(#Flash Friday) Rumpelkin, the Blacklung

Huh…that’s weird. Thought Pa to himself rubbing his long wizard beard as he pulled the shrink wrap off of the pack of cheapo cigarettes. The more he thought about it the more irritated he became.
”Hey,Ma!”
“Yea, Pa!”
“Did you go and throw away the butts out here? ’Cause I was a savin’ ‘em.”
“Fer what? Ya got a whole carton inside.”
“’Cause, Woman, I was savin’ ‘em! Do I ask you why you save your damn yarn scaps?”
“Well, I didn’t touch ‘em, you old cuss!” Mutters an old lady as she comes outside carrying a tray of lemonade.
“Here’s your dang drink!” she says, setting the glass down hard.
“So you’re saying it was Rumpelkin…” Begins the old man, nodding off the patio to the one yard ornament the couple had.
It was hard to see him through all the weeds over growing the once beautiful yard, but he was there. Tattered and chipped as he was he was loved. The old pair, in years gone by, would spend hours in silent conversation with dear old Rumpelkin. They would mutter and wave their hands about from time to time; some thought them a bit on the queer side.
Yet in reality Rumpelkin helped the twosome keep a bit of their sanity after it was found out that Bess was barren. He would be a sounding board, a shoulder to cry on, friend to share a joke with and so much more.
But that time had passed. It pure luck if they woke up remembering they were married anymore. Poor old Rumpelkin forgotten and left to rot.
“Well, could be, he’s old ‘nuff to smoke now anyhow.” Says Bess as she twirls her bangs with her fingers, smiling all the while.
“But Bess this ain’t the first time...”

Idea! The old man thinks, blowing smoke like a dragon deep in Contemplation, I’ll catch ‘er red handed…crazy hen, hehehe.
“All right, Bess, you win.” Says the husband, standing and pulling his suspender straps up.
“I…I gotta go to the store and pick a few things up, need anything Ma?
“Naw, Pa…Hurry up, Bout to cook supper 'n it’s best hot.”
“I know ma.” Replies the man looking up to the sun at high-noon.
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Hours pass and dinner grows stale by the time the old man finishes his project. Oh Imma get ‘er good! These lights’ll wake me up I’m sure, Rumpelkin,the Blacklung…pfft..
He couldn’t help himself, the old man fell to his knees, laughing.

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It was three A.M. Blinding flash.
Oh, Lordy Is it my time? Ponders the old man before he remembers the trap. Oh yea!
He sits up. Looking over He sees Bess missing from the bed. I knew it was’ er, crazy bat!
So, the old man hops out of bed and runs through the house, knocking over trash can and stepping on the mangy cat they keep. Damn cat!
Finally, he gets to the back door and open’s it up
“AH, HA I GOT Y…..”
His words hung in his mouth. It…It ca….can’t be! He thought

Before him sat Rumpelkin, a halo of smoke rising from the half burnt cigarette in his mouth.
“Hey Henry, bout time you caught on.” Said Rumpelkin in a gruff, deep voice
And with that Henry’s world went black.

Lyrical Life(#1): Color Blind

I hope to do this as often as I can...A poem on my feelings for the week,I hope you enjoy them.Let me know what you think,if you please.

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From a filter tinted blue
the light of the world shines through
Never right
never wrong
Yet non-the-less truthful

Cold river rushes by
Pushing me down to the ground

Up again.
Muddy water on the bank
A slip
Then a trip

Red is overlaid
purple is my pigment now
A sad mix
A mad mix
Blinding rage flashes ruefully

Swollen eyes
Sullen
Down cast
A stumble
A fall

Jagged rocks
Gouge flesh
Rend the soul

Green is laid upon
Grey the world is now
Muddled
Morose
A mess
Longing for more

Life goes on
In the current below
Uncaring
Unflinching
Me caught in the dead spot between

Blurred and jumbled
Clarity is needed
Foresight to forge on

One step
Then another
Glacial currents
Submerged

Colors fade
Separate
Then brighten
And disperse

Legs unsteady
One then the other
Up the slippery slope

World all shine and glare
Blindly smiling
I walk on

(#Flash Friday) Going Home

OK, I'm trying something new here.Not sure how it'll turn out.Let me know.
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White washed walls. White screen door. Paint peeling. Lovely. Home.

Havoc, chaos, death. Hollow eyes, hungry gums, icy skin. Unforgiving. Cold steel, blinding flash. Soul broken. Family lost. Bloody hand print pressed to mesh.

Cool mountain forest. Leaves crunching under foot. Running head long. Vision red-edged. Lungs burning. Heart beating against brain.

A log.

A fall.

Broken leg, bone through skin.

Broken hearted.

Life failing. Light fading.
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“Oh Hun, its perfect!” squealed Marnie, her blue eyes shining as the sea on a summer day.

