Writing Prompt 12

[Laina]

Tommie asked me to do the Writing Prompt. So here goes.

Topic - Are we alone?


Use these words in your story. Have fun!

Goosebumps

Purple

Apple

Ice

Marbles

[jacks girl]

Are We alone?

"What did you do with Sam's marbles "Randy said reaching over to smack his sister Patty on the arm. The Look Patty gave Randy was Ice cold and a Purple marble fell out of her hand. "Where is the rest of them?"

"I don't have them." Patty said getting up.

"I bet you have them in your pocket." Randy said but Patty rose and run home with Randy close on her heels.

Sam who was paying more attention to the funny looking clouds eating a June apple l glanced down, all of her marbles were gone. But the Purple one it was still there. She looked back to the sky, there was a pale look to it now and it seemed almost green.

"Does the sky look green to you guys." Sam asked holding her hand over her eyes to see the sky as goosebumps began to rise on her arms but Patty and Randy were gone and so was her purple marbles.

Samantha looked up from the key board, would anyone ever believe her. Even that day Pat and Randy didn't see what she did. They were to busy arguing. The Apple logo appeared onto the screen saver and Sam rose from her chair picked up her favorite purple cup and went to the sink.

She looked over the spot it was the same day June 6th only 15 years later. Many times she'd tried to write the story of the day the sky turned green but she could never finish it. Never quite make the words come out.
She was about ready to go hit the delete button for the umpteenth time when she felt a ice cold breeze coming in the screen door.

Goosebumps appeared once again and she slowly looked toward the door. Stepping outside she felt a breeze and though she feared what she would find she looked up. There it was again, she sky and that pale green color. She walked out to the exact spot where 15 years ago she'd seen the green sky. As she looked down she couldn't help but smile. There on the ground lay her marbles all of them was there even the purple one.



I wrote the day the Sky turned green when I was 8. I've lost it now over the years but I kind of brought it back to life here.

Jacks








Marbles

[Laina]

Hey speedy gonzales.............great job!!! Thanks for sharing a memory with us. I'm still in the thinking process.

[Tommie Lyn]

We Are Not Alone
Word Count: 393


“No, Mama, I don't want to go out with him.” Sharyl's voice was low and calm, but Mattie sensed the tension and knew her daughter's stubborn resistance was like an ice burg, most of it hidden and awaiting collision with the unsuspecting. Well, Mattie would make sure that collision would not be with her.

“But--”

“No.”

Mattie sighed. “Well, I guess I'll go start supper.” Change the subject. Catch Sharyl off-guard. Then try another tack. “Reckon I'll bake an apple pie for dessert. Your Papa, he always likes him a piece of pie after supper. More'n any other kind of sweets.”

She stole a glance at her daughter as she left the living room, took in the glint in Sharyl's eyes and shuddered. Hard as marbles, that girl. How'd I ever have a kid like that one? You'd think she'd be at least a little bit like me. Mattie shook her head and continued on to the kitchen.

A purple haze colored the late afternoon sky and outside the kitchen window, leaves on the camellia rustled and clicked against the glass in a sudden gust. Mattie shuddered and rubbed the goosebumps on her arms. It was starting again. They'd be here soon. Her breathing came faster with each sign of the manifestation.

She turned toward the dining room door when she heard the scrape of Sharyl's shoe on the linoleum.

“Why do they keep doing this?” Sharyl asked. “They don't even bother to hide it from us anymore.”

“I don't know, hon. I 'spect it's 'cause we know . . .”

Sharyl rubbed her still-flat stomach. “Maybe they'll leave us alone once they get what they want.” She looked down at the front of her jeans where her hand rested.

“No, hon. They won't. They didn't when . . .”

“When what?”

“When you were born.”

Sharyl's face went through a sequence of expressions. First, puzzlement. Then realization. Shock. Horror. Sorrow. And resignation. “Me? I'm one of them?”

“Yes.”

“But . . . how?” Sharyl looked at her father's photograph on the dining room wall. “Papa's not one of them . . . is he?”

“Oh no. But your Papa doesn't know. He thinks you're his. And folks won't know about your baby if you'll go out with that Parker boy, like I said. He'd never realize. And he'd marry you, keep you respectable. Like when I got your Papa to marry me.”

[Laina]

Great job Tommie! I feel like I just entered the Twilight Zone.

[melw]

Are We Alone
217 words


Sarah sat alone feeling the goose bumps over her arms. She rubbed them to try and bring some warmth into them. Sarah never liked storms, even as a child, she used to hide under her covers and put her hands over her eyes.

She looked outside and saw the rain get heavier. All of a sudden little marbles of ice fell all around the yard. It was pinging loudly on the tin roof.

Carly came running into her bedroom, bouncing on the bed. “Mummy I am scared.”

“Why darling?” Sarah held Carly close. “Why are you scared?”

“I don’t like storms. What if a big monster comes in?”

“A big purple monster from the story? That story is make believe.”

“But we are all alone?”

“We are never alone. God is always with us.”

“I forgot that Mummy. Can I stay here with you until the storm is over?”

“Yes, of course, but we have to get up early tomorrow to make applesauce at Grandmas.”

Sarah sometimes felt so alone, but it was nice to know no monsters would ever be around because God is always there. She held her daughter close and thanked God that she was never alone. She also thanked God for the apples, the way she looked after her daughter.

[Laina]

Sweet story Mel. Great message. I like the ice marbles.

