Give me 5 ...words, that is.

Okay, I feel like writing but don't want to do the research, editing, work to write an article right now.

I looked at different forums to see which one this post should really be written in, but couldn't decide. The Parking Lot is probably a better forum but I did not want to be in competition with the long stories that different DG members are writing there.


Please post 5 words. Just a little handful of words.

I will try to write a SHORT mini commentary or story for each set of 5 words. I also reserve the right to reject any repulsive words or words that do not fit under the DG rules.

This is limited to the first 3 posters for the moment and I'm busy so I can't promise how quickly I'll get your mini story written.

Anyone wanna play? Anybody got 5?

I'm going to be brave and go 1st.

Oklahoma
rice
sidewalk
ferret
nightmare

I will make it easy....

trees
water
fairies
mirror
horizon

Mine's not hard either I think....
summer
grandchildren
Halloween
lessons
cats

And now we wait....(Jepardy music in the background...dah dah dah dah...)grin

Okay,

I just clicked on this thread about 3 minutes ago. Let's see where this goes...

A story for: kwanjin West Valley City, UT


Oklahoma
rice
sidewalk
ferret
nightmare

This story may change before it is finished, but I'll post so you can see and read the changes...



Rain had pummeled the clay ground all morning but now the Oklahoma sunshine danced through the cracks in the roof of the park pavilion onto the bride. Her dress, which was white and much too long for an outside wedding, was covered with mud splatters from the ankle to the knee.

"Where is he?", she wondered aloud. The beads on her dress glittered as she turned to her maid-of-honor and asked; "What time is it, Jessica?".

"Two minutes later than it was before," was the answer from the 8 month pregnant female on the bride's right. "Listen, I'm going to need a chair before this is finished if he takes any longer. Why you ever went through with this on this rainy of a day, I don't know."

"Where is he?", she asked again. No one answered.

The few invited family and friends were standing near the punch and cake table, which was, of course, simply a picnic table covered with a bright red tablecloth.

A five year old boy named Adam, decked out in a mini tuxedo, suddenly jumped off a chair and grabbed a decorated basket full of sunflower seed bird seed. He laughed happily, then said; "Hey, look. We can throw this rice at the bride while she is waiting. I seen it on TV." He passed the basket to his other friends and suddenly seven five and six year olds with hands full of bird seed raced towards the bride.

The park pavilion was not large. The race was not long.

Jessica, Adam's mother, tried to grab his arm as he threw the first fist of sunflower seeds towards his teacher, the bride. "NO, Adam!", she shouted. The seeds flew up in the air and landed in the bride's face.

Quickly, each child threw a handful and grabbed at the basket for another handful. The basket tumbled from Adam's hand and landed on the bride's shoes. Sunflower seeds bounced everywhere.

Just as quickly, parents grabbed their child. Each child was forced each to apologize to the bride.

"Where is he?" asked the bride.

"I need a chair," said Jessica.

"There he is!," shouted Adam. He jumped up and ran to the sidewalk where the man was walking around puddles. "Where have you been? We've been having a lot of fun, Uncle Perry! We've even thrown the rice already. You missed the whole thing."

The man groaned and looked around at the assembled group. He asked loudly, "Doesn't anyone here have their cell phones on? Usually you can count on somebody to always have one on..."

"Perry?" called the bride gently. "Where are you?"

"I'm over here, at 6 o'clock," he answered. He walked towards his bride. I'm so sorry, you know how the road always floods in the rain. My truck is stuck. I just left it there and walked the rest of the way. I've been trying to call. I look like a ferret that has been driving rodents out from underground all day. I'm covered with mud and my hair is a mess. I've ruined your whole day. I'm sorry. This is nothing but a nightmare."

"It's OUR day, Perry," she said. "And it isn't ruined. It isn't a nightmare, it is a dream. We've had quite an adventure today. We will never forget it. I'll never forget a detail of this day. Look, the sun is shining."

Perry reached up and pulled sunflower seeds from his bride's hair. He carefully removed her shoes and dumped sunflower seeds from the toes.

"It's an honor to marry you, honey. You are such a fine woman with a great attitude about everything. Are you ready to begin? By the way, you look beautiful. I wish you could see how lovely everything is."

