Sunday Fiction Ch 5 - Trouble is brewing

If you have missed earlier entries please check out The Fiction page.

Nick did not want to disappoint Nicole again. He knew that when he had missed the baby's birth Nicole was deciding if she should stay or leave. He really did love her and their son made every day a joy. He sat on the bench at the airport trying to come up with a way to get back to Nebraska. The drive would take almost ten hours and that would mean he would have torent a car.

Luckily he was at an airport that rental car kiosks. As he made his way over in that direction he could see the crowds around the counters. Apparently he was not the only one who was ready to leave the airport. By the time he made it to the front it was two o'clock; he knew then that he would end up driving all night. That was if he even could get a car.

"I'm sorry sir, but the only vehicles he have available are a mini-van or a jaguar. There are noeconomy or standard rate cars available."

"I'll take the jaguar. It is a one way trip and will be returned in Omaha tomorrow."

He filled out all the paperwork, called Nicole and told her he was on his way and that he would probably be home around three A.M., and he got into the car.

Driving all night was exhausting and by the time he pulled into the driveway he was ready to go to bed. Walking up the stairs he heard screaming. Nicole was pacing in the nursery with a screaming Bruce on her shoulder.  "Want some help?" Nick asked as he entered the room.

Relief washed over Nicole's face as she handed the baby over. Nick began talking soothingly to Bruce and he calmed down. "How long's this been going on?"

"Over and hour," she answered. "He woke up screaming and there was nothing I could do to calm him down. I've tried everything short of putting him in the car and going for a drive."

"Maybe he had a bad dream," Nick said. "He seems to be calming a bit now. Do you think we could lay on the bed with him? I'm totally wiped out."

"Of course," she nodded. "Do you want to give him back to me?"

"No, I'm okay with him and does seem to be settling. He might fall asleep with me. What time's the party?"

"I've told everyone one o'clock; that way Bruce will have had his nap and we should be able to have fun."

"What do you need me to do?" He asked, already lying flat on his back on their bed.

"I'll let you know in the morning. Go ahead and get some sleep now."

Sunlight was creeping inside the bedroom when Nick awoke to the high pitch sound of Nicole’s screeching. Finding himself fully awake he threw back the covers and raced down the stairs to see what happened. He saw that the front door was open so he automatically assumed Bruce had gotten into trouble in the front. He couldn’t have been more wrong.

“What is this!” Nicole demanded, pointing at the Jaguar. “You travel for business and rather than spending any extra money or time with your family you buy an expensive toy for yourself?”

“What?” Nick started to ask but was interrupted.

“I don’t understand anymore Nicholas. I gave up my job, my life, everything to become your wife and mother to your son. Do you even thank me? No! You don’t. And then to top things off, rather than doing something special on the one year anniversary of our son’s birth, you go buy yourself something. You are the most selfish, egotistical man I have ever met!”

Nick just shook his head and asked, “Are you done now?”

“Done? I haven’t even gotten started!”

“Well you might want to pause a bit when you find out that I do not own that jaguar. It was the only vehicle left to rent from the car rental place. I did not want to miss this day and decided it was a necessary evil.”

Nicole’s mouth formed the perfect ‘o’ as she said, “I don’t believe you.”

“Why not?”

“You have lied to me over and over again about where you are, what you’re doing, who you’re with and this is just one more lie.”

Nick sat down on the front step. “Do you really think that I am putting myself first before our family? Do you think I like going away every week and coming home dog tired? Have you ever thought that I am doing it all for you and Bruce. I want you to have all the nice things I can give you and without working that would be impossible.”

“You know what Nick; I’m way too tired to fight anymore. Do whatever you want. I have a party to get ready for.”

Nick watched Nicole walk into the house and put his head in his hand. "I hate it when she gets into these moods," he thought to himself. 

Cover me

Time to Ponder yet again.  You know the drill... I post a prompt that has multiple meanings and we get see what you write! Add you post to the linky and wait for the magic!!
(If you want to send me words that you would like us all to ponder - please feel free to do so!)

Today's word is COVER (you can always grab the prompt early by visiting the Pondering Page



I didn't even think of cover me until I wrote the title --- but that is when you cover someone so they can do something else.  Police cover each other, sisters cover for each other - you know when the parents are not in the 'need to know' circle. I never actually had a sister do that for me, but I'm pretty sure I have a few blog sisters that would do that!

