i was still young and wondered if something was rattling in his head.

after all she sounded more logical than he did and her head certainly did not rattle when she shook it.

but “that” would explain the voices she heard in the middle of the night.

“she must be sedated. she must be contained.   … put in a place for her safety.”

“quiet!!!” I said to my head that was starting to rattle.

“for the time being she is safe,  she will be under my care” I stated emphatically amidst the frowns and rattlings.

in time she removed herself from society and whatever cacophony of sound there had been was relieved by the sound of the birds and the animals that sought the peace in her gardens.

one day I removed myself to the gardens for some clean air and thought.

“they have been poisoning you for years” she said without nary a comment on my part

“how did you know?” I had known for some time myself.

“i can smell it and the voices told me.”

“breathe the air here and in time your head will cease to rattle.

in three months I was clear

i fed the creatures from my hand during my hiatus

the voices started going away

when I returned I found it

well actually them:

an inconspicuous bottle with an ancient name written in Latin

at her house  i read the book that had told me about a poison used on a fictional character using this  same substance

and the book titled “ convince them they are mad ”

i got a call from my husband’s doctor “time for your annual checkup”

i knew if I stopped hearing the voices telling me to flee  i would be out of my mind

Beware the hands who one day will  remove the veil of a woman who once seemed so frail

watch the man whose eyes of black consume her body never looking back

Be jealous of the man whose gentle lips  launches love like ships

beware the love these two possess they will sail the tides and never wreck

don’t watch as he holds her hands under the moon for love’s fervent stand

Be jealous for one day this man you will be

embrace the woman she will be me

Boa constrictor

Squeezing out last gasps of air

You raped

Pillaged

You leave nothing

The audience will be by for viewing

“Here lies her carcass

Once a woman

Now a shell

Ripped to pieces

Teeth marks latent”

Compared to heart bludgeoning

Never you mind

Go forward

You are good

At enticing

Destruction

Causing people who feel

Their END

*incessant clapping by audience who in their ignorance helped bloody the water***

She was ours this sturdy craft

maiden voyage stem to stern packed

we set off on a lark that day

knowing not that bad weather was in the way

we pitched  we rolled

our new craft took a toll

we trimmed  we sailed

and emptied quite a few pail

an ugly grey squall no less

it was sent our way to give the test

when sun’s weak rays came at last

we knew one of many we had passed

for others would we be ready

in our life there would be plenty

storms to test our merit

lessons for love we would bear it

***

There are many challenges in life. If we cannot weather those storms our life is not hardy and hail. This is my offering to the A to Z challenge. A lesson of life packed into this “Y” – my little “craft” bobs and pitches on a regular basis but we are still “afloat.”

The beautiful seascape is by artist Konstantinovich

“They say there has been treasure hidden somewhere around here. It was left by pirates a long time ago.” my cousin whispered as I drifted off to sleep the first night I was staying at his house.

“Tony what were you thinking giving Bobby ideas of treasure seeking? He already has so much to deal with his mother being so sick and all.” Tony’s mother wrung the color from her hands.

“Ma it will keep his mind off of it.” Tony looked at her seriously.

“A rousing game of Monopoly would have done the same.” She sighed. “He fell asleep with the map under his pillow.”

“It will be ok. I promise” Tony hitched his shoulder and went upstairs to the room he was sharing with me.

Tony said those words repeatedly to his mother over the weeks that followed. What she didn’t realize he was doing it as much for her as for me. My mother,  Alicia, was his mother’s younger sister. In some ways, she was like her daughter. He knew neither of us could take it if  “Auntie” died.

“Ok… I’m ready for another search” I said with wide-eyed eagerness.

Each day, before going out, Tony would tell a story about pirates and treasure. Each day his mother and I listened intently.

“That boy’s quite the story-teller” she said proudly to a neighbor as they watched us venture off with a trusty shovel and dirty map.

I’m not sure that I believed Tony until one night…

…I  had this crazy dream of fire, pirates, lots of bottles of something that made them shoot off their guns and yell into the night. They didn’t know I was watching them as they buried their treasure. I woke up the next day with an indelible “x” in my mind.

“Tony, Tony. I had a dream… pirates…treassure. The dream told me where the treasure is.Tony, Tony.”

I became the story-teller that morning before we set off. I could see my aunt’s eyes glisten with tears.

The sun was setting and Tony’s ma was getting a bit worried.  She didn’t realize carrying pirate’s treasure is a lot of work. When she saw us, she ran to see what the trouble was.

“We found it!!!!” our arms and legs were exhausted but our voices conveyed the  exuberance in our discovery.

“Oh – you did” she said rather breathless with excitement.

Inside the box was a treasure of gold doubloons that were who knows how old.

The next day she got the call from daddy.”They can treat Alicia but it will cost more than any of us could raise in a lifetime. I have no hope left.”

We heard a “whoop” from the next room and ran to see what was happening. There was my auntie on the phone. “Here tell your daddy about the treasure Bobby. Tell him!!!”

***

That was years ago now. I still love a good story told by my cousin Tony who has a weekly radio show. The left over money from the treasure put Tony and I  through top notch universities. I became a syndicated writer for associated press. Tony occasionally asks me to write a script or two…

******

This is my offering to The A to Z challenge. I had to revert to my story telling and script writing to pull off today’s letter “X.” Whewww (no that’s a “W”)

I didn’t realize there was a world race for the discovery which my colleagues and I had spent the better part of our lifetime researching.