The bride turned her sightless eyes towards his voice and smiled. She said gently; "I can. I feel the sun on my face and hear the children laughing. You are here with me and everything is lovely. I knew you'd be here and now I see your love."



This message was edited Nov 6, 2009 8:59 PM

A story for: nanny_56 Putnam County, IN

trees
water
fairies
mirror
horizon

Once again, the story may change. I didn't make many changes on the first one, although I see a few things that could use an edit or two...LOL.

Here goes...

Father bull frog called out into the night air. His voice echoed through the trees and across the many waters. He called to the young and the restless frogs that had only begun to live in the air; "Hear ye, hear ye. If you want to be wise, gather around. Only the foolish do not learn from the elders."

The deep echo of his voice pulled at the heart strings of the young frogs. Their cries peeped back in return as they answered in rhythm; "Be wise. Be wise. Be wise. Be wise."

At first, only a few frogs gathered at the water's edge. In minutes, however, the mud was covered with frogs calling to each other; "Be wise. Be wise. Be wise. Be wise. Be wise."

And then the clouds parted and the moon shown bright over the surface of the water. Silence. Not one frog voice broke the silence. It was time for the dance of the fairies before Father bull frog spoke.

The dance began quite slowly and appeared to only be moon beams moving over the water. Soon, however, the surface of the water was filled with scherzando dance steps as faires jumped and twirled and stepped to the music of the night. The dance was one of pure innocence, without the perversion found on television dance contests. It was a thing of beauty and then the old frog spoke again.

"Dear frogs, we are gathered here together to find that you no longer need the water to breathe. You have changed. You may not even know that you have changed, but look into the water like a mirror. Change is life. Be wise."

"Be wise. Be wise. Be wise. Be wise.", the young frogs peeped in chorus.

"You must learn the ways of the land to survive. Before, if you could outswim your enemies, you could survive. Now danger comes from above and below. You must out-think your enemies. Put on the whole armor of a frog or you will never survive. Be wise."

The young frogs peeped out their song in reply.

"On the horizon," he continued, "is a new life. You have been transformed into that new life. You must learn to live in it. Learn every day. Transform yourself in the renewing of your mind as well. You must think like a land-dweller. Learn how a land-dweller thinks. As you change your mind, you can change your life. This is lesson one. If you survive, meet here again tomorrow night. Be wise." Father bull frog cleared his throat and hushed the peeping that began. "Use your ears as well as your voice. Listen, someone is walking this way. It is time."

A silence began and then continued as the frogs disappeared into the night.

One frog was excited about what he had learned. He had to speak. "Be wise," he peeped out enthusiastically.

A hand reached down and scooped him up. And the rest of his short life was spent in a jar with dirty water. He occassionally thought he could hear Father bull frog in the distance and thought he could hear the reply; "Be wise. Be wise. Be wise." But, perhaps it was only in his dreams. Or, perhaps it was his own voice calling out to anyone that had an ear to hear.





This message was edited Nov 6, 2009 9:52 PM

This message was edited Nov 6, 2009 9:54 PM

A story for:

Quilter5bdsr (Barb) Hillsboro, NH


summer
grandchildren
Halloween
lessons
cats



I don't know how many edits I have left tonight. Might not be able to get back into this one until tomorrow, but I'll get started now...


Three grandchildren gathered in the kitchen near Gr-ma Jillian.

"When are those cookies gonna be finished?", asked one.

"What kinda cookies ya make?" asked another.

"I don't care what kind. If you made 'em, they are good." declared the third and the oldest grandchild.

"Whew! Good thing I love you kids. It's summer and must be 100 degrees outside. I declare! And I'm in here baking you chocolate chip oatmeal walnut cookies."

"With cranbetties in 'em?"

"Yep. Your favorite. Dried cranberries."

"How long before they are done?," asked the oldest and wisest grandchild.

"They only need to bake a few more minutes, but then they need to cool before you can have one."

The middle aged child took a deep breath and said; "That is the most wonderful smell in the world. It smells like you, gr-ma!"

Gr-ma Jillian took the cookies from the oven and placed them on racks on the table to cool.

The youngest child laughed. He threw the ball he was holding into the air. The ball sailed over the kitchen table and hit the bottom corner of a decorative mirror on the wall. The mirror shot upwards then landed on the floor with a loud crack as the ball bounced again.