I originally came up with this word the week we did blanket - I realized that these words are synonyms - or words that have the same meaning. However, you would say a window cover, not a window blanket - even though I have seen blankets covering windows!

You cover up blemishes and tattoos (can you say Antonio?) and you cover up when you are cold.
You can take cover when things are being hurled at you - I like to call that curling up into a ball!

You cover food and there are different kinds of 'wraps' for that

and uncovered cake is 'bread' and covered is cake - go figure!

A bandage is used to cover a cut - or is it used to hold the antibiotic in place?

Not sure anymore...this word has a whole lot of meanings and I am sure that I did not cover them all!

Link up and let's see what you came up with.

Benched Leaves

For earlier entries please go to:  The Fiction Page

Nick did not want to disappoint Nicole again. He knew that when he had missed the baby's birth Nicole was deciding if she should stay or leave. He really did love her and their son made every day a joy. He sat on the bench at the airport trying to come up with a way to get back to Nebraska. The drive would take almost ten hours and that would mean he would have to rent a car.

Luckily he was at an airport that rental car kiosks. As he made his way over in that direction he could see the crowds around the counters. Apparently he was not the only one who was ready to leave the airport. By the time he made it to the front it was two o'clock; he knew then that he would end up driving all night. That was if he even could get a car.

"I'm sorry sir, but the only vehicles he have available are a mini-van or a jaguar. There are no economy or standard rate cars available."

"I'll take the jaguar. It is a one way trip and will be returned in Omaha tomorrow."

He filled out all the paperwork, called Nicole and told her he was on his way and that he would probably be home around three A.M., and he got into the car.

Driving all night was exhausting and by the time he pulled into the driveway he was ready to go to bed. Walking up the stairs he heard screaming. Nicole was pacing in the nursery with a screaming Bruce on her shoulder.  "Want some help?" Nick asked as he entered the room.

Relief washed over Nicole's face as she handed the baby over. Nick began talking soothingly to Bruce and he calmed down. "How long's this been going on?"

"Over and hour," she answered. "He woke up screaming and there was nothing I could do to calm him down. I've tried everything short of putting him in the car and going for a drive."

"Maybe he had a bad dream," Nick said. "He seems to be calming a bit now. Do you think we could lay on the bed with him? I'm totally wiped out."

"Of course," she nodded. "Do you want to give him back to me?"

"No, I'm okay with him and does seem to be settling. He might fall asleep with me. What time's the party?"

"I've told everyone one o'clock; that way Bruce will have had his nap and we should be able to have fun."

"What do you need me to do?" He asked, already lying flat on his back on their bed.

"I'll let you know in the morning. Go ahead and get some sleep now."





Linking up with my friend Josie at Two Shoes Tuesday where today's prompts were bench or leave.

Sunday Fiction - ch 4

If you have missed earlier entries please check out The Fiction page.

Nicole was exhausted. She had no idea how much energy giving birth and nursing a new born could be. She would drift in and out of sleep as the baby did. She completely lost track of time or what date it was. The truth was the Nick could only help out so much. He couldn't nurse the baby, and he was at work most of the time during the day.

The laundry piled up, the dishes (and she didn't even know where they came from) were overflowing in the sink, she couldn't remember the last time she took a shower or even ate a decent meal.

Nick walked in the door one night about three weeks after Bruce was born and found his wife and son curled up on the only clean spot available - the corner of the room. He gently knelt on the floor next to her and said, "Honey, you can't sleep on the floor."

Bleary eyed she looked up at him and whimpered, "I couldn't find another spot."

"Let me take care of that," he gently prodded. "I'll watch Bruce; you go take a hot bath."

Forty five minutes later she emerged feeling much better. She was still exhausted, but she was clean and relaxed. The first thing she noticed was that Nick had changed the sheets on their bed and taken her overflowing hamper out of the room. She wandered down the hall and heard water running in the kitchen and sound of dishes clanging. He had managed to make a minor dent in the pile of dishes and was softly humming to the baby.

"Why did it take me falling asleep on the floor to get you to help?" She asked.

"Because I'm a dummy and should have pitched in as soon as I saw you getting behind. I won't let that happen again."

