Posting this for Raising 5 Kids with Disabilities and Remaining Sane Blog

http://pricelessjoy.co/author/pricelessjoy/

 

KIDNAPPED

This is in response to a challenge by Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers ..Week 2/25/15

This will be a continuing mini series:

Chapter 1   Permalink: http://luckyjc007.com/2015/03/17/pact/

Chapter 2   Kidnapped

     http://pricelessjoy.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/wpid-photo-20150323193545609.jpg?w=500

Thank you Vanessa Rodriquez for the nice photo prompt.

KIDNAPPED

         Garnet and Damon were walking down the hill when someone told them to turn around.  They turned around and were held at gunpoint.  They recognized two men from the militia group; Crazy Eddie and Cross-Eyed Jack.

          Crazy Eddie ordered them to get in the white van parked on the side of the road. He told them they were not getting away with killing Mr. Marshall.

          Garnet told him Mr. Marshall caused his own death.  He came charging towards them with a pole expecting them to stand still like they had to do during training.  However, that time they stepped aside just as he approached them.  He crashed through the plate glass window and fell to his death.

          Garnet and Damon gave each other the “eyeball signal“, then as fast as a speeding bullet, Garnet kicked Crazy Eddie in the head at the same time Damon kicked Cross-Eyed Jack in the head.

          Garnet and Damon escaped before Crazy Eddie recovered the gun he dropped.

(Words..166)

Copyright © Written by Jessie Cross~All rights reserved.

Beauty in Ten Sencences

I have been invited by ItsPH to participate in a challenge of writing ten sentences, consisting of six words each, and containing the word beauty in each sentence. I am to end the post with a favorite quote about beauty.

1.  I love the beauty of flowers.

2.  I see beauty in your actions.

3.  Beauty can be a wonderful thing.

4.  See the beauty in all things.

5.  She has the beauty of Cinderella.

6.  The mountains are rich with beauty.

7.  There really is beauty in dirt.

8.  There is beauty all around us.

9.  Beauty is her name for today.

10. I see beauty in your eyes.

There is nothing more attractive than confidence, once you see your own beauty, so will everyone else.

https://itsphblog.wordpress.com/2015/03/22/beauty-in-ten-sentences/

THE CEMETERY PARTY

This is a fun flash fiction challenge for March 22, 2015

John Owens is the kind host of Sunday Photo Fiction.  He presents us with a photo of which to base our stories on and challenges us to write a story of 200 words or less .  Today mine is  166 words.

“The Cemetery Party”

Late Saturday afternoon I went to the cemetery to place flowers on the grave site of my dear friends, John and Alice.

As I walked back to the car I was remembering all the fun times John, Alice and I use to have at the Saturday night parties.

We would no longer share in this type of fun.  However, I could just picture in my mind John and Alice at a Welcome Cemetery Party.  John would do a stand-up comedy act like this:

     There are two kinds of pedestrians: the quick and the dead.  Guess which one I am.

     It’s not the fall that kills you;  it’s the sudden stop at the end.

     Whenever I feel blue, I stay that way because I can no longer breathe.

     My enemies didn’t attend my funeral, but they sent a letter saying they approve of it.

Even though I walked back to my car alone, I felt good because John had managed to lift my spirits once again!

Copyright © Written by Jessie Cross ~ All rights reserved

COMFORT DOGS

It is medically proven petting a dog slows your heart rate, lowers your blood pressure and releases oxytocin, which makes you feel good.

Comfort dogs are taken to hospitals, schools, nursing homes, hospice, memory care facilities and other special-needs organizations across the country to lift the spirits of the suffering.

Children enjoy petting the dogs and some even read stories to them.  The dogs like to be read to and they just relax and listen.  Enteracting with the dogs can take the children’s mind to another place that’s happy and comfortable. They can help calm things down by letting children pet them during tense situations.

The dogs are well trained and remain quiet and docile even if the room becomes noisy and crowded.  They can be just as helpful to adults as well as children. They have been a major help to victims suffering from traumatic events.  They are also helping veterans suffering from combat.

Any dog can do this work.  It’s not the breed of the dog, it’s the will of the dog.  Some dogs that are trained for this type of work had former lives as family pets.

When the trained dogs are at home, they are relaxed but when they have the special collar on, they know it is time for work.  There is a special relationship between the dogs and their handlers.

When the dogs are working you watch their body language.  They try to tell you how they feel and what they see.  They need to be listened to.

Dogs have movable earflaps that help them locate the source of sound.  They also have brains that can compute time differences between the sound reaching each ear.  A slight change in a dogs head position supplies additional information that the canine can use to judge a sounds distance.

When a dog listens to your voice, he’s trying to identify familiar words or tones that he associates with certain things like finding something, getting a treat, or taking a walk, etc.

