Saturday Centus - Cindy's Revenge

Jenny has thrown us a minor curve ball this week for Saturday Centus. Yes, we have a written prompt to use. And yes, we have up to 100 words. BUT - the prompt must be used in a poem. That rhymes! ARGHH! I've never written poetry in my life! I had planned to continue my haunted house story based on this week's prompt. When I saw Jenny's instructions, I almost threw up my hands. But then I started thinking... I know, I know, that can be dangerous. Click here and here if you want the back story on this. Click here to read all the entries from this week and to learn the rules that Centusians must live by. The prompt is in bold font. My apologies in advance to all the great poets out there.

Sassy Girl

I stomped my foot and threw a fit

So dang mad I thought I'd spit

I want to go and have some fun

You know I can, you've seen me run

No girls allowed Frankie said

Smiling, patting me on the head!

I'll show him I'm not a chicken

But if he catches me, I'm in for a lickin'

He didn't hear me slip in the back

Time to launch my sneak attack

Locked the door to the murder room

Hid in the closet with the brooms

Hearing his shouts, I laughed with glee

I may be a girl, but you can't catch ME!

Saturday Centus - Haunted House? Part Two

I couldn't resist. This was such a fun prompt, and I couldn't let the boys run screaming into the night without knowing what was in that house. So I've written a second story. Same prompt, same rules. Don't have a clue what I'm talking about? Click here to read the first part of this story. Click here to visit Jenny and her amazing band of Centusians for Saturday Centus!

Haunted House? Part two

With the curtain parted, Frankie watched the boys run screaming down the street. Laughed so hard he got a bellyache. Nobody was going to win 5 bucks from him, even if it meant sneaking into this creepy old place to play a prank on his little brothers. What goobers! Greg probably wet his pants when that curtain moved, and Bill took off so fast Frankie swore his sneakers were smoking. Now he just had to slip out without being seen. If the folks knew he'd been in the Sawyer place, they'd tan his hide.

Funny, he didn't remember locking that door behind him...

Saturday Centus - Haunted House?

My favorite day of the week is Saturday. Even when I have to work! Why? Because that means it's time for another edition of Saturday Centus. Jenny Matlock at Off On My Tangent hosts this fun event every week. I don't know that I've ever thanked Jenny for letting my muse run free. Sure, I've been writing since I was in high school (back in the dark ages. You know, when dinosaurs roamed the earth and all that) but I never, ever let anyone read my work. Until I met Jenny. She gives us a prompt. We then write a short (and I do mean short) story of 100 words or less. This has been so much fun, and it's given me the kick in the pants I needed to start writing again. And my fellow Centusians? The greatest group of people you will ever meet. I don't think I have ever read a nasty comment from any of them. Well, except when Tom gets going on the South. But I know he says those things out of love. Really. I think he is a closet Reb. "Me thinks he doth protest too much" and all that jazz. HA! Seriously though, join us! It's so much fun, and it's a great outlet for pent up creativity. Jenny leaves the link live for the entire week, so what are you waiting for? This week Jenny has given us a nice little prompt, beautiful in it's simplicity. Can't wait to see what everyone does with it. The prompt is in bold italics. Enjoy!

The decrepit old Victorian stood sentinel on it's hill, daring anyone to come near. Greg and Bill crept up the crumbling brick walk, determined to get into the old Sawyer place. Frankie had bet them 5 bucks they couldn't stay the night. "That place is full of haints, you won't last a minute!" With the moon lighting their way, they walked up sagging porch steps. Hearts pounding, they glanced up at the second floor window, where old man Sawyer went nuts and chopped his family to pieces. The curtain parted. Their screams echoed all the way down Catfish Alley as they ran home.