We found our home.

“If you’re sure babe,” I said hesitantly, looking at all I had to do before Bryson came to us. “I mean it’s a lot of work…”

It really was. The porch roof half caved in on the right side. The paint was god awful, all shades and states of flaking. The screen door ripped at the bottom on rusty hinges.

“but Brice….” Her freckles scrounging together around her nose as he caressed the battered screen. She turns to me smiling, so lovely.

She knew I couldn’t say no to that beautiful face. She was my world, my everything, my love. Stepping in close to my little Mermaid and caressing her perfect tummy, our future.

“Okay, I’ll find a way to make it work, I just want the best.” I kiss her neck.

“I know. I love you.” She says, reaching back to rub my hair.

“Not as much as I love you.”

We hold one another each wondering what the future holds.
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Wet oak leaves. Redder still.

Sweat.

Teeth marks swollen.

Blood oozing to shirt. Like wine on sand.

Fever. Blackness comes again.
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“Daddy, look!” Bryson Exclaimed with only the joy a kid can have, pulling the plastic bucket off the wet sand throwing it to the side, forgotten.

“Great son! All by yourself too.”

It was the first vacation we had had in a few years, what with Bryson being young and house repairs to pay for I didn’t have time to get away.

“I’m glad you got away hun, you needed it. You work too hard.” Said Marnie , smiling her little smile driving me crazy.

It’s been ten years I’ve known her, been close, and she still makes my heart skip. I wasn’t concerned with the white, warm sand or the bright blue ocean I was just happy to spend time with my family.

“What did I do?” Ask Marnie, giggling and sipping her wine.

“Nothing Marn…I’m just happy.”

Staring off in the distance I notice Bryson’s gone too far away from us.

“I told him to stay close”

“Hes four, what do you expect dear?”

“I know, I’ll go get him”

I kiss her on the lips, the peppery flavor of the vintage sour on my tongue.

“Daddy! Daddy! OUCH….OUCHY!DADDY!” I hear him scream from the ankle deep water

I run.

I get there and pull a clear blob off and run back to Marnie, Bryson crying all the while.

“whats wrong?”

I don’t answer I grab her glass and pour it on his leg.

Sand turning red as blood on a shirt.
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Pain.

Waking vision blurred.

Warmth fades.

Anger rises.
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"Damn it Marn..." I say looking at the check statement "I told you things were tight this month"

"I'm sorry, I just couldn't pass the deal up though" She replies meekly not knowing what to do,tears welling at the edges of her azure eyes.

I really shouldn't of been so mad, I know how she loved her roses and forty wasn't bad for six Anne Hathaways. Besides it would complete the left side perfectly.My, how we'd waste away the time looking at her work.

"What's wrong Dad?" Bryson ask coming down the stairs, hair a mess in his night clothes.Freckles darker and more numerous than eve his mom's.

I sigh.I dealt with arguing all my child hood.I wouldn't let that happen to him.

"Nothing son, I've just had a rough day." I say getting up to kiss him on the forehead. "You've an early morning, up to bed,k?"

"OK, I love you."

"Love you too, Bry-bry"

I turn to Marnie, My love.I sigh.

"Hun...I...I'm." I rub my face and hair.

She walks up to me, all hint of sadness gone.

"I know, its ok. I'm sorry too."

She looks at me, I get lost in the sea of her eyes as she moves closer.She kisses me deeply.
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Loss,Emptiness,Loneliness,Release just a short crawl away Delirium closing in.

NO!


Delusion fades, bright clear sky over head.

White pale skin, white trembling hands find steel.

A smile.

Red hair hanging low freckles on her nose.

The bitter taste of tears and pepper and steel.

The boy, crazy hair, giggling.

Lovely.


Home.

I'm not lazy, I swear!

Ok, so I realize its been a while since I've last posted. Whether its just a blurb or a story. I've just come upon some major changes in my life(some painful, some joyous)and have my fingers in many pies right now.I know, I know...I should watch it as I'm going to get diabetes that way,Lord knows I love my sweets though.

Poor Ezrah is slamming around inside, trying to tear my meninges.Clamping veins, giving me headaches;He isn't dead. In fact, I've finished the little adventure I started in #FlashFriday a few weeks ago and started a few more plot points.I'm just seeing how far I can carry it.

As far as my #FlasFriday entries go I'm trying to do something new every week, a self imposed challenge if you will.Trying to see what works and what doesn't.I'm trying not to be a one trick pony.

Please, read if you have the time and let me know what you think.If you like Subscribe.

So I hope to see you around, my Friends!


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Also, trying to spread the word:

my friend Larry Kollar has a few books out.He is a wonderful author whom I've had the pleasure of seeing grow and one I've known for a good chunk of my life.And I'm better for it! So show him some love too!