"Oh no! Look what you did!;" shouted one child at the littlest child. "Seven years of bad luck. It isn't just a mirror. It is seven years of mirrors."

The small child began to cry; "I don't want seven bad lucks. I don't want. Gimme some salt. G-ma, I need salt."

"Stay away from the glass. Move out of the kitchen. Jordan, grab a paper towel and put water on it." Gr-ma Jillian quickly cleaned up the mess. After hands were washed and tears dried, Gr-ma Jillian said; "That reminds me of a story. Do you want to hear it while we eat a few cookies?"

"It was Halloween, when I learned a few lessons about things like this. My sister, your great aunt Mildred had started telling me ghost stories. She also told me that if I stepped on a crack. I'd break my mother's back."

Jordan gasped; "Is that true? Oh, NO! I stepped on a crack in the sidewalk today. I'd better call mother."

Gr-ma Jillian asked; "Do you think I ever stepped on a crack? Yep. And my mother's back never broke. Things like this are just silly things that people say to control each other."

"Well," continued Gr-ma Jillian, "I wanted to go to a party that night. I was only about 6 years old and I was afraid of everything, even my own shadow."

"...Eric is that", interrupted the middle child.

"Am what?", asked the littest child, Eric.

"You're a scarddy cat; scared of your own shadow."

"Am not."

"Am so."

"I'm telling."

"You don't have nobody to tell, Gr-ma is right here."

"Hush, children. Don't carry on so at each other.", said Gr-ma Jillian as she handed each child another cookie.

"Finish your story, please," pleaded Jordan.

"Well, Mildred had told me many stories and made me promise not to tell anyone or bad things would happen. She said the dark forces of the universe would hear me and I would be very sorry. She told me not to step on cracks and not to break a mirror. She told me not to open an umbrella inside or to walk under an open ladder. Mildred had this book from the library and it listed hundereds of things from different cultures. Those things were called superstitions."

"Stuperstitchesns?", said Eric, "I ain't never heard that word before. It's big."

"Guess what happened? On the way to the party, I stepped on a crack. I was really worried about my mother's back. I kept saying to myself; 'Crack cancelled. Crack cancelled.'"

"Then, I arrived at the party a little bit early. My friend's father was still putting up decorations and I couldn't get around him. My friend made me walk under the ladder after telling her dad we were there. And, she had a black and white cat. I figured with everything else that was wrong, black and white was close enough to black. If that cat would have been a skunk, I wouldn't have been surprised."

"What happened then?"

"Well, by this time, I was so upset that I started to cry and cry. I told everyone that the dark forces of the universe were going to show up because there was bad luck. One of the other guests was dressed like Mary Poppins and guess what...she had an umbrella. She opened that umbrella up and put it over my head, then closed it and opened it and closed it again. By this time, I had had enough."

"What did you do?"

"I did the only thing that I could think of and I'm so sorry now. I grabbed that umbrella and stomped on it, then ran into the bathroom and shoved it into the toilet. I tried to flush it down again and again. My sister had told me that the only way to break an umbrella's bad luck was to flush the umbrella. When it wouldn't go down, I tried to break the umbrella. The umbrella was covered with water from the toilet and I slung it around the bathroom, slinging dirty water everywhere. I then threw the umbrella and of all things, cracked the mirror. I ran out of the bathroom, shouting at the top of my lungs for salt."

"Get out!", said Jordan.

"What?" asked Gr-ma Jillian.

"Uh, it is just an expression," said Jordan.

"What happened?", asked the middle child.

"Well, they called my mother, who did not have a broken back. She did, however, have a few words with both me and Mildred. I found out that you can't live life based on superstitions. If you do, you might not ever get anything much worth doing, done."

"So I don't need any salt, Gr-ma?", asked Eric.

"Nope. And don't you forget it!", she said.

"See there," said Eric to the middle child as he stuck out his tongue. "I told you it wasn't true."

"Did not."

"Did so."

"Children,..."

Oh Thank You Aunt_A... That is just wonderful. You have such a talent with words. I'll print this out and keep it as it's the second thing in my life written just for me....
Thank you again..

Oooo...I love my story Auny_A!! Very good :)

Good on Aunt_A.....cute stories.

You are very talented Aunt_A! I enjoyed reading all 3 stories.

