I'm extending the life of the last photo, as there were no submissions this week, including I did not manage to complete one either. No excuses, I simply allowed life to get in the way. So same photo for the week of November 15th thru November 22nd.

Photo for week of November 2nd through November November 8th!
Let the writing begin!

Remember to send submissions to kimbperzpen@gmail.com by 5pm on Friday November 8th and all stories submitted will be posted Friday evening for your enjoyment.
~Kim

A reminder of the photo for week of October 26th thru November 1st

I will say that I had every intention of writing a story this week, but life interrupted my plans! I usually write on Thursday night, but instead spent the evening in the ER after getting T boned in my car on the way home from work. My aches and pains are my excuse for not writing this week...sad but true. Thankfully I have a new and wonderful author jointing my blog this week! I hope you all enjoy her as much as I do!

You Rescued Me

“Sweet boy, you will never get anywhere in life with that face.”

Augie continued to stare at me adoringly, tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth.

I chuckled and ruffled his fur. “It’s a good thing you’re a dog and don’t need ambitions.”

He huffed at me, proceeding to dive off the couch and land face-first. After he managed to compose himself, he bolted in the direction of the sliding glass door in the kitchen, yipping at some creature outside. I couldn’t keep myself from laughing as I heard the scrabbling of his claws as he slid around the corner on the wood floor. This dog was just rife with entertainment value.

As often as I’ve wished he was a little less energetic, while tidying a tipped trashcan or gathering the disintegrated bits of yet another toy, Augie has been the steadiest factor in my life over the last few years.

When we were brought together, we were both battered and bruised. Since stumbling out of the apartment after yet another of my boyfriend’s violent rages, I had wandered town for several hours before finding myself outside the local dog shelter. I couldn’t help going through the door, hoping to get some comfort from the animals inside.

But there was no comfort. All around me, I saw loneliness, pain, abandonment, hopelessness. Maybe I belonged here; the only difference between these poor creatures and me being that I chose this. I slumped against a kennel and put my head in my hands.

I felt a claw catch on my shirt as the occupant of the kennel behind me pawed at the bars. I turned, wiping the tears from my cheeks. The dog sat on its haunches and cocked its head at me; I was instantly flooded with sympathy. His left ear was split at the top and a dark scar snaked from his eye to the tip of his nose. His face and body were missing fur in places he had been beaten, and his tail was crooked from suffering a previous break. He couldn’t have been more than a year old.

As I perused his condition, I knew where we would be going from here.

Half an hour later I walked out of there, determination in my step, head held high, holding my new companion in my arms. As I headed away from the shelter, putting distance between me and the cursed apartment, I turned my back on everything I knew. Wherever the dog and I would end up, I vowed it would be better than from where we came.

I smiled as I listened to my dog do his hyper, pacing dance at the door, challenging the outside world. We were survivors, him and I. We had beaten our demons and were now living it up in the sunshine.

All of a sudden, there was a crash. I shook my head as I got off the couch to inspect the damage. Augie had knocked over the chair that I keep my used grocery bags on and one had landed squarely over his head. He was dashing in mad circles, trying to get rid of the thing. I picked him up and pulled the bag off.

That’s not a bad look for you,” I joked.

Still hefting him under my arm, I poked two eye holes and a hole for his nose in the bag. I gently coaxed him to put his head back through and put him on the floor.

“Well, it’s almost Halloween, right? Now we won’t have to buy you a costume!” I crowed.

By Rachel Christine Atchley

Okay....here we go! This should be a fun one! Photo for the week of October 26th through November 1st!

ARCHIE

Archie had lived all of his life in the city. Always the same city, and never far from the well known pavement and concrete.  He had great apprehension about going out into areas not totally inhabited by mankind, where wild animals and lack of creature comforts, like electric lighting, restaurants, restrooms and telephone service, made self reliance an important part of one's makeup.

He tried to imagine the inky darkness of night in the forest. No streetlights, not even reflected from around the corner.  What was out there, making those noises?  What would find him, out where he could not go in and latch his door, to his secure manmade shelter, he wondered.

