Time for Flash Friday, hosted by Rebekah Postupak. This week’s photo (below) tied with the prompt “Coming of Age” should make for an interesting set of stories. After reading mine below, please click > HERE < for the rest. Enjoy!!!

source: Past and Present No 2, by Augustust Leopold Egg, 1858. Public domain photo. Reprint permission assumed.
Crisis of 1885
SVBookman 160 Words
Janet smoothed her daughter’s long hair and whispered “Shoosh, my little lady. All will be fine.” The young girl’s head and body was racked with emotion. Janet had not even been able to get her daughter to speak of what had happened. She knew it dealt with the Johnson boy, the rascal. The mother breathed short, shallow, and fast to keep from tensing and adding to her daughter’s troubles.
Finally, she spoke. She looked up at the older woman’s sweet face and said with all embarrassment and with hushed tones, “He, he wanted me to to…”
“Yes,” continued mother with some urgency.
“He wanted me to … kiss his his…” again the pause. Janet was dreaming up ways to kill the boy without anyone finding out.
“…Kiss his … hand! Oh, mother, how could he ask me to do that so soon?” The tears started freely again.
Janet tried to let the air out slowly. Oh, to be young again.
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Namaste,
Scott
Timber
@SVBookman 159 words
Timber was nearly as special as its rider: Talymara. Long dark tresses, deep languid blue eyes, a beauty eternal, Talymara found Timber at death’s door, having turned a hoof and lying in the ditch near the enchanted woods. She stayed with the mare, healing it with the energy of love and life, restoring the hoof, and walking it daily until it could support, first its own weight, then that of its beauteous new owner.
The two rode, nearly inseparable, for two years before riding into Bonebrook after learning a Necromancer had taken over the village. Talymara’s use of her enchanted blade, “Forevermore”, resulted in the real death of the Necromancer and freedom for the village. For this reason, King Narmony knighted her as the first female member of the King’s guard.
Timber rode with her for many adventures. When the animal died, Talymara had the local enchantress entomb the mare in wood, an eternal shrine to a devoted animal.
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Namaste,
Scott