The little family soon got into a nice routine. Up at six, naps at nine, lunch at noon, park at one, nap at three, dinner at six, bed at eight. Well at least that was the goal for the day. There were many times the little man of the house did not cooperate as well as days when the big man of the day was not present. For Nicole it was the perfect balance. And then Bruce turned six months old and all things changed. He no longer slept for a morning nap; screamed on the walk to the park and refused to eat dinner.  Rather than getting upset Nicole just adjusted the schedule around Bruce, not around Nick.

Bruce was a quick learner. He was crawling by seven months and walking at ten. Nick was not home to see his first steps as he was again away on a business trip.

Nicole noticed that as soon as she got a grip on motherhood and the chores and her new role in life that Nick went back to traveling every other week. Although she knew he had been promoted and now had a larger area that encompassed Nebraska, Kansas, and Northern Texas; she did not anticipate the traveling that was involved. Most of the time when he was on the road they did not even talk as their schedules were so different. He had business meetings during the day and dinner meetings every night. She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d gone out to dinner.

Bruce’s first birthday was coming and Nicole wanted to plan a nice party or family and friends. Her parents were coming, as well as some of the neighbors. Nick did not have any family. His parents had died some years before Nicole met him and he had been an only child. The party was planned for a Sunday afternoon in a park near the lake. On the Friday before the party Nick was in Texas and a freak thunder storm hit. His plane was grounded. Saturday morning came and the damage to the small airport he was flying out of was so great from the storm that all flights had been cancelled until Monday. He called home and gave Nicole the bad news.

“Nicholas, rent a car, go to a different airport, I don’t care what you do but you are not going to miss your son’s first birthday; especially since you missed his birth!”

Can you see?

Time to Ponder yet again.  You know the drill... I post a prompt that has multiple meanings and we get see what you write! Add you post to the linky and wait for the magic!!
(If you want to send me words that you would like us all to ponder - please feel free to do so!)

Today's word is GLASS (you can always grab the prompt early by visiting the Pondering Page



Well this week I have glasses on my mind as 
My absolutely adorable dog got a hold of my new glasses less than two weeks after I got them and destroyed every part of them. I had to order a whole new pair - and of course insurance doesn't cover that!
Maybe I should put her in a glass case so she can't destroy anything - but then I couldn't cuddle with her...so I guess I will bear the cost of the new glasses and love her just the same.

Now, when my kids were little we didn't use glasses -
we used cups because I didn't want the glass to break and cut them...







I find now that I cannot even drink out of plastic anymore!!!



There are glass eyes and glass marbles and of course what you look out of through the window is glass.
Or how about a thin sheet of ice - is that called glass?

Thanks for joining me today - this was a fun word!

Link up and let's see what you come up with!

Happy Pondering

Drift or Date TST

Continuing the 'book'

Nicole was exhausted. She had no idea how much energy giving birth and nursing a new born could be. She would drift in and out of sleep as the baby did. She completely lot track of time or what date it was. The truth was the Nick could only help out so much. He couldn't nurse the baby, and he was at work most of the time during the day.

The laundry piled up, the dishes (and she didn't even know where they came from) were overflowing in the sink, she couldn't remember the last time she took a shower or even ate a decent meal.

Nick walked in the door one night about three weeks after Bruce was born and found his wife and son curled up on the only clean spot available - the corner of the room. He gently knelt on the floor next to her and said, "Honey, you can't sleep on the floor."

Bleary eyed she looked up at him and whimpered, "I couldn't find another spot."

"Let me take care of that," he gently prodded. "I'll watch Bruce, you go take a hot bath."

Forty five minutes later she emerged feeling much better. She was still exhausted, but she was clean and relaxed. The first thing she noticed was that Nick had changed the sheets on their bed and taken her overflowing hamper out of the room. She wandered down the hall and heard water running in the kitchen and sound of dishes clanging. He had managed to make a minor dent in the pile of dishes and was softly humming to the baby.

"Why did it take me falling asleep on the floor to get you to help?" She asked.

"Because I'm a dummy and should have pitched in as soon as I saw you getting behind. I won't let that happen again."

To be continued.....



Linking up with my friend Josie at Two Shoes Tuesday where today's prompts were Drift and Date.

Sunday Fiction ch. 3

If you have missed earlier entries please check out The Fiction page.