Saturday Centus - Slick Rick

Good morning fellow Centusians! It's a beautiful day and I'm getting ready to march on the Capitol. But first things first, it's time for Saturday Centus, so graciously hosted every week by the lovely Jenny Matlock at Off on my Tangent. If you don't know the drill by now, Jenny provides us with a prompt and we write a short story of 100 words or less, exclusive of the prompt. I've had an idea for today's Centus in mind all week. I worried that I might have a problem working the prompt into the story, but Jenny must have read my mind. The prompt is PERFECT! Perfect, I tell you. I try very hard to keep politics and rants out of my posts. But our State is in a crisis, and the people who will suffer are the most vulnerable, our children. So I hope you forgive me if I indulge in a bit of a rant this week. The prompt is in bold italics.

"The lieutenant governor, the speaker, their colleagues aren’t going to hire or fire one teacher, as best I can tell,” Perry said. “That is a local decision that will be made at the local districts.” The Senator shook his head in disbelief. Why had the Governor made that statement? He had never been accused of being intelligent, but the Governor was a political animal who knew better than to throw gasoline onto an already explosive situation. What had started as a small rally protesting education cuts had blossomed into a massive public relations nightmare. He turned back to his reading. Texas Constitution, Article 15. Impeachment.

Saturday Centus - Blue Note

It's time to visit Jenny Matlock at Off On My Tangent for Saturday Centus. Give Jenny some extra love this week, she's had a rough time with some dental work. Yet she still manages to host this fun event! The rules are simple. Jenny provides us with a prompt. We let our imaginations run wild and write a short story of up to 100 words, exclusive of the prompt. No pictures, no vulgarity and the prompt must be used intact in the the story. Simple, right? Jenny even leaves the link live for a full week, so you have plenty of time to pen a tale and join this merry band of Centusians. Join us! I promise you'll have fun. The prompt for this week's story is in bold italics.

Blue Note

Friday night. The place was hoppin'! Jake heard the clink of bottles, the low hum of the crowd, an occasional burst of raucous laughter cutting through the din. Layers of smoke hung in the air, thick as cotton. Jake looked down at his horn, his faithful companion, the finish worn from years of jamming in joints like this. She'd earned her keep tonight, drawing the attention of the sharp dressed man at the back table. Minnie, grinning from ear to ear, slipped him the card between sets. Jake stared in disbelief at the words. Eli Slaughter - Blue Note Records. Everything depended upon this single card.

Saturday Centus - Answered Prayers

It's Saturday, which can only mean one thing. Actually, in my case it means several things. My turn to work a Saturday shift. Which in my line of work means cramming 8 hrs worth of appointments into 4 hours. Because even though Fluffy has been sick for 2 weeks, this is the first chance you've had to bring your poor pet to the vet. I DO understand how difficult it is to get that hair appointment with Mr. Charles at Ooh La La salon, but really? And I know that cancelling your tennis game is just not an option. Perhaps you should get one of those little Zu Zu pets. I know it's not quite the same as having the French Poodle to match your Louis XIV decor, but at least they won't have the audacity to vomit on your expensive rugs. What? Yes, we do close at noon on Saturday. No, I cannot wait an extra 2 hours until you are done shopping. Actually, we also have families and lives. Really.

Oh, sorry, where was I? Oh yes, happy thoughts, happy thoughts. It's time for Saturday Centus, hosted by the ever gracious Jenny Matlock at Off On My Tangent. Jenny has thrown us curve balls for the last two weeks, but this week we are back to our regularly scheduled program of a written prompt. Our task? To write a short story of 100 words or less exclusive of the prompt. No profanity, no pictures, and the prompt must be left intact. This week's prompt is in bold italics.

Enjoy! And the next time Fluffy eats an entire rope toy that is longer than she is, call your vet. Don't wait two weeks. Please? If not for me, do it for that little fur person who depends on you to take proper care of her!

Answered Prayers

Jill walked to her car, exhausted after an 8 hour shift that turned into 11 hours on her feet. No breaks, no lunch. She couldn't remember a busier day. She turned the key. The grinding noise was getting worse. "Come on Bessie, please make it until payday!" Pulling out of the deserted lot, Jill remembered that she still had to stop for coffee. No way was she going to face that 5:00 alarm without it.

