Ross's Writing Blog

#100WCGU – Wk89 – Photo Prompt – 105 words – “Wishing”

Ross Mannell — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:59:26 +0000

A moment in time captured, a memory formed so many times brought to mind in future thoughts. The twins, so little, lost in their dreams. They stood close together at our wishing place. Did they dream of fairies and unicorns?

Years have passed. The twins are grown, now mothers to their own. My hair has greyed, my walk now slow, I sit surrounded by all that’s precious to me.

They see the photo.

“Do you remember our wish?” one asked.

They saw my questioning eyes, “We wished to one day be as good a mum as you. Happy Mother’s Day.”

This is a public domain graphic sourced through Wikimedia Commons. To see the original #100WCGU prompt photo, click on the above photo.

Saturday Centus – Wk#159 – Prompt: “you put the lime in the coconut” – 107 words – “Yummy”

Ross Mannell — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:27:09 +0000

“What are you doing?”

“Making a sammich, Poppy,” she still hadn’t got that word.

“What are you putting on it?”

My stomach turned at the list. The words of “You Put the Lime in the Coconut” came to mind. The words warn of odd mixes but I think I would prefer the lime in the coconut.

“Sweetheart, that’s an odd sandwich.”

“It’s everything I like so it must be good. I made it for you because I love you.”

I couldn’t refuse her smile. I tried to look delighted.

The song played in my mind, “Doctor, ain’t there nothing I can take to relieve this belly ache?”

This is the graphic from the Saturday Centus site.

#100WCGU – Wk88 – Prompt: “parting is such sweet sorrow” – 105 words – “Fred”

Ross Mannell — Sat, 11 May 2013 14:32:59 +0000

Fred Shakespeare had not inherited the gift for words of his ancestor. For that matter, he hadn’t inherited a gift for anything except one. He had a gift for choosing the wrong words in most given situations. Fred was unknowingly skilled in the art of the faux pas.

“Look at that ugly child,” he once said to his now ex-boss before being introduced to his boss’s family.

“Parting is such sweet sorrow,” he quoted to dump his girlfriend convinced it meant he was happy to see the end of her.

She had kissed him on the cheek, “You’re so sweet.”

“That went well,” he’d thought.

Schools and students have permission to use this graphic for non-commercial, educational purposes.

Saturday Centus – Wk#158 – Prompt: “SLEEP MY CHILD, AND PEACE ATTEND THEE” – 107 words – “Cwsg” aka “Sleep”

Ross Mannell — Sat, 11 May 2013 13:14:13 +0000

My child, asleep after a day of new discoveries…

I wondered, “What dreams does he bring?”

My mind, slowing in the moment of contentment, brought thoughts of my grandfather so long ago…

“Cwsg fy mhlentyn a heddwch yn mynychu ti,” his words would soothe me when sleep was elusive.

Welsh, the language of my ancestors, was lost in time to me yet this one phrase I understood.

Kissing the forehead of my sleeping joy, “Sleep my child and peace attend thee.”

I could see my grandfather smiling down on us, sharing our intimate moment, knowing he was still a part of our lives… all through the night.

This was the graphic on the Saturday Centus site.

#100WCGU – Wk87 – Prompt: “the hairs on my arms stood up” – 107 words – “Reflection”

Ross Mannell — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:41:02 +0000

This was the day for which I had longed. I was now a teacher. There was a mixture of excitement and apprehension as I saw their young faces. They too wondered what was ahead.

The hairs on my arms stood up, “Good morning, class.”

Many years and many young faces have now passed. I reflect on my career on this my last day. I wondered if I’d made a difference in their young lives.

I opened a card from a former student many years grown, “You were the best teacher a very depressed and confused 11 year old could have hoped for.”

A difference had been made.

Schools and students have permission to use this graphic for non-commercial, educational purposes.

Saturday Centus – Wk#157 – Prompt: “Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat” – 109 words – “Fever”

Ross Mannell — Fri, 03 May 2013 11:12:41 +0000

“The Art of Pancakes”… What a title for such a simple recipe yet I was lost in thought as the broadcast droned on.

“Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat,” the voice continued.

How many times in our lives have we been lost in those mundane moments?

She stirs. I gently stroke her head still too warm. Her eyes again close.

The voice, “Cook until golden brown.”

The night had been long as anyone with a fevered child knows. My eyes slowly closed…

“Mumma?”

Her call brought me back to my senses. Her temperature was returning to normal.

“Can I have pancakes?”

“I know just the recipe.”

Schools and students have permission to use this graphic for non-commercial, educational purposes.

#100WCGU – Wk86 – Prompt; “the queue was so long” – 105 words – “Punishment”

Ross Mannell — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 14:23:11 +0000

He made his way down an impossibly long hall. Entering a vast room, something ushered him into one of the numerous queues, some moving forward and some moving back towards him.

He heard some complain, “The queue was so long. They said I was in the wrong one.”

He asked one complainer, “Am I in the right queue?”

Agony could be heard in the reply, “You’re new? You don’t know? It’s just the beginning for you. There’s no right queue.”

In time he learnt this was hell for those who had taken pleasure in making others wait in vain in the world of the living.

Schools and students have permission to use this graphic for non-commercial, educational purposes.

Saturday Centus – Wk#156 – Prompt: “Dear John,” – 102 words – “Lost At Sea”

Ross Mannell — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 13:41:04 +0000

“Dear John,”

Two words she’d so often written since he’d set to sea because of this accursed war. The task was to escort a convoy… a milk run he had claimed… no real danger.

Her letters, written daily, in the hope they’d find him and in return she would receive those she knew he would write… but it wasn’t to be. Her first letter wasn’t from him but from the navy.

Five words tore into her heart, “all hands lost at sea.”

A letter tossed into the sea in a bottle…

“Dear John, my love, why did you leave me?” it began.

Schools and students have permission to use this graphic for non-commercial, educational purposes.

#100WCGU – Wk85 – Photo prompt – 100 words – “Wishing”

Ross Mannell — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:35:15 +0000

Locked in darkness for perhaps centuries, it’s easy to lose time when there’s little reason to keep it. The outside world passed me by until the day hope returned.

I sensed a presence. Something very large was nearing my prison. Whatever it was, I sensed a bump. My world tilted. I felt myself falling… CRASH!

My spirit had been freed. I’d always promised to kiss whatever released me but had to rethink when reality dawned. I decided to grant it three wishes instead.

The first wish made, “I wish I didn’t break that urn.”

Locked in darkness for perhaps centuries…

This is the photo prompt from the #100WCGU blog

Saturday Centus – Wk#155 – Prompt: “This will just pinch a little” – 106 words – “Cinders”

Ross Mannell — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:25:37 +0000

I’m an actor and heard about casting for a play. A guy has to take any chances he can so I showed up.

“Just what we want,” said casting. “What do you think about makeup, wigs and corsets?”

I thought I’d gained a role as an ugly sister in a Cinderella pantomime. Wigs and makeup didn’t worry me. The thought of wearing a corset did.

“This will just pinch a little,” wardrobe warned.

They lied.

Worse was to come. I was to be Cinderella in an all guy production. They wanted to squeeze my size 10 feet into custom size 6 shoes. Now, that’s a PINCH!

Schools and students have permission to use this graphic for non-commercial, educational purposes.