tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511596365120067822024-03-13T06:46:39.275-07:00{CROSSWAYSNET}The musings, poetry and writing projects of Bram Floriacrosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-59936637602771755462022-11-21T13:06:00.005-08:002022-11-21T13:15:59.028-08:00The Last Word…<p><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont; font-size: 13pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASg8M5ic1iVTbWkoVIkgYmEUSCfEKKzEteFed7lifIbIMRMyiHLJ5HrTUHT3dirke8HN6P8B1Jg37gCiX_YMyr3WwrOq6lWr8HJCEQ2v44YrKKZMC-9WisYxsGwLN8LtEBKTJNKuktNXcJUOM6JbomDTHr7wSm4gADqvrNYu8zGBJk1DoVpmAcnmE/s1000/BurningDiary.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASg8M5ic1iVTbWkoVIkgYmEUSCfEKKzEteFed7lifIbIMRMyiHLJ5HrTUHT3dirke8HN6P8B1Jg37gCiX_YMyr3WwrOq6lWr8HJCEQ2v44YrKKZMC-9WisYxsGwLN8LtEBKTJNKuktNXcJUOM6JbomDTHr7wSm4gADqvrNYu8zGBJk1DoVpmAcnmE/s320/BurningDiary.jpg" width="320"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br><span>I feel the pages above me ripped from their spine. Where have they flown? A crackle; a dashing flash of red and orange on the ceiling above me. My velum breathes in the draft. A dark shadow now covers me.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>I see the face, drawing into focus. </span><span> </span><b><i><span>NO.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">NOT ETHAN.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Not the face I was expecting. He cannot hear my scream.</span><span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I’ve lain here in wait for so long. For ADAM, not YOU!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I see the flash of fire in the angry eyes. They grow darker as that fire burns.<span></span></span></p><a href="http://crosswaysnet.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-last-word.html#more">Read more »</a>crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-55699446160063547752020-11-29T16:32:00.005-08:002022-11-21T13:17:38.000-08:00The Shepherd<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhu5KHO2NENXUSxITDPc-yBUXWZ6UjnMzNXaikpUS61s7MQNV384VRYwbZuLMSvN4WXiPe70RygHo5Zc5m_M7JLhdKoZxrn0w90PQxTYkH0pMfx8jyig__4DEFAZ1AMG-VoZl9fPlA7E/s800/eweandlamb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhu5KHO2NENXUSxITDPc-yBUXWZ6UjnMzNXaikpUS61s7MQNV384VRYwbZuLMSvN4WXiPe70RygHo5Zc5m_M7JLhdKoZxrn0w90PQxTYkH0pMfx8jyig__4DEFAZ1AMG-VoZl9fPlA7E/s320/eweandlamb.jpg" width="320"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br></span><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Benjamin's jaw ached. It did that a lot now. Especially since the weather had turned. He pressed the tip of his tongue into the socket where his eye tooth was missing. It pushed out the scar on the lip above, beginning another dull pain.<br><br>Benjamin felt a lot older than his 20 years. He shifted to his side to give his hip a rest. <i>David played his harp to keep his mind off this hind side</i>, he supposed. The tumbling hills below Bethlehem were certainly no more comfortable in David's day.<br><br>It was the last watch and the darkest of the night. Benjamin's eyes had fully adjusted to the unpolluted darkness. He could see the sheep and their starlight shadows. Some stirred but most were still. The strange convergence of stars above seemed to be growing in intensity and continued to disturb the shepherd. For weeks the strange and undoubtedly bad omen had assembled itself in the sky. And now? The greens, blues and reds were converging in colorless light, almost like the startling flash of midday sunlight off the tops of rolling waves. He'd seen those once up in Galilee when a storm from Jordan stirred the sea from afar. The waters had seemed almost alive and certain of themselves, driving mystery, light and darkness of depth his way. <i>Why did this strange new star remind him of that</i>? Benjamin looked back down to his group's flock.<br><br>He caught sight of the one lamb he felt most responsible for. The one he dreaded most. He drifted away to the memories of one terrible day. The one to which his jaw and lip gave testament...</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">*****<span></span></span></p><a href="http://crosswaysnet.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-shepherd.html#more">Read more »</a>crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-83226233987188183252020-04-12T08:01:00.002-07:002021-04-02T13:46:26.798-07:00The Tomb<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://www.rct.uk/sites/default/files/styles/rctr-scale-1300-500/public/collection-online/4/e/654018-1529578700.jpg?itok=2vaAP7Hq" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="414" height="320" src="https://www.rct.uk/sites/default/files/styles/rctr-scale-1300-500/public/collection-online/4/e/654018-1529578700.jpg?itok=2vaAP7Hq" width="264"></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #4d4d4d;">“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb very early, long before first light and saw the stone had been removed…” from John 20:1-2<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #4d4d4d;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #4d4d4d;">She <b><i>RAN</i></b>. The others followed as fast as they could. All the way across town to the safehouse.