My Short Short for the Day

“So…whatcha doin?”  Ally leaned over Buddy.  He was hunched forward with his head down.  He had been like that for hours and Ally wanted to know why.

“Wait a minute.  I’m almost done.”  Buddy’s body barely moved but Ally knew he was tinkering with something. 

She leaned further, then moved to peek around him, then huffed and stood back.  “Done yet?”

“Alllmmost…”  There was a little zap and then Buddy sat up beaming.  “Done!”

Ally looked at his hands and saw a small robot-like thing.  “What is it?”

“Ally, meet Ralph.”  Buddy held out his hands towards Ally. 

As she watched, the robot thing stuck its hand out towards her.  “Did that just move?”  Ally instinctively shook its little hand staring in fascination.  For once, she wasn’t bouncing around the room with a million questions and ideas.

“Ralph, this is Ally.”

Ralph bowed.  “Nice to meet you, Ally.”  Ralph’s voice was a little hesitant but sounded more like a cartoon character than a robot.

“Nice to meet you, too, Ralph.”  Ally couldn’t believe it.  A talking robot.  Her friend made a talking robot.  “How did you do it Buddy?”

“Well, it’s an idea I’ve been working on for a long time but last night, in my dreams, it came to me.  The missing piece finally came to me.  It’s so weird.  I was almost ready to give up but then, it was there.”  Buddy smiled down at Ralph.

“Like in the movies.”  Ally said.

“Yeah.  Something like that.”  Buddy gently set Ralph on the desk.  “Ok, Ralph, let’s see what you can do.”

Ralph smiled.  “I think you might be surprised.”

My Short Short for the Day

The waves crash down over my head and I start choking.  Water fills my nose and mouth, and I can’t breathe.  I sink like a stone, helpless.  My eyes fill with terror as my breath stops.  I reach for the surface and watch the light fade into darkness. 

Whump.  I hit the bottom.  I can still see some light above me.  I stretch up.  My lungs are burning and I realize I’ve been holding my breath.  I gave up but my body didn’t.  I move my body.  I touch dirt beneath my fingers.  I put my feet on the dirt and crouch.  There’s still time.

I shove off from the bottom and fix my gaze on the light above.  I kick my feet fast and hard, as if I have flippers on them.  I move my arms, pulling water away from my face as if I could move it aside and squeeze through to the top.  I stare and kick and pull.  My lungs are on fire but I deny them their job.  My legs are heavy with exertion but I ignore their suffering.  I must keep going.  I have to.

Fwoosh!  I burst up and out of the water, gasping, sputtering and smiling.  I choke and splutter as I doggie paddle to shore.  I claw my way onto the beach and collapse.  The water laps at my feet but I don’t care.  I have no strength to move.  I just let my lungs fill and release, fill and release, fill and release.

My Short Short for the Day

“So…what do ya wanna do today?”

“I dunno.  What do you wanna do?”

“I dunno.”

“Should we go somewhere?”

“Maybe.  Where do ya wanna go?”

“I dunno.  Where do you want to go?”

“I dunno.”

“Wanna watch a movie?”

“Maybe.  What do ya wanna watch?”

“I dunno.  What do you want to watch?”

“I dunno.”

“Wanna get something to eat?”

“Maybe.  What do ya wanna eat?”

“I dunno.  What do you want to eat?”

“I dunno.”

“Do you have the remote?”

“Nope.”

“Guess we’re watching this then.”

“Yup.”

The door opened then slammed shut.

“Are you kidding me?!  Have you been sitting here all day?”

“I dunno.  Have we?”

“I dunno.”