Praying that her account wasn't overdrawn, Jill inserted her card.

The ATM machine began dispensing twenties. She stared at the receipt. Congratulations, you've won the $5,000 Visa Debit giveaway!

Saturday Centus - Earworm

Well friends and neighbors, it's Saturday Centus time once again. Time to tank up on lots of coffee and come up with a nifty little story of 100 words or less based on a prompt provided by Jenny Matlock at Off On My Tangent. Jenny has thrown us a another curve ball this week. The prompt is a line from a current popular song. A song that I hear at least 15 times a day while commuting to and from work. A song that drives me around the bend. So thanks Jenny, for getting "Catch a Grenade for Ya" stuck in my head. On the weekend, when I don't normally have to hear it. What a pal! Make sure to stop by Jenny's and visit all the links. The stories are short, so you can easily read them all. And you don't want to miss any of them. These Centusians have some pretty amazing writing chops! Jenny generously leaves the link live all week, so you've got plenty of time to join us. But I will warn you, once you start doing this it's really hard to stop! This week's prompt is in bold italics.

She'd been on this road forever. The winter landscape was flat and barren, with only an occasional mule deer or buzzard breaking the monotony. Hadn't seen another car in hours. The radio picked up two stations. One playing Top 40, the other some right wing talk show spewing vitriol like an evil Old Faithful. Click. "I'd catch a grenade for ya..." She'd heard that song at least 10 times since leaving Austin. She'd like to find that band, send them a grenade! Click. Silence. "throw my hand on a blade for ya, yeah, yeah, yeah..." She would never get that silly song out of her head!

I'd catch a grenade for ya...

Saturday Centus - Happy Valentines Day

Once again, it's time to join Jenny Matlock at Off On My Tangent for another thrilling edition of Saturday Centus. Why thrilling? I love words, I love to play with them, read them, roll them around and see what can be done with them. Jenny provides us with a prompt and we write a story of 100 words or less using the prompt. It's a great exercise in learning what is truly important in a story. It can be painful to cut our beautiful words out and send them to the recycling bin, but it has to be done.

Every once in a while, Jenny throws us a curve ball. This week she has chosen to test our loyalty to the Centusian cause. Instead of a written prompt, she wants us to write using a photo as our inspiration. But not just any picture, oh no! We have to use this!

Here's the challenge. Use up to 50 words to write a Hallmark card for Valentine's Day, using this image. Piece of cake, right? I had planned on continuing my Family Secrets saga, but for the life of me I couldn't figure out how to do that with this crazy prompt. So that's going on the back burner for now. I hope you enjoy the card (tongue planted firmly in cheek) And excuse me while I make a phone call to the authorities. There has to be a law against doing this to a poor, defenseless animal doesn't there? No? Well, I hope this little fella figures out a way to wreak vengeance. I'm thinking nightstand as fire hydrant....

Don't forget to visit all the links. This week should be very interesting!

Especially for you on Valentine's Day

For 2.99 you were expecting Linda Carter?

Happy Valentines Day!

Saturday Centus - Family Secrets Part II

Saturday! Time to join Jenny Matlock at Off On My Tangent for Saturday Centus. Take some time to join our merry band of Centusians as we strive to strike literary gold in 100 words or less. The concept is deceptively simple. Jenny gives us a writing prompt, and we write a short story of 100 words or less exclusive of the prompt. There aren't too many rules, but you must leave the prompt intact exactly as written, no pictures, and keep the story PG! Try to visit all the links, there are some amazing writers in this group. And Miss Jenny generously leaves the link live for an entire week, so you've got plenty of time to pen a little fable and join us! This week our prompt is supplied by Ames at Girl Raised in the South. Stop by and say hey, Ames is a lot of fun!

