A flower's journey

She in among the winding branches lived a sweet flower. She sat patiently watching the world. People came and people went. Some briefly stopped to marvel at her beauty. Some commented on her arousing aroma, as they hurried along the walk. She couldn't understand why she was different. She couldn't see that she was special. She was lost among the tangled branches. Peering out she saw the sun rising and setting with unmatched beauty and grace. She saw birds flying, rain falling, and the seasons changing. But she was alone in the world. She never saw another like her, a kindred. As she felt a time of change approaching, she felt a sense of calm excitement and nervous anticipation. Autumn had arrived and she was to begin a new journey. She felt herself be freed from her branch on the tree she had always called home. She stretched out and, readying herself for a long fall, she sighed. Drifting down wasn't hard or nearly as scary as she had imagined. She was hopeful to find another wherever she was to land. But, as she fell, she looked at her tree. It was the first time she looked within her own home and she was shocked to see hundreds of other glorious flowers ready to fall with her. It was her dream to find a kindred and it took a leap to discover that they were always there beside her.

Looking for ideas

I am looking to write outside of my comfort zone. So, I am asking my readers/friends/followers/fans to submit ideas for a short story. I will write for you. I will post during the process and I will post the final product.

Will I write a story for you?

tweet it to me
 @mellybean1226

A Thoughtful Pen by whitelion

Inspiration

I am inspired, people. By the very blog that I created (& you are reading). A year of daily writing was too much for this busy mom, but I miss my studies of poetry. I miss school, really. Yes, I was one of THOSE kids. I liked school & now miss it, especially my studies in literary forms (i.e. poetry). I guess that there is some short stories that needs my attention on my computer.

SO...

I vow to you now, my random sprinkling of regular readers (that would be you, Ron), there will be much more writing in the near future. At the very least, I will find my old notebook from the project & input the poetry that I physically wrote but never posted. :)

"The others" part 2

The room was bright with the evening sunlight. I was breathless. There was so much color. It was everywhere. I don't remember ever seeing a High School Art Room that was so vibrant.
"Please, come in," he beckoned me into the room.
I smiled and felt my face blush. I was starting to get flustered. The room was warm and welcoming; I never wanted to leave.
"Ann, your new here. Right?" Sean's smile creped across his face, "I mean, I haven't been missing you for a whole month. Have I?"
"I'm a substitute." I felt like a little girl, like I was still in High School. It was a strange contrast from Ms. Marky, the take no nonsense substitute teacher, that I had been playing all day. I was mousy. I was shy. I was not myself. "It was my first day here. They have me bounce all over the district."
"Okay," he paused and smiled at me again. I wasn't sure if he was trying to put me at ease, but I felt my pulse quicken.
"What about you? How long have you been teaching here?"
"I just started this year. I was worried that I had missed out on meeting you."
I felt completely out of my mind. Why did he keep saying that? What was he doing? Flirting? Teasing? Just being friendly? I couldn't find the words to express myself. I didn't want to sound stupid.
"No, I'm just a substitute." I failed; I sound stupid.
I started to look away from him because I just didn't know how to handle this strange meeting. My eyes drifted along the students' pieces on the walls, shelves, windows and tables. Then I saw it, on his desk.
The object was something that I have seen before, but it looks old - really old. I slowly, very slowly walked over to the statuette. It wasn't big, maybe the size of my soda bottle. I leaned over getting a closer look. It was the color of sand and the top looked Celtic. I was about to touch it, but stopped myself. Really, what was I doing?
I looked at Sean to see if he was pissed that I looked like I was about to rummage through his desk. He was smiling, watching me.
"Sorry, there are so many beautiful things in here." I tried to cover up my weirdness. "I've been rude. I should get going; I'm sure that you have lots to do."
"You look like your glowing in this light." he stepped forward and reached for my hand.
I pulled back. Men don't react like this with me. I am average, on a good day. Plus, he was being presumptuous; I do have a boyfriend, I spend most night sitting up and waiting for him.

"The others"

The last bell rang for the day, as the evening sun colored the hallway with yellow-orange warmth. I stood watching the last of the students clear out of the parking lot. I was a substitute teacher in a new school and found myself wandering in the sleepy hallway as I walked back to my assigned classroom for the day. I found myself lost somewhere down by the art rooms. The students' art work decorated the hall wall. I stopped to look at a drawing of a woman; it was stunning and she was beautiful. I was wondering who this woman was, when I heard a soft voice from over my shoulder.
"Its his mother," the voice answered the question in my head.
"She is beautiful," I replied as I turned my head, "and the student is talented."
My brown eyes met with the deep emerald eyes belonging to the man behind me. For a moment, we were lost. I felt comfortable, at peace like we have known each other all of our lives.
"I'm Ann," I introduced myself to him.
He smiled and said, "Sean."
That one word changed my life. I followed him into his classroom; I didn't have anything to do or anywhere to go. I could go home, to my empty house and wait. I stepped into Sean's art room.

