tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post3102426354684747717..comments2024-03-29T07:28:25.056+11:00Comments on Elephant's Child: Words for WednesdayElephant's Childhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-47451771341287674692015-10-31T11:36:39.442+11:002015-10-31T11:36:39.442+11:00DMS ~ Jess: The images really sparked a fire of c...DMS ~ Jess: The images really sparked a fire of creativity didn't they? I am so grateful to Margaret and her friend Sue.Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-90118897591657981872015-10-31T11:14:19.265+11:002015-10-31T11:14:19.265+11:00What an eclectic set of stories! I loved reading w...What an eclectic set of stories! I loved reading what the pictures inspired. I am thinking about what someone left behind as they watch it go in the side-view mirror <br /><br />Thanks for sharing the pictures and all the stories. :) <br />~JessDMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04202502753961748992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-44714119215521636592015-10-27T14:53:04.182+11:002015-10-27T14:53:04.182+11:00Riot Kitty: It was the first image which stirred ...Riot Kitty: It was the first image which stirred my heart.Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-39425411323469104142015-10-27T14:28:53.872+11:002015-10-27T14:28:53.872+11:00The second one especially!The second one especially!Riot Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02725825736285347870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-3473652839792091302015-10-26T05:18:41.558+11:002015-10-26T05:18:41.558+11:00Part two of Sue's story,
But of course I could...<i>Part two of Sue's story</i>,<br />But of course I couldn't leave them, Mother wreathed in grief that her darling boy had been taken and Father wreathed in anger and guilt that he hadn't kept his beloved son safe, and me? Well I was just invisible, just Beatrice, good solid, reliable Beatrice.<br /><br /> <br /><br />I turned down the contract and it was never offered again. Mother and Father lived long tedious lives and eventually they died, my dream had died with them.<br /><br /> <br /><br />I lived a solitary existence until 1 fall too many times and a stroke, ensured that I ended up here sitting in my only chair, in my only lonely room.<br /><br /> <br /><br />But oh dear girls! Listen, ' Run, run while you can, Run and don't look back. Grab life by the shoulders and shake every bit of joy out of it that you can!'<br /><br /> <br /><br />Beatrice opened the bag that she continually clutched, took out a photograph and stared once more at the picture taken at her audition. She held it to her heart and closed her eyes, her breathing, slowed, slowed and finally stopped, her arm dropped and the picture fell to the floor.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Carol breezed into the room ' Hello Betty (BEATRICE! IT'S BEATRICE) time for your tea'<br /><br /> <br /><br />Carol uttered the single sound 'Ah' and rang the bell for Matron, who rang the GP and the Undertaker before going to the room, after all Betty had no children and no relatives had ever visited. So no Next of Kin to inform. No rush.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Carol picked up the photograph, she could see instantly that it was a beautiful young woman in her prime and wondered who on earth it could be, that it meant so much to Betty.<br /><br /> <br /><br />The GP pronounced the death and the undertaker loaded Betty into the hearse for her final trip from Earlsmoor.<br /><br /> <br /><br />As the shining black car drove slowly and sedately along the tree lined avenue that led to the big ornate gates that marked the boundary between Earlsmoor and the real world, the driver suddenly stopped.<br /><br /> <br /><br />' What's up Fred. More bloody rabbits?'<br /><br />'No George, I looked in my side mirror and I could swear I saw a young gypsy girl, with ribbons in her hair, and a tambourine and she was twirling and dancing and the smile on her face, George, it was beautiful and free. I've never seen anything like it. It was so real'<br /><br /> <br /><br />And the moral, if indeed there is one, is to remember that we all have dreams, sometimes we don't realise them, but we definitely all have them.<br /><br /> <br />Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-44577890139054348792015-10-26T05:17:42.960+11:002015-10-26T05:17:42.960+11:00This one (and it is brilliant) from Sue the other ...<i>This one (and it is brilliant) from Sue the other creator of the prompts: </i> It is long - so is in two parts.<br /><br />Betty hated that name, she didn't want to be 'gentlefolk', she wanted to rant and rage and tell them how unfair it all was, how pointless her life had seemed. She wanted to shout at the young people 'Run! Run now while you can. Live your life for you.' but she couldn't, a stroke had robbed her of coherent speech and the young women just smiled and said things like 'there, there Betty, don't get upset dear'<br /><br /> <br /><br />'BEATRICE, MY NAME IS BEATRICE! And I have earned the right to be upset. Trapped in this useless body is a dancer. Behind the rheumy eyes, the wrinkles and those damned plastic teeth you make me wear is a beautiful, vibrant young woman. Oh my dear girls if only you could hear my thoughts, what a story I could tell.'<br /><br /> <br /><br />I was born 92 years ago, the first of 5 children. Me, Agnes, Richard (the beloved son) Annie and Elizabeth. My Father was too young for World War 1 and too old for World War 2. We grew up between the wars, us girls got jobs and gradually Aggie, Annie and Beth began 'stepping out' with young men, and then to court seriously. Somehow as the eldest too many of the household chores seemed to fall on me.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Mother had what was termed 'women's problems' and retired to her bed for at least one week in every month and I ran the family. Not much time left for socialising. But I saved up my money and followed my love of dancing and I was good, very good.<br /><br /> <br /><br />World War 2 loomed on the horizon and eventually the black clouds of war gathered. The girls got wed quickly, just in case the worst happened and indeed, Annies husband didn't make it back. Richard got his call up papers, Mother cried for weeks and took to her bed.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Father would sit with her for hours, holding her hand and praying.<br /><br />'Don't worry Queenie, God will keep our boy safe'.<br /><br /> <br /><br />But God didn't and with awful timing a telegram informing us of his death was delivered on the same day as a contract for me to dance in a musical revue in the West End of London.