Friday, January 27, 2012

The Versatile Blogger Award

I am pleased to finally accept The Versatile Blogger Award, that I received over a month ago from Desiree Rask. Please stop by her blog Butterfly Readers and have a look around!
Thank you so much Desiree!! It is an honor and such a nice surprise!!
According to the rules, in order to receive this special award, I must:

1 – Thank the person who gave it to me and link them back to my blog.
2 – Share seven things about myself.
3 – Pass this award on to 5 other recently discovered blogs and inform them of the honor.


Seven things about me:

1- I love the movie "Five Card Stud" and yes, it's a Western. :)
2- I don't care what anyone says, I think "Twilight" is a brilliant piece of work. Sparkling vampires or not, the way that it is written is pure genius.
3- I refuse to get another pet. Ever.
4- I once slept 20 hours straight.
5- I hate anything political.
6- I pray.
7- I love argyle, paisley and the color green.


Five blogs that deserve The Versatile Blogger Award:


Sheila Pierson: http://sheilapierson.tumblr.com/


'Timony Souler: http://timonysouler.tumblr.com/

Caolán Murray: http://caolanmurray.wordpress.com/

Alexia Purdy: http://alexiapurdy.blogspot.com/

JT Lewis: http://jt-lewis.blogspot.com/

Please visit these blogs & follow them!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

One Day

“I'm gonna tell momma!” Joshua blurted out as I walked into the room. He had always been such a goody-goody. He had one of my magazines in his hand and was trying to fish another one out from the cardboard box I kept under my bed. He slid it out and dumped the contents on the floor.

“You get outta my stuff you nosy little weasel. If you say anything to momma, I'll tell daddy you were snooping through his stuff, and he'll whip you worse than momma will whip me!” It was an empty threat, but I shook my fist at him. “Get outta my room before I kill you!”

He ran out screaming for momma. She was outside hanging clothes to dry. The little creep would've forgotten all about it by the time he found her. I hoped.

I pulled back the mildewed cardboard flaps and started replacing the contents of the worn box. Daddy had given me several of his dirty magazines when I turned 14, and I'd kept them well hidden for almost 2 years, until today when Joshua found them. I knew it was wrong for me to have them, and I wondered why my daddy didn't know that. I also knew that he would beat me good if he found out Joshua had seen them. Joshua was momma's pride and joy; Daddy said Joshua wasn't like me and him. He said Joshua would never have to do the things we did, and it was better for everyone if neither he nor momma knew about such things. I wished I didn't know about such things either.

Mostly the box was filled with old Playboy's, nothing kinky, just pictures of naked women that daddy thought I should be looking at. I never did. There was a pack of cigarettes and an empty flask in there and a matchbook from some hotel me and daddy had stayed at last year with two women from daddy's office. They were really nice; one of them slept in bed with me, but I ended up sleeping on the floor most of the night because she kept putting her arm over me. The other woman laid down with daddy all night. At the time I didn't really understand what was going on, mainly because I didn't want to understand it. But I knew that daddy wasn't supposed to be sleeping with anybody else but momma. I promised myself I'd never hurt her, and one day, daddy would be sorry he'd done these things.
One day.

“Stu Jr.!!!” Momma's voice carried in through the upstairs bedroom window. “You get out here right this second!”
I rolled my eyes and looked out the window. Joshua was standing behind her sticking his tongue out at me. The little jerk. He'd get his one day too. I threw the remaining contents back into the box and shoved it under my bed. I tried to think of a plausible story on my way downstairs. Mr. Goody-goody was handing momma clothes to hang and he grinned at me as I approached. I stood there silently watching the ground, waiting for momma to let me have it.
“Stu, I've told you a thousand times to keep your door locked so Joshua won't be in there in your things. He told me you threatened to kill him. Is that so?” She was even more beautiful when she was angry.
“Yes momma, but he was in my personal stuff, and then he wouldn't leave. I guess I shouldn't have said that, but I was real mad.” I tried to sound sorry for momma's sake.
“Well, you apologize to your brother, now you hear? He's been instructed that he is not to go snooping in other people's belongings, but that is no reason to say you're gonna kill somebody, now is it?”
“No momma, that's no reason to kill nobody. I'm sorry Josh.” Those last words came out slow and painful. “Momma, can I go over to Billy's for supper?” I didn't want to be home when daddy got there. It was Thursday, and he always liked to take me out “riding” on Thursday nights, which meant picking up women.
“Have you been asked Stu?” She looked at me sideways, her hazel eyes fringed with wheat lashes. I almost always agreed with whatever she said when she did that.
“Well, not exactly, but you know they're always saying I'm welcome anytime. Please momma, I won't stay late.” I looked back at her sideways, hoping it would have the same affect on her.
“Well, I suppose it's okay. But you best not be late. I'll cover for you with your father, you know how disappointed he'll be that you're missing your Thursday night ride.” She smiled broadly, almost like she understood my plight, but I knew she really didn't have a clue.
“Thanks mom.” She didn't know what she'd saved me from, and if I had anything to say about it, she never would. One day I wouldn't have to participate in daddy's sick games, and I got up every morning, hoping that day was going to be the one.

I was 20 years old when daddy finally got what was coming to him. Shot in the head by a jealous husband, I was glad his death had not come at my hand, although momma was heartbroken all the same. I always knew one day would come around, and it finally had.


©2012 Garden Summerland

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

The Promise

Caleb reached out and touched Lisbeth's cheek with the back of his hand. It was an innocent gesture, and yet there was such an intense undercurrent of electricity between them, even the purest of motives became lost. She pulled away, her face flushed with the heat of sudden desire.

