Saturday, January 29, 2011

A different time....

This post is a themed writing project challenge taken from Jenny Matlock over at off on my tangent.
Jenny says we can use UP to 100 words to tell a story.
It can be fact or fiction. Jenny posts a few words, a prompt that we work from. This weeks prompt is in bold italics.


She lifted the stack of letters from the ancient chest, her weathered hands caressing each one.

“This one is from Mr. Morris” she said “and this one from Mr. Sanders”.

Marry me Tillie” appeared to the common theme.

Declarations of love and adoration, kept for over half a century.

“And you didn't take, not a one of them, up on their offer??” I teased the old spinster.

Tillie hesitated before she passed the last letter.

She opened it carefully, pressed it to her heart, then to her lips.

She mouthed the words I read aloud.

A heartfelt declaration of love and adoration.

It was signed,

Forever…

I love you,

Martha.

25 comments:

  1. oh who was Martha? the love of her life I suppose. Too bad she never did anything about it

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  2. Dear Koby,
    Thank you for your kind words about my SC-post.
    So far, Terra's, yours and my posts are all about older women and their stack of letters.
    My first impulse was to write about regrets. You have cornered that in your post! What an unexpected twist at the end. Well done!
    Best wishes,
    Anna
    For the benefit of other readers:
    'Infrequent visitor' SC week 39

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  3. Forgot to say that I thought that the title 'A different time' is excellent.

    Also... I agree with you. I would love to visit my grandmothers again and listen to them. They taught me so much, each in their own way.

    Alas, my paternal grandmother passed away when I was in my late twenties and my maternal grandmother died when I was in my early thirties. I miss them so much.
    Hugs,
    Anna

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  4. That was nothing short of special~

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  5. So that is why she never married any of those men. She couldn't come out. To thine own self be true. Very good take on the prompt!~Ames

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  6. What a wonderful use of the prompt! This was beautifully written, I can see this scene as clearly as if I was sitting in that room. Peoples lives are never as simple as they may seem to an outsider. Bravo! Kat

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  7. Awwww Political correctness in a time gone by - Great take on the prompt. Your ending surprised me and I love that!

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  8. Super! It will be hard to get a new twist on these letters I think but you did it.

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  9. Wonderful story! So sweet, so honest. Great take on the prompt, my dear!!

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  10. Now, THAT is a surprise ending!

    Well done.

    =)

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  11. Great take on it! Oh the tiny little chances along this journey of life...some we take others we loose! Poor Martha.....

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  12. It definitely had the surprise ending. It made me wonder what all had occurred prior to this and why they were reliving the time of the old letters. The other person with her is Martha? - Very good take on the prompt - E :)

    ------------------
    Elysabeth Eldering
    Author of the Junior Geography Detective Squad, 50-state, mystery, trivia series

    Where will the adventure take you next?

    http://jgdsseries.blogspot.com
    http://jgdsseries.weebly.com

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  13. This is such a bittersweet piece. I really appreciate that you push the envelope a bit, with beauty and sensitivity.
    xoRobyn

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  14. I loved this. Too bad she didn't live in these times. It would have been easier for them to declare their love and be open. Good job.

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  15. Oh my. that gave me goosebumps. What a sad time that time in history was. Great job.

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  16. Such a poignant tale.

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  17. Such a poignant tale.

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  18. Beautiful. Another time, indeed. Nicely creative!

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  19. oh my gosh this was just such a wonderful read and it tugs at my heart ...

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  20. Oh my, that was unexpected. Really got me!

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  21. This was unexpected and very beautiful, while being so sad...love that was not allowed, not possible in another time.

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  22. Just brilliant, Koby! Such a wonderful and heartfelt ending. And so well written! Great job!

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  23. This has me all curious. Well done!

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  24. I love this!

    Clever, clever you!

    Twisting us around at the last second like that.

    You are brilliant!

    Such a cool direction to take this prompt!

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  25. I just love surprise endings and this was so well done !

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