O is for . . . THE ORNAMENT

Welcome to The Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2014! This year, I’m offering up a story – each one 100 words or fewer - for each letter of the alphabet.

Some are heartfelt, poignant, sweet. Others are…not. 

I hope you enjoy them.

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THE ORNAMENT

At the party, she hangs from his arm like a sparkly bauble. First mistress, now second wife.

Accusations, sneers shatter her into shards of shame.

*****

N is for . . . NUDE BEACH

Welcome to The Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2014! This year, I’m offering up a story – each one 100 words or fewer - for each letter of the alphabet.

Some are heartfelt, poignant, sweet. Others are…not. 

I hope you enjoy them.

*****

NUDE BEACH

Lisa and her dollies lay naked in the backyard, pretending they’re sunbathing at Hidden Cove.

A shadow looms. She smiles, reaches. Daddy.

But it’s not.

*****

M is for . . . MASK

Welcome to The Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2014! This year, I’m offering up a story – each one 100 words or fewer - for each letter of the alphabet.

Some are heartfelt, poignant, sweet. Others are…not. 

I hope you enjoy them.

*****

MASK

Mama always makes me wear a mask. She says I’m ugly as the sin that made me, says I’ll be handsome enough to go without one when hell freezes over, when pigs fly.

When I leap from our roof, I am hiding a smile inside my pig mask.

*****

L is for . . . LAST CALL

Welcome to The Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2014! This year, I’m offering up a story – each one 100 words or fewer - for each letter of the alphabet.

Some are heartfelt, poignant, sweet. Others are…not. 

I hope you enjoy them.

*****

LAST CALL

He rowed out onto the lake then slid into the water. He gulped it down, just like he did the vodka that wouldn’t kill him after all.

*****

K is for . . . THE KNISH

Welcome to The Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2014! This year, I’m offering up a story – each one 100 words or fewer - for each letter of the alphabet.

Some are heartfelt, poignant, sweet. Others are…not. 

I hope you enjoy them.

*****

THE KNISH

Edna wanders the farmers’ market, another lonely old woman trying to lose, and find, herself in the crowd.

A knish stand appears as if conjured from her childhood’s Brooklyn neighborhood. The old man hands her the warm, doughy potato goodness. Grease seeps through the wrapper, coats her fingers. The first bite takes her home - to the corner deli, to Italian ices and chocolate egg creams, to boys playing stickball, to wishing Tony Lombardi would notice her….

“That’s three dollars, Miss.” The old man grins, winks.

Blushing like a fool, she pays, and catches a glimpse of his name tag.

Anthony.

*****

J is for . . . JUMP ROPE

Welcome to The Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2014! This year, I’m offering up a story – each one 100 words or fewer - for each letter of the alphabet.

Some are heartfelt, poignant, sweet. Others are…not. 

I hope you enjoy them.

*****

JUMP ROPE

Liza drags the jump rope behind her. She pretends it’s her pet snake, pretends it’s okay no other little girls want to play with her.

*****

I is for . . . INDELIBLE INK

Welcome to The Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2014! This year, I’m offering up a story – each one 100 words or fewer - for each letter of the alphabet.

Some are heartfelt, poignant, sweet. Others are…not. 

I hope you enjoy them.

*****

INDELIBLE INK

She let him stain her on the inside.

Now, he laughs, chooses her tattoo – his name down her back, mocking the spine she doesn’t have. 

*****