"Niki" part 3

http://melanieann1226.blogspot.com/2011/02/niki.html - Part 1
http://melanieann1226.blogspot.com/2011/02/niki-part-2.html - Part 2

With that one word, I heard forks drop as everyone turned to look at me. The steam from the corn drifted off into the wind and I felt utterly exposed. Everyone knew that I sent Jason to jail and that he deserved it for terrorizing me the way that he did.
I felt like I was in the middle of a horror movie, a bad one, last summer. It even sounds like a bad horror movie. He stalked me; when he found me, he beat me senseless; he was a piece of shit. Now he was out of jail. Less than a year. He spent less than a year locked up after tormenting me for two years. Yeah, it seamed fair. I didn't want to tell anyone. I didn't want them to look at me the way that they were right now.
"Jason."
"Jason!"
"Jason?"
"What do you mean, he is back?"
Anna looked a bit scared. I'm not sure if she acts so protective over me because she introduced me to Jason or because she was the one that told me not to get to police involved. She was the one that knew him and said that he just loses his temper.
I don't blame anyone. I didn't even what them to know. I just want to sit quietly and look at the water. Why am I here at the cabin.
"I mean that when we all get back to town, he is out of jail."
Questions. Everyone came at me with questions, some rhetorical, most asking what I was going to do.
"What am I going to do?!?!"
Again. I stop everyone.
"This is shit! I'm not going to do anything! I moved on. I'm okay now. WHY would I DO anything?"
Screaming at the end, really put a stop to the friendly dinner.
"I'm going inside. To be alone. And no I'm not hungry!"
I never mean to take things out on my friends, the only family that I have, but they are there and cannot possibly understand. They don't get what I've gone through, but they still care. I don't know how to handle this news, so I can't expect them to understand.
I walked toward the cabin, when I didn't stop I heard everyone start talking again. At first it was low murmuring. But as my feet started to get damp from the evening dew on the grass I heard someone laugh. I was thankful that they were not going to spent the night talking about poor little Niki. I saw the evening star in the navy sky and closed my eyes to make a wish.

"Niki" part 2

http://melanieann1226.blogspot.com/2011/02/niki.html - Part 1

I sat there leering at the delicious banquet set upon the table. It smells of summer time and family; it makes me sad. I tried hiding behind the steam coming off the pile of sweet corn. My friends were immersed in conversation and digestion, when Jon looked over toward me. His glare made me feel uncomfortable, naked and exposed.

"Niki, why aren't ya eating?"

"I'm not hungry."

My voice is audibly wavering.

"You are always hungry. What the hell is going on?"

Everyone stops; Anna has sauce around her mouth, she looks like a vampiric clown. I want to laugh, but I stuff a fork full of potato salad in my mouth instead. They can't possibly expect me to answer a question like that with a mouth full of food. Right?

"Well?"

"Mrufth."

"Really, Nick? Tell us what's going on."

I freeze like a deer in headlights. All eyes are on me; I want to run. I want to scream, but these are my friends. We are a family, created in love and survival. I shouldn't been running from them; I should be running towards them. I stammer and stutter to find my words.

"Its bad, guys. Jason is back."

"Niki"

Image: Tom Curtis / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I could smell the barbecue floating on the evening breeze. It was warm and quiet here by the river. I took my shoes off so I could dip my toes into the lazy water. After an hour, I thought that someone would come looking for me, but they must all be too busy having fun. If I listened hard enough I could hear laughter riding on the barbecue scented wind. This should be easy; its summer I have nothing to worry about. Right? But, I still have that nagging feeling in the back of my skull. I should be doing something, or at least remembering what I forgot to remember.
"You've got nothing to worry about, Niki."
I could have slapped her. But, Anna never knows what's going on. Its easy to give excuses to girls like Jenny, with her head full of air and all. It wasn't just her, nobody knew. How could anyone know? I never told them. This was my secret and my burden to bare. I would just laugh off their comments about my strange behaviors and topsy-turvy schedule.
"Niki!"
"Anna, I'm over here."
"What are you doing? You missed the craziest game," she paused trying to gage my lack of interest "anyways, din is on and we are all starvin'."
"Yeh, my toes are all raisins, so dinner sounds good."
I picked up my shoes and followed Anna. The katydids broke out in song as we climbed the hill back to the clearing. It was a sad tune. I regretted coming along on this adventure when I saw my best friends lined along picnic tables laughing, eating and living. I was dead inside and they could no longer help me.

"A girl"

Once upon a time...
There was a girl who was perfect and happy in her own little world,
until the day when someone told her that she wasn't good enough.
She learned an ugly lie that day; what people say matters.
The truth?
What people say can hurt, scar, damage, and destroy a beautiful soul.

This little girl grew into a torn adult, still beautiful on the inside
but too sad to show the world.
Time after time people told her and showed her that she wasn't good enough.
She grew up in a harsh world;
a world that has evolved into a hateful place for her.
She was hurt, scarred, damaged, and she felt destroyed,
until one day when she looked into a mirror and saw
the beautiful woman she had become.

This girl realized that all of those hateful words were a lie
and only fear reflected from all those people.
She started to hear more of what those people said,
they tore down what was beautiful and built up the ugly.
Out of the ignorance of their own hate, they showed her the dark lie.

As she saw the truth, she noticed that there were others.
People that were more like her. Beautiful on the inside.
Now she heard the beauty that came from these angels.
They spoke of how lovely she is and how much they value her.
It was only after she saw her own beauty and worth, that
she heard the words of those that mattered.

We do live in a beautiful world, full of beautiful people.
Remember to look for your beauty and choose your words carefully,
because words can
hurt or heal, scar or redeem, damage or built, destroy or create.