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By Ami (Gypsie) Offenbacher-Ferris

In response to #Write Photo – Walker’s Challenge by KL Caley

#WRITEPHOTO – Walkers

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.

By Ami (Gypsie) Offenbacher-Ferris

Reena’s Xploration Challenge #216

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.

By Ami (Gypsie) Offenbacher-Ferris

Response to Fandango’s One-Word Challenge – Crossroads

There came a time

a troubled time

A crossroads in my mind

So many avenues up ahead

to go or stay and forge on through

Or take the crossroads away from you

I

traveled upon the other road

some times were good

Some times were bad

Do

I wish that I had stayed?

Not taking the crossroads in my mind

Sat with you after you betrayed?

Now that you are forever gone

I wonder each day and every day

Should I have stayed and finished our song?

http://christinebialczak.com/2022/02/02/three-things-challenge-862/

Your three words today are:

BEEN SEEN WEAN

Girl Child

By Ami (Gypsie) Offenbacher-Ferris

When you entered my life

I had never been so happy

So content

I had never seen

such a precious thing

As the tiny girl-child in my arms

When you started to grow

So did my love

My heart swelled with radiant joy

Then came the day

I had to pull you away

And wean you from my breast

I fear the day

When you really go away

Full grown, a woman on your own

99 Words

By Ami (Gypsie) Offenbacher-Ferris

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.

Not this year. I miss you love.

http://bushboy.blog/2022/02/02/wordless-wednesday-2-february/

By Ami (Gypsie) Offenbacher-Ferris

Last on the Card – January 2022

The rules are simple:
1. Post the last photo on your SD card or last photo on your phone for the 31st January.
2. No editing – who cares if it is out of focus, not framed as you would like or the subject matter didn’t cooperate.
3. You don’t have to have any explanations, just the photo will do
4. Create a Pingback to this post or link in the comments
5. Tag “The Last Photo”

By Ami (Gypsie) Offenbacher-Ferris

By Ami (Gypsie) Offenbacher-Ferris

In Response to Bartholomew Barker’s Monday Poetry Prompt: Tiger

Monday Poetry Prompt: Tiger

Tiger tiger in the night

you in your striped coat

full of wild delight

A stronger beast there’s never been

ruling the forests far and wide

until you battled the likes of man

An unfair war this is true

man alone without sword or gun

could not defeat one such as you

But man has never played the same

against beast, nor fowl

on the barren plain

Man it seems has the upper hand

seemingly taming streams, rivers

and raping your land

But in the end wild beasts will reign

and reclaim this planet that was yours

then royal tiger will be king again

By Ami (Gypsie) Offenbacher-Ferris

Reena’s Xploration Challenge #214

I was raised in an extremely strict household. Literally, children were to be seen and never heard. Children did not speak at the table, and so forth.

When my children entered the world, I vowed they would have the freedoms I never had. Freedom to explore their surroundings, to learn about themselves and to question authority, respectfully of course, when a task, request or command felt wrong. Not to just bow down to the “because I said so” mentality I grew up with, without explanation of why.

I’m sure most if not every parent who is reading this, is now rolling their eyes and have predicted the outcome of my very noble endeavors, correctly. I raised, unknowingly, naively even; iconoclast children. Rebel mongers. Rule breakers. Social outcasts.

Yet, I can not say I am sorry. My children know themselves, really know themselves. They hold their own in confrontations but are kind, gentle and compassionate with their partners; of whom they also hold their own or capitulate, depending on the issue.

To be honest, it was pure Satans Fire when they hit and went through their teenage years. I did not think I would survive it, but I did; and now I get to watch it play out all over once again as my daughter raises her extremely iconoclastic son.