Very nice stories.
Agree with smiley you are very talented!!

Sweet...thanks to all of you.

It's just fun.

Anyone else want to try?

I'm up for one more...might not be back on DG until tomorrow...somebody give me 5.

I'll ask my DG writer friend Desert Pirate if he wants to write a couple, too. Will D-mail him.

snake
toad
bird
anole
gopher tortoise

Thank you, Aunt. That was beautiful. ^_^

Wow, Ginger. That is an interesting list without much variation.

I already have a couple ideas running around in my head but not sure I want a talking "animal" story right away so one idea is out. Hmmm...the other idea will work but I don't have time to write it tonight.

I'll try to work on it tomorrow; no promise. Okay?

You are very welcome Kwanjin. Thank you. 'Twas fun.

^_^

Aunt_A...the list I gave you are all critters I see on a regular basis in my yard. I will look foreward to seeing what you do with them. We have been getting ready for Ida all morning. Hopefully we will get much needed rain without bad winds. Our 5 big dogs are already in "storm mode". I just love a parade! Heaven forbid I should move a foot away from them...makes for interesting bathroom trips...guess I need to learn to close the door tightly. LOL

Aunt_A, I have a list with variations, grin. These are a few of my favorite words.(okay to call a timeout...grin)

Arboreal
Bollix
Conundrum
Doldrum
Efficacy

Oh my...the moonhowl...I already had to look up anole and gopher tortoise to be SURE I knew what animals they were and where they lived. Interestingly enough, I found that both of them live in Florida. LOL...so, I'm not surprised at your comment Ginger.

Now I'll have to look up Arboreal and Bollix. Hmmm...A,B,C,D,E...do you have a whole alphabet full of big favorite words? A friend gave me a card once that had a lot of big words on it...she told me that the big words reminded her of me.

I'm sorry that I worked over about half an hour tonight...and then had to buy groceries so I'll have to write tomorrow.

I'm ready to write, too...

Thanks,

April

yes Moon knows a LOT of big words. I have 5 teenagers, how about I send you them instead....LOL

trinawitch,

Yikes. No thanks. Too many teenagers for me. Of course, if they are good friends, maybe they can keep each other entertained.

I rather like big words.

^_^

April,no one writes on demand unless they are paid....lol
I am in no rush....take your time, please. Otherwise, where is the fun? Grin

Moon

A story for:

Ginger_H

snake
toad
bird
anole
gopher tortoise


It was time for the gopher tortoise to awaken and start his day. He climbed from his hole in the ground, as small creatures that shared his home scattered. Old gopher stretched his legs out as far as possible and arched his neck slightly as he groaned.

"I'm grouchy today," he said to nothing and no-one in particular. "It's just that kind of a day. I have a crick in my neck that won't go away and an itch on the back of my neck that cannot be reached. Probably one of those stupid bugs tried to crawl into my shell last night. I hate this shell. It's like a straight jacket or something. How many other animals have to cart their whole house around? Good grief!"

Just then a green anole scampered across his path and called out with a cheery, energetic voice; "Good morning, GT!"

"What's good about it?," he snapped.

"Look, it's a beautiful Florida morning. I'm going to have a bit of fruit juice along with my regular protein for breakfast; the tree over there is brimming with fruit. Do you want me to toss something down to you from it?"

"No. And this is my yard, just keep moving. Find your own fruit."

Anole pushed himself upwards towards the sky and fanned his dewlap. His skin color changed to a dull brown to match his mood as he said; "Hmph; and a beautiful day to you as well. I don't know what is eating you, but I really don't care." Anole scampered away, towards the tree full of fruit, where insects were plentiful.

A robin settled down beside GT. She pecked around a bit before tilting her head sideways and looking straight at GT. "Hey, buddy...wat's up? Wat's up? Wat's up this morning?," she chirped. "Seems like you're a bit of a grouch. Bit of a grouch."

GT almost growled at the bird. He said; "Listen, everyone and their dog wants to talk with me this morning. I don't want to talk. I have a pain in my neck and everyone wants to be a pain in my neck. I have a itch I can't scratch on the very back of neck as well. I'm tired of this stupid shell."

Robin hopped onto GT's back and pecked his neck at the base of his shell. She happily chirped; "What'cha wat'cha think? Wat'cha think about that? Had a sticker stuck in your leather skin. Feel better? Better? Better?"

