This blog is for all who desire to create with words and images.
You are encouraged to participate in any way that is meaningful to you.

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All prompts beneath the photos are only suggestions.
You are free to use the photo to be inspired to write any way you desire.
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There is no deadline on posting,
you may offer your writing to any prompt anytime.
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Write and you are a writer.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Conversations

Photo by Monica
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Suggested prompt...
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There are some very interesting conversations going on
down there, eavesdrop a bit and share with us.



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Jill had only a few minutes to gaze around and take in the dynamic array of colors in the umbrellas overhead before Lane walked in.

Lane. What a gorgeous, well-to-do, gregarious friend. She'd known Lane for over ten years and each year brought them closer and closer together. They thought nothing could dampen their closeness and both of them knew with great confidence their friendship could survive anything.

Lane sat down and looked at Jill with her widening smile and added a wink of the eye and said, "You better cancel your afternoon commitments now because we're in for a long haul today." Long haul was their code word way of saying there was something to share with the other that was going to go way beyond a mere lunch hour. A long haul was serious business and could only be used in dire emergencies.

Jill laughed heartily and said, "You've got to be kidding! Could you have given me a little more notice? Sheesh, girl! Ok, let me call my assistant."

Lane settled into her seat and threw her expensive handbag over the back of the chair while Jill carefully laid out rescheduling items over the phone. Lane glanced in every direction and tried to take in the myriad of guests around her while even surveying the passersby. She calculated the risk of being in such an open venue but, with much chagrin, decided there would never be a good place or a good time. Today is the day and it's been on her mind all week. It had taken up to today to find the words.

Jill closed her cell phone, dismissed the creeping feelings of guilt for last minute cancellations with clients, and turned to face her friend. Long hauls always required immediate need and urgent attention. "Lane, what's going on? What's up with the long haul?

Lane's expression quickly grew pensive, her eyes met straight on with Jill's, and she softly whispered, "Jill, it's cancer. And it's aggressive. And, um, the doctors are in agreement that curable treatment is not an option. They collectively have measured my future at just a few months."

Silence. There was only silence. Jill lost her breath as though she had been hit by a ferocious wind. All of the conversations around her melted into a dim, roaring white noise. She looked up and felt her emotions swirling like the intricate patterns of the gradient blues in the umbrella overhead.

It was going to be a long haul.

~ Denise ~

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11 comments:

Heather said...

Don't you wish that you could be a fly on the wall? ~ a song I hear often on the Disney Channel by Miley Cyrus....


It sure would be nice to hear myself think for a moment. All of these people sound like bee's working at their hives and all they do is complain about the life they live.

Okay now, hold steady, I've almost got it. What? Who said that? No, tell me they didn't see me here.

{sigh}

"SHOO! Go away! Nasty bug!", that's all that I hear. Don't they know that I need to eat too? What is wrong with these overgrown yapping fools?

Oh, wait...there's something. Aaaah, at last; a sweet delight. Mmmm, it tastes dreamy.

* splat *

Laura Jayne said...

LOL... now that is wonderfully clever writing Heather. :) Still smiling here.

Dan Felstead said...

As soon as I walked in, I knew something was going on and when I saw his face and her disheveled hair...I spun on my heels and left his office. He would die if he knew we were talking about it on our lunch break! I know he is my boss but I don't think I can ever look at him the same way again. He is such a jerk and his wife surely knows what is going on.

Dan

Sarah said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sarah said...

@Dan:
Your response actually reminded me of some drama going on here in my own office. The disgusting thing is, they fired the secretary but kept him because he is a "big seller"... I'm looking at everyone differently these days...

as for my own writing:
---------------------

Conversations nothing!

Just look at those glorious umbrellas!

How can you possibly comsume and disgest and discuss anything beneath such decorative canopies? My eyes would surly be too distracted to divulge any sort of secret in that shade. Lets go talk somewhere a little less noisy and take our lunch out on the grass.

Just make sure the towel is bland, my mouth is easily distracted by beauty.

~ Denise ~ said...

Jill had only a few minutes to gaze around and take in the dynamic array of colors in the umbrellas overhead before Lane walked in.

Lane. What a gorgeous, well-to-do, gregarious friend. She'd known Lane for over ten years and each year brought them closer and closer together. They thought nothing could dampen their closeness and both of them knew with great confidence their friendship could survive anything.

Lane sat down and looked at Jill with her widening smile and added a wink of the eye and said, "You better cancel your afternoon commitments now because we're in for a long haul today." Long haul was their code word way of saying there was something to share with the other that was going to go way beyond a mere lunch hour. A long haul was serious business and could only be used in dire emergencies.

Jill laughed heartily and said, "You've got to be kidding! Could you have given me a little more notice? Sheesh, girl! Ok, let me call my assistant."

Lane settled into her seat and threw her expensive handbag over the back of the chair while Jill carefully laid out rescheduling items over the phone. Lane glanced in every direction and tried to take in the myriad of guests around her while even surveying the passersby. She calculated the risk of being in such an open venue but, with much chagrin, decided there would never be a good place or a good time. Today is the day and it's been on her mind all week. It had taken up to today to find the words.

Jill closed her cell phone, dismissed the creeping feelings of guilt for last minute cancellations with clients, and turned to face her friend. Long hauls always required immediate need and urgent attention. "Lane, what's going on? What's up with the long haul?

Lane's expression quickly grew pensive, her eyes met straight on with Jill's, and she softly whispered, "Jill, it's cancer. And it's aggressive. And, um, the doctors are in agreement that curable treatment is not an option. They collectively have measured my future at just a few months."

Silence. There was only silence. Jill lost her breath as though she had been hit by a ferocious wind. All of the conversations around her melted into a dim, roaring white noise. She looked up and felt her emotions swirling like the intricate patterns of the gradient blues in the umbrella overhead.

It was going to be a long haul.

CDB said...

@Denise: I really enjoyed that.. but do you know what? I'd made up a different ending, that Lane leans over and gives Jill a very passionate kiss. (Oh, prob b/c I'm writing a story that ends that way!)
==============================
Allow me to talk, and I'll talk over you. Allow me to falter, and I'll falter around you. It's not a perfect day, it's not a perfect world. Allow me to listen to the colors of this swirl. I swear I'll try again when we start out, I promise to come around when we finish.

SSQuo said...

Blue Umbrella 1: I wish those colorful hotties would just surround us instead of leaning against that wall. How can they resist us??

Blue Umbrella 2: Ya, damn right! (turns) 'hey girl, wanna listen to some cool conversations, here's a spot, right next to me.'

Colorful hottie 1: (twirls around) 'Whatever!'

Hedgie said...

Okay, which one of you jokers on the zoo staff painted all the Galapagos tortoises with stripes?

Monica said...

"He FINALLY asked me to marry him!"

Now why is it I could only thing in terms of marriage!?! :-)

I enjoyed what everyone wrote, thank you!

Monica

~ Denise ~ said...

Thanks for choosing my story! Ah, I'm flattered! ;)