Posts Tagged ‘Smile’
Apr
Sacrifice And Prayer
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
John jumped into the trench for cover, and a dead soldier stared blankly into nothingness. John silently prayed, took a deep breath, reloaded his rifled musket and repositioned. He abhorred shooting at his own people, but that was the only way. President Lincoln wanted slaves freed and John believed slavery was inhumane.
John pulled out a picture of his wife and stared at her radiant smile. He said another prayer, kissed his wife’s face, climbed up the trench and fired. Return shots echoed in his ears.
His wife’s photo remained clutched in his hand as he fell to the ground.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Mar
Coda
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
He followed the familiar tune through the fog: strings, horns, that impossibly sweet voice. The gloom lifted to reveal the girl, singing her heart out under the spotlight, invisible orchestra in accompaniment. He cried tears of joy, felt love, and also something not quite love.
“You sing it to me every night in my mind. But it sounds so much clearer now. Why?”
She smiled sadly. “Can’t you guess?”
*
“Is he dead?” The reporter watched the killer’s body inside the execution chamber.
“Yes.”
He peered closer. “What does he have to smile about? He murdered that girl right on stage!”
From Guest Contributor Clay Waters
Feb
Happy Valentine’s Day
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
It had been six months since Emma’s dog Max passed away. She still felt his head on her lap, breathing softly as she pet his head. She missed their walks together and his playful barks when she’d throw him the ball. He’d catch it every time, the ball hanging from his mouth.
The picture on the end table had been a favorite. Max in her arms, licking her fingers, tail wagging, a smile on Emma’s face cuddling her friend.
The doorbell rang, distracting Emma.
“Surprise,” her boyfriend said and placed the puppy in her arms.
Emma’s valentine wish came true.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Dec
Christmas Morning
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Ben watches the kids open their presents. Sharon’s smile is frozen in place. His too. It’s like a hard layer of snow has settled over everyone, precluding self reflection.
He remembers the frenetic joy that would build as his presents got bigger, even as they became fewer. After the last one, a shameful disappointment set in, a feeling he refused to acknowledge even to himself.
His phone buzzes in his pocket. He slinks to the bathroom to read the texts in solitude. Sharon already suspects.
He uses the holidays as an excuse not to say anything. Let’s wait until January.
Dec
The Gift
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Timothy wants a brother for Christmas.
His mother, divorced, comes up with an alternative solution and sits Timothy on her lap. “Honey, there’s another way we could give you a similar present. Each month we can sponsor a child.”
Timothy tilts his head. “What does that mean, Mommy?”
“Well, each month we’ll send money to help the boy get food, education, and whatever he needs. Some children in other countries can’t afford these things and need help.”
Timothy’s face lit up the room with his radiant smile. “I like that, Mommy.”
In Bangladesh, a little boy has a happy holiday.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Nov
Cemetery Sentiment
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
in this silent graveyard,
no one mentioned death.
the hair on my arms stood at attention,
like soldiers in the cold war.
temperature below freezing,
any moisture turned into ice
and fell onto his eyelashes.
just before midnight,
we grabbed a bouquet of
plastic
yellow
roses.
he quivered from the cold,
but his smile never faded.
vows spilling from his lips,
like a waterfall made of his soul.
his nose was cold against mine,
after the final words of our connection.
pulling away he looked at me,
a shimmer in his eyes,
knowing,
that forever,
he will always be mine.
From Guest Contributor Neyalla Ryu
Aug
DDS Confession
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Here is a secret–it’s not about the pain. Rather, it’s about prolonging the discomfort.
I like to let the saliva build. Oh, you need suction? Sorry, it hadn’t occurred to me.
Pinching gums with the film is also a winner (hope you don’t have gingivitis!), as is leaving impression compound in too long (can you feel it hardening?).
But the all-time best: we exchange pleasantries, and once my hands are in your mouth I start the questions. The mask covers my smile. But look closely, ever so closely…
…and you might just catch when my eyes roll back.
Mmmmmm.
From Guest Contributor Jeff H.
Jeff is a high school English teacher. He blogs at https://batchandnarrative.com/ with his wife, a dietitian, about writing, food, and everything else.
Nov
Flower Girl
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Springtime breeds passion. It is the riotous pheromones.
A vision wanders down the garden path in a sundress that waves in the breeze like the surrounding petals. Swaying, they dance together. Her radiant smile and obvious love for the flirting blossoms is what originally caught my attention. She gently sprinkles water.
One of her solar smiles would make my life soar. She doesn’t notice me among all this teeming beauty. Nonetheless, in love-struck desire, I sit taller as she approaches. Surely, if she can adore flowers so fully, I can cherish her as much. If only I wasn’t a cactus.
From Guest Contributor Bill Diamond
Nov
Sweet Memory
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
The girls play hopscotch, the one sister’s hair bounces in rhythm to her skips. She giggles and bends to pick up the rock, balancing her leg in the air. She wins, and they play again and again, until the sky opens, drenching them. Hand in hand they run home with their mouths open tasting rain drops. Entering the house, their mother yells for them to take off their wet sneakers and leave them by the door.
They kick off their sneakers and socks.
In the kitchen there’s the sweet smell of chocolate chip cookies.
Eighty-five-year-old Cindy smiles at the memory.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Oct
Miss Plum In The Bedroom With The Candlestick
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Crime was common back then, and the law itself often criminal. Nobody was safe from the thugs prowling the city. It took constant and wearying vigilance to survive. If I happened to fall asleep, I’d wake up afraid. I think I was afraid she wouldn’t be there, peering out through a crack in the curtains. Why you here? I asked the first time she appeared. She just gave a fuzzy, fragile smile. The ambiguity was intentional. When you leave details out, it opens up possibilities for what can be – an ancient tree whose entwined branches support 34 brilliantly burning candles.
From Guest Contributor Howie Good
Howie co-edits the journals UnLost and Unbroken with Dale Wisely