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Fun Hops IWSG

Footprints #WEPFF Challenge featuring My Way #amwriting #flashfiction

No one ever accused me of being a poet and I’m not going to pretend I know anything about the craft. I’m submitting a poem this month because that’s all that came to me after being sick and in quarantine for 10 days (missed 4 days of work). I am now going to try to read all the IWSG Day posts I missed from people who visited my blog and then I’m going to try to read as many of the WEP entries as I can (I will likely fall short of reading all the entries before the deadline, but it is what it is). It’s been a rough 2 weeks and I wrote this poem to help combat my feelings of being overwhelmed.

~

My Way

A gray shoe leaving a print in the mud.
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I looked around one day,

And realized, I’d lost my way.

There was no path for me to follow,

But there were footprints in the hollow.

 

So many legacies left behind,

One would help me discover mine.

All I had to do, was take a step,

A step or two in someone else’s shoes.

 

But which way to go, which prints to try,

The ones too big, you can’t reach that high.

Or the ones so small, there’s nowhere more to grow.

Perhaps the ones, long and narrow,

Full of fears you can never know.

 

I looked around, overwhelmed with choices,

Big ones, small ones, deep ones, shallow ones.

 

The prints were my only way forward,

Regrets of a wrong choice, I could not afford.

 

Then I saw it, one pair on their own.

Footprints leading away from the rest.

Up the side of the hollow floor,

Footprints creating a new path never worn.

 

Someone brave enough to climb up and out,

To seek a path of their own without doubt.

But would I go that way, or would I stay?

Stay with familiar prints going the usual ways.

 

Each path led to a future unclear,

But those prints represented that 1% fear.

That small chance that could be good or bad,

While the other prints were safe and clear.

 

Perhaps to fear regrets that have not come,

Is the problem that I took on.

Any path could work if I chose it,

If I rose above and didn’t abuse it.

 

I looked at the footprints once more,

I’d made up my mind which way to go.

I’d go my own way and leave my legacy,

Perhaps my path would help someone like me.

~

FCA- 284-words- My Way 2019 Copyright © Toinette J. Thomas

**Update- For some reason, many comments are being delayed, not for approval, just being delayed. I’ve come across several that didn’t post until hours later. Sorry. I’m trying to figure it out. If you leave a comment and don’t see it right away, it’s okay. It’s probably just delayed. 🙁 **

Please visit other entries in this hop and enjoy some funny, scary, touching, and thought-provoking stories. You’ll be so glad you did.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

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Excerpts Fun Hops IWSG

Horrible Harvest #WEPFF Challenge featuring Familia Bond #amwriting #flashfiction

Click here to see all the winners! Read my entry below.

Familia Bond

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Danube

This has been the most cheerful harvest in recent history, with cool days and clear nights. I was put in charge of my first field this Spring and have worked more and harder than I have in years past, finally understanding pride in a job well done. I never before understood putting so much care into food I’d never eat.

As the youngest, male Field Leader in over a century, the anticipation of tonight’s celebration has me on edge, in the best possible way. I’m so honored to be able to attend the formal this year. Being around so many prestigious female leaders will surely increase my chances of establishing a pair-bond, especially if the Harvest Celebration goes as well as planned.

For decades, I’ve imagined the grandeur, etiquette, and politics of the Harvest Celebration, knowing how important it is to our survival. I should have been able to take part in the celebration many times over- I’ve been of the proper age for some time now, but the attendance of the celebration has been restricted as of late. As Josiah puts it, “The balancing of a population is a delicate endeavor. No matter how great our harvest may be, without good numbers, it mostly goes to waste.” I have been fortunate to have Josiah looking after me all these years and am even more grateful for a chance to repay his guidance and education.

I and two others, another male and a female, were sent out to dwell among the citizens to help influence them and protect them from their own ignorance. For a score, we blended into their society and corrected their assumptions, improved their methods, and fortified their medicines and rations. With our help, the citizens have thrived. In the Spring of this year, we were all called home to take charge of fields and prepare for harvest time. This will be the first Harvest Celebration in over a decade with an attendance that reaches beyond the capacity of our Great Hall. We don’t know the exact number of the population, it’s not our way to interfere directly with the citizens, but desperate times called for desperate measures. Now, we’re all highly anticipating the arrival of the citizens to the Harvest Celebration.

