Saturday, November 13, 2010

Saturday Centus - A Childhood Memory


Oh glorious Saturday. My favorite day of the week. It's the day we get to play with words and join the fabulous Jenny Matlock at Off On My Tangent for Saturday Centus!
Won't you join our merry band of Centusians and write a story? I won't tell you it's easy, because it's not. But it is fun! And it may just be that kick in the pants you need to start writing. The premise is simple. Jenny provides us with a prompt. We then take that prompt and write a story of 100 words or less, exclusive of the prompt. The only rules are that the prompt must be left intact, no pictures, and no profanity. Simple, right? And to sweeten the pot, Jenny leaves the link live for a solid week, so you've got plenty of time to craft a story.

The other benefit to joining us is the amazingly diverse group of writers who participate. And this is the most supportive and fun gang of people you will ever meet. I have yet to see a single snarky comment. Other than those from Tom. But he's just cracking wise about us Southerners, not about the writing. I think the ghost of Flannery O'Connor needs to visit him and straighten that boy out, don't you? I try to visit every link, every week because the stories are so great.

This week's prompt is in bold, blue font. Enjoy!


Gazing out the window, Eva sighed. It was going to take all weekend to rake those leaves. She remembered her first glimpse of this old place, falling in love with the magnificent trees guarding the house like benevolent sentinels. Now those same trees were the bane of her existence.

Eight grueling hours later, she looked around. Heaps of fallen oak leaves lay scattered like ancient burial mounds.

The early November sunshine cast golden rays of light over her handiwork. Laying the rake aside, she smiled. She couldn't resist. Laughing, she took a flying leap, landing in the largest pile, casting hours of work to the autumn breeze.











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23 comments:

Anonymous said...

More, more!!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh Kat, this is so good. I agree, more, more. You are so good at this. I love it. Hope you have a super day. Hugs, Marty

Strummed Words said...

I love the fun and laughter in your piece.

Deborah said...

Oh I just LOVED this, beautifully written and full of joy...wonderful :o)

Anonymous said...

Ha! That's the spirit! :)

Unknown said...

Dear Kat,
Thank you for your kind words on my SC-post.

I just love your protagonist, Eva, an adult character with a direct link back to her childhood! This is a story with so much joy, warmth and humour.

A delightful centus!

Best wishes,
Anna
For the benefit of other readers:
Anna's SC wk 28

Judie said...

Who hasn't done this? Thanks for the memory!

Viki said...

That's the thing about buying a house with a lot of trees, ton's of work, ha. They do look so beautiful though. I can imagine jumping in those leaves too LOL. Great Centus.

Bookie said...

Oh, this takes us back! Nice trip to the leave pile, good job....

Blondie's Journal said...

Beautifully written!

XO,
Jane

K&B by the Sea said...

I will no longer complain about raking the leaves that fall onto our front yard from the neighbour's one maple tree! ;-)

I remember jumping into piles of leaves up at the cottage when I was a kid - good times :-)

Kelly

kara@elements-interiors.net said...

Perfectly written! I just founf your blog and its awesome! I have an Interior Design blog and im doing 14 days of christmas trees, would love for you to visit! I have a GIVEAWAY TOO!

*ENTER PAMPERING Give-Away Here *
xoxokara

mrs. c said...

That is exactly what I would have done! Great story, I can see it in my "mind's eye". Hope you have a wonderful week and I appreciate your comment!

Anonymous said...

This sounds like so much fun! It's been many years since I played in the leaves. Great tale.

Teresa

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Love it, Kat! I often want to jump in a pile of leaves, myself, and feel like a kid again doing it! :)

xinex said...

For a while there, I thought you were talking about our yard, lol. Great job again, Kat! You are so good at this!...Christine

cj Schlottman said...

Great post, Kat! It took me back to my childhood when we kids would run through Daddy's raked leaves and he would join us. The downside? We all had to help repair the damage!

Thanks..........cj

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Kat, you are so good at this I just can't get over it! Loved every word. Perfect ending, too.

XO,

Sheila :-)

Koby said...

I have done this...it was as wonderful as you have described. Thanks!

mrs. c said...

Great job, great writing! Thank you so much for always commenting on my posts. i do love to take photos of those "different" things. Hubby and I are heading out early in the morning to watch rock climbers and to visit a waterfall...I can't wait!

Susan Anderson said...

What a delightful and descriptive autumn Centus. I could almost hear the crunch as she landed!

=)

Tgoette said...

I think the best part uf raking up Autumn leaves is the requisite jumping in the pile! Of course after I got dogs they caused me to discontinue my romp in the leaves. Darn dogs! Loved your story, Kat! A very nice use of the prompt.

P.S. Flannery says hi. She liked your story too!

Jenny said...

Kat, Kat, Kat!

You are brilliant as always!

Love the shifting viewpoint of the same scene through aging eyes...

And the joy in the remembrance.

Really, really excellent.

You can tell I liked this because I keep repeating myself.

You can tell I liked this because...

Oh...

OK.

You get the point!

Loved it!