Fear

WoW for this week  - Think back to when you were very young. Try to recall one of your first fears. A shadow on the wall, a ghost in the closet, a person, a scene from a movie or book. Write about that fear. Try to remember the feeling it gave you, what that fear would make you do and how you were comforted. Write a real life story or a piece of fiction. Wherever the prompt takes you. Keep your post on the short side: up to 500 words OR a 5 minute stream of consciousness exercise. Link your finished piece to the list and begin popping by the other links. Oh, and enjoy!

She sits in front of the flickering screen, thoughts elsewhere as screenbound Heidi flicks her platinum plaits and runs up snowcapped mountains. She loves the story of Heidi, but not today.

Her mind is firmly across the road at home.

Sprinklers on the roof, gutters full of water, down pipes clogged with ragbag clothes. Dad had swept leaves away, closed all the windows and doors before leaving her at the neighbours’ to play.

But play is not for her today, as smiles and chatter will not come easily. Her tummy feels tingly and slightly sick, her heart beats quickly in her chest. Her sticky hands screw her hanky into knots in her lap. The acrid smell of smoke is everywhere, the daylight weirdly orange as the temperature rises further. Her breath comes faster as a sob rises. She wants her Mum, her Dad, she wants them here and she wants everything to be all right. Now.

We are learning to make fire

Write On Wednesdays Exercise 23 - Write the words of Margaret Atwood at the top of your page "We are learning to make fire". Set your timer to 5 minutes. Write the first words that come into your head after the prompt. Stop when the buzzer rings.

“And then we will learn to put it out” declared Sid, the new OH and S officer, as he confidently piled papers high. “Fire training is compulsory, you know”.

Snickers in the back row  - “sounds like Boy Scouts”, “ nah, Girl Guides” “aren’t we a bit old for that?” as elbows nudged and eyes rolled.

“C’mon guys” sighed Sarah, “you know we have to sign the whole group off or the boss won’t subsidise the Christmas Party, lets just get on with it”.

“OK then Sarah, you can be my helper” Sid smirked as he handed her the matches and beckoned her close. He did like a pretty girl in panty hose. His chest puffed with importance, as he splashed petrol over the papery tower. “Nothing like a fire-starter”.

Sarah hesitated as she opened the box and slid out a match, “are you sure this is safe?”

“I’m the Safety Officer, sweetheart, of course it’s safe” were the last words he uttered as the flames lept skywards.