My Heart Goes On

    Pulsating within me, throughout life pieces are given. Sealed with a kiss, I promised forever to my husband. Unconditional pieces given at first glimpse to my daughter, then to my son. Each piece pulsating deep within them, living again through their memories.

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Knock, Knock

     Knock, knock.  She coughed, fresh blood peppering her handkerchief.   Bone weary, rankled with pain, her breaths shallow and spare.    Knock, knock.  Persistent knocking, rattling her brains.  Enough!   Flinging open the door, embracing death, welcoming everlasting life.   The valiant warrior succumbs. Sweet relief.

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Choices

     Envious of her physique, I assess my own.  I would kill for her ass.  Sigh.   Elect torture courtesy of a local gym, or find a superb plastic surgeon in New York?  Contemplating my pizza, I resign myself to hereditary genetics.  Life’s choices.

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Sweet Revenge

 

    Vicious nuisance, slaughtering her chickens. Once ensnared, she slaughtered him.  He simmers in a bath of red wine and spices.   Vengeance feels good. Wiping blood that has trickled from her mouth, she licks the spoon.   Revenge tastes sweeter with pinches of salt.

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The Model

   

   Twenty pairs of inquisitive eyes scrutinize as my kimono pools at my feet.  I model.  Damn goose flesh!  Blushing, I avert my eyes.   Rustling newsprint.  Their eyes dissect me inch by unforgiving inch.   Focused.  Determined to capture my essence in two dimensions.

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Freedom

“You left college,

forfeited your marriage,

 your friends,
 and your life…

  to care for me.”  

 Damn tears!  Cancer sucks!

Mama pleaded, grasping my hand.

 “Promise me...

 to live life,
 chase dreams,

 love.
  Experience everything...”

Sighing,
 she relaxed and welcomed eternity with grace.

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The Dare

“I triple dog dare you, eat it!”

Squeamish, Tommy screwed his eyes tightly shut, and dropped the wiggly worm into his mouth, gulped, and shuddered, grimacing.

“Well?”

“Blech! Slimy, salty, disgusting bit of nastiness!”

Huh, Google claims worms taste like bacon.

“Really?”

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The Flood

Ring!

“Sorry, wrong number.”

“Sofia?”

Silence.

   Her toys lay abandoned. 

Where did she go?

The search, then utter horror.

      Amid a sea of flowing toilet paper, stood my darling toddler, happily drenched, cramming every last roll we possessed into the overflowing toilet.

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The Weekend Gig

From 9 to 5,

 he resides in the far cubicle from the door typing legal briefs and depositions.

  Weeknights, 

John attends Florida A&M Law School. 

 Daily,

 he is Emma’s daddy and Sarah’s husband.  

Weekends,

 he charms Disney’s magical world as Mickey Mouse.

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Sound the Alarm!

Silence.

Except for the tap, tapping, of my keyboard
 and dog snores. 

Suddenly all hell breaks loose, dogs scrambling to the front window barking, growling, howling.

I peer outside.

Nothing stirring.

Perplexed.

What the hell?

"SHUT UP!" 

Probably just a mouse fart.

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Betrayal

A vision in white, my bride glides towards me to the triumphant strain of Mendelssohn's march. 

“I can’t marry you.” 

Horrified.

"I’m pregnant with your brother’s baby.” 

Enraged.

 My fists connect, 

flowers fly,

and the best man is down for the count.

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Disaster Averted

    
 
  Adjusting the oven temperature to 425 degrees, I discovered my protégé, washing chicken pieces with Dawn dish soap.

“STOP!”

     Horrified, I quickly rescued tonight’s main course from the suds, rinsing each piece with hot water.

  Seasoned and baked, no one will know.

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I Don't Do Coffee

    
 Rounding the corner, bleary eyed, Amanda made a beeline for the coffee pot.  

Damn! Bone dry! Why?  

     In melt down mode, she whirled around to demand an explanation to the unthinkable and spied the new receptionist, Chrissy, 
sipping a Mountain Dew,
 oblivious. 

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Just Write!

Before dashing away to the flight which would take her to a sunny, idyllic beach, Christine imparted a bit of advice.

  She encouraged me to reach for the brass ring.

Write, 

and for God’s sake,

 edit

and proofread

and count your words!

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The Welcome Committee

Checking clipboard and package, the delivery man presses the doorbell.

Bells chime, then loud, vicious barking erupts  followed by thundering feet.

Heart pounding, terrified, he braces for the beast within. 

Rottweiler? Pit bull?

The door opens.

Smiling lady and Chihuahua: sweet relief! 

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The Depths of Imagination

Bobby filled a pail with water.

Plunging a fishing line within its depths,

he waited,

proudly proclaiming he was fishing. 

Worried, friends feared for his sanity. 

His mother realized his imagination encompassed infinity.

Fathoms of vibrant fantasies to capture, investigate, and explore.

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The Holiday Feast

A voracious canine shadow harasses as I position steaming vegetable dishes around a platter of succulent turkey.

   Add fine china, gleaming crystal, flatware and starched linens:

 utter perfection!

   Doorbell chimes.

  I hurry to welcome.

  Unnatural silence.

  Perfection transforms to devastation.

 “Marley, NO!”

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