I received quite a few comments suggesting that I continue the story I started last week. Click here to read Family Secrets Part I. This week's prompt gave me a natural segue into part II, so here it is. As always, the prompt is in bold font. And I had to be a bit creative with my word count. I've chopped this baby for the past 3 hours. I'm not counting the date headers in my word count. So sue me...

Kate read, a knot forming in her belly. It was growing bigger by the minute.

10.15.47

That no account Jr Ewell was rounding up kids to pick pumpkins. I've never seen Roy so angry...

10.25.47

Roy men's club met last night. I don't know what those boys were up to tracking muck all over mama's oriental carpet. Took all day to get that mess cleaned up...

11.1.47

The whole town is buzzing like a beehive. Seems Jr just up and ran off. No one's seen hide nor hair of him all week. Good riddance to bad rubbish...

The puzzle was falling into place. Kate didn't like the picture one bit.

Saturday Centus - Family Secrets Part 1

Once again, it's time to join Jenny Matlock at Off On My Tangent for our weekly fix of Saturday Centus. Yes, I said fix. If you've participated, you know what I mean. If not, believe me, this fun little meme is addictive! This is week 39. I jumped into the pool late, having been intimidated by all the fantastic writers out there. Don't let that stop you. This is an incredibly supportive group of people. Unless you write about the South. Then Tom's muse is going to start cracking wise about 'possums and outhouses. But I digress. The discipline involved in writing these short little jewels is an amazing way to develop your writing chops. In case you don't know the drill, Jenny (or a guest) provides us with a writing prompt. Use this to write a story of 100 words or less, exclusive of the prompt. The link stays live all week, so if you wake up Saturday with no inspiration, you still have 7 days to come up with something. But be warned, once you start participating, it's hard to stop. Think of Saturday Centus as the "Lays" of blog events - you can't stop at just one!

This week's prompt was given to us by Judie at Rogue Artists Speak. If you haven't met Judie, stop by. You'll be glad you did. She is a gifted artist and writer, and I always look forward to her contributions to Saturday Centus.

Here is my story for this week. The prompt is in bold font.

The room looked just as she remembered. Except for the dust. Grandma never would have stood for that. The old four poster bed and dresser that her great grandmother had shipped from Ireland. Intricate lace curtains, now yellow with age. The beautifully carved chest at the foot of the bed, handed down to generations of first born daughters.

She had returned to the old home place to find some solitude. Peace and quiet. No cable or internet, cell phone service erratic at best. Nothing to distract her from her writing. Instead, she'd stirred up a hornet's nest of trouble. Trembling, She lifted the stack of letters from the ancient chest.

Saturday Centus - That Child is Touched

Jenny, Jenny, Jenny. Did I do something to offend you? Have I broken the rules and not been aware of it? Why else would you do this to me? Ok, last week was bad. You threw down the gauntlet of 25 words and I delivered. But Sci Fi? Really? Science flippin' fiction? Other than a couple of Asimov stories, I never, ever read Sci Fi. Ok, I did read A Handmaid's Tale, but that was a trick. It was written by Margaret Atwood. Had no idea that it was sci fi until I had already purchased it. In case you don't know why I'm grumbling like an old bear, visit Jenny Matlock at Off on my Tangent. She has this neat little weekly event called Saturday Centus. Jenny provides us with a prompt and we write a story of 100 words or less exclusive of the prompt. Last week, she cut us to 25 words plus the prompt. This week, she gave us back the missing 75 words, but we have to write a science fiction story. Make sure that you visit all the links, this is a truly amazing group of wordsmiths. However, I am making absolutely no promises with mine this week. You'll have to take your chances, and if it's dreadful, go yell at Jenny! As usual, the prompt is in bold font. Oh, and I almost forgot. After getting over the shock of the genre, I read the prompt. And proceeded to spill my coffee thanks to a coughing fit. I actually know what show the line comes from. And (forgive me in advance all you Trekkies out there) I can't stand that show. Once again, I'm stealing Jenny's favorite line. Sigh ....