Nicole was feeling anything but glamorous by the time Nick arrived at the hospital. He walked through the door hidden by a bouquet of red roses and blue balloons.  "Hello beautiful!" he roared as he sidled up to the bed.

Nicole had just finished nursing Bruce and was cradling him in her arms. Rather than being glad to see Nick, she was annoyed. All her wisdom and grace had disappeared in the delivery room, the room he had not been in! "Where have you been?" She demanded.

"You know where I've been," He calmly replied. "I had business to attend to and when I was done I got on the first airplane back. Now I'm here."

"Why didn't you even call? We tried to get a hold of you and never got an answer, anywhere you were supposed to be."

"The meeting got moved, that is why you couldn't reach me at that office. I had checked out of the hotel yesterday morning in anticipation of catching an early flight, but the meeting ended up running until 9:00 last night. I rushed to the airport, but there were no flights and slept in the airport until I boarded a few hours ago. I'm not sure where all of this doubt is coming from, perhaps your hormones?" Nick said, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Tears started to leak from Nicole's eyes as she listened to her husband in disbelief. He had always been honest with her before, but there was definitely something going on with his story. She knew it deep in her soul, but there was no way to prove it.

Gently Nick wiped the tears away and whispered in her ear, "You are the love of my life, the mother of my son and the only thing that is good and real in my life. Why would you ever doubt me?"

"I don't know," she whimpered back.

"Maybe you're just being silly! Now can I see my son?" He asked.

Nicole jerked her head up and asked, "How did you know he was a boy? No one has spoken to you since the birth."

"I checked with the nurses before I bought the balloons."

"Oh," she said, feeling foolish for being suspicious. "He is beautiful and I was thinking about naming him Bruce after my grandfather."

"That sounds like a great idea. Bruce Frederick Patterson." 

Nick sat in a chair right next to Nicole’s bed, holding their son in his arms. Bruce had been asleep for a while when all of a sudden he squirmed and then opened his tiny mouth and a grand sound protruded. Nick started to laugh, but Nicole did not find it amusing. “Give him to me! There’s something wrong. I’ve never heard him make that noise before.”

“Sweetheart, that is what a newborns cry sounds like. He is a normal baby.”

“He’s not just any baby!” She whispered as her eyes gave way to the tears that had formed, “He’s MY baby!”

Nick scooted even closer as Nicole cradled Bruce trying to calm him down. “Nicole, I know he’s your baby, but I also know that because of that you will be the one who understands his every need. The two of you need to get to know each other.”

She began nursing the baby and looked up at her husband. “How do you know all of this?”

“What do you think I do when I’m stuck on a plane? I wanted to get as much information as possible before he arrived so I could be helpful. The first couple of weeks are really all about mommy and baby.”

They sat in companionable silence while Bruce ate. Once he was about to doze off again, Nicole asked, “Do you want to change his diaper.”

“You bet I do!” Nick volunteered. He took the baby from his wife’s arms and walked him over to the tiny changing table that was in the room. He gently changed the diaper, being careful of the umbilical cord. When he had finished he walked back to the bed and handed him off again. “What are we doing about the circumcision?” He asked.

“I wasn’t really sure,” Nicole answered. “We never talked about it because we didn’t know if he was a boy until he arrived. What do you think we should do?”

“Can a doctor do it while we are still in the hospital? I think that would be the best thing.”

“We can check today. I think I’m supposed to stay here again tonight.”

“Can I stay with you?” Nick asked.

“I would really like that!”

Stand or stand

Time to Ponder yet again.  You know the drill... I post a prompt that has multiple meanings and we get see what you write! Add you post to the linky and wait for the magic!!
(If you want to send me words that you would like us all to ponder - please feel free to do so!)

Today's word is STAND (you can always grab the prompt early by visiting the Pondering Page


Stand up straight!! Don't know how many times I heard that growing up. Or how about Stand at attention!

It is a human's desire (from birth it seems) to stand up on two feet. Does that mean that an animal standing on four feet is not really standing? It's not like they are lying down!

And of course there are band stands and podium stands and pretty much anything else that stands up.... but what is the deal with a night stand?  To me it is a mini chest of drawers--- just sayin'





But my favoirte is when you take a stand! You know when you take a position on a subject and you cannot be swayed. You actually stand for something.


There are sit-ins - why aren't there stand-ins (oh yeah, a stand-in is a substitute - when you stand in for someone else).