My Short Short for the Day

The little gray puffball floated down through the stars, gently drifting past the winking lights.  It continued to float downwards through the inky darkness of space and further down towards light.  The air thickened, filled with white fluffs hovering in place.  The puffball floated down even further.  It passed through the white fluffs and smiled, then into the bright blueness of day.  It could feel the warmth of the sun tickling its cheeks and still it floated down.  The earth pulled it closer and closer.  The puffball, curious as ever, wondered what the ground would feel like.  It had never touched the earth.  The smells that filled the air were wonderful and strange.  Finally, with the gentlest of bounces, the puffball landed.  But wait, it didn’t hit the ground, that was still a few feet away.  It had landed on something brown and soft.  The puffball looked around but could only see the soft brown around it.  Where could it be?  Suddenly it was being lifted and carried away from the soft brown and gently dropped onto a new surface.  It was soft, too, but in a different way.  The puffball looked up and saw something looking back at it.  The being smiled and giggled.  The puffball smiled back and giggled, too.

The little girl couldn’t believe her luck!  A real, live puffball had landed on her.  Had chosen her to be its guardian!  She must tell mother.  But first, she wanted to play.  To laugh and have fun.  To show her little puffball all around the yard.  The puffball was amazed by the trees and river, the grass and flowers, the sweet scent of the summer breeze, the soft trickle of the cool water, but more than anything it wanted to touch the ground.  The soft brown soil.  The little girl saw the puffball look down and reach out towards the ground, as if trying to touch it.  The girl thought maybe it wasn’t happy and wanted to get away.  So, with sadness, the girl gently set the puffball on the dirt.  The puffball touched the soft soil and giggled.  It rolled around in the dirt and giggled.  It dug into the earth and giggled.  Oh, how wonderful the earth was.  It tasted the dirt…blech!  It spit the dirt out and looked up at the being.  The girl chuckled and said, “you aren’t supposed to eat the dirt.”  The puffball smiled.  There was so much to learn.  The girl held out her hand and the puffball climbed on.  She gently carried her new friend home.

My Short Short for the Day

The monkey swung up and over the branch, launched himself to the next tree, executed a triple flip and landed perfectly on the branch.

“Wow!  That is some serum!”  Bob’s eyes were fixed on the youngster as he sat perched on the branch.

“Yeah, but I can’t seem to stabilize it enough for the effects to last.”  Ann muttered tapping away at her computer.

The monkey suddenly yelped and flung himself at the tree trunk.  He scrabbled a bit but managed to get a grip on some bark.  He yelped again, then grabbed a branch and swung clumsily to the next branch and again until he reached the plank with bananas and other food sitting in the large plastic bowl.  He plunked down on the plank and chomped away.

“Oh, well, I’d say it lasts about 5 minutes or so.”  Bob turned to look at the computer screen.  “It’s still pretty amazing.”

“Yes, I just wish I could figure out where my mistake is.”  Ann continued to tap away at the keyboard.

“Well, I think it’s pretty cool.  The idea that animals might be able to have quirks someday.”  Bob walked to the glass and watched the monkey scratch himself and continue to eat his banana.  “Do you think they would pass it on to their offspring?”

“Yes, that’s the idea.  Once the quirk entwines itself with the animal’s DNA, then it would be permanent and as the DNA passes down to the offspring, so would the quirk.  We would have to continue to study what happens with the quirk and see how it affects the animal as well as the offspring, so it might be several years before the serum could be sold to others.  But the possibilities are amazing.”  Ann’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Yeah, that would be amazing.”  Bob smiled.  “Amazing.”

My Short Short for the Day

 The star light shimmered in her eyes and Ned had to look away.

“What’s wrong?”  Sadness tinged her voice.

“It’s…it’s nothing.  Really.”  Ned rose quickly pulling out his phone and swiping to silence the ring tone.  “That’s my dad.  I should go.”

“Ok.”  She held out her hand to him.  Her smile was so sweet and trusting.

Ned couldn’t help smiling back.  He pulled her to her feet and she tumbled into his arms.  As she hugged him, he closed his eyes and relaxed for a moment.  His guard dropped and he hugged her back.  Then his phone buzzed in his pocket.  She stepped away, still smiling.

“I’d better go.”  Ned took her hand as they strolled back to town.

