Weekly Writing Challenge – 1000 words – 20th August

This is my first try with the Weekly Writing Challenge. I have read the instructions before, but usually have other ideas in the works. When i saw this one I thought it would be a good one to try. Basically you write a description that matches the picture. I look forward to your comments.

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Callie Evans wanted her daughter to have the ideal childhood; the kind of childhood that eluded her. With a drunkard for a father and weak minded mother she got the leftovers of life. She lay in bed at night and sang to herself to cover the sounds of her father’s wrath. Why he never came after her was a mystery she had dealt with after hours in the psychiatrist’s chair. Being thankful he had left her be was enough now.

But her daughter Jennie would not have to endure any such drama. Callie was selective about the men she let in her life. Scars remained inside, but they made her so very cautious. She dated jeff for four years, keeping him at arm’s reach at times, but he patiently loved her as she allowed. That meant more to Callie than anything she could have wanted. He proved he was nothing like the man that she knew as her father.

Jennie had a carefree childhood, with everything she could ever want or need. Bi-annual trips to Disney World, a couple she wouldn’t remember because she was so young, but that did not matter to Callie. She knew her doctor would consider it over-compensating, but it was as much for her as Jennie. So much of what she desired as a child was denied. Vicariously living through her child would be the worst thing she could be accused of.

Now Callie was looking for the manager of the Publix grocery store she always frequented for her grocery needs. Callie strode through the aisles looking for the fifty-something man Jennie called Mister Hank. She passed other shoppers as well as familiar faces of employees looking past her for Jennie.

“Hank, I need you out front!” Callie said raising her lightly clenched fist with the thumb extended toward her shoulder to motion toward the front of the store. Hank dropped a box of cake mixes and followed close behind her, fearing a big problem.

Once the pair exited the store Hank let out a long breath as he took in the sight of the pretty little girl sitting patiently on the platform of the coin operated cartoon character riding machine. Hank could not tell if the little girl had been crying, but her face was not filled with the trademark smile. He thought of her as a De Facto grandchild until his kids got their act together. Anything this little girl wanted he wanted to make happen.

“Mister Hank! Tigger not running!” Jenny proclaimed.

“Oh no,” Hank replied. “Let’s take a look.”

He stepped back to look at the machine and saw the problem right away. When his new customer service clerk swept he must have knocked the cord loose from the outlet. He plugged it in and Jenny mounted the orange and black striped creature awaiting her mother’s change. Watching her little girl smile and squeal with delight Callie thanked Hank for the quick response.

“Hey, we are removing this next week,” Hank said.

“Oh no. She will hate that,” Callie said as she watched her daughter circle by.

“You could get it for her?”

“You mean buy it?”

“I asked the representative from the vending company. Two hundred dollars and it’s yours. He can wire it so no coins are necessary.”

“I am sure I have put more than that into it already,” Callie said.

“I can help,” Hank offered.

“No thanks. We will get it.”

She watched her little girl’s bright face continue to circle and knew this was just going to be more spoiling, but she didn’t care.

“Hey Jenny. How about we take Tigger home with us?”

“Yay!”

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I want to share another opportunity for those of you who love writing flash fiction. Red Dyer and Redmund Productions offer a quarterly publication that gathers 250 flash fiction stories according to a specific theme and set of words during a thirteen week time period. Right now is the fall session and several words are already in play. There is still over a month to go with this, so hop on over and try your hand: http://mommasmoneymatters.com/flash-fiction/

Other Weekly Writing Challenge responses:

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16. Weekly Writing Challenge: 1,000 Words | tokkaali’s blog/site/whatever
17. Growing Up | Blue Loft
18. Weekly Writing Challenge 19 August 2013: Big Girl | One Starving Activist
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