Hookworm

 

“Git yer shoes on or don’t go out.”

“Pa don’t wear shoes.”

“Pa’s got foot problems.”

“I’ve got foot problems.”

“Such as?”

“I don’t like shoes.”

“The hookworms are just waiting out there.”

“I don’t care about no hookworms.”

“You see how pale your pa has got? You hear him groaning and moaning at night with a sore belly? You want to get like that?”

“He should take a pill. They’ve got pills.”

“You going to pay for it?”

“Why can’t we move somewhere with no hookworms?”

“Your uncle moved to the city and a car ran over his foot.”

 

100 words

Photo by Enisa

For Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers

Compromise

“Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. My last confession was yesterday and my sins are that I compromised twice today.”

“You don’t have to bring this in here every day.”

“Should I count bringing it in as a sin too?”

“No, but try to exercise a measure of forbearance. Did you compromise with someone else for a change.”

“No, not with someone else. Like yesterday and the other days, I compromised with myself. I knew that what I wanted to do was a sin, but I felt that if I didn’t do it, I was probably hurting myself in some way by holding off. It sure felt that way. I got pretty desperate.”

“We’ve talked about this. It won’t injure you to hold off. Not holding off is a sin; it’s not a compromise. You’re giving in. That’s not the same thing.”

“Is it a mortal sin?”

“It is a gravely disordered action, but a mortal sin is done deliberately, knowing that it is not what God wishes for us and without any regard for that. You are an immature adolescent, which probably lessens your responsibility in this. God knows that we will sometimes fail but He does expect us to do our best to live according to His ways. He knows when we have done all we can to resist sin. If we have done that and have acknowledged and confessed our sin, then we can rest in the knowledge that we have done our best, and that He will forgive us.”

“So should I come tell you every time I do it?”

“Let’s you and I compromise. I’ll keep you in my prayers, you attend Mass, and the rest we’ll leave for now between you and God.”

“Can I compromise with Him too?”

 

For Daily Post

KFC is running out of chicken across the U.K.

Honorable Ms. May, Prime Minister,

Greetings from Central Asia. Please hear our plea.

We are a small and poor country who only wish to work hard and not starve and not freeze in winter. Our idea of growing chickens came because we have many spaces that you cannot see the far end of, with grasses and bugs that a chicken would eat, and small stones if chickens have craws.

I have never killed and opened a chicken to see about the craw but I do eat chickens that my wife prepares. I eat too much chickens.

Honorable Ms. May. Please come and take chickens. No need to pay. We just want to be rid of. They are too many. They eat everything. Even they eat the locusts.

Send your army. We will not fight. Send your army with bags and boxes and cages and… let me look up this word… rotisseries.

Do not forget the roosters, may God curse them.

Also the army men may have a few eggs.

Yours in hope,

Abdurahmon Sultanbekov

for a challenge

use calm mind to mute
rough storm of thought and ease
the struggle within

 

For the secret keeper

Haiku Challenge: zen and noise

noise falls upon ear
quiet mind listening hears
no noise only sound

 

For  Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge

Compromise

“Let’s work this out.”

“I want to work it out but I will not compromise my principles.”

“Me neither. Do we agree that we’re equals.”

“Yes. Not exactly equal in every way, but added up, yes.”

“So when it comes to cooking?”

“You do the cooking, but cooking is part of the bigger picture.”

“And cleaning up the kitchen afterwards?”

“You also do that. Just part of the bigger picture.”

“And shopping to buy the food to cook?”

“It’s all part of the same thing. We’re not equal in every little detail.”

“Raising the kids?”

“I helped make them ha ha… But seriously, I take them to school.”

“Making their breakfast? Putting up lunches for school? Picking them up after school? Planning their time after school?  Afternoon snacks? Helping them with their homework? Play dates? Buying their clothes? Keeping them clean? Dentist? Pediatrician?”

“I took Timmy to Dr. Goldman that time.”

“Changing the sheets? Vacuuming? Keeping in touch with both our families? Sending out Christmas cards?”

“Look, Honey. It’s not a compromise but I’ll clean up my work area in the garage.”

“For the first time this decade?”

“I’ll pick up that stuff at the dry cleaners.”

“You mean your extra suit and your shirts with the stains from the pub?”

“I go to work every day. I earn my share. I’m not compromising, but what else do you want?”

“We both go to work every day. Counting my royalties, I actually make more than you do. I’m also thinking you’re not as smart as you think you are.”

“But I’m good looking ha ha… Listen, I will not compromise my principles but I will come to an agreement. Tell me what you want.”

“Let’s start with these dirty dishes.”

 

For Daily Post