Author Archives: Ross Mannell

The flame flickered before me. My grandchild sleeps in my arms. Candlelight sets the mood, a time to reflect. Just a moment in time, lost in distant memories.

Memories return of my children once so small. The many joys we had, the fears we faced. Now grown, the house sits lonely but for the times my grandchildren stay. No longer young of body but young of mind, I enjoy this moment.

She stirs and smiles, “Nana?”

Gently stroking her hair, “Yes, sweetheart.”

As she snuggled closer I thought, “One more treasured moment.”

The flame flickered before me, a treasured memory added. Life is good.

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

The Big Apple has it all, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Yellow Cabs and an enormous faith in their “can do” attitude to life and the pursuit of happiness.

For one little life, the forest of legs quickly passing was overwhelming.

“Mamma?” a small whimper.

“Mamma!” more desperate.

Staying close to the edge of buildings, avoiding the teeming jungle of legs, a small life moved silently. Mamma hadn’t been seen since she had gone out in the darkness. Hunger and thirst finally forced a move.

There was movement, something reaching down, strange yet comforting in being lifted.

“Hello, kitty. Where’s mother cat?”

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

 
“This,” announced the museum guide, “Is thought to be a gastrolith-like bone mass.”
 
Susie, ten, had a mind for detail, “Doesn’t gastrolith mean stomach stone?”
 
“Aye, lassie, normally stone but this is bone.”
 
Susie stared at the mass, “But gastroliths aren’t that big.”
 
The guide smiled slyly, “For the creature, this was small. It’s from a dragon. Haven’t you heard of St. George’s dragon?”
 
“What bones are they?”
 
“Some are deer but most are from Nessie.”
 
Susie was confused, “The Loch Ness monster isn’t real. No one reliable has seen it.”
 
“True, not since the dragon had done with it.”
 

This photo is taken Julia’s http://jfb57.wordpress.com/ blog and is the prompt for this week’s #100WCGU.

 
“Ru…beee…” a name drifted across the valley.
 
Again, “Ru…beee…”
 
Fearing a child might be missing, I made my way towards the sound. If I could help, I’d be there. My experience in bushwalking would be handy.
 
Once more, “Ru…bee…***”
 
There was something more I couldn’t hear.
 
I called ahead, “Is Ruby lost?”
 
As I stepped out from amongst the trees, a man turned, “Ruby? No, mate, I said ‘roo be still’. My kangaroo got his foot stuck in the fence. I’ve been trying to get him out but he won’t be still.”
 
I smiled and retreated back through the trees.
 

Have you had one of those days when everything seems to go wrong?

I was late but it wasn’t my fault. Someone had thought it funny to trip me when I was carrying a drink. Work was already waiting when I sat at my desk.

When I had a break, I barely had time to have something to eat and have a drink because I had to stop friends fighting. The afternoon was no better.

Now I’m home.

“Are you all right?” It was her.

“I’m exhausted. Shut the door behind you please, mummy.”

Life can be hard when you’re five and have to go to school.

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