Wednesday February 29th, 2012

The exercise:

Your word of the day is: awkward.

Woke up to snow again, just in case I might have forgotten it was still February. A lot of it has melted away already, but still.

Managed to get a few errands done anyway, including filling up the car's gas tank across the border. It's a little inconvenient, and I'm not a huge fan of the US border guards, but paying 97 cents per liter instead of $1.32 per liter is hard to say no to.

Mine:

"Hello, Arnold."

"Oh! Oh, hi, Mrs. Martinez. I thought today was your day off."

"It was, but I decided to pick up an extra shift this week to help pay some bills. How are you doing?"

"Fine. I'm good. Thanks."

"And my daughter?"

"Tammy's good too. Great, really. I'm a lucky guy."

"I'm glad you realize that."

"I do! Totally. So, uh, what do I owe you?"

"Fourteen dollars and seventy-five cents."

"Jeez, they ain't cheap, huh?"

"No, Arnold, pregnancy tests are not cheap."

Tuesday February 28th, 2012

The exercise:

Two haiku about: breakfast.

February is so nice this year, why not enjoy an extra day of it tomorrow?

Or something.

Mine:

No toast, eggs, or buns,

thank you - just give me coffee

and no one gets hurt.

*     *     *

Three kids to wake and

get ready - who in the world

has time for breakfast?

Monday February 27th, 2012

The exercise:

Let us begin the week with: shutdown.

Ah, what a relief - March is finally in sight!

Mine:

I pulled up in front of the general store but paused as I reached to turn off the engine. A hollow feeling settled in the pit of my stomach while the words on the note taped to the store window beat their way into my brain.

Were now permanently closed. Thank you to all of our loyal customers for your years of support.

"Were," I said with a shake of my head. "Old Luke never was too good at grammar."

Of course that wasn't really the problem. But it was easier to focus on. Easier to correct than the locked doors, darkened interior, and empty shelves.

Easier to confront than the death knell that grew louder every day, signaling the end of my town.

Sunday February 26th, 2012

The exercise:

Let's see what we can do with: the siege.

It didn't get particularly warm today - barely above zero - and it's going to be a cold night. Thankfully the fireplace is roaring nicely.

Mine:

Cindy had trouble hanging up the phone, her hand was shaking so badly. It was quiet in the office, a refuge from the storm gathering outside. She was tempted to lock the door, turn off the lights, and hide there until it passed her by.

This option was taken from her when Jeremy appeared in the doorway. Not that she was actually going to do it. Not really.

"What's wrong?" her head cook for the previous ten years asked.

"Sandra just called in sick." Speaking the words aloud seemed to sap her remaining energy and she dropped into her chair as though she'd been shot.

"But Jessica and Erin are out of town and Jasmine quit yesterday," Jeremy said, panic creeping into his voice. "That just leaves -"

"The new girl." Neither of them could remember her name. "She's our only available waitress."

"But the dinner rush is just starting!"

"I know." Cindy covered her eyes with her right hand. "They're going to eat her alive."

Saturday February 25th, 2012

The exercise:

A four line poem about: the feud.

Got some more onions, leeks, and herbs seeded in the greenhouse today. Then this evening, just to make sure we're fully prepared for the season, we watched Greenfingers on Netflix.

Mine:

It's us against them,

So fight till you die.

That's just how it is,

Nobody asks why.

Friday February 24th, 2012

The exercise:

Four lines of prose about: innocence.

Kat and I visited a farming friend in Cawston today for some mutual assistance. With her partner out of town until April we offered to come over and help out with early season preparations.

In return, because she's been at this a lot longer than we have, and is very familiar with organic methods, she's helping us in our transition to more organic practices.

It was quite a bit of fun, even if the wind made the outdoors portion unpleasant.

Mine:

It begins as a soft cry. Unanswered, it transforms into an ear-splitting scream. He is hungry and knows no other way to express himself.

He didn't mean to start an argument.

Thursday February 23rd, 2012

The exercise:

The theme for today: after the disaster.

More gorgeous sunshine today. So, of course, they're calling for snow tomorrow.

Mine:

The day after the world ended the sun appeared over the horizon as though nothing had changed. Just business as usual. Get up. Eat. Go to work. Act as though it's all okay.

But everything was most definitely not okay.

The sun illuminated not bumper to bumper traffic but empty, silent streets. Instead of reflecting off the windows of majestic skyscrapers, it was absorbed by ruins, debris, destruction.

Our favorite star shed no tears at this sight. It merely continued on its westward journey, out beyond the city limits. To the burning forests and blackened farmland.

There was no curiosity. No fear. No anger.

Just a certainty that, once enough time had passed, humans would return. Evolve. Conquer.

And that in the end, nothing would change.