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Aggie, Annie and Beth floated in, and then floated out just as quickly, with 'Oh but we have families and you're so used to looking after them. You're so good at it'<br /><br /> <br /><br />NO! NO I HAVE MY CONTRACT. I WANT A LIFE<br /><br />Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-42986869613807120932015-10-24T11:37:28.772+11:002015-10-24T11:37:28.772+11:00Nilanjana Bose: Welcome and thank you. That is a...Nilanjana Bose: Welcome and thank you. That is an incredibly beautiful road isn't it?Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-36698424158736084152015-10-24T11:04:18.685+11:002015-10-24T11:04:18.685+11:00"Things in the mirror are closer than they ap..."Things in the mirror are closer than they appear"...that is a beautiful road she is on!<br /><br />Cool meme.<br /><br />Thank you for your kind words on my flash.Nilanjana Bosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08656370320322301943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-71313069050139036432015-10-24T10:45:39.606+11:002015-10-24T10:45:39.606+11:00Sigh.Sigh.Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-16278065571425508772015-10-24T10:13:08.145+11:002015-10-24T10:13:08.145+11:00:-(:-(Ellenhttp://www.paperchipmunk.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-1492281282032494192015-10-24T05:50:56.363+11:002015-10-24T05:50:56.363+11:00Robert Bennett: It may not be still running here ...Robert Bennett: It may not be still running here next month - but there will be other prompts in other places... I hope spookyness doesn't stop with October though.Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-62515459619524257342015-10-24T04:53:41.233+11:002015-10-24T04:53:41.233+11:00Hmmm. Might have to do this after October (and the...Hmmm. Might have to do this after October (and the end of spookyness)H.R. Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01462784064936801201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-76978203751023511702015-10-24T04:33:29.941+11:002015-10-24T04:33:29.941+11:00Susan: You are right - but considering that secon...Susan: You are right - but considering that second image is part of the reason that the past has charm - and should be cherished.Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-83624649810295353872015-10-24T04:32:31.115+11:002015-10-24T04:32:31.115+11:00Ellen: Lovely to see you here. I have been think...Ellen: Lovely to see you here. I have been thinking about you. Ouch on that painfully poignant haiku (a form which fills me with awe).Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-27698698504454415812015-10-24T02:09:25.133+11:002015-10-24T02:09:25.133+11:00Great pics! I especially like the first one. Makes...Great pics! I especially like the first one. Makes me think about something along the line of no matter how beautiful the past may be, if we waste too much time admiring the view in the rear view mirror, we can't see and appreciate what lies ahead. Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-81852907355504602452015-10-24T00:54:11.448+11:002015-10-24T00:54:11.448+11:00Thanks Jenny-o, ED and Margaret. Nice words, appr...Thanks Jenny-o, ED and Margaret. Nice words, appreciate them.<br />Strayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08124298302997708537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-14404679411811592992015-10-23T20:25:23.309+11:002015-10-23T20:25:23.309+11:00I love your writing prompts! I’m so glad you’re do...I love your writing prompts! I’m so glad you’re doing these again. So many good things here. Mine is a little haiku loosely based on the first image.<br /><br />One day suddenly<br />The sun sets in the rearview<br />Only night aheadEllenhttp://www.paperchipmunk.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-65909138343377039212015-10-23T20:12:28.285+11:002015-10-23T20:12:28.285+11:00Ellen: Good. Had any rain your way?Ellen: Good. Had any rain your way?Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-66304094722024819492015-10-23T20:09:05.184+11:002015-10-23T20:09:05.184+11:00A wonderful piece of writing incororatiing the two...A wonderful piece of writing incororatiing the two photograph. Thanks for returning to share it with us.Margaret Birding For Pleasurehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00400663056547331997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-3789241431422689422015-10-23T20:07:16.197+11:002015-10-23T20:07:16.197+11:00Strayer This is a brilliant and very imaginative ...Strayer This is a brilliant and very imaginative piece of writing.Margaret Birding For Pleasurehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00400663056547331997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-66509393159824627982015-10-23T20:02:51.422+11:002015-10-23T20:02:51.422+11:00I'm going to go to bed with a smile on my face...I'm going to go to bed with a smile on my face thinking of that one... :-)Ellenhttp://www.paperchipmunk.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-44126516157612833692015-10-23T18:09:19.702+11:002015-10-23T18:09:19.702+11:00DeniseinVA: Thank you for coming back. Another p...DeniseinVA: Thank you for coming back. Another piece which moves me. Sentimental and beautiful. Thank you.Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-47483077524882697272015-10-23T17:56:49.566+11:002015-10-23T17:56:49.566+11:00We drove by the beautiful gypsy dancing and shakin...We drove by the beautiful gypsy dancing and shaking her tambourine. Her feet were flying, dancing to the unheard music of a time long ago. She smiled at me and said something I could not hear. I threw out silver coins which fell at her feet. She stopped momentarily to pick them up and blew a kiss to the child that I once was, and as I looked into the rear view mirror of my life, I could still see her dancing still and the memory of her magical smile lingers.DeniseinVAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08494518513936310345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-75733566420695261082015-10-23T17:29:56.871+11:002015-10-23T17:29:56.871+11:00Wow. Strayer, this is really good.Wow. Strayer, this is really good.jenny_ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15475480579733466963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516733121956849207.post-32021832189161042832015-10-23T15:41:32.773+11:002015-10-23T15:41:32.773+11:00Strayer: Brilliant. You have made my eyes leak. ...Strayer: Brilliant. You have made my eyes leak. Forward is often so hard to do...Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.com