I have to say that if English were not my first language this would be one of the most confusing words.... and that's my stand on it!

Please join the fun and link up.

Happy Pondering!

Glamour is not all its cooked up to be

If you have missed earlier entries please check out The Fiction page.


Nicole was feeling anything but glamorous by the time Nick arrived at the hospital. He walked through the door hidden by a bouquet of red roses and blue balloons.  "Hello beautiful!" he roared as he sidled up to the bed.

Nicole had just finished nursing Bruce and was cradling him in her arms. Rather than being glad to see Nick, she was annoyed. All her wisdom and grace had disappeared in the delivery room, the room he had not been in! "Where have you been?" She demanded.

"You know where I've been," He calmly replied. "I had business to attend to and when I was done I got on the first airplane back. Now I'm here."

"Why didn't you even call? We tried to get a hold of you and never got an answer, anywhere you were supposed to be."

"The meeting got moved, that is why you couldn't reach me at that office. I had checked out of the hotel yesterday morning in anticipation of catching an early flight, but the meeting ended up running until 9:00 last night. I rushed to the airport, but there were no flights and slept in the airport until I boarded a few hours ago. I'm not sure where all of this doubt is coming from, perhaps your hormones?" Nick said, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Tears started to leak from Nicole's eyes as she listened to her husband in disbelief. He had always been honest with her before, but there was definitely something going on with his story. She knew it deep in her soul, but there was no way to prove it.

Gently Nick wiped the tears away and whispered in her ear, "You are the love of my life, the mother of my son and the only thing that is good and real in my life. Why would you ever doubt me?"

"I don't know," she whimpered back.

"Maybe you're just being silly! Now can I see my son?" He asked.

Nicole jerked her head up and asked, "How did you know he was a boy? No one has spoken to you since the birth."

"I checked with the nurses before I bought the balloons."

"Oh," she said, feeling foolish for being suspicious. "He is beautiful and I was thinking about naming him Bruce after my grandfather."

"That sounds like a great idea. Bruce Frederick Patterson."
Linking up with my friend Josie at Two Shoes Tuesday where today's prompts were glamorous and grade.

Sunday Fiction - CH2

If you have missed the first chapter of this story you can catch it on Sunday Fiction

Bruce could not believe what he was seeing. He turned from one side to the other just to see how large the land mass was, but there was no real way of telling. It did not appear as if there was any end to it. He raced back downstairs in order to find his parents. He knew that they had to be there somewhere.

Searching under all of the displaced clothes, the tousled table and disarray of pots and pans he discovered nothing. Then he decided to undo the bunk in the front in the far chance hope that his parents had secured themselves in for safety. Bringing the bed down his father rolled out onto the floor. It was blatantly obvious that he was dead. Bruce's heart sank in his chest, but he still held out hope that perhaps his mother was still alive.

Opening the bed to its entire size, Nicole was crushed in the back corner. "Mom!" Bruce said as he climbed up on the bed. He reached her within seconds and saw that she was breathing. Gently shaking her Bruce tried to rouse his mother. Her eyelids began to flutter and slowly opened. Nicole gradually focused on her son and smiled. She was still quite weak but she was alive.

"Mom, we are very close to land," Bruce said. "The boat is completely disheveled, the sails are tattered and the rigging is loose, but we haven't taken on any water. I really think that if we can make it to land we might be able to find some food and water."

"That's nice," Nicole said turning over.

"Mom, I need you to get off of this bed and help me. I think that together we can do this."

Nicole stared up at her son with a glazed look. Unclear of where she was, she went deep into her mind to figure out who she was. Nicole Maureen Abercromby had arrived quietly one night in the middle of January. A blizzard howled outside the windows and doors so her delivery occured at home. Born to a farmer and a school teacher deep in the bowels of Nebraska, where neighbors were few and far between, her arrival was tumultous to say the least.

Growing up on a farm with hours upon hours of fresh air and sunshine, Nicole became a flaxen beauty. Ringlets surrounded her face, beautifully framing her glistening blue eyes. A single dimple on her left cheek and a perfect white smile completed the package. Entrance into any room changed the entire atmosphere as the light had arrived.

Nicole did not want to go too far from home when it was time to venture off and begin life's adventures on her own. Moving to Omaha, she secured a position with a financial institution and attended school part time. Walking on campus one afternoon with her face deeply entrenched in a book; she bumped into Nicholas, literally! 