Lying on the dew soaked grass, Ariel gazed at the stars. Twinkling against the black velvet of the sky, more beautiful than any display at Tiffany's. She cringed as she heard the shouting from the house. Great, they were arguing again. About her, no doubt. She shouldn't have told her mother about her friend. She was much too rigid to believe in such nonsense. They always thought Ariel was different. Now they thought she was nuts! But she had proof that there were other worlds out there. And he promised to take her. Summoning her courage, she closed her eyes. "Beam me up, Scottie"...

Saturday Centus - The Heart Attack

Good morning! Jumped out of bed, all excited to see what Miss Jenny had in store for us today. I wanted to get right on it, because I have to work today. Have to keep paying that internet bill, so I can stay in contact. So anyway, got out of bed, poured a big mug of coffee, stretched my fingers in preparation for that 100 word writing marathon and what do I find? A joke from Jenny. No, really, this has to be a joke, right? She loves to shake things up, and this week we are limited to 25 words. Not 250 - I was hoping that she had forgotten to type the zero on the end. But her instructions are quite clear. 25 words. I've told Jenny before, and I'll tell you now. My flippin' grocery list has more than 25 words. TWENTY FIVE WORDS. The recording on my voice mail has more than that. My standard phone greeting at work has almost that many words. Now some of you may be hopping up and down for joy. I, on the other hand, have a rare condition known as "vox plenteous". Which loosely translated from the Latin means big mouth. Really. Look it up. If you don't have a clue what I am rambling on about, visit Jenny Matlock at Off On My Tangent. Saturday Centus is a fun (usually) weekly meme in which Jenny gives us a writing prompt and we then craft a story of 100 words or less exclusive of the prompt. Yes, you read that correctly. We usually get 100 words, which is hard enough. This week, 25 lousy stinking words. This should be interesting! Make sure to visit all the links. The writing is great, and the stories are so short - especially this week - that you should have no trouble visiting everyone.

Now, if you've been paying attention, my introduction up to this point has 311 words. Let's see what I can manage in 25 - TWENTY FIVE! The prompt is in bold font. That's even skimpy this week, just 3 little words. In the immortal words of our lovely hostess, sigh ...

The smell of antiseptic, the whisper of rubber soled shoes, the sting of an IV catheter. As memory returned, I sat bolt upright. Where was the lottery ticket?

Saturday Centus - The Last Laugh

Good morning fellow Centusians! I always look forward to Saturday morning (except the ones I have to work tee hee) to see just what our Miss Jenny has in store for us. Time to knock the cobwebs out of our brains, down gallons of coffee and write a short - really short - story of 100 words or less based on a writing prompt supplied by Jenny Matlock at Off On My Tangent. The rules remain the same. No pictures, no vulgarity, and no splitting the prompt. And Jenny, being the soul of generosity that she is, keeps the link live all week, so we have plenty of time to come up with something. This week, Jenny is shaking things up. No written prompt, we have to write our story based on this picture.

Seriously? Try and visit all the links. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with for this!

Here goes nothing folks, hope you enjoy.

The Last Laugh

Well, well, well. What do we have here? A snowstorm! Ada couldn't wait until all those naysayers woke to see what Mother Nature brought last night. Living in an orange grove was pretty boring most times. When little Miss Cindy came back from her New York shopping trip, she brought tiny hats for us oranges. She said it would keep us from getting cold. Ina and the others had laughed when Ada wore hers with pride, rain or shine. She wasn't going to be the one to stifle that child's imagination. Bet they won't be laughing today!

Saturday Centus - Happy New Year

Hello! I'm back! Sorry I've been MIA, but it has been crazy around here. Now the holidays are behind us and it's time to get back to work. Time to rejoin Jenny Matlock at Off on My Tangent

for another round of Saturday Centus. Just a quick refresher. Jenny gives us a writing prompt, and we spin a tale of 100 words or less (exclusive of the prompt). No pictures, no vulgarity, no splitting the prompt. Jenny leaves the link live for a full week, so you have plenty of time to join. And make sure that you visit all the links, there are some amazing writers participating.

