Visual PromptPicture by Ami (Gypsie) Offenbacher-Ferris
Southport Marina, Southport, NC
My very first, very short outing after battling COVID-19 with pneumonia for the past six weeks. Mask on of course, but so nice to get out if only for a few minutes. Caught this picture as the sun was setting.
Jonathan Kilgore Kirkpatrick the Third meant to enjoy his vacation regardless of the weather. It was after all, his first in six years and with luck, perhaps he’d meet his next wife here in this beautiful resort on the shores of Thailand. He loved everything about Thailand, the people, the food and in particular the varied landscapes and adventures Thailand had to offer.
He had Robert make up a beach bag, complete with lunch and his favorite wine, some snacks and even a bit of schnapps to cleanse his pallet afterwards. Thinking about how much he was going to enjoy this down time, he noticed belatedly that the usually bustling beach, was completely empty. No cabana’s, man-servants, lounging dignitaries or wealthy Americans strewn across the pristine white sand. Not even a child in sight, digging those obnoxious holes in the sand.
Jonathan could not believe that a few clouds and a bit of windy weather had kept everyone from coming down to this magnificent blue sea. Although as he gazed out across the usually turquoise waters, he seemed to think they might be a bit murky.
Spreading out the over-sized plaid blanket, he set out his belongings, lunch and wine meticulously as he was a meticulous man. Slipping out of his custom made slacks and belt, his elegant swimming trunks emerged garish against the backdrop of nature. Slacks, shirt, socks were folded perfectly and placed into the beach bag provided by the resort. He fingered the handmade item, ran his finger over the bright red Hibiscus which had, he’d been told, been hand stitched by the local women. He wondered why they didn’t just use a printer and an iron to design the bags. The thought left before he even finished thinking it, such was his way.
An odd happening caught his attention. He was mesmerized by the water as it was receding at a rapid rate. So fast in fact, that fish and shellfish, algae and conk were left stranded in the sand, starved for oxygen. He was surprised the birds were not hoarding all of the suddenly available seafare but, there was not a bird in sight.
He thought perhaps, he should go pick up a conk or two as they’d make nice gifts upon his return back to his home country. The water receded further, so far out he could no longer see a spot of blue as far as the eye could see.
Returning to his blanket, he poured his favorite wine into the crystal goblet Robert had carefully packed for him. Jonathan toasted the sky, the sand, turned to toast the currently nonexistent sea and that’s when he saw, something. It looked to be miles and miles away but appeared to be frothy and white. Waves perhaps? The sea returning? Good, he was looking forward to a nice swim.
The ground began to shudder beneath him, a deafening noise he could not place disoriented him. Jonathan stood up just as the one hundred foot wave swept over him. Tsunami warning horns continued to blare all around.
You need to imagine this as a character in a story plot, and write about her.
• Give her a name.
• Mention the geography she lives in.
• What could be her temperament?
• Is she prone to melancholy, or is she faking it to fool someone?
• Is there someone she is thinking about?
• Where could she go next from here?
Julianna huddled against the cold brick of the derelict building. She would not cry, she never cried. She was a professional. She was trained by the most prestigious and high ranking military faction in her home country, Russia.
She believed in her country. She believed in her government. She believed they had the best interest of her people at heart. She had believed it. Now, she it knew it had all been a lie. Everything she had thought she’d accomplished and done in the last ten years had been a lie. She had done things, horrendous things, in the name of her country because she had truly believed, they were the right things to do to protect her homeland.
Julianna shivered. She’d left her tiny apartment without a sweater, coat, credentials or money. Her once meticulous brain was on overload, she couldn’t think, couldn’t make a plan. She felt dirty, used, and betrayed, she was angry. Her own people, her own country had used her to further their political and financial gain only.
She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts, to come up with a solution. That’s when she heard a voice calling to her. It was him! He had found her!
The unmarked car pulled around the corner, stopping just behind where she huddled. The car door opened, a large man hefted himself out of the car, wrapped his coat around the shivering Russian operative and tucked her gently into the warm, waiting car.
Response to picture prompt and 100 word challenge.
This is the first year without his card. Every year for forty-two years he sent the sweetest Valentine’s Day card with an invitation to dine out as though we were young and it was our first date.
I would take a long bath in gardenia perfumed water, do my toes and nails, apply the usually not worn make-up and dry my hair into some-what controllable waves. I have very curly hair that likes to roll up and stay on my head so I rarely bother using the blow-dryer.
Gypsie’s Wonderful World of Words 