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Milsa

Tonight is the night. I have been preparing for this, it seems an eon. Year after year, I’ve attended the celebration, but being the youngest of the elders, I’ve always missed my opportunity to choose a pair. The citizens’ numbers have been so low that there were never any descent Chosen left to present by the end. Not this year though.

I’ve heard wonderful reports from the citizen spies. The citizens are healthier than ever, and their numbers have almost doubled. Josiah was wise to restrict the invitation to the celebration this last score. He will be the savior of us all if this Harvest Celebration is the success we all hope it will be.

It’s foolish really, but the anticipation of this Harvest Celebration makes me feel like a girl again. It’s been so long since I was a mere girl, but even one such as myself does not forget that feeling of excitement, that thrill of mating and reproduction. I know I’m ready for tonight’s ceremony.

After the other citizens have departed with their bounty, our gift to the locals for their sacrifice, the Field Leaders will mesmerize their chosen progeny and then drain them to the brink of death. The other Elders and I will then choose, in ranking order, the Leaders and progeny we deem worthy of the Familia Bond. I will select a young, strong male who has chosen to present a daughter. I will feed his chosen progeny from my wrist and then I shall drink from his heart to replenish my own strength. The servants will clean our bodies, drape us in silk, and bury us together under the harvest moon.

Tonight is the night I finally obtain the family I’ve longed for, for far too long.

Josiah

Oh, this burden I’ve taken on, this great struggle to perpetuate our species has finally begun to lift. My plan to send out our youngest day walkers has served us well. Many disputed my decision, refusing to take in the severity of the problem. It is true the Vmpyrs have never directly interfered with the lives of the humans, the citizens of this land, but if they are to continue serving as our breeding ground, we could not afford to stand by and let them die from starvation, famine, and plague.

My decision to restrict the invitation to the Harvest Celebration was also unpopular. When an elder, female Vmpyrs is ready for the Familia Bond, she’s ready. Convincing the Elder clans to alternate the years in which their females could choose new pairs and progeny almost cost me my life. An angry Vmpyra can easily withstand the charge of ten Vmpyro, no matter how old or well-trained they are. Vmpyra live for the day they can start the Familia Bond, but with the humans’ numbers dwindling so, there just weren’t any new progeny available.

I myself had given up the prospect of presenting a progeny at the Celebration for the past decade to ensure that others would have a chance. But I am happy to have a chance to participate this year. My favorite and most talented pupil, Danube, has blessed us with a great report of the citizen’s health and numbers. Tonight, he and I will stand before the elders and finally have our chance at eternal bliss. I know Danube has longed for a daughter; perhaps I shall present a son.

I regret now that I once looked down on the Familia Bond, thinking an eternity as a bachelor was the bliss I wanted. After being a bachelor Vympyro for more than three hundred years, I deserve to have the Familia Bond.

This will indeed be the best Harvest Celebration ever.

~

FCA- 994-words- Familia Bond 2019 Copyright © Toinette J. Thomas

Please visit other entries in this hop and enjoy some funny, scary, touching, and thought-provoking stories. You’ll be so glad you did.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

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Excerpts Fun Hops

Caged Bird #WEPFF Challenge featuring Kept #amwriting #flashfiction

Kept

Today, Mark bought me a pretty dress with a pair of matching shoes. I guess I’ll wear it tonight at the dinner party. This was the first time he insisted I use a caterer and party planner. He said I shouldn’t stress myself out over things like this. Parties are supposed to be fun. Of course, he’s right. I’m sure I’ll look lovely tonight and have a great time.
–
Today, Mark hired Rebecca to come by three days a week to do cleaning and laundry. He’s never complained about the way I keep house, but I guess he thought I could use the help. The house is pretty big for one person to manage on their own. Plus, he said once the children come, I’ll have my hands full with them. Of course, he’s right. Rebecca is very sweet and works wonders on sweat stains.
–
Today, Mark came home with a new electric car with a custom ladybug paint job. He knows I adore ladybugs, but I don’t know why he felt the need for the surprise. I guess with me only driving into town a few days a week now, there’s no need for me to hold on to my old SUV. Plus, he said he found a guy to take it off our hands at a good rate. Of course, he’s right. The smaller car is more practical for traveling such short distances.
–