The meadows were quiet and on a clear night, you could see oceans of stars, sparkling in the inky blackness of night.  It felt so strange and beautiful.  There was hope and wonder in those twinkling lights.  A reassurance that disappeared with the rising of the sun.  If only the night would last longer, or at least long enough.  Then maybe, just maybe…

“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow, right?”  She smiled up at him.

“Yes, first thing.”  Ned squeezed her hand gently before letting go.  “I promise.”

She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek then ran inside.  She didn’t look back, never looked back.  She knew he would be waiting until she was safely inside.  She trusted him that much.  What did he ever do to deserve such trust?

She opened her window and waved down at him.

He smiled and waved back, then turned to head home.  What would it be like tonight?  Maybe he could sneak in the back and no one would notice.  That’s the best he could hope for, no one noticing him.

My Short Short for the Day

The speeder bike zoomed across the desert sands.  The rider shifting his weight this way and that to avoid dunes or rocks or the occasional cactus.  The heat was weighing down on him, but he didn’t care.  The freedom of the wide-open space beckoned him.  He revved the engine and the bike jolted forward, moving faster and faster.  He crested the dunes and zipped down the other side.  A small creature skittered out of the way.

In the distance a cave was looming in the towering cliffside.  The rider leaned forward, revved his engines and sped towards the cave.  At the last moment he swerved and spun around in a circle before stopping.  This was it, the location marked on the map.  His dad told him it was just some old prospector’s joke, but he knew there was something more to it.  There had to be. 

Three months ago, an old man had approached him on the street.  He didn’t know why the old man had picked him, but his mom thought it was because he looked kind. He had frowned at that.  He didn’t want to look kind, he wanted to look tough.  Anyway, the old man had given him a piece of paper and told him a riddle.  He said that if he could figure out the riddle, it would lead to a map that told of great treasure.  He had asked the old man why he did try to figure it out himself and he said that he was too old, his time had come and it was his duty to pass on the riddle to worthy heir.  Then the old man looked around suspiciously before slipping a paper into his hand and quickly disappearing into the nearby saloon.  He looked at the paper with the riddle and was about to throw it out, but for some reason he kept it.  Then he peeked into the saloon but couldn’t see the old man anywhere.

He told his parents about it at dinner that night and his dad said it was just some joke or something.  His mom smiled and said that maybe it was a treasure map.  You never know.  He decided to believe his mom and spent weeks working out the riddle.  He was almost ready to give up when it suddenly hit him.  The riddle led him to the saloon.  He went in just as it was opening and quickly found the map attached to the bottom of a chair in the far corner. 

“Old Jeb’s chair, that is.”  The barkeep said.

He nodded and hurried out.

It was several more weeks before he had deciphered the map and now, he was here.  The location of the treasure.  He parked his bike and grabbed several large rocks.  He threw them into the cave as far as he could and waited.  After several minutes there was still silence so he cautiously went in.  He had a flashlight and blaster ready.  He moved slowly, listening and looking.  You never know what might be lurking around.

After what seemed forever, he saw something flash nearby.  He shined the light towards it and stopped.  There were thousands of tiny twinkles of light in all different colors.  He didn’t know what they were, but they sparkled with such beauty as he’d never seen before.

My Short Short for the Day

“Who will win?  It’s a close race at this point.  The lead has changed so many times but there is a small group that is starting to pull away from the pack.  Who can sustain this pace?  Who can stay focused to the finish?  Come back after these messages for more coverage of the 10^th annual Pug Run!”

“Welcome back folks.  Some exciting developments.  Our leader, Mr. Floop Floop has decided to take a nap halfway around the track.  He has been passed by almost all the other racers at this point.  It looks like he’s not waking up any time soon.  Ok, back to the leaders.  Oh, no!  Scruwbull and Fang have moved to the edge of the track for a ‘restroom’ break.  So now the lead pack is down to 5; Chub Bob, Pork Chop, Squiggles, Mopey, and Snorty McSnortleson.  We’ll be right back for more exciting coverage of the 10^th annual Pug Run!”