Yes there could be money, recognition…

but that is not why

Does a singer have to sing?  

an artist sculpt or paint?

We had to discover

we were so close…

My world as a child was the think tank of Stanford University. My mind filled with science. While most kids were putting together Tinker Toys, I was studying bones (really old bones.) I got my break – the opportunity to work in medical research starting at the age of 13 (they kinda fudged on my age.) I saw and learned much. Scientific discoveries seemed to be made every day…

This is a flash fiction for my friend Galen aka Mr Know it All who has been in the hospital. Get well soon G-man.

and this is “W” for the wrap up week of the A to Z challenge.

Photography: Public Domain picture of Rodin’s sculpture “The Burghers  of Calais ”in front of the Stanford Quad

I bubble and sing

never stopped up

stench cannot foul

a living thing

reach your hand

touch  be refreshed

by pure

clear water

I foment and fuss

out of love

for I watch

and fear your loss

you are the reason

there is a well

drink

and be filled

I bubble and sing

I am the living spring

come to me

be refreshed

As a chilren’s writer I am etched with simplicity. That does not mean my mind does not whirl around complexity. Early on as a story teller, I realized that the children needed to be able to see my words. Simple though the words may be, I hope that you are able to see the and grasp the well.

Photograph: “Water’s Prism” L. Moon copyright 2011

I had rapid fire thoughts surge through my head.

• Princesses never have power in fantasy stories; they always look good and have a  “ga ga” prince
• focus – poison
• Get Blue!!!
• Get Blue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• I never dream in colour
• When I wake up I am going to write a bestseller because this dream is too rich
• mommy

“Look mama.” I heard that nauseatingly sweet voice of that little girl.

“Don’t you have somewhere to go?” I wanted to say a bit too unkindly for a kid in a dream. “Ok little girl look at what? I’ll play along.”

“Yes dear her lips are a very odd blue colour. I hope that doesn’t mean the end is near.” Why does she sound like Mrs. Cleaver?

“At least the mother is a realist.Wait. It’s my end that she is referring to. Get that Prussian Blue – ASAP!!”

The next moment the princess sat up. I mean I sat up. I don’t have any idea what is happening. (Needless to say I have no idea if these are thoughts or I am speaking.)

“Thank you so for your help little girl.” (did I say that?)

“All I did was to wish you to be well.” The little girl smiled a little too sweetly for my liking.

“Yes you did.” A beautiful smile crested the princess’ face like dawn after a storm. It was radiant and commanding. “I must go back now. There is a war to stop and a Viceroy’s son to marry.”

“Is that all?” I thought sarcastically.

“Goodbye” the little girl said secretly holding a handful of blue.

“Ahh” I sighed “that’s the way I like a dream to end. A little girl with blue pills,  a very assertive princess, and the dreamer discovering that she is mentally unbalanced.”

The next moment I, she was walking through an unusual forest. “Toto we are not in Kansas…”

Shake it off normal person ”I have need of you as you have need of me. Your knowledge from the other world will keep me alive. In exchange, I will one day return you to your world…”

“That’s one assertive princess” I sighed.

…much later having come to my senses

“I’m glad daddy taught me how to look out for myself. (you may not know it prin…cessss but my daddy was a Navy Seal he could kick butt).” I thought.

Out loud I said “Lead the way princess – Carpe Diem.”

She chuckled “You do realize this is not a dream sequence!”

“Yes – time to prepare for a wedding” (back atcha princess)

“It is time I take charge of my dream” I thought as my mind and body shifted to high alert. “Afterall there are people out there trying to kill “my” princess.”

*****Warning*****

When princesses in dreams start talking back to you realize you are in for a big change!!!!

******

This is the forth of a short story series that I think I will condense, edit then re-post  “Dreamer” “Jolted Asleep” and ” The Hidden Element”

The beautiful water color that has been the front piece of my “dream” series was painted by the talented Arna Baartz.

Thank you to the A to Z challenge that has given me the chance to pull out archived work and get some feedback on some of my WIP. All of the moderators deserve a month off to dream of next year’s A to Z!!!!

Her feelings undone

by you

a butterfly released

into the wild

she flutters

floats

silent for one moment

on your finger

she teases

taunts

color and movement

a private dance

of beauty

 synchronicity

for you

Looking in your eyes

she is undone

transformed

a petal falls

falling

falling

softly

caressing

with velvety snow white

petals

landing

before you

Undone in a melted pool

what you will do

she knows not

she yearns for you

to scoop her up

cast her into the breeze

watch her

glide

wait

she is free

to light

upon

your

heart

I found this beautiful picture at http://www.petsfoto.com/wonderful-world-butterflies/

And we are on U for the A to Z challenge – I did it!!!

Long awaited drop

falls from the limb

I watch

all I want to do is cry

***

weak arms

cannot stretch

the distance

that one drop can fall

***

frantic appeal

into darkness’ night

impotent to aid

the one I love

***

“why” I beg

when others needed aid

I was there

but not for her

***

Place a shield

around her now

dawn will come

filled with light’s warmth

***

give her strength

draw away the pain

feed her need

blot out  her …

An excellent shot Photography: “The World in A Drop” by Damien Franco