Could he make a shelter, a fire, and fashion a means of self defense?  What would he eat and could he find water?  How would he warm and dry himself, from the elements of nature?  These thoughts kept him in his urban cell, comforted by the familiarity around him, the noise and bustle, the assurance that he was not actually alone!  How could anyone leave this to venture out into the unknown?  Why would they?

He would hear stories of others, camping out in the wild, overnight, far from buildings, without food sources on every corner.  They told of going where the path you follow may lead you to an encounter with a bear or even a skunk, before you ever saw a human again.  

There were stories of seeing the stars, magnified in the night sky, without competition from city lights. He had heard that it looked like the stars descended, seeming to be almost within reach!

He took great relief and comfort from the knowledge that these trips were very temporary and could be ended whenever the adventurer felt they had had enough.  He fantasized that someday maybe he would venture out, (with supervision and help in case it was needed), and of course a means of transportation to terminate the trip at any sign of danger!

Even harder for him to imagine are stories of more primitive cultures, who were as unfamiliar with electricity, concrete, prepared food, water and airtight shelter, pavement and concrete, as he was with the naked wilderness! Cultures who foraged or hunted for their food, and if they were unsuccessful, they would starve until they were successful!  NO stores on every corner, no canned goods in the pantry.  No pantry!  Building shelter out of their environment, with whatever tools they might make!

"Whoa!  Too scary for me!" he thought, taking comfort even in the seeming protection of the bars of the railings on the steps on which he sat.

By Danielsan Hipke

IN A MOMENT

“We’re going all the way this year man! I can feel it!” Don said.

“Oh yeah… We’re gonna take state! No questions! Me as quarterback…you catching everything I throw at you…and dating the most beautiful cheerleaders on the team!” Chris laughed back.

It was the perfect year! He couldn’t believe how great things were going! Captain of the football team, crazy in love with Jenifer Miles! It was definitely gonna be the best senior year ever!

Nobody could have expected it to come to such a screeching halt!

It seemed like an ordinary day, but that was the last thing it was.

Everything started the same as always, Chris picked up Jenifer and drove to school. They talked about the big game and laughed about some silly thing from the day before. Then they shared a sweet kiss before walking to class hand in hand. If only he’d known…. all the if onlys in the world couldn’t change what would happen a few short minutes later.

Chris had just sat down in his government class and Don slid into the desk behind him as the bell rang. Mr. Jefferson began his lecture when they heard the sound…. It was like a bunch of pops… suddenly time seemed to stand still yet not.

There was a mix of frozen in time and chaos at the same time. Nobody was sure, yet they all knew… yes they all knew they were under attack. They took cover. The popping started again…and yelling…screaming…the most blood curdling, horrendous screaming… and crying! By now everyone in Mr. Jefferson’s class was under a desk or behind a closet. Cell phones were out and people were calling for help. Sirens could be heard in the distance…closer and closer they came.

Suddenly the door opened……..more popping..more screams……crying……sobbing! Chris closed his eyes tight and prayed for God to protect him. Suddenly the popping stopped. Chris didn’t know whether to open his eyes….he wasn’t even sure if he was still alive. Then he felt something warm running down his face. Then someone touched his arm. Finally he opened his eyes and saw a policeman asking if he was okay.

He nodded, but when he looked around, there were bodies and blood and they were his friends and his teacher and………NOOOOO NOT DON!!!! Tears mixed with his own blood and ran down his face as the paramedics took him out sobbing! He asked for Jenifer, but no one told him if she was okay.

It was hours later before he learned that indeed Don was gone and the love of his life had been shot in the head and had severe brain damage. His injury was minor, just a graze.

2 years later he is still waiting for Jenifer to fully return to him. He sits with her for hours a day, hoping she’ll remember the love they once shared before a senseless, violent act took her from him. Until then, he’ll continue to pray and wait. After a breath of air and some private time with God, he’s ready to go spend a few more hours with her.

By Kim Holdiman 

Photo for Week of October 19th through October 25th

Write a story and submit it to KimberzPen@gmail.com by Friday October 25th at 5pm and I will post all submissions Friday evening. Remember this is just for fun. Please check back and read the posted stories and enjoy. Let's get ready for some creative fun!