“Thanks for rejoining us folks.  There have been some new developments.  Our current leader is Chub Bob with Pork Chop right behind him and Mopey in third.  Unfortunately, a few moments ago, Squiggles started chasing his tail, got dizzy and ran back towards the start line.  He is still running all the way into the crowd.  And we see Snorty McSnortleson has stopped to scratch his ear.  Appears to have quite an itch at that.  Our lead pack might be getting smaller but it’s still pulling further ahead of the rest of the pack.  Several of the other racers have stopped for some back scratches and belly rubs from the fans.  Stay tuned for more race updates after these messages from our sponsors.”

“Ok, we’re back.  The lead pack is entering the final stretch, about 50 yards left to go.  They are slowing down a bit, but not much chance of the others catching up since most of the pugs have lost interest and are sitting down on the track, taking a nap, or wandering off into the crowd.  Oh, look!  We have a fight between Pork Chop and Mopey.  It appears that Mopey nipped at Pork Chop for some reason and now the two are fighting only 20 yards from the finish.  Not to worry, though, the owners have made their way to the track and are separating the pugs.  And look folks!  We appear to have a winner.  Chub Bob has successfully completed the entire lap and crossed the finish line.  What an exciting day for Pugs everywhere!  Congratulations Chub Bob!  Looks like fancy kibble is on the menu for you tonight, little guy!  Well, that’s it for our coverage of the 10^th annual Pug Run.  We hope you enjoyed the show and have a pleasant evening!”

My Short Short for the Day

 “It’s time to go, Sweetie.”  Stella slung on her backpack, tightened the strap and opened the door.

“Coming Mom!”  Emma hurried downstairs.

Stella helped put Emma’s pack on and then shut the door behind them.  She locked and deadbolted the door.  Who knows when they’ll be back, so better safe than sorry.  Stella took Emma’s hand as they walked to the bus stop a few blocks away.  After a 15 minute ride, they got off the bus at the train station.  She bought 2 one-way tickets and boarded the train within 20 minutes.  Once settled into their seats, Stella opened her pack, pulled out her phone and typed a text.

“So, where are headed this time?”  Emma asked pulling out her paper and crayons.

“Well, it should be a beautiful spot.  We’ll be near a lake. We’ll have to travel through the forest to get there, though.  There’s a log cabin near the beach and it has all the supplies we’ll need.”  Stella smiled as she pulled out a map.  “Here is where we get off the train.”

“Oh, I see.”  Emma studied the map.  “Looks like it could be a little tricky to get there.” 

“Yes, but nothing we can’t handle.”  Stella folded up the map and tucked it away.  “Mind if I read for a bit?”

“No problem, Mom.”  Emma hummed softly as she drew a picture of a beautiful lake in the middle of a dense forest.

“Would you like to order some food from our menu?”  The young woman asked.  “Oh, what a lovely picture you drew.”

“Thank you.”  Emma smiled up at the nice lady.  “We’re going on a trip there.”

“Oh, I see.”  The woman smiled.  “Would you like anything to drink or eat Miss?”

“Yes, 2 box lunches please.”  Stella handed over her credit card.

When the woman had left, Stella leaned over toward Emma.  “Remember, there are lots and lots of trees around the lake.  And maybe some squirrels and rabbits, too.”

“Got it.”  Emma pulled out some more crayons, adding more trees and some animals to her drawing.  “How’s that?”

“Perfect, Honey.”  Stella patted her arm, then leaned back in her seat.  “It shouldn’t be much longer now.”

When Emma finished her picture, she held it up for her Mom.  “How’s this?”

“That looks great!”  Stella took the picture and stared at it.

“Do you see anything yet?”  Emma whispered.

“Yes.”  Stella pointed to several spots on the picture. 

Emma made a mark on each place that Stella pointed to. 

“Good.  There’s only 5.  We should be able to handle that with no problem.”  Stella rolled up the picture and tucked it into her bag.  Just then the young woman brought the lunch.

“Here you go.  Enjoy!”  The woman set the food down and smiled before moving on.

“Thank you!”  Emma said.

“Ok, eat up Emma.  You need your strength.”  Stella took a bite of the sandwich.