"Oh! I'm so sorry," she said raising her eyes to see who she had walked into.

"That's quite alright," he replied, "But I am curious what has you so captivated that you are reading rather than watching where you're going."

"I am trying to understand the Pythagorean Theorem," she answered. "I have found that if I read while I walk I understand it. Sort of like there is a rhythm to the words as I take each step."

"Now, that's an interesting concept." He smiled at her and then extended his hand, "Nicholas Patterson."

Smiling back she accepted his hand and said, "Nicole Oglesby."

That was the beginning of the Nick Patterson partnership. A whirlwind romance, farmhouse wedding, outdoor reception and honeymoon to New York. Nicholas was a financial advisor and worked long hours. They had moved into a family style neighborhood just outside of Omaha and quickly became friendly with neighbors and members of their community. Nicole determined that schooling was not for her and dabbled a little bit at everything. She worked at a community care center watching toddlers. Her desire to have children of her own was born and bred at that center.

After months of trying they found out they were pregnant and due in July; exactly three years after they had wed. Pregnancy and Nicole agreed with each other. Her beauty intensified as the child within her grew. She loved every moment of it.

The day Bruce arrived Nicholas was in a meeting in Topeka. When he received the call informing him his wife was in labor, he told the secretary to take a message and he would get back to her as soon as he could. Nicole was devastated; Nicholas secured the biggest account in his career.

Bruce arrived just before midnight on the 14^th of July. It was love at first sight for Nicole. At the moment the nurse placed the baby in her arms, she knew what her purpose was in life: motherhood.  Her parents had both been there through the labor and delivery. Her father went back to the farm after the birth and her mother stayed in the room with Nicole and Bruce.  They had tried to get a hold of Nicholas, but he was nowhere to be found. Nicole privately hoped he was on an airplane and that was why they couldn’t reach him.

Plant it!

Time to Ponder yet again.  You know the drill... I post a prompt that has multiple meanings and we get see what you write! Add you post to the linky and wait for the magic!!
(If you want to send me words that you would like us all to ponder - please feel free to do so!)

Today's word is PLANT (you can always grab the prompt early by visiting the Pondering Page


When I think of plant I think of those things that I have in the back yard. But those have roots....you know Plants!  But what about the kind of plant that has no roots?  I plant myself firmly one one side of the other, but if push comes to shove, I could be swayed to the other side...now doesn't that mean there are no roots?

I plant myself in line for something I really want, or I buy a new plant and it dies :(

There is also the kind of plant that is used in espionage...you know the kind of plant that rats someone out?

What do you think of when you come up with plant?

Let us know and link up!

Happy Pondering!

Turning around

If you have missed the first chapter of this story you can catch it on Sunday Fiction

Bruce could not believe what he was seeing. He turned from one side to the other just to see how large the land mass was, but there was no real way of telling. It did not appear as if there was any end to it. He raced back downstairs in order to find his parents. He knew that they had to be there somewhere.

Searching under all of the displaced clothes, the tousled table and disarray of pots and pans he discovered nothing. Then he decided to undo the bunk in the front in the far chance hope that his parents had secured themselves in for safety. Bringing the bed down his father rolled out onto the floor. It was blatantly obvious that he was dead. Bruce's heart sank in his chest, but he still held out hope that perhaps his mother was still alive.

Opening the bed to it's entire size, Nicole was crushed in the back corner. "Mom!" Bruce said as he climbed up on the bed. He reached her within seconds and saw that she was breathing. Gently shaking her Bruce tried to rouse his mother. Her eyelids began to flutter and slowly opened. Nicole gradually focused on her son and smiled. She was still quite weak but she was alive.

"Mom, we are very close to land," Bruce said. "The boat is completely disheveled, the sails are tattered and the rigging is loose, but we haven't taken on any water. I really think that if we can make it to land we might be able to find some food and water."

"That's nice," Nicole said turning over.

"Mom, I need you to get off of this bed and help me. I think that together we can do this."

to be continued....

Linking up with my friend Josie at Two Shoes Tuesday where today's prompts were turning or tattered.