The muscles of a dog’s middle ear are controlled by a part of the brain that’s responsible for facial expressions and head movements, so when he tilts his head, he’s trying to perceive what you’re saying, as well as communicate to you that he’s listening.

Dogs with longer muzzles have difficulty viewing a person’s entire face and compares it to how our vision is obstructed if we hold a fist to our nose and view the world as a dog does.  Dogs may tilt their heads to view a speaker’s mouth an aid in understanding what is being communicated.

“PACT”

Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

Writing challenge week 5. This weeks photo prompt provided by pixabay.com

“PACT”

Garnet and Damon stood by the large castle window.  This was the place they stood to reinforce their pact to each other every day.

Now, after six years of captivity they were still fighting for their freedom. Having been kidnapped by Mr. Marshall when they were eight years old, they knew very little about the real world.  Their world consisted of constant training to fight, and they were soon to be assigned their first mission.

Even at the young age of eight they knew they didn’t want to be forced into the militia. On the first day of their captivity they made a secret pact between them.  It was to be strong, learn everything they could and prepare to use that knowledge against their captor.

They stared down at the lifeless body of Mr. Marshall and neither of them had even an ounce of remorse!

(145 Words)

Copyright © Written by Jessie Cross ~ All rights reserved

This is in response to a challenge hosted by Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The goal is to write a story between 100-150 (give or take 25 words) based on the provided photo. 

LETTERS

This is in response to a challenge hosted by Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers.  175 Words

 “LETTERS”

Dear Dad,

I have received your numerous letters but could not bring myself to respond to them.

As I look at the dock and see the boat missing from slip #3, I am reminded of all the mistakes I have made.  I know I am responsible for the loss of your boat and I deeply regret my actions and the heartache I have caused you.

I ask that you please forgive me and allow me to be a part of your life again.

Your loving son,

Jared

Dear Son,

I can not tell you how many times I have looked for a letter, an email or a phone call from you.  I am overjoyed that you have reached the point in your life where you are able to share your thoughts and actions with me.

I have always wanted you to be a part of my life.  You are my son and I will, and have always loved you.

Dad

Copyright © Written by Jessie Cross ~ All rights reserved

“The Path To Safety”

This story is being submitted for the challenge, “Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers.”

THE PATH TO SAFETY

As  Martha drove toward the path she could picture the house at the end of it.  She immediately had a feeling of peace within her.

She was so excited she immediately telephoned her brother Todd, to share her excitement with him. Together, they had planned to dedicate the house in loving memory of their younger brother, Joey.

There would be plenty of room for eight children, several adults, and at least two pets. She smiled as warm tears trickled down her cheeks while she visioned “Joey’s Safe House For Children.”

103 Words (not including title)

Copyright © Written by Jessie Cross ~ All rights reserved

“The Porch”

     Ross and Angela had lived in numerous houses during their years of marriage.  After they retired, they decided to sell the house they lived in and move to a smaller one.

     Over the years the accumulation of “stuff” was evident when they began to make plans to move .  There were countless decisions made and some proved to be quite difficult.

     Questions arose as to what to keep and what to let go.  A lot of things had special memories associated with them.

     It was important to them to find a house that they could make their home and have family and friends come visit them from time to time.

     After searching for a house that would meet their needs, they decided to buy one that had what they called a “special porch.”

     The porch was in the back of the house.  It was a really delightful place for many occasions.  There were all kinds of parties, reunions, and just togetherness made possible with the space provided.  You could be outside, yet have the convenience of keeping things dry when it rained.

     There were countless afternoons spent sitting on the porch.  You could feel a cool breeze, enjoy the view of the lush trees and flowers while listening to birds chirp and watching squirrels chase each other like little children playing.  It certainly had a tranquil effect on you.

Copyright © Written by Jessie Cross ~ All rights reserved

“THE PROMISE”

This is in response to a challenge hosted by “Flash Fiction For Aspiring Writers” , Week  of 2-25-2015, Words  134 (not including title)   Image Credit:  Dawn M. Miller

“THE PROMISE”

Maria stood at the window staring at the empty tennis courts below.  She was excited, afraid, and happy all at the same time.  Pictured in her mind was the event that took place there three years earlier.

Playing tennis with Diego made her beam with joy!  They had just completed playing two sets and decided to sit on the bench nearby before finishing the match.  After resting for a while they started to get up, but Diego slumped over sideways.  She immediately screamed for help and someone called 911.  Within minutes , the ambulance arrived.

Diego miraculously survived after having suffered a severe heart attack.  Now they were back with plans to play on the same court.  They had made a promise to each other that one day they would return and finish the match.

Copyright © Written by Jessie Cross ~ All rights reserved