To all my fellow Centusians, I hope I don't get kicked out for being absent for 3 weeks, I've missed you guys! This week's prompt is in bold font.

Kate stared at the strips of wallpaper hanging in the front hallway. Another project that never got off the ground. Stacks of half read books lay scattered throughout the house, the new bookcases standing unfinished in the guest room. New Year's always started with such promise. But as the year wore on, it became apparent that it was going to be the same old, same old. No time, energy, or money. She glanced at her crumpled up list of resolutions. Grabbing her notebook, she wrote

Eat more, exercise less, gain weight, procrastinate...

Kate laughed. Finally, a list of resolutions that she would have no trouble keeping!

Saturday Centus - The Perfect Christmas

Saturday morning, and it's time to put on that old thinking cap. Join Jenny Matlock at Off On My Tangent for Saturday Centus. Jenny provides a writing prompt, and all you have to do is write a story of 100 words or less. No pictures, no profanity and no splitting the prompt.
She even leaves the link live for a full week, so you've got plenty of time to craft a tale to share. And make sure to visit all the links, this is an amazing group of writers and you never know what they will come up with. You'll laugh, you'll cry... it's better than a night at the movies! It's so much fun to see how the same prompt speaks so differently to everyone.
This week's prompt is in bold, blue font. My take this week is for every person out there who struggles to make their holiday picture perfect. Martha Stewart and reality don't usually meet, no matter how we try!


Mother Brown was stepping aside, letting her host Christmas for the first time. After months pouring over Martha Stewart magazines, her home was perfect. Handcrafted placecards at each table setting. Cinnamon sticks and apples simmered on the stove, scenting the air. Stockings painstakingly crafted of vintage linens culled from antique stores. Simple, elegant mantel, with evergreens, magnolia leaves and berries gathered by hand. She was pleased. Not a single thing the old bat could criticize.

Now for the tree. Opening the first box, she stared in disbelief at the bin of tangled up holiday lights. And uttered some words that Mother Brown would definitely not approve of!


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Saturday Centus - Writer's Block

It's Saturday Centus time again boys and girls! Remember how you used to look forward to Saturday morning cartoons? Well, Jenny Matlock at Off On My Tangent is my "grown up" version! Our lovely host Jenny provides us with a prompt, and we write a story of 100 words or less exclusive of the prompt. It sounds easier than it is, but it's a great way to stretch your editing muscles and your imagination. Jenny leaves the link live all week, so you've got plenty of time to come up with a nice little tale to share. Because the stories are so short, I get to visit every link. And I'm glad, because Jenny's mad little band of Centusians is one talented group!

This week, another curve ball. In Jenny's words:
This week we have a unique prompt supplied by Clearspace...a regular contributor to SC. Here are the instructions for this week: This weeks prompt writing will be one with a twist. You know those horoscopes in newspapers? One of those will be your new prompt. Pick one randomly from a paper or a website and write a story <100>

The horoscope that I chose is in bold font.

A favorite hobby or skill takes priority this morning and occupies your mind until you eat your next meal. Your many interests may include reading, trains, dolls, model building, miniatures, etc. There may be an opportunity to attend an art show this afternoon, perhaps a public showing of collections and hobbies. You will enjoy being with some of your friends that have the same sort of hobby interest as you. Working with hobbies is a wonderful way to get to know someone better. A common interest in spiritual values among family members may occur as well. You happily involve yourself in many conversations with great people today. You may be called upon to settle a debate this evening. You know just how to direct the conversation.

The scent of coffee wafting through the air roused her before the alarm. Thank God for automatic coffeepots. Throwing the twisted blankets aside, she slid out of bed and stumbled into the kitchen. Fired up the laptop, and just for grins, checked her horoscope. What a crock. She hadn't written anything in weeks. Her muse had skipped town, taken the last train out without so much as a goodbye. Sighing, she opened her unfinished manuscript and was shocked to feel herself falling down that familiar rabbit hole. Eight hours later, her rumbling stomach called her back to reality. She smiled.