Sunday Fiction

I am a writer. That is the very essence of who I am (not forgetting of course that I am a mother and a grandmother first!).  As such I have begun to dabble again - thanks in most parts to my friend over at Two Shoes in Texas.  Josie not only supported my respot from blogging, she continued to encourage me to go on. The fiction bug took hold during a Two Shoes Tuesday segment.  That was two weeks ago. I am planning on continuing adding segments to this tale every Tuesday. In case you have missed the beginning (and of course the continuation today) I have included the whole tale.

Bruce looked at himself in the mirror and all he could see was contempt. "Looks like we're stuck together forever," he said out loud to the image.  He hadn't always felt this self-loathing. In fact at one point in time he was actually a carefree, happy man. But those days were so far removed from his memory that at this point in time he actually felt stuck in his life.

When Bruce had grown up, he had for nothing; but then the accident happened and his whole world changed. The family (Bruce, his sister and their parents) had chartered a small boat to take them on the trip of their lives. His parents were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary and they wanted to share it with their children. They often joked about life had changed when they decided to take the plunge and be stuck together forever. Life was good!

Then, the boat went adrift, somewhere in the middle of the ocean. They had no power, no radio and no way out. Days passed and his father assured them that they would be missed and someone would come looking for them. Days turned into weeks. No water was left on the boat, the only food they had was whatever they could catch. Both his mother and sister were very weak. The night the ocean stirred up its fury was the worst. The boat was tossed and turned and the wind was pounding. They each took shelter to ride out the storm.

Bruce had found cover in a tiny crawl space under the helm. His sister Adriana had crawled way up under the bow of the boat thinking it was a perfect cover to ride out the storm. Their parents had stayed together in the cabin wrapped around each other for comfort.

No one knew how long that storm lasted, it felt like days. When the seas had calmed all that was left to show for the storm were the downed mast, the missing riggings and gaggles of dead birds on the deck. Bruce was the first to surface and he called down into the cabin for his parents. Hearing nothing he ventured down the short ladder to investigate.  The interior of the cabin was in much worse shape than the deck of the boat. Broken dishes and glasses, pot and pans in a state of disarray and clothing strewn everywhere. He searched for his parents and found nothing. That did not make any sense. Hadn't they taken cover down there? Where could they be?

Through the cabin and further forward he found his sister laying very still on the bed that made up the front of the boat. She must have been tossed back and forth as the waves struck the tiny vessel.  He gently crawled on the bed next to her and said, “Hey Sis, the storms over. Time to get up.” But Adriana didn’t budge.

Bruce shook her a little harder and said, “Adriana, wake up!”

But the girl didn’t move. He turned her over and tried to see if she had a pulse. After all they made it look so easy on the television, you just put your fingers on her neck and then you know. He tried it, but because he had no idea what he was feeling for he missed the artery completely. Giving up on that idea he decided to put his ear next to her nose and see if she was breathing.  She was not. Bruce slid right next to her and held her in his arms. This was not fair! How could this happen to his sister?

Adriana was two years younger than Bruce and he had loved her from the moment he joined the family. He was her first teacher, protector and confidant. This was just not possible. She couldn’t be gone! He sobbed and didn’t care that he had been taught that boys don’t cry. Right now he didn’t care.

He knew she had been in a weakened state prior to the storm hitting, but he was sure that she would have the stamina to persevere. This was just the beginning of a number of rude awakenings.  They laid together on that bed for hours as Bruce drifted in and out of sleep. 

Waking up with a start, disorientation overtook him. It was dark and quiet and so very calm. Momentarily he forgot he was lying next to his dead sister. After his eyes adjusted to the dark he slid off the bed and went in search of his parents. He had seen them descend into the cabin and shut the hatch door; so it was impossible for them to have gone anywhere.

He sifted through a pile of clothes, hoping beyond hope that he would not find a dead parent under it. Darkness made the search virtually impossible.  He felt his way to the steps to the deck and entered into the brisk night. The stars lit up the sky. How could a world that was literally turning upside down twelve hours earlier be so calm and beautiful? He realized the boat was still adrift and he had no idea where they were, but at that very moment he was just grateful to be alive.

Spending the balance of the night on deck, Bruce witnessed an amazing display as the sun came over the horizon. Never had he seen the colors, the array or the sheer magnificence of a sunrise. Hope filled his being.

Then he caught a glimpse of land! 

SWS - Family

Loss brings those you love closer