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.
Clara fumbles her hat, her scarf. Arthritis slows her, doesn’t stop her. She finally maneuvers her wheelchair to the big glass doors. She smiles at the blizzard outside, pretends she’s in a snow globe.
*****
YET SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE
Clara fumbles her hat, her scarf. Arthritis slows her, doesn’t stop her. She finally maneuvers her wheelchair to the big glass doors. She smiles at the blizzard outside, pretends she’s in a snow globe.
The doors slide open, close. Orderlies and nurses rush,
changing shifts. Clara must hurry. She’ll be spotted, scolded, taken back to
her room.
She wheels herself into the storm, the cold breath-taking,
memory-giving. She sticks out her tongue, catching snowflakes as delicate as
lace, as fleeting and fragile as life.
She nods, satisfied. They still taste the way they did when
she was a girl.
*****
Glad she slipped out and enjoyed the snow for a moment!
ReplyDeleteClara and her one last chance to taste snow...Will she be dragged back? Or, will she insist on living her last moments in the snow?
ReplyDeleteAt first, I thought this was a cute little story. But the fact that she's out in a blizzard makes me think she's not out there just for a few seconds.
ReplyDeleteAlex - me, too.
ReplyDeleteSusan - I wonder….
Jay - maybe, maybe not.
I can just picture Clara with snowflakes on her tongue.
ReplyDeleteRachna - I'm glad to hear that. :)
ReplyDeleteThis one had a sweet ending. I could visualize the blizzard and snowflakes.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother's name was Clara. She died when I was two from Ovarian cancer. I wouldn't have wanted her in a nursing home, but I liked reading this one and picturing her as she would be today.
Aw! How sweet. Madeline, how do you take in such a huge scope of human emotion? Your range is amazing. Love this!
ReplyDeleteTrue Heroes from A to Z
Chrys - I really like the image of the older woman acting like a little girl out in the snow.
ReplyDeleteCrystal - thank you so much. :)
Beautifully written. I love the way you pack so much into so few words!
ReplyDeleteBrought a few tears to my eyes. Getting old sucks.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was a sweet one too but then I also have this nagging thought that she's out in the blizzard because she wants to die in the snow. Although if that's the case I'm glad she got to feel like a kid again for just a minute!
ReplyDeleteStephanie - thank you!
ReplyDeleteSusan - at least she got to feel happy in those moments.
Julie - I think you've been reading too much of my creepy stuff. I do write "nice" stories once in awhile! Now, is this one of them? Hmm…. :)
Aww, I love this one. Captures how we should never forget to be young no matter what the age.
ReplyDelete~Patricia Lynne~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, YA Author
That is sad and happy at the same time :)
ReplyDeleteSophie
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - A to Z Ghosts
Fantasy Boys XXX - A to Z Drabblerotic
Patricia, Sophie - thank you!
ReplyDeleteUh oh, I'm afraid Clara is heading for an unhappy end....of course, if she planned it that way...
ReplyDeletePatricia - maybe it won't be so bad….
ReplyDeleteWow! This is one of your best ones yet!
ReplyDeleteI can picture this story so well. Very well written :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Patricia- love how it captures that drive to live (not waste away).
ReplyDeleteA delightful story. You have the ocean behind you but perhaps you yearn for the snow.
ReplyDeleteThank you for working on the challenge this year.
Jolie, Kim, Phoenix - thank you!
ReplyDeleteManzanita - well, I like to look at the snow but I definitely don't want to be out in it. :)
Wonderful story - I have bad arthritis, so I linked in immediately. Good ending because it leaves you wondering.
ReplyDeleteSayling - so sorry about your arthritis! I am glad the story worked for you, though.
ReplyDeleteYay for a little escape - go Clara. :)
ReplyDeleteTasha
Tasha's Thinkings - AtoZ (Vampires)
FB3X - AtoZ (Erotic Drabbles)
Tasha - :)
ReplyDeleteLove this piece, my favorite of the month! Thank you for sharing his sweet moment of snowflake goodness and bright energy. :)
ReplyDeleteBTW, I just an across a 10 words or less fiction contest called A Very Short Story, and thought you might want to check it out. http://www.writingclasses.com/ContestPages/10W.php
Tyrean - I'm glad you enjoyed this story! And thank you for the link to the contest. :)
ReplyDelete