“I don't think this is a good idea, I think you should leave.” She looked down at her hands when she said it, and Caleb nodded his head in agreement. She twisted the diamond ring on her finger.

“I'm sorry, it won't happen again.” He got up from the sofa, leaving her suddenly chilled and a little exasperated at herself for allowing him to affect her in such a way.
“You just call me when you're ready to move the rest of the boxes into the basement, and I'll send Billy or one of the twins over to help you, okay?” Caleb who was now a single dad had lived next door with his three sons for almost 10 years. He'd send them to help Lisbeth pack up James' things. He decided that he wouldn't come back though, it would just cause her more pain.

“Caleb...” Lisbeth stammered. “that... um...that would be very helpful. I...I'm really sorry. It's just... It's too soon... and I...” her voice trailed off, and she hung her head. She was crying again. That was how Caleb had ended up sitting with her on the sofa. She'd been crying when he came in; he'd sat with her and held her hands, and then he'd put his arm around her. Then she had stopped crying and she looked up at him with her sad brown eyes, and he'd wanted to kiss her. But he hadn't. Instead he had reached up and touched her face. He loved her. He had loved her for years, but she had been married; married to his best friend. And now she knew he loved her, because she just felt it in his touch. And then she'd asked him to leave. It was over before it had even begun.

Caleb and James met Lisbeth the same year. For Caleb, it had been love at first sight. James had only been interested in Lisbeth because he knew it would irritate Caleb; and it had. But it was very clear which of the two Lisbeth had been interested in; it had always been James. They were married just two years later, and Caleb, although heartbroken for a while, got past it and married a couple of years after that. They had all remained close friends, and now, 15 years later, James was dead. Caleb had lost his best friend, and Lisbeth had lost her husband. Three weeks ago, Lisbeth had come home from work and found James dead on the kitchen floor; at the ripe old age of 34 years old, he'd had a heart attack.

“Lisbeth, are you going to be all right?” Caleb stood at the door, watching her sob into her hands. She choked a little and got up to come see him out.
“Yeah, I'll be fine. I just need some time to adjust, I can't seem to focus on anything Caleb. I'm really sorry, I am just so lost now. And... I'm all alone.” She was standing too close to him, crying and frail. He pulled her to him, holding her tightly as he stroked her hair.
“Shhhhhh, everything's gonna be fine, just fine.” He wanted so desperately to take away her pain.
She looked up at him, and moved her lips to say “thank you” and suddenly his mouth was upon hers, years of restrained passion let loose, and for a moment, she was kissing him back. For a moment, she was no longer alone, she was safe and loved, and she knew everything really was going to be okay.
He pulled back from her, expecting her to be angry with him, expecting the tears to return, or for her to send him away. He was prepared for anything other than the look of sheer love that was in her eyes, and the wistful smile upon her lips.
“You're gonna be okay Lisbeth... I promise, you're gonna be okay.”
He kissed her again.

©2012 Garden Summerland


Sunday, January 1, 2012

Fled

“I'm in love with you.” I blurted it out, and then stared down at my hands. “I have been for a very long time...it's just that... well, I couldn't tell you.” I didn't look up at him but I could feel his face change. I knew he had that pouty expression he always got whenever I disappointed him.

“You mean you wouldn't tell me.” He sounded irritated, and I glanced up at him.He was hanging his head and looking up at me sideways, his long lashes wet with tears. But then he smiled, in that impish way that drove me mad with desire. He had to have known.

No Daniel, I mean I really couldn't tell you. I was married, and then...well, you know how your family feels about me...and the incident at Christmas. It's just been too much, I never really wanted you to know. It's too complicated... what I'm trying to tell you is that it doesn't matter how I feel, it just can't happen.” I tried to make him understand, but I knew he didn't, or couldn't.

Alison none of it matters... it never has. I love you too, I have since the very first time we met.” He spoke softly and matter-of-factly, with a sincerity of youth I no longer possessed.
I laughed a little and fought back tears of my own. “ Yeah, I remember that. The laundromat... you and one of your friends had dragged that huge rug in there, trying to cram it into one of the machines.”

He laughed too. “Well it seemed like a good idea at the time. How else was I supposed to get hunch punch out of an oriental rug? My mother would've killed me you know... and you saved me, honestly you did.”
We both smiled, and I held his hand underneath the small table. I wasn't comfortable with any of it. I was sixteen years older than Daniel, and even though he said it didn't matter, I knew deep down that one day it would matter a great deal.

I sighed and took a deep breath. “Oh Daniel... how could I not love you? But telling you? That's admitting it to myself, and I've tried to deny it for so long... I just couldn't tell you. And I had no idea of how you felt, and it's not exactly like you ever said anything either.”

Yeah, well that's because I was waiting on you to leave your husband. I knew it was only a matter of time. And well, to be honest, I knew after you did that you'd eventually end up on my doorstep. Good God Alison, it's been 6 years. I have waited for you for six long years, doesn't that tell you anything?” He squeezed my hand and I pulled it away as the waitress came to take our order. She smiled at us knowingly and I blushed. It was a small town and people were already talking. I couldn't stand it. Daniel didn't know what he was getting into. I had to end it before it got out of hand.

As the waitress left, I grabbed my purse and jacket, “Daniel, no.. I just can't.” I got up to leave, but he was faster, his arms around me, pulling me against him and I didn't push him away.
His dark green eyes were filled with the longing only youth can contain, and tears that flowed freely down his cheeks. Then his lips were upon mine and I was lost; lost in fantasy and in the reality of Daniel and six long years of denial.
I wrenched myself away and fled the restaurant. I couldn't look back.

 ©2012 Garden Summerland