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #4d4d4d;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #4d4d4d;">“Peter! John! WAKE UP!! The tomb…” And then her throat closes off. She can’t seem to choke out the rest of the horrible thought: “Someone’s stolen his body.” She blubbers on and on about what must have happened. The other women plead with the Disciples to <b><i>DO</i></b> something. Peter and John are suddenly awake and rushing out the door.<span></span></span></p></div></div><a href="http://crosswaysnet.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-tomb.html#more">Read more »</a>crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-61741336926524512032017-12-28T15:37:00.000-08:002017-12-29T12:28:57.789-08:00View from the Porch [a Christmas Story]<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">At midnight, Anna stood at the ramparts in fervent prayer, still looking expectantly to the East. She was certain the signs would continue, as they had for weeks. Last night was so close…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">All morning, a heavy cloud had sorrowed on the Temple Mount, shrouding Solomon’s Porch in mist. Anna had waited all day for the weather to break before stepping across the Women’s Court to the covered path high above the Kidron Valley. 500 of them. Stunted, slow steps, nearly the entire furlong across Herod’s Court. She had served 70 years as the Asher Priestess, half of them in this very place. Even as her eyes began to fail, she had witnessed the daily progress as Herod’s artisans raised the New Temple. Stone by stone, planted over Zerubbabel’s rubble. The last distinct thing she remembered seeing with her earthly eyes was the flash of gilding being soldered in place atop the columns of Herod’s vanity. Doubly gold in the last light of a Fall day. Anna’s eyes had been dark for almost 20 years now, even as her ears followed the constant and furious progress on the Temple and the great pavements beyond. She heard the scraping of metal on stone as the altar was moved into the Courts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She heard the hiss of heavy velvet as the veil was hoisted to seal the Holy of Holies. Her mind painted the blue, purple and scarlet yarns on the back of her eyelids. She swayed her hand, dreaming of sewing in the golden thread that embossed the cherubim to the color-shifting fabric. She knew this Temple to be a sham, at least compared to the Temple of Solomon. Yet the design was grand. She had heard rumors that Herod’s men had even been compelled to manufacture an imposter ark to complete the fiction.</span></div>
</div><a href="http://crosswaysnet.blogspot.com/2017/12/view-from-porch-christmas-story.html#more">Read more »</a>crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-13082775531613439302017-02-14T10:03:00.000-08:002017-02-15T12:16:02.105-08:00Retrace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The straightest of Mississippi roads meander<br>
Traced out by one with more time than direction<br>
Lined with turkey and dogwood<br>
They were the rivers of my youth<br>
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From high springs in Tennessee I followed the flow<br>
Down to the flats and hollers below<br>
And collected myself at the bottom<br>
Through fog to a deep pool of grace<br>
</div><a href="http://crosswaysnet.blogspot.com/2017/02/retrace.html#more">Read more »</a>crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-63180646955182985032016-12-24T18:09:00.002-08:002017-12-29T12:29:12.614-08:00SACRIFICE - [a Christmas Story]<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjy3fWu09qOf0raDC5Uvpiib6ddTpgzHjV4DeF89D3-G5Bnrq_8IbHDLR8jyUgH5YELI6TUiCPvmK3A0YXr84a22iE_Fpp9_dWYJRB4dWokfyAHWHa7-WnjxnGY19MXbTRkY4PNt8DLag/s1600/lightningdagger-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjy3fWu09qOf0raDC5Uvpiib6ddTpgzHjV4DeF89D3-G5Bnrq_8IbHDLR8jyUgH5YELI6TUiCPvmK3A0YXr84a22iE_Fpp9_dWYJRB4dWokfyAHWHa7-WnjxnGY19MXbTRkY4PNt8DLag/s320/lightningdagger-small.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
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Isaac’s knuckles scraped across the rock, smarting. The
burden on his back shifted forward, almost sliding over shoulders and taking
his tunic with it. The tip of a rough branch dug into the nape of his neck.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Steady, boy!” The old man’s voice was ragged as he stumbled
forward to catch his son from falling face first into the boulder. “You don’t
want to…” The voice trailed off to silence.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“To what, my Father?” Isaac looked back under his arm to
Abraham’s weathered face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed
suddenly drained of color. The first glint of sunrise shone blood red in the
patriarch’s eye. He didn’t answer the boy.</div>
