Category Archives: 1. 100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups #100WCGU

Now Robert! Now John and Suzie and Jill!

Stop fighting and twitching, it’s time to be still.

This practise, the last, before evening time come,

There’s no more chances given to some.

Twas the night before Christmas and all round the town,

The children had gathered, not one with a frown.

Their voices rose high as they carolled their song,

This was their night, they’d waited so long.

The songs they were sung with voices so clear,

With parents all thinking this ends one more year.

Now pick up your children and take them to bed,

It’s my time to go and soothe aching head.

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“Bah Humbug!” I called, sick of the joy and goodwill.

I know, you’ve heard the story of Scrooge. Yes, I stole his words but my story wasn’t one of ghosts walking the halls. It’s a cry of someone with sore feet, laden with gifts, a toddler too tired and little Miss Four.

I know, many have had the same experience.

Many have made the promise, “Never again.”

The day comes, the toys unwrapped, smiles, greetings, overindulgence… all part of the day.

Toddler asleep in arms, little Miss Four dozing against my shoulder…

Maybe, just perhaps, one more time next year.

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They worked when I put them away. It was again time to take them out and see if all was well.

When in position, power was applied. I noticed one was barely glowing. Checking the records, I was on my way to the location.

Restless, a little person was moving uncomfortably in bed. I could see his dreams. They had turned to nightmares. This would not do. A sprinkle from the sack and nightmare turned to pleasant dream. He now slept comfortably.

This was my regional routine each night. The sandmen and sandwomen (there are many) only bring pleasant dreams. Our mission is to protect the young.

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The story itself was influenced by the recent release of the animated movie, “Rise of the Guardians”.

Have you had one of those moments when the prefect chocolate treat, loved by all, is down to one small piece? No one in the group is willing to take the last piece and appear greedy. If we were children, we might all make a dive for it but, no, we’re mature adults.

Someone suggests Sandy takes it, “You think I’m too skinny?”

Sandy suggests Mandy LOVES chocolate, “Now you’re saying I’m too fat!”

The to and fro continues until, “It’s gone! Who took it?”

With my most innocent expression, “I wasn’t watching,” and to myself, “…but it was delicious.”

This photo is from the 100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups site.

Grey… not fifty shades, not five, just the funkiness seeming to envelope my daily routine. I wake to the alarm, get up, shower, dress, breakfast and head to work.

My alarm sounded. Expecting the usual grey in my depressed mind, I opened my eyes to see a little face smiling at me.

A kiss on the forehead from the little face and an, “I love you daddy.”

I sat up and hugged little face, “Thank you for bringing rainbows to my day.”

Some kind words and a loving smile can chase any grey from the world. Colour filled my day.

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Mandy, five, was a lively child but, as I looked out into the yard, I saw her suddenly jump up, prancing about the yard squealing. I was about to check what had happened when she suddenly stopped, looked at her brother and said something I couldn’t quite hear.

Tim, three, came running in, “Daddy, Mandy said I had a big pooh bum!”

Mandy, came in, “I did not! He put a cockroach down my back. I said he had a big problem.”

I really tried not to laugh, “Tim, it was wrong to put a cockroach down your sister’s back. Mandy didn’t call you a name.”

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“Poppa, why’d they put an orange spot on our hands?”

Poppa understood the meaning of the marks but explained, “It’s to show everyone we’re special.”

Poppa and grandson were shuffled into a compound teeming with thousands of others bearing the same mark. They were soon lost in the crowd of those barely surviving in their deprived world.

Having watched this, a small girl asked her mother, “Why were they put inside?”

Her mother warned, “We don’t speak of the Oranges. They aren’t people. People have, they don’t.”

In this world, the gap between those with and those without was vast.

This is the photo prompt from the #100WCGU site.

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Ratatgooey

Serves the average coven.

Ingredients:

Stagnant swamp water

7 ogres’ eyeballs

7 naughty boys’ toenails

13 rats

7 diced devilled eggplants

7 tablespoons of castor oil

Wolfsbane

Hemlock

7 vampire bat wings

7 babies’ cries

Mouldy vegetables

Method:

1.  Fill the cauldron with swamp water.

2.  Add devilled eggplants, castor oil, mouldy vegetables.

3.  Bring to a boil adding wolfsbane and hemlock to taste.

4.  Reduce to a simmer.

5.  Add the eyeballs, toenails, rats.

6.  Bring to a boil then allow to simmer for an hour.

7.  Add the cries of 7 babies for added taste before serving.

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My Kindergarten class had been asked to find out about the seasons. It was Maggie’s turn.

“Maggie, what can you tell me about summer?” I asked.

“We can go swimming.”

“…and winter will bring…?”

“It gets cold.”

“How about spring?”

Maggie’s eyes lit up, “You get pretty flowers and lots of birds.”

I could see she best liked spring.

“What can you tell me about autumn?”

She hesitated, “They have no clothes.”

“Who does?” I asked puzzled by her answer.

“The trees,” she answered.

I smiled, “Yes, the trees lose their leaves.”

Children find ways of explaining the world as best they can.

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