"You can't cheer me up that easily. Why do you repeat yourself?"

"Just a robin's way, robin's way, robin's way," she sang. "That's how I am and your shell is how you are. Gotta be who you are. Gotta. Gotta." She danced a little scratch dance on GT's shell and pecked at a bug that scurried across.

GT almost smiled.

Robin flew away with a "Have a good day, good day, good day".

"Good grief," answered GT.

GT decided to check out the fruit under the tree. He lumbered across the yard and almost fell over Toad. "Toad," he said, "what are you doing in my way?"

Toad jumped, sprawling his legs out sideways. "Just looking for breakfast. Slim pickin's last night. Moon wasn't out so didn't catch as much dinner. Slept too long in your cozy house, as well."

"My house?," asked GT. "Since when are you sleeping in my house?"

Toad gulped down a fly and his mouth was empty before answering; "All 20 pounds of you and you have that great big hole that you dug. I just nap on the outskirts sometimes. No big ribbet deal."

"Hey, its a big ribbet deal to me! Good grief; I did the work; I live there. That is my house, my home."

"Hey, yourself, dude. Don't you ever read those newspapers that are recycled in the garden over there? You, Mr. GT are a "Keystone Species" and you, Mr. GT help the rest of us dudes live. Lots of animals share your burrows that you dig. We really like the empty burrows, too. An occupied one will do, if need be. Too bad there are fewer Gopher Tortoise around nowdays. We really need you, even snake enjoys resting in that little part of your burrow."

"I don't want to be a Gopher Tortoise."

"Too bad. Whose gonna change that? Gonna tell the Creator that you don't like you when He likes you?" Toad laughed at his joke, just before zapping another fly.

"Good grief," said GT. "If you are what you eat, then you are a fly. Good day."

GT strolled back to his burrow. Sure, enough. There was snake, taking a nap in the corner of his living room. "Good grief," shouted GT.

"SSSSSSure enough, GT," said snake. "SSSSSSure. Whatssssss the matterssssss?"

"My house. It isn't bad enough that I am trapped in this shell, but everybody wants my burrow, too."

"Sssssure and I've been thinking 'bout talking with you 'bout that;" said snake. "Wanted to tell you thankssssssssssssss and see if there'ssssss anything I can help you with."

"Don't need nothin' but peace'n'quiet. All you animals yapping about me and my stuff. My neck hurts and I'm tired. I'm going to close myself off from the world here and take a nap. When I wake up, you'd better be gone."

"Ssssssssure;" said snake. "But first, let me try to get the pain out of your neck. It is the leasssssssssst I can do."

"You are the pain," said GT but he arched his neck a bit out of the shell.

Snake slithered onto GT's shell and slowly wrapped around GT's neck.

"Good grief, don't choke me," said GT.

"Ssssure," said snake as she carefully slid around GT's neck and applied pressure to the place where it ached. "How'ssssssssss that?" she asked.

"Thanks," said GT.

Snake said; "Well, guess I'd better head out. I'll do what you sssssssssaid. I'll find another place to nap."

GT hung his head and said; "Good grief. Can't someboday just have a bad day around here? Sorry, you can take a nap in the burrow anytime. Just don't have too many friends over at once, no loud music, no green river grass juice or whatever that stuff is called, no..."

"Hah! Sssssssssounds like no fun allowed to me. That'sssssss okay, I'm pretty quiet and I'll sssssssssee ya later. Take two aspirin and call me in the morning, okay? Snake slithered off,

GT stretched and then snuggled into his burrow and said to himself; "Friends. They're worth waking up for. Glad I took a walk this morning. I feel better already."

Hope Ida is nice to you Ginger! 5 dogs wanting to stay close...wow...1 dog can be a trip hazard. LOL

April

Ginger,

That is one of two totally different paths that my mind was creating. The talking animals won out when you mentioned these all lived in your back yard. Maybe sometime (no promise) I'll write the other one.

Happy trails!

April

Oh April...I LOVE my story!! Thank you.

Ida has been a bust for us here in Fountain. We've had more rain and wind from unexpected storms.

Ginger,

LOL; thanks for letting me have a little fun with the story.

Hope you get some good rain soon.

April

^_^