Song, a writing challenge from Lance based on a weekly music prompt. Give 100 words, not 99, not 101. This week’s challenge is inspired by Dave Matthews Band, “Grey Street.”