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Saturday Centus - What's in a name?

It's time to join the lovely Jenny Matlock at Off On My Tangent for Saturday Centus! Life has been crazy lately and I haven't been able to post much. But I always make time to join our little band of Centusians for this weekly writing exercise. Jenny provides us with a prompt, and we write a story of no more than 100 words exclusive of the prompt. The only rules are no pictures, no profanity and no splitting the prompt! Jenny is gracious enough to keep the link live for the entire week, so you have plenty of time to craft a tale to share.
And the stories are so short, there is no excuse for not visiting all of the links. You'll be glad you did, there are some amazing writers who join every week.

I look forward every week to waking up on Saturday and seeing what Jenny has provided us to work with. This morning was no different. Until I read the prompt. Initially I groaned, then started laughing so hard I almost lost my coffee in a very unbecoming way. This is going to be an interesting week! Here is my contribution, the prompt is in bold blue font.


For years, he suffered. Bullies taunting him in the schoolyard. Raised eyebrows and barely suppressed laughter as teachers read his name for the first time. Outright howls whenever his name was called in public. His parents certainly had a flare for the outrageous. How many kids grew up in a house painted Barney purple? He always assumed that the anesthesiologist had used a free hand with the demerol when he was born. But what was his dad's excuse?

Then he read the job posting on Monster. And smiled as he entered the corporate offices of Butterball.

"Pardon me," said Tom T. Urkee. "Which way to HR?"


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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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Saturday Centus - Danny Part 2

This is my second contribution to Saturday Centus this week, hosted by the lovely Jenny Matlock at Off on My Tangent. This started as a memorial to a very good friend, mixing some fact with some fiction. 100 words was not going to cut it, so this is part 2 of my story "Danny". The prompt is in bold blue font. Hopefully this story stands on it's own, but if not, read Part 1.


"... Storm of the Century. Let's look back at some images from that day..." Turning off the television, she didn't need pictures to remember. Waking to a wind so fierce it rocked the house. Ancient trees snapping like kindling in the early morning tempest. Looking out the kitchen window as Frankie's bike flew past, cartwheeling through the heavy air like a lunatic gymnast.

She warned Danny to stay home. Devil's Hollow was surely washed out. Even if it wasn't, no one could handle those hairpin turns in that storm.

For most, it was the 11th Anniversary of the storm. For her, it was the day Danny died.


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Saturday Centus - Danny Part 1

Time for Saturday Centus hosted by the lovely Jenny Matlock at Off On My Tangent. We are back to our regularly scheduled program, after last week's detour into brevity. You know the routine by now, right? Jenny provides a prompt, and we fashion a micro story of 100 words or less exclusive of the prompt. Last week, Jenny shook things up and allowed us only 50 words. 50 words! Guess she got tired of all the complaining - "100 words is not enough, I can't possibly write a story with only 100 words" whine, whine, blah, blah, blah. After last week, this is going to feel like writing an epic!

This story is fiction mixed with some fact, based on a dear friend from high school. I couldn't do it justice in 100 words, so this one's a two parter. And before Tom starts his Southern bashing, I will tell you that I never could stand "The Devil Went Down to Georgia". But now I do at least smile a bit when I hear it, because it reminds me of my friend... The prompt is in bold, blue font.


The morning broke clear and crisp, frost sparkling like fairy diamonds. Oh, the irony. Amazing how something as simple as the weather could change everything.

She closed her eyes, remembering Danny. A gentle giant, his laugh booming through a room like happy thunder. The way he danced whenever he heard "The Devil Went Down to Georgia". Good Lord, that boy could NOT dance, but his sheer joy infected everyone. His bear hugs, lifting her off her feet as he sang "Short People", grinning like a loon. She smiled, wiping tears from her face.

It was the 11th Anniversary of the day she lost her best friend.






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