Prompt: 084. invitation

1. The invitation was waiting in the mailbox.

A. The invitation was waiting in the mailbox. It was a deceptively innocent white greeting card envelope with the addresses written on the front in a flowing black script that took her memories straight back in time to Before.

“What’s wrong?” His hand came to rest on her shoulder as he peered at the invitation she held. “You got some bad mail?”

“The worst,” she said hoarsely. Her throat felt tight and dry. “It’s an invitation. It’s time for the Reunion. I knew this day would come, I just didn’t think it would be so soon.”

2. They’d told him he had an open invitation to drop by, but he made sure to call first.

A. They’d told him he had an open invitation to drop by, but he made sure to call first. He didn’t want to show up and find out they hadn’t really meant it. Or worse, he didn’t want to show up and find them mid-coitus, their faces passion flushed as they tried to pretend he hadn’t interrupted them.

Sometimes he looked at them together, the two people he loved the best in the world, and he hated them. For being happy. For having each other. For not realizing how they were killing him a bit at a time.

3. The whole afternoon was spent soothing her upset child. It seemed the entire class had received a birthday invitation–except her kid.

A. The whole afternoon was spent soothing her upset child. It seemed the entire class had received a birthday invitation—except her kid. She wasn’t sure who she should be angry at: the spoiled birthday brat or the brat’s parents.

All she knew was that she was angry and had to hide it. Because her kid was counting on her to be an example of a better person—a role she already struggled to perform.

Being nice was always something she had to put extra work into. Given her druthers, she was sour like wine left to vinegar; traces of sweetness and kindness spoiled by bad storage and time.

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Prompt: 083. orchids

1. The house was large and immaculate, with polished wood furniture and stainless steel fixtures. Glass bowls and vases held perfectly formed orchids in shades of pink, purple, and blue.

A. The house was large and immaculate, with polished wood furniture and stainless steel fixtures. Glass bowls and vases held perfectly formed orchids in shades of pink, purple, and blue. It was a dream home ripped straight from a magazine.

And every look around made her want to throw her head back and scream: “Let me go home, you monster!” But she held her silence, with a bitter heart.

She dreamed of being home again. Of her mother’s smile and her brother’s laugh. Yet always she awoke in this prison, with her perfect clothes and her lovely hair and the stifling loneliness and ever growing despair.

2. He tended to the prize-winning orchids with endless patience and care. Their heady perfume put him in a daze he had no desire to break from.

A. He tended to the prize-winning orchids with endless patience and care. Their heady perfume put him in a daze he had no desire to break from. It was in these moments that he allowed himself to fantasize about being someone else; someone without all of his cares and responsibilities.

He would mist the velvet petals and putter around the greenhouse. Nobody else was allowed inside, and it was relief. He needed the time with his own thoughts, away from all the grasping desires and thunderous voices of people refusing to leave him alone.

3. The presents were elegantly wrapped in orchid print paper and silk ribbon.

A. The presents were elegantly wrapped in orchid print paper and silk ribbon. They rested on the table with the wedding invitations and car keys. The bags had been packed and stacked near the door. They had readied everything for their trip. Yet they were still home.

She stood next to the couch, trying not to loom over him, but unable to tear her eyes away from his face. “You can’t keep doing this. We RSVP’d. Everyone is expecting us.”

He wrapped his arms tighter around himself and sunk further into the couch. His eyes were shamefully focused on his feet. “I’m sorry. I swear that I am.”

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Prompt: 082. literacy signs

1. The large poster had “Learn to read” above the image of an open book with smaller text below proclaiming, “Reading opens a new world.” The education committee had been leaving literacy signs all over the city and this batch had appeared since yesterday.

A. The large poster had “Learn to read” above the image of an open book with smaller text below proclaiming, “Reading opens a new world.” The education committee had been leaving literacy signs all over the city and this batch had appeared since yesterday.

It seemed as though everywhere a person looked, there was a sign. A mandate. A plea with a corresponding reward. It all seemed strangely normal considering they were a city under siege.

2. There were signs of growing literacy in the local community. It made the traders worried for their profit margins as the ability to read could disrupt the upcoming contract negotiations.

A. There were signs of growing literacy in the local community. It made the traders worried for their profit margins as the ability to read could disrupt the upcoming contract negotiations.

A meeting was arranged where someone floated the idea of sabotaging the education efforts. There was mention of the Homeless Youth Center and the headmistress offering free reading lessons to anyone willing to learn. It was suggested that she be made to disappear.

3. If the many signs were to be believed, adult literacy was of serious concern.

A. Daniella wasn’t sure what to think. If the many signs were to be believed, adult literacy was of serious concern. But she didn’t think there were any adults in her life that couldn’t read.

Every day she stared at the posters between the glass walls of the bus stop. There was a literacy sign facing inside and one facing outside, so whether she was leaning against the post or sheltering from the rain, she was always looking at one of those signs.

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Prompt: 081. candy canes

1. “Look Daddy, a big candy cane!” the boy cried, pointing at the red and white barber pole.

A. “Look Daddy, a big candy cane!” the boy cried, pointing at the red and white barber pole.

“No, sweetie, that’s not a candy cane. That’s a sign for the barber shop,” he said.

“‘Barber shop’? Like where we got haircuts last time?”

“That’s exactly right. Come here, kiddo. It looks like there’s a lot of people up ahead. I’ll carry you.”

2. Every night she added new candy canes to the Christmas tree to replace the ones they’d eaten during the day.

A. Every night she added new candy canes to the Christmas tree to replace the ones they’d eaten during the day. To the children, it seemed as though the tree replenished its store of candy canes through some form of holiday magic. It added to their delight as they tore through the house in a mass of siblings and cousins, dodging around the legs of the grown ups.

Cheery music came from the wireless radio in a constant stream from eight in the morning until eleven o’clock at night with an hour interruption each day for the Children’s Radio Hour. It was the only moment of peace amongst the children, as they gathered on the rug, hushing each other and falling under the spell of the radio stars.

3. He was dressed like a sexy elf in shiny green booty shorts and a matching half shirt. His eyes smoldered seductively as he sucked on the candy cane in his hand.

A. He was dressed like a sexy elf in shiny green booty shorts and a matching half shirt. His eyes smoldered seductively as he sucked on the candy cane in his hand. He was every wet dream given form, with lips and abs and muscular thighs.

He was also printed on a calendar.

December’s favorite elf hung on the patch of wall next to the fridge with 31 days spread out below him. The first twelve days each had a red X crossed through it, and the 20th had been circled with “Meet Qt.” written in it.

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