Mondays Finish the Story – “Making Friends” PG13

I decided to try adding a new writing prompt to my list along with Friday Fictioneers and Five Sentence Fiction.

This one is entitled “Mondays Finish the Story” and is overseen by babso2you.  I accidentally did the prompt from October 13th so decided to publish it here on my blog as practice and, perhaps, try the current one on Sunday night or Monday.  For these you have a picture prompt (below) and you are given the first sentence (in italics below).  You are to finish the story in 100-150 additional words.  Enjoy!

Source: click on pic.

“Making Friends”

By Scott L Vannatter

The people waved at him from the bridge below. He smiled and returned the gesture. Then his mind began its usual rant. “What if it’s not a wave? What if they are really a gang of bandits trying to catch you later unaware? What if they aren’t even human?”

The entire ordeal was tremendously debilitating; it left him without energy. What would Dr. Meldeue think if she knew he had slipped so far backwards from their last meeting? “What if she is in it with the group? What if they called her cell phone to let her know he had failed such a simple test? What if Dr. Meldeue had put cameras all around to watch him?”

He sat down hard on the wet stones of the hillside. Police found him there nearly dead from exposure that night when a returning group who had seen him earlier saw him still on the incline but no longer waving.

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Namaste,

Scott

Friday Fictioneers – 9/18/14 – The Ground Beneath Our Feet – Rated PG humorous

Rochelle, once again, brings us Friday Fictioneers with this week’s prompt (pic below).  Mine follows the prompt.  For the others > HERE <  Enjoy!!!

Source: Copyright – Dawn Q. Landau Link: http://http//talesfromthemotherland.me/ (broken) Reuse licensing assumed.

“The Ground Beneath Our Feet”

By Scott L Vannatter – 100 Words

Stella walked slowly across the “Crypt of Millions” in which graves had been dug, filled, and then covered in concrete and marked off with stones. The problem was, here in the mountains, snow fell almost constantly. Thus, came Stella’s job: shoveling the snow and dusting the graves and stones.

There were almost never any visitors, so she often wondered why she must shovel so much. Then, it would happen: the snow and cold would crack a grave and the spirit of the dead would come forth.

For her part, she did not mind. It gave her someone to talk to.

_______________________

Namaste,

Scott

Flash Friday – 150 Words – “A Take on ‘A Bridge Too Far'” – Rated PG13

Fairy walking bridge, Huangshang, China. Photo by Jesse Varner.

Time again for Flash Friday hosted by Rebekah Postupak.  This week – a 150 word (exactly) story based on the photo prompt above.  After reading by entry, click > HERE < to see the rest of the entries.  Enjoy!

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Jalinth found a small handhold in the cliff’s nearly sheer side and pulled himself up another foot.  He then lodged his foot in a crevice to give his hand and arms some relief.  He had been doing this over and over for hours now, trying to gain access to the bridge path near the half-way point of the mountain.

His arms and legs ached and he felt so near the point of exhaustion that his breathing would hitch every few intakes.  His mind whirled and he started the ordeal again.

With herculean effort, he pulled himself up to where his eyes cleared the edge.  Not daring to smile lest the energy sap him completely and he fall to his death, he swung over and onto the two-foot wide ledge at the bridge.  He translated the Chinese lettering on the pass itself, written in bold red strokes:

Bridge Out

He cried.

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Namaste,

Scott

The View from the Mountaintop

English: Caraiman Cross on Bucegi mountaintop. Secondary view, Busteni city in Prahova Valley. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

So, you are sitting on top of a mountain and looking all around at the world. What do you notice? Me? I notice how flippin’ high I am! But that is me. Yes, that is, certainly, me.

For most of us, we notice all the beautiful land lying out below us. You can see the grassy meadows, the forests, the rivers, everything just laid out under you.

Do you understand what you are truly looking at? Let me give you a second to think. Now, have you figured out what you are looking at yet?

I doubt you get this. It would be a little against human nature for you to see this truth. Give up? Okay, what you are seeing is the valley.

Mountaintop view looking north from 18.21512N, 66.21719W (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here you are standing on top of a mountain, most people’s dream, to be on the mountaintop. And, you are thinking what a gorgeous valley is down there. That same valley that 99% of the people (probably you, too, in reality) are in and just dying to get out of and go…where? Well to the mountaintop, of course.

As humans, we seem to constantly be dissatisfied with where we are, wherever that is, and want to be somewhere else. People in the heat often want to be in the cold. People who are around snow the entire time wish they were on the beach while those on the beach may long for the forests. It is a never-ending circle of “I wish”.

This is not really a “hey, be satisfied with where you are” type of thing. Really, wanting to change and improve your life is your business and is, probably, good for you.

change (Photo credit: Sean MacEntee)

What is really important here is to see things for what they are, opportunities. God, my word for the entity in charge, has led you to a set of circumstances. He is now allowing you to chose (again) so that the next thing can happen.

I don’t believe at any point, does God go, “Well, I am done with you. You have messed it up too much this time.” If He did, I would be dead.

Think for a minute. I am in pain 24/7 at about a level 2-6. I am on about 5-8 medications (10 if you count supplements to help me). My diet is horribly restricted. I have a heck of a time walking without a cane and not always pleasant with one. I can’t hold a regular job. I don’t sleep well at all, and I see double.  But, life is wonderful!

Iconic screen shot from the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Yet, that is my mountaintop! From this position atop my peak in life, I toss out advice, humor, spiritual awareness, practical knowledge, or insane dealings to over 70 (76 at last count) countries every day. I receive comments from different people around the world and consider myself to have friends from, at least, a dozen countries; people I would love to meet and have a meal/chat with. I do work from home (just not hugely profitable yet in the money field). I am a writer, something I have always wanted to be. I am even, now, a published writer. It feels good to say that. And, I have a following of people who look forward to hearing from me each day.

I have friends here as well as family. I do get out; I do things. I own my home; I take care of myself. Yes, this is my mountaintop. And, yes, I do look at the valley around me and wish…
but that is another blog…
Enjoy your mountaintop and your valley.

Namaste,
Scott