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Today, Mark bought me a pearl necklace and I cried alone in my room for an hour. He’s been so understanding, more understanding than I can comprehend. I know having kids was a big deal for him, and yet, he seems to be coping with my infertility a lot better than I am. I’m so lucky he loves me so much. Of course, he’s right. We don’t have to have children to be happy together. We can find other ways to leave a legacy while keeping each other all to ourselves.
–
Today, Mark told me our plans to visit his folks at the lake were canceled but that we’d go next weekend, just the two of us. I guess it’ll be nice for just the two of us to get away from our regular routine, but I was really looking forward to seeing family. I feel like it’s been ages. Of course, he’s right. It’s just not good timing to be with family while we’re still focusing on healing us.
–
Today, Mark hired a private chef as a surprise to pamper me with some of my favorite Mediterranean dishes, though it was a bit inconvenient. I did have plans to meet up with a girlfriend I haven’t seen in months, but I didn’t want to seem ungrateful. I know he just wants me to feel loved. Of course, he’s right. A good friend will understand and let me make it up to her later.
–
Today, Mark explained to me about the strange medications I found hidden in his golf bag. Rebecca had asked to see if there were any other items she could throw into the wash to make a full load and there they were. He said the doctor had prescribed them in case I needed help relaxing during the time after learning we couldn’t conceive, but I never took any of them. He said he kept them from me because I was strong enough to cope without them. He’s right, of course. I didn’t really need those drugs to help me get through that time.
–
Today, my cell phone went missing. Rebecca and I searched the entire house. We checked my car and the guest house, but it seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth. When Mark gets home, we’ll have to make sure the account is secure and order me a new phone. Never thought I’d wish for a landline.
–
Today, I asked Mark where Rebecca was. She hadn’t come on Monday and had yet to arrive today. I didn’t think this was the week she was taking off, but perhaps my days were blending together. I have trouble keeping up with the days ever since I lost my phone. I hope she’s okay.
–
Today, Mark came home early and brought me four new dresses. He said he wanted me to put on a show for him. I didn’t really want to do it, but he seemed eager to see me model the clothes he’d picked out for me. I guess I should be grateful he hasn’t left me for a younger, fertile woman.
–
Today, Rebecca scaled the perimeter wall and gave me a burner phone. She told me she’d been fired after discovering the truth of the pills Mark has been slipping into my food. Rebecca told me to pack a bag and toss it over the wall. She said she and some friends would break me out tomorrow when Mark left for work. I don’t know what’s happening, but I think Rebecca’s right. I think Mark is doing something to me and I need to break free.
–
Today, I woke up in a hospital bed. My parents, my in-laws, and all my friends were there. Rebecca was there too. They were all sitting and standing around with paper cups of coffee and tea talking to police officers scribbling words on small white pads. Mark wasn’t there, and I felt relieved.
–
Today, I had lunch with my mom, Rebecca, and my childhood best friend. We’re planning a hiking trip in Nevada and will squeeze in a few days at Las Vegas before heading back. Sometimes, I feel like a character in a book, only my story isn’t fiction. Mark destroyed my mind and made himself the center of my whole world. I do believe he loved me once, but his love turned to obsession and I was too traumatized and intoxicated to help myself. It’s been a year now and my mind is finally clear. I’m at peace and it’s time for me to spread my wings and fly.

~

FCA-1013-words- Kept 2019 Copyright © Toinette J. Thomas

Please visit other entries in this hop and enjoy some funny, scary, touching, and thought-provoking stories. You’ll be so glad you did.

Update 6/25/19- I took ill suddenly and was offline for more than a week. I am now playing catch up and reading through the entries in this hop. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords