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!

Well only one submission again this week....yup, that would be mine....here it is:

Jack and the Lion
By Kim Holdiman

                “Come on Jack, just shoot the blasted buck!” laughed Christian and the rest of the gang. Jack wished it was that easy. Every time he pointed the gun at the beast, it would turn and look at him with those eyes. He could shoot a target with incredible accuracy, but a living, breathing animal with eyes staring back at him was a completely different story.

                The guys were always on his case about it. He didn’t want to go hunting with them, but felt like it was the only way he could fit in. How ridiculous, he was 42 years old! He was a successful graphic designer with a beautiful home and two incredible children! Yes he was divorced, but beyond that, he was a success, happy with his life. So why was this so important to him?

                “Oh forget it Jack…you’ll never be man enough to bring him home!” All of them were laughing at him again. “Let’s load up and head back, we’d better get Jack home before his curfew,” they all laughed again.

                What could he even say? So he said nothing, but loaded up his stuff and climbed in the back of the truck for the lonely ride home.

                As he rode, he formed a plan. He would go out on his own! He would show them all! He would make a trip to the jungle, he had the money to go. He would find a lion and he would kill it. Then he would bring its head back to show them how much of a man he really was. He couldn’t possibly melt from the eyes of a lion… could he?

                So the next weekend, he set out on his trip. He didn’t tell the guys, he wanted to surprise them. After flying in, getting a jeep and loading up, he began his search for a lion. It didn’t take long and he saw one. He got out of the jeep to creep closer to the beast. It hadn’t noticed him.

                He crouched down, took aim, held his breath, and….the lion turned and looked at him! NOOO! How could its eyes be so sweet and gentle?!?!? It’s the King of the jungle!

                Jack dropped his gun and sat down right there, dropped his head in his hands and cried. What happened next you might find unbelievable, and since nobody but Jack was there…well…

                Anyway, Jack felt something wet on his hands. Stunned, he looked up and he found himself eye to eye with the lion. For a moment there was fear, but then the lion said to him, “what’s the deal?” Jack looked at him, shook his head and said, “whoa, did you just talk? You’re a lion, lion’s don’t talk!”

                The lion said, “umm I’m a lion and I’m talking, so I guess we do. So again I ask, what’s the deal? Why are ya crying?” Jack told him, “My friends think I’m a wimp because I can’t shoot an animal, so I was gonna shoot you to prove them wrong, but I couldn’t. I guess they’re right.”

                “Dude!” the lion said. “What are you, 16? Who cares what they think? So hunting isn’t your thing? So what? Be who you are! If your friends don’t like who you are, then I guess they aren’t really your friends. That’s the cool thing about how God made people, He made you each so unique… different…special. Celebrate those special parts of you.”

                “You’re right! I’m gonna be who I am and find friends that can appreciate me. Thanks!” Replied Jack.

                “No problem dude, now you better get in the jeep and get out of here, because I have a rep to keep up out here, I am the king of the jungle, you know! I don’t want to have to have you for lunch! I’ll give you a 5 minute head start!” The lion said.

                And they both lived happily ever after!   J

Photo for week of October 12-18

Here we go folks... a new week, a new photo, a new story! Let your imagination run wild!

Stories for the week of October 5-11 (or should I say story)

Okay...so the first week only produced 1 story...mine! Here it is anyway...perhaps it will inspire some others for next week.

Here is a reminder of the Photo of the week....

The Last Note  by Kim Holdiman

     Jeffrey had married the love of his life at the age of 22. She was the most kind-hearted woman he had ever known. He never did know why God had blessed him so richly. Serenity was her name, and it described her so beautifully. You couldn't help but feel the peace and joy when you were in her presence. Her laughter could wash over him like the bubbling of a creek. I twas like the flow of life's pure water.
     They had gone through many trials in their 39 years of marriage, but never had they doubted their love for each other. Through 2 miscarriages, her mother's long battle with breast cancer, the ups and downs of raising their 3 amazing children... through it all, their love had coursed strong and powerful in their lives and hearts.
     Even now, he could not imagine doing it with anyone else. She was everything that made him right. He was no longer a young man and their children had lives of their own to make work. They lived far away and came for visits. Oh how he enjoyed seeing them and the grandbabies, but they needed to build their own lives and families now. It's just that she has been so much a part of who he is for so long, it's hard to even begin to know what to do without her.
     Alzheimer's, it's an ugly word, and an even uglier disease. It's almost as if it has single-handedly stolen his Serenity away. Except for the music. Five years have passed now since she began to slip away. It was gradual at first. But now the only time he could see a glimpse of his Serenity was when he played his music... their music. it's all he lived for anymore... those few short moments of stolen time with his girl as he plays his guitar.
     Today, she didn't even come out for even a moment, not his sweet Serenity. The doctor said she was not doing well. The pneumonia had taken a toll on her lungs and her heart. He didn't think she would make it through the night. Tears slipped past his lashes and onto his rough, weathered cheeks. He nodded at the doctor and went back to play one last song for her.
     Slowly he opened his case, took out his instrument, stopped briefly to take her hand in his and lift it to his lips and brush it with  a kiss. After placing it back on the bed, he began to play, "The First Time Ever I Saw your Face." His tears streamed freely now. Her sweet lips turned up in a smile as the last note was played and her last breath was taken.
     After saying his final goodbye, he packed up his guitar, put on his hat and slowly walked back to their empty apartment with a broken heart.

Photo for week of October 5 thru 11

Here is the first weeks photo....remember to email your story to me at KimberzPen@gmail.com
We want to see how many different ideas we can get so I won't post until Friday after close of submissions at 5pm

Come join me on a writing for fun journey!

Each week I will post a photo and ask people to submit creative writing stories of what they see in the photo. This is just for fun. There is no prize, there is no money involved! I just thought it would be fun to see what people came up with and it would be a great outlet for those of us who enjoy writing, but don't really pursue it as a profession.

My daughter and I used to sit in the mall and people watch and come up with stories as to what we thought we were seeing...it was always a fun way to pass the time. I remember as a child laying on my back watching the clouds drift by and I would see what the shapes looked like and I would make up stories of what those shapes made up. I think with all the electronic entertainment of our times, we don't allow our imaginations to flow as we used to.

I thought we could just have some fun. So submit your story via my email at KimberzPen@gmail.com before Friday @ 5pm and I will post all submissions that evening. It will be fun to see what different ideas people come up with.

Please note that I will not post any submissions I find offensive...vulgar language, prejudicial/racist type comments/stories, hatefulness, etc.

This is meant to be fun, please keep it as such.
Thanks for indulging me!
Kimberz!