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</div><a href="http://crosswaysnet.blogspot.com/2016/12/sacrifice-christmas-story.html#more">Read more »</a>crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-10445355342919620222016-09-04T23:55:00.000-07:002016-09-06T08:13:20.211-07:00I Am Receding<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am receding</div>
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rushing down meridians to the lower pool </div>
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at the bottom of my world</div>
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the rest of my little school waiting for me there</div>
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Crashing through cataracts and eddies</div>
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and earthquakes of leaving</div>
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I grasp my love’s hand for the long slide </div>
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our conversations strangely forward </div>
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raw and hopeful still</div>
</div><a href="http://crosswaysnet.blogspot.com/2016/09/i-am-receding-rushing-down-meridians-to.html#more">Read more »</a>crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-34669091673074540962016-08-18T11:46:00.000-07:002017-02-16T10:15:22.316-08:00The Big 'Win.'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Aunt Edna’s Money - </b>Writer's Digest Writing Prompt - August 12, 2016<br>
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[Your wealthy Aunt Edna has died and left you all of her money. At first you’re excited, as you’ve been living paycheck-to-paycheck your whole life, and this newfound money offers you endless possibilities. But, in her will, Aunt Edna left one big catch—and, if you don’t do it, all of the money is to be given to your most unlikable cousin, Wilfred.]<br>
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Nelson adjusted his pince-nez and cleared his throat. Again. He looked up with that self-righteous disgust that simmered below that polished professionalism. He cleared his throat. Again. <br>
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"...the sum of $895,000 shall be transferred to escrow and assigned to the account of James Reagan Wilson immediately upon full hearing and acceptance of the following terms..."<br>
</div></div><a href="http://crosswaysnet.blogspot.com/2016/08/aunt-ednas-money-writers-digest-writing.html#more">Read more »</a>crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-16599344659834431792016-04-04T12:26:00.000-07:002016-04-04T12:27:28.575-07:00The Cave [A Passover Story}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;">The boy introduced himself to the blacksmith.</span></div>
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“’God Saves,’ huh? Well He can save us from the Prefect then. Please - Go right ahead. Look around all you want. You won’t find much after Rufus’ goons made off with everything. And I’ll be gone all day working off this tax bill.”</div>
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The grizzled man pulled a few Tiberius coins from a pouch behind his belt, spalled and speckled with burns from countless hours behind the anvil. Before he handed them over to the deliveryman, he faked a sneeze. Yeshua clearly saw him spit on the image of the Emperor. The teen handed over the reins to the rented cart and mule; even helped to load some of the beastly heavy boxes into the bed. The load of spikes, nails and shoes clanged loudly as they landed, as much from the anger of the blacksmith as the shifting bed of the cart. The mule began to protest.</div>
</div><a href="http://crosswaysnet.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-cave-passover-story.html#more">Read more »</a>crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-56730831490636331302016-01-07T21:42:00.000-08:002017-12-29T12:29:53.202-08:00A Star in the Sky [a Christmas Story]<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="line-height: 17.5636px;"><br>Cyrus leaned back on the throne of Babylon as the words swirled in his mind. The scribes record he ‘inclined his face to the heavens as in transport.’ All the satraps and diviners, the wise men and captured princes stood at nervous attention, while the old prophet of the Jews noisily rolled up the old scroll and returned it to its ornate ark. The lid lowered and the hasp swung closed. All seemed to hold their breath.</span><br>
</div></div><a href="http://crosswaysnet.blogspot.com/2016/01/a-star-in-sky-christmas-story.html#more">Read more »</a>crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-82570213904709429632015-04-22T22:33:00.000-07:002015-04-22T22:33:08.721-07:00"6 Word Story" Submission<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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"Waste not - want not." Did not.</div>
crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-30976943156697193382015-04-04T23:13:00.001-07:002021-04-01T14:25:44.837-07:00"Teh..."<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="p1"><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><b>……….………………..</b><b>“Ta, ta, ta, teh, teh, teh….”</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The misshapen mass in front of him stuttered and shuddered. As far as he could tell, that is. This cloying darkness swallowed everything. Even his sanity, it would seem. How could it be THIS dark at THIS hour? The sun should be halfway to the horizon putting these jagged beams in stark relief. Now, nothing. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Yet somehow… that red. Was it even a man, anymore? More a crimson tumor – reaching… Where? No one was coming to save him. Like a child, he had screamedfor his daddy. And then…</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Fear. It seemed to flow <b><i>from</i></b> the dying man and <b><i>to</i></b> him.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Black. It seemed to swallow him. Or was He swallowing <b><i>it</i></b>?</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Centurion could barely keep his head up against the weight of all this. His men had already</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">taken a knee and were rattling their helmets to clear their heads.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><b>…………………….………………..“Teh, teh, teh…” </b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It was more rasp than word.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The ground roiled under his feet. Or maybe it was his own insides going to liquid. He sensed a coming attack. He forced himself to look in every direction. The thin line of remaining light at the western horizon was rapidly retreating - fleeing this onyx hammer.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i>God</i></b> this is oppressive…</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Not another man on the ground remained standing. The only other two who remained upright were nailed in that position. The last face he could still see was defiant and straining for a last look. It was that woman the others called </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">a prostitute. The one who wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer. How was she still standing? God how those eyes blazed. She stood guard over the crumpled mass of the older woman and her son. The Centurion locked eyes with her.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">***</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Why was the oil sputtering? The choking smoke of an extinguished flame soured the room. The light was dying.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Everywhere.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">All day the bleating and the bleeding had paraded outside the door. The blood not human to cover the human soul poured to overflow the drains. Yet sound was overwhelmed by the ragged breath coming from the Lamb on the other hill. All around - Death, and Hope was dying with it. For hours there had not been a twinge from the seat upon which sat the inhabitant of this room. The constant conversation of Three had dwindled to One. How could this be?? With eyes all around, straining to heavens in every direction, but no. the universe has collapsed. Vision was failing.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Eyes left unlit, the Blinded summoned Father in whisper; called in confusion; screamed in growing conviction. “Where are You going??”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Son!! Where are You??” How can I abide here? Why will no one answer??</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">***</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><b>……………………………….“Teh, teh, tehhhhhh..”</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">***</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The soldier was terrorized by the sound behind him. Frozen by the eyes before him. Then, the last flash of horizon light began to flicker in the woman’s eyes. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">***</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><b>……..……..……………………………………“Teh…</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">"TETELESTAI!!!”</span></i></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">***</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Resident of the dark room was shattered by the scream. Father remained as silent as Death. The Black landed as an iron lid.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The howl from within the sanctuary echoed back to the hill and the Blinded thrashed out through the dank blanket, throwing it aside in shreds. Leaping from the seat of judgment, mind made up, Spirit flooded out across the mount.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Son. Where are You??!!”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Agony poured down the alleys smelling its way along the blood trail, scraping over the souls of fallen men. It rushed out the walls, felt the edge of Gehenna and sped to the place of skulls. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">‘WHERE ARE YOU??”