Flash Fiction, Random Rants, tutto e niente

Great Cheeks!

Tina Stewart Brakebill

Today, I offer a “tongue in cheek” look behind the scenes of my budding career as a sculptor.*

“Is that your first sculpture?” He asked.

That’s a bit of a cheeky question, I thought before replying: “Yes. Hard to believe, isn’t it? It’s so life-like. And look at those cheek bones!”

“Erm … yes. They are definitely … erm… cheeks.”

“I know! Next up: nudes!”

“Great. More cheeks. I can’t wait.”

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Real life collided with the weekend challenges to produce these 71 cheeky words, so thanks for the great prompts to  Sammi Scribbles (sculpture)  and Linda’s SoCS (cheek).

*I am actually taking my first-ever a sculpting class and this is my first sculpture (of my husband’s head) but that is where the resemblance to real life ends. If you knew what he actually looks like then you’d understand why I have zero illusions regarding my future as an “artist.” It is fun though!

Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

The Big House

Tina Stewart Brakebill

Apparently this was it: the prison’s law library. One row of ancient books on a rickety cart. Was that smell despair or just mildew? Probably mildew. The stink of despair was coming from—as they say—inside the house.

Did they still call it the Big House? Or was that passé? She much preferred that to slammer or joint. Big House sounded almost genteel. She pictured herself dismounting a sleek black stallion. Handing the reigns to the stable boy. Shaking her hair out and coyly declaring, “I’m headed up to the Big House for a drink. Join me. Won’t you.”

Her daydream was abruptly shut down by the guard’s rough shove. “If ya want somethin’ take it. I aint got all day.”

“Give me one moment please.” She knew her tone irritated the hillbilly guard, but she had spent years smoothing out the rough edges of her accent. If, no—not if—WHEN she got out, she had to fit in with the “right” people. One failed attempt wasn’t going to stop her. She had big plans.

She shook the image of his body from her mind. No time for that. She smiled as she selected a book. Comeback time. 

law-books_48

Photo Credit Morguefile

Thanks to Sunday Photo Fiction for the photo inspiration for this 200 word piece of flash fiction. Visit the site for some great writing and the rules of the game.

Haiku & Other Poetry, tutto e niente

looking for love & harmony

Tina Stewart Brakebill

to spark devotion   

and banish cacophony

the birds joined their calls

and sang a sweet melody

in unity with the trees   

low angle photo of trees and flying birds
Photo by Alex Fu on Pexels.com

Thanks to Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday Synonyms Only Challenge

Our words for today are “love” and “harmony” and my synonyms are “devotion” and “unity.” ‘Twas fun but hard!

Haiku & Other Poetry, History, Random Rants, tutto e niente

like sheep

Tina Stewart Brakebill

Like sheep we follow

Ignoring the other’s cries

Till they come for us

Nurnberg27

After this past week, I fear (even more than I did before) for the survival of our democracy. When we allow the president to act outside the law, how can we claim to be a nation of laws. When we actively persecute people who are not “appropriately” straight, adequately white, and the “right” kind of Christian, then how can we claim to be exceptional? When we support (or ignore) an administration that consistently places profit over the health and safety of humanity and they very survival of our planet, how can we claim “greatness.”

I fear.

Thanks to  Ronovan Writes for the venue to vent. Our words this week are “sheep” and “weep” for which I substituted ‘cries.’