“Yes, Mom.”  Emma replied.

A short time later, Stella and Emma got off the train.  There wasn’t much of a train station, but they didn’t really need anything.  They crossed the street, walked along the sidewalk for a few blocks and were soon headed out of town.  Within 15 minutes they came to the dense forest and stopped.

“You ready, Kiddo?”  Stella looked down at Emma.

“Ready!”  Emma had a determined smile on her face.

Stella pulled out the picture Emma had drawn on the train then hefted her pack a little higher on her shoulders.  She looked at the picture.  Still only 5.  She nodded to Emma and headed into the forest.  Emma followed closely behind.  It was time.

My Short Short for the Day

Once upon a time, there was a small boy.  He was adorable.  He had curly brown hair, most of which was tucked up under an old baseball cap.  Big blue eyes that always sparkled and a smile that warmed even the coldest of hearts.  People were always patting his head and saying what a wonderful child he was.  Always so well behaved and happy.  His name was Kal.

Kal woke early and collected fresh fruit, colorful pebbles and flowers, then walked into the tiny village with a smile on his face and a skip in his step.  He made his usual rounds.  First stop was the bread shop.  Mr. Sanders gave him fresh bread and cheese, which Kal paid for with the fruit he had collected earlier. 

Next, Kal went to the laundry and Ms. May gave him a clean shirt in exchange for the beautiful flowers.  And finally, Kal went to the medicine woman, Ms. Zed.  He traded his shiny, colorful pebbles for some herbs.  He thanked her and headed back out of the tiny village.

The sun was high in the sky now so Kal hurried down the dirt road back to the little hut.  He went inside, set the bread and cheese on a plate with the herbs on the side and carefully carried it to his grandfather. 

“Here you go grandpa.”  Kal spoke softly.  “Eat this food and you’ll feel better soon.”

Grandpa sat up and smiled at Kal.  “You’re such a good boy.”  Grandpa ate the bread and cheese and herbs, drank some milk and then settled back down in the bed.

“Rest Grandpa.  I’ll be back soon.”  Kal took the plate and washed it in the basin, then put it away.  He tidied up the hut, pulled the curtains back to let fresh air in and then went outside to sit and watch the clouds pass by from his favorite spot in the shade under the old fruit tree.  He’ll be better soon, Kal thought with a smile.

My Short Short for the Day

“What a lovely day!”  Flo purred, stretching out her front paws and arching her back before padding over to her food dish.

“You say that every day.”  Ralph grumped following behind Flo.

Flo delicately ate each morsel, chewing slowly, savoring each bite.  Ralph chomped through his food in seconds, clomped away to the couch and flopped down for his after-breakfast nap.

Once Flo finished, she carefully cleaned her face and softly padded to the couch.  She hopped up landing lightly next to Ralph. 

“So, what shall we do today?”  She looked down at Ralph’s rumpled fur and the bits of food stuck to his whiskers.

“Nap, eat, nap and nap.”  Ralph replied rolling away.

“Oh, come on.  We should make the most of such a beautiful day.”  Flo nudged Ralph.  He only grunted.

Flo rose, jumped down from the couch and padded to the door.  The outdoors beckoned.  She strolled into the backyard and looked around.  The birds were chirping in the trees and a squirrel scampered across the top of the fence.  Flo walked around the perimeter of the yard, checking things out and enjoying the warm sun beaming down on her. 

When she got to the front gate, she hopped on to the fence and strolled along the top casually observing life from her perch.  She sat, swishing her tail and enjoying the beauty of the day.  She spent hours, watching all the bustling below and gradually became drowsy from the afternoon sun.

After a long, peaceful nap, she rose, stretched and strolled back to the house.  She padded to the kitchen to find a treat in her dish.  She lapped up the milk, purring happily.  Then she strolled to the couch, hopped up and settled in beside Ralph.

“So, was it all you dreamed it would be?”  Ralph snorted.

“Yes, it was wonderful!”  Flo snuggled into Ralph and fell asleep for her after-snack nap.