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Spirit, still-blinded, raged to flatten anything in its path in pursuit of Son. It collided with a soul redeemed and the fragile one shuddered. Spirit surged forward.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">***</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Centurion captured the flash in her eyes - something different - something fierce. The color of desperation. And in that flash he knew it was coming for him. The Wall met his soul full in the face and spun him around. It roamed the hill, pouring over and over the beams. Everything between the soldier's ears and behind his ribs was in shards.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Desperation was still… Searching.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">***</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">‘WHERE ARE YOU??”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“FATHER!! WHERE IS HE??”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">***</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Centurion saw it casting to and fro. It rushed away to seek that which was not to be found in all the earth. And still the darkness wouldn’t relent. But it sagged. Spent. Stumbling, he fell forward vowing not to fall to his knees. He fell into the cross, instead. That red, still imprinted on his brain even in this lightlessness horrified him. He held onto that iron peg to steady himself.<br />
<br />
"Surely..."<br />
<br />
"Surely, this..." His hand slipped into the congealed wetness behind the peg. He retched.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And then the darkness began parting, filaments of grey filtering down through the cracks of unforgiving, iron resolve. Its purpose served, the darkness began to decay. It collapsed under its own weight and the ants below scrambled along their mound in confusion, surveying the damage.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Eventually, the natural night returned to its rightful place and covered the world in its familiar blanket. An attempt to comfort its own Creator, perhaps.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">***</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Twice more Night and Day attempted to sabbath what remained inconsolable in earth or heaven. Weary greys of dawn and tarry blackness of blank skies devoid of stars. All creation seemed forever spent.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And then…</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbHKLY4xwMrEpZNDILhrcaWR8CfqmJypEzngotrzq0C4yjiDF6XtCArkK-HqSewXtkjmq8skJ_CpkkI4s_CbGAfGzYYWfaa1TzEyQCcM3sESSSXc8Sfq2wsu6fffgQq-RXdxL11uNnTQ/s1500/darksunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="982" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbHKLY4xwMrEpZNDILhrcaWR8CfqmJypEzngotrzq0C4yjiDF6XtCArkK-HqSewXtkjmq8skJ_CpkkI4s_CbGAfGzYYWfaa1TzEyQCcM3sESSSXc8Sfq2wsu6fffgQq-RXdxL11uNnTQ/s320/darksunrise.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><div><br /></div></div>
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crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-32595467737041586032014-02-13T10:10:00.003-08:002015-04-22T22:34:15.542-07:00Your Story #55 Submission<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGe84yNNYDiPdLf458ODugNR5O2dpjbb9FEIoQyAEbqBvSSxj4Ka28hq_K2BplkuPv2T01iaQ02tETdLu5M9EON_neUJNKr6Tka248VWwrKLx9x7CZgRvjHftV17fu7MVtQAKLHbtucM/s1600/yourstory55.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGe84yNNYDiPdLf458ODugNR5O2dpjbb9FEIoQyAEbqBvSSxj4Ka28hq_K2BplkuPv2T01iaQ02tETdLu5M9EON_neUJNKr6Tka248VWwrKLx9x7CZgRvjHftV17fu7MVtQAKLHbtucM/s1600/yourstory55.png" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #252525; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Prompt:</span></span></span></strong><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Write the opening sentence (25 words or fewer) to a story based on the photo above.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The first to fall was a</span> <span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">14 year-old redhead from Waukesha, her left nostril trickling </span><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and the convulsions</span> <span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">crumpling the hand-made “LOVE YOU, JUSTIN!!” poster.”</span></span></span></span></div>
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crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-36192385677745559972013-10-09T11:11:00.000-07:002013-10-09T11:12:00.256-07:00All Wet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf83tNe0R20X2WI0QLIUdC66aT_8XSRp1Ij_jWXP1POjxNuhGIiAVwiLkgwh-q1XL0zdZg5EQnQKpEFXGCsFIn3Nl_BDSo88v1IV8-EHuDXajyMlxr12SIX1u7OjOz0Y_Oi9rRqcW1OE/s1600/allwet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf83tNe0R20X2WI0QLIUdC66aT_8XSRp1Ij_jWXP1POjxNuhGIiAVwiLkgwh-q1XL0zdZg5EQnQKpEFXGCsFIn3Nl_BDSo88v1IV8-EHuDXajyMlxr12SIX1u7OjOz0Y_Oi9rRqcW1OE/s320/allwet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">WRITER'S DIGEST "Your Story #54" Competition entry</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">Prompt:</strong><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;"> Write the opening sentence (25 words or fewer) to a story based on the photo above.</span></span></div>