[PepperGardenMan]

Are We Alone
Word Count - 500


“Shhh!” Maribel hissed the command to Joshua and Caleb. Her twin five-year-old brothers never let her out of their sight during the long summer months. They had seen her timid advance up the back staircase to the forbidden attic and, of course, had followed her.

The teenager knew the perfect birthday present - there were thirteen steps to the attic, so an excursion to the taboo land seemed her destiny. Now they stood in a broad, nearly pitch-black room with sparse furnishings. The narrow path of light from the partially shut door cast eerie shadows behind the shape of a large apple wood desk.

The trio edged their way to the desk. “Marbles,” Joshua whispered, “did you bring a flashlight? It’s kinda scary up here. I‘ve got goosebumps already!” When the twins were younger they had trouble saying “Maribel” - it became “Marbles” and the name stuck.

“No. But there’s nothing to be afraid of.” Maribel spoke slowly, keeping her voice even, but could barely hear over her pounding heart.

A set of wooden drawers sat atop the desk. Ornate metal rings with curious purple shapes molded into them served as the handles for the drawers. Maribel tentatively reached for the closest drawer, grasped the ring, and slowly slid it open.

Suddenly, from the side of the room still totally hidden in the darkness, there came the unmistakable sound of a muffled cough. Ice encased their hearts as the blood drained from their faces.

“Dddd-did you hear thhh-that?” Caleb strained to see something in the void.

“Hello? Who’s there?” Maribel was glad the twins could not see the terror contorting her face.

Silence was the only reply.

“Please. We know you are there.” She now wondered if they had misinterpreted some innocent sound. Perhaps there was no one there.

“Push the drawer back in, and no one will be hurt.” A thin, reedy voice, dripping with venom, broke the silence.

All three kids found their feet had already propelled them toward the stairs. As they tumbled out the door and down the stairs, Maribel slammed the door behind them. They ran to the kitchen to find their mother.

“Mom! Mom! There’s someone up in the attic!” They all shouted at once, panic-risen voices colliding.

Mother patted the boys on their heads while she shook her head and let a little grin play over her face.

“Yes, dears. Your father stayed home from work with a migraine headache, and napped on the cot in the corner of the attic. He didn’t want to be disturbed by your playing. There is no monster or killer!”

Behind them they heard Dad’s jolly laughter.

“Kids! That was great fun! I think you scared my headache away. Hope I didn’t scare you too much!”

All three let out a collective sigh of relief, then ran to their father and rained playful blows about his body.

“Don’t do that! That wasn’t funny!”

“Happy Birthday, Marbles!” Dad’s trick gave Maribel a memory she could never forget.

[Laina]

Ha ha! Great story Pepper.

[Laina]

Annie It's Jesus
Word Count - 500

Annie looked in her flowery purple tote to see what was left. She and Billy missed lunch and she was beginning to get hungry. An apple, a banana and a sandwich were left. She had a few peanuts and full water bottle too. Not much for two people she thought.

Annie was a tourist exploring the marble quarry and the ghost town in Marble Colorado. Snow and ice displayed itself across the base of the mountain. Somehow she took a wrong turn.

She chided herself for dawdling. She had a bad habit of doing that. Worry overcame her. Somehow she got separated from her friends and wasn’t sure how to get back to them. Her younger brother tagged along behind her. She stopped until he caught up and grabbed his hand. “Billy hold my hand okay? It looks like it’s going to rain so we need to find some cover.”

Billy pulled away and ran ahead laughing. “This is fun Annie. We’re on a ‘venture.”

Annie pulled a shoe off and emptied it of a pebble. “Yeah a great ‘venture.

The sun veiled itself behind dark, gloomy clouds overhead. A bird shrieked from within the scraggly branches of an ancient aspen. Spruce pines swayed two and fro as the blistering wind hit her cheeks.

Concerned that she and Billy may get wet, she raced towards an abandoned miner’s cabin near the quarry. A fallen tree blocked her path. Annie hurdled the toppled trunk like a pro. Billy had already scrambled over it.

Thunder grumbled and pierced her ears while lightening split the air. Goosebumps climbed up her spine. Her heart pounded in her ears from running.

“Billy wait up for me. We’ll need to make it to that hut up ahead. If we don’t hurry we’ll be drenched.”

The door creaked open as Annie touched the door of the ghoulish looking cabin. The sky opened up and poured water like a swimming pool overflowing its rim.

She looked around the room. A mouse scurried across the floor with Billy right behind on all fours. Spider-webs covered the walls and furniture. Branches eerily screeched across the window, which caused her to shudder.

“Are we alone, Annie? Are you scared? It’s getting dark outside.”

Annie was frightened, but she needed to be strong for Billy. “Come here Billy. We’ll be okay. Someone will come looking for us. If we have to stay her all night at least there’s a candle and some matches. There’s an old bed over there in the corner we can lay on if we have to. Let’s pray that someone will find us soon, okay?”

Four-year-old Billy got down on his knees and positioned his hand in Annie’s. Before Annie could begin she heard, “Dear Lord Jesus, we’re scared. We’re lost. Please come find us. In Jesus’ name, ah…”

There was a knock at the door. Billy hurried to answer it. An elderly man stood in front of Billy on the step.

“Annie it’s Jesus. He found us.”

[Tommie Lyn]

What a heart-warming story, Laina. Good job!

[Laina]

Thanks Tommie!