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Your whisper slayed me and you did as you promised, leaving her at the altar -- so I waited for you till the tide came in.</div>
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crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-48876720228466624842013-07-24T15:45:00.000-07:002013-07-24T15:45:46.097-07:00The Hunt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BqORL27-vTeEsRIs6_NODdJ0bpDQOFIuuiZkFv0TOn4gsHzpsEgVlfn0QTIleV2PmJaY1lcsr3PuUDJuhcjk_8hfvQyV7fnyoMGSZaeD7VXfmYzj_3oKZ_ESXt5VUIxKrbhWe8IcPTU/s1600/kidsinthesnow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BqORL27-vTeEsRIs6_NODdJ0bpDQOFIuuiZkFv0TOn4gsHzpsEgVlfn0QTIleV2PmJaY1lcsr3PuUDJuhcjk_8hfvQyV7fnyoMGSZaeD7VXfmYzj_3oKZ_ESXt5VUIxKrbhWe8IcPTU/s320/kidsinthesnow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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WRITER'S DIGEST "Your Story #52" Competition entry</div>
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<strong style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">Prompt:</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;"> Write the opening sentence (25 words or fewer) to a story based on the photo above.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Futura Today Bold', helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16.363636016845703px;">"With their eyes on the prize, he fingered the axe knowing he had a choice to make: The best Christmas tree, or they disappear forever..."</span></div>
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crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-80851479388704617132013-07-08T15:44:00.001-07:002017-03-28T09:08:18.346-07:00Flip for it<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9k9Wux7T6Xs5hl5yvGNeDywSDwRNcLdIfqk_WSvjsFpbrrd13TKiKdqXKVDiMQH9VvfwIrmCKFJnjIgrAuzLCdI_GhydTeRWEzqj9iZ1bPPZ3qNSiC6OSXnvcH6s5ckQJcYuEEe7WrpQ/s1600/male-hand-coin-flip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9k9Wux7T6Xs5hl5yvGNeDywSDwRNcLdIfqk_WSvjsFpbrrd13TKiKdqXKVDiMQH9VvfwIrmCKFJnjIgrAuzLCdI_GhydTeRWEzqj9iZ1bPPZ3qNSiC6OSXnvcH6s5ckQJcYuEEe7WrpQ/s1600/male-hand-coin-flip.jpg"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 13.4375px;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><b>WRITERS
DIGEST "Your Story Competition #51.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #443f38;"><span style="color: black;">Prompt: </span><span style="color: black;">Write a short story, of 750 words or fewer, that begins with the following line of dialogue: “Heads, we get married; tails, we break up.”</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">*****</span></div>
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“<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Heads, we get married; tails, we break up.”</span></div>
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<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Bill observed the silver dollar through rheumy eyes. The 1899 Lady L stared blankly off to his left, betraying none of her feelings. The only hint, her lips - slightly taciturn, maybe disapproving. Still, she didn't argue or object. A stoic, unwilling to face him. A face that would decide Bill's fate, whether she cared or not.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=751159636512006782" name="13fc09309db6979e_more" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The skirt across the table from him was much more lively. Practically dancing in anticipation of the answer. A betting soul, sure to win.</span><br>
</div></div></div></div></div><a href="http://crosswaysnet.blogspot.com/2013/07/flip-for-it.html#more">Read more »</a>crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-91593734094595691582013-05-22T10:53:00.003-07:002021-03-26T15:07:52.403-07:00Memorial Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/10/59/04/105904be1a7b8fb3f37894e35fd41d0a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="797" height="285" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/10/59/04/105904be1a7b8fb3f37894e35fd41d0a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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NPR Three-Minute Fiction 50 Word Challenge: "Memorial Day"</div>
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<span id=".reactRoot[2].[1][4][1]{comment506113932787440_78904917}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[0]" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 14px;">She sips her juice box while her father faces the wall. Her hand holds a black crayon and slightly crumpled rubbing. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br id=".reactRoot[2].[1][4][1]{comment506113932787440_78904917}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[2]" style="line-height: 14px;" /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span id=".reactRoot[2].[1][4][1]{comment506113932787440_78904917}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3]" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 14px;">The man traces the 'R' of a name the little girl has never known. A name Gommy hasn't used in 40 years. He stays. They head for the statue.</span></span></div>
crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-88554047878168043712013-04-05T09:19:00.002-07:002013-04-05T09:23:55.875-07:00Writer's Digest Contest April, 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVCSp0DBmZ7XTF-nFsdby3AnD7BVbppYFSksWQQZNiMy2C0_qzxZbtJ2G-eV2o3gF0_SdEzUxurnYW9oifhIZq0DgIUKypANe8Z_siifYSs6UJ9dDg_pTHsv3SQLqENLDH9bPcknWQCY/s1600/writersdigest50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVCSp0DBmZ7XTF-nFsdby3AnD7BVbppYFSksWQQZNiMy2C0_qzxZbtJ2G-eV2o3gF0_SdEzUxurnYW9oifhIZq0DgIUKypANe8Z_siifYSs6UJ9dDg_pTHsv3SQLqENLDH9bPcknWQCY/s1600/writersdigest50.jpg" /></a></div>
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[Prompt: Write the opening sentence (25 words or fewer) to a story based on the photo above...]</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"His depth perception was failing, or the sky was literally falling - either way he wanted answers and he wanted them NOW..."</span></div>
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crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-82369009376714976362013-03-29T12:56:00.001-07:002013-03-29T12:56:26.654-07:00Good Friday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyu_Rr8KWozcy5zvMdfygYUZXJYzevOVs6SmZz-Ld5CkA29w77OICZs3dlQfJwrkeBEtZYPQjdxJ5x24QyBDiXdckU0nQuV0f2ncxsN9_k8rLC9VznPXQVVa8eUPytT2A9rJCN7hUl54/s1600/darkwaters-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyu_Rr8KWozcy5zvMdfygYUZXJYzevOVs6SmZz-Ld5CkA29w77OICZs3dlQfJwrkeBEtZYPQjdxJ5x24QyBDiXdckU0nQuV0f2ncxsN9_k8rLC9VznPXQVVa8eUPytT2A9rJCN7hUl54/s1600/darkwaters-small.jpg" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Bending, submitting</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Falls to a breaking, shattering</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Hope crushed, mingled with a serpent's blood</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br />A gaping maw devours<br />Gnashing, hellish teeth throw sparks<br />A sea of black smooths over the hole<br /><br />A rain of darkness descends<br />A reign of darkness ascends<br />And those left above the sea are drowning</span></div>
crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-58147551493104795432013-02-05T14:21:00.001-08:002013-04-05T09:20:05.817-07:00Writer's Digest Contest February, 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://d100875asdnjpb.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/iStock_000012735658Medium.jpg?ef6f3c" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4a7e97; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;"></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #443f38; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">[Prompt: Write the opening sentence (25 words or fewer) to a story based on the photo above...]</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"Ripples of Scarlet and alabaster shimmered before him as he lowered the gun slowly to his waist."</span></div>
crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-13132786425216942002013-02-05T13:53:00.000-08:002017-02-16T10:27:11.788-08:00Tracks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
Writer's Digest Short Story Contest Entry, 2013</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6Pa2jHmUyn-qqR-1x25wBo1eaPkdcD58F4KGqK60XCrqm3uSKd4gV1Gsl8qTd1KLLNSDdQAXKRz58Ilr6psnvZ_M9FHaq6_ZfeztVgkWPVYdpJUoAO4DFEb180jpq-PrLKbnfjq1EmY/s1600/prints+in+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6Pa2jHmUyn-qqR-1x25wBo1eaPkdcD58F4KGqK60XCrqm3uSKd4gV1Gsl8qTd1KLLNSDdQAXKRz58Ilr6psnvZ_M9FHaq6_ZfeztVgkWPVYdpJUoAO4DFEb180jpq-PrLKbnfjq1EmY/s1600/prints+in+snow.jpg"></a></div>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.5078003378584981" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The man froze in his tracks. His weren’t the only ones pressed into the fresh fall of snow. A scuffling trail of sneakers - a child’s sized 7 - led from his front door, between his own, turning left down the sidewalk.</span><br><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He panicked, dropping the shopping bag, splitting the milk jug and soaking the newspaper and paper bag of fresh-ground coffee. The cherry twizzler hung limp from his lips, an indecisive weathervane in the still air.</span></b><br>
</div><a href="http://crosswaysnet.blogspot.com/2013/02/tracks.html#more">Read more »</a>crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-66089608239387139352013-02-03T07:42:00.002-08:002013-02-03T17:03:07.179-08:00Escape<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCmW1hoC-N4NppjbMGysq1-rh724ox65JPoS_ZArRjsBEXQZ07zjJxwzlIGjBjT7H4m1pmT0QqXEs1njNkmw6xFsm8gXL02bnUHL1-UH9hgdA1GuVDmsgkXNtm5IQwHkbMbxF4YBnNEo/s1600/doorslats-bwneg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCmW1hoC-N4NppjbMGysq1-rh724ox65JPoS_ZArRjsBEXQZ07zjJxwzlIGjBjT7H4m1pmT0QqXEs1njNkmw6xFsm8gXL02bnUHL1-UH9hgdA1GuVDmsgkXNtm5IQwHkbMbxF4YBnNEo/s320/doorslats-bwneg.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">
2013 "Beat the Clock" Contest Entry - Bookrix.com</span></b></div>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.011047285282984376" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Slats.</span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lucy reached forward to poke her finger through, thinking that maybe she could see better. Jimmy yanked his four year old sister’s hand away from the door.</span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Don’t do that!” he hissed. “Be quiet - and still.”</span></b><br>
</div><a href="http://crosswaysnet.blogspot.com/2013/02/escape.html#more">Read more »</a>crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-82400536762917255692013-02-01T15:36:00.001-08:002013-02-01T15:40:33.626-08:00Auspicious Beginnings...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZZQLY50Kgl-xCVS8vWTKnYGn-hkb6r6UpelLRyd94-CspdQC-Jb3kVze7h7qADlzHTlqItayNhd-nhlwke12DjO6id7-Hw6DN-RJFQCUOzXooOJ4Z1zmuGTb_fDXLwXtgm8fDFErh_Y/s1600/delft+pot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZZQLY50Kgl-xCVS8vWTKnYGn-hkb6r6UpelLRyd94-CspdQC-Jb3kVze7h7qADlzHTlqItayNhd-nhlwke12DjO6id7-Hw6DN-RJFQCUOzXooOJ4Z1zmuGTb_fDXLwXtgm8fDFErh_Y/s1600/delft+pot.jpg"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The challenge: Create a new genre - "Cozy Apocalypse Mysteries"</b></span><br>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br></b>Take One...</span><br>
</div><a href="http://crosswaysnet.blogspot.com/2013/02/auspicious-beginnings.html#more">Read more »</a>crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-61912360203028003642012-09-04T16:33:00.000-07:002012-10-05T13:24:56.142-07:00Translation - Chapter 13<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Chapter 13
(Sunday, 3:30PM - Canyon West, TX)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Mitch finds
himself back at The Colpoys home. He writes down what he knows up to
this point and the spirtual counsel he gains in La Grange. C.R. &
Sylvia arrive home after an emergency cell group leaders meeting.
They are disturbed about what they hear. There has been a tragedy in
the Pastor's household. Together they start investigating Mitch's
suspicions. Mitch takes a walk to decompress a bit. He meets people
that induce flashbacks from his subconscious. A geocacher leaves
Mitch with a thought that continues to nag him - 'when you find
something in the box you take it and replace it with something else.'</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The carpet wasn't as
hard as Mitch expected. In fact, much more plush. The room had
suddenly grown quiet, hushed. Mitch raised his head from between his
hands to see what the quiet was all about. He saw a bedspread. It was
the guest bedroom of the Colpoys house and he was lying on the floor.
His fists dug into the thick pile of the carpet as he slowly pulled
in a deep breath. He closed his eyes again. He focused on the soft
hum of the old, 80's bed-side digital clock above his head to the
left; the even softer scent of some non-descript Glade plugin. Mitch
finally rose to his feet deliberately, the cheap faux leather of his
new belt squeaking as he straightened himself out. He looked down at
the outfit. The cheap tie was beginning to choke. He sat on the edge
of the bed and stared at his new shoes, trying to make sense of the
past 10 minutes. Then he thought about the past 18 <i>hours</i>.</span></div>
</div></div><a href="http://crosswaysnet.blogspot.com/2012/09/translation-chapter-13.html#more">Read more »</a>crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-751159636512006782.post-87205157231861281332012-08-18T14:22:00.001-07:002017-04-01T13:09:16.219-07:00The Submission<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiKuZKQQYyHewWPE2p5ofmmqN3bZ224IAOt6lz76z_bHVhRe4S_KuQXiDFo1G3pyO_VLR-2F19FxV4w23QJCdZg_gdjT-0jCfWxRzdsV8NKK1oNAChJfYd1iwtVNV0EXD2D7oMVzd2yM/s1600/andthewinneris.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiKuZKQQYyHewWPE2p5ofmmqN3bZ224IAOt6lz76z_bHVhRe4S_KuQXiDFo1G3pyO_VLR-2F19FxV4w23QJCdZg_gdjT-0jCfWxRzdsV8NKK1oNAChJfYd1iwtVNV0EXD2D7oMVzd2yM/s320/andthewinneris.jpg"></a><br>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 13.5pt;">She
refused to open her eyes, hitting the snooze for the third time. Her plan to
not move was trumped by her bladder. With a groan, she swung her feet to touch
the cool oak boards, still slick from her 7th waxing this week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Before a panic attack could begin, her cellphone erupted with the bridge to
‘Imagine’. She glimpsed the caller id through bleary eyes and reached for the
disconnect. Her numb middle finger hit the ‘speakerphone’ button instead.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Without waiting a beat the voice blared out at her – “Have you seen yet?? Have
you heard?? I can’t login for another hour!! Finalists ONLY until 8am. WHAT’s
HAPPENING???”</span></span><br>
</div></div></div></div><a href="http://crosswaysnet.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-submission.html#more">Read more »</a>crosswaysnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13951118873788812400noreply@blogger.com0