Today i am linking up with Josie Two Shoes and Uncharted Blog with a Six Sentence Story. The story prompt is Rush.
He had what she had come to recognize from her work in the homeless ministry as the thin, frail look of an elderly man who has lived on the streets and gone without a lot of meals, replacing them by imbibing his favorite cheap liquid refreshment and cigarettes. What made her look twice was that he was standing straight and tall, not stooped, and he had a purposefulness to his stride that said he was going to get where he was going, no matter what.
Her attention was abruptly drawn back to the traffic as she maneuvered her way into the store's busy parking lot and then made her way inside. As she shopped, her mind went back and forth between her list and her thoughts about the homeless and the hungry that the man's appearance had brought to her mind.
Leaving the store, she caught a glimpse of him as he came in, a few dollars grasped in his hand, marching straight for the cigarette case, and she sighed.
Today is
Araw ng Watawat -- Philippines (Flag Day)
Armed Forces Day -- Croatia
Contemplate Your Vicissitudes Day -- no, i still don't know who thinks up this stuff, i can think of much better things to contemplate, thank you
Day of Pin-Hiding and Button-Losing -- Fairy Calendar
Downfall of the Dergue Day/National Day -- Ethiopia
National Brisket Day
National Hamburger Day
Republic Day -- Armenia; Azerbaijan
Slugs Return From Capistrano Day -- where they spent the winter, so don't go out on the patio barefoot until the first frost; sponsored by Wellcat Holidays
St. Bernard of Montjoux's Day (Founder of Alpine hospices; Patron of Alpinists, the Alps, mountain climbers, mountaineers, skiers, and travellers in the mountains)
Whooping Crane Day -- US (birth anniversary of the first crane born in captivity; because those born in captivity refused to breed after they grew up, the attempt to restore numbers this way was discontinued, but these are beautiful birds worth saving)
Women in Trousers Day -- US (on this day in 1923, the US Attorney General announced his determination that it was indeed legal for women to wear trousers anywhere)
World Hunger Day -- The Hunger Project
Anniversary Today:
Amnesty International is founded, 1961
Sierra Club is founded, 1892
Birthdays Today:
Joseph Cross, 1986
Carey Mulligan, 1985
Jesse Bradford, 1979
Sicily Yoder, 1969
Kylie Minogue, 1968
Glen Rice, 1967
Christa Miller, 1964
Sondra Locke, 1947
John Fogerty, 1945
Rudolph Guiliani, 1944
Gladys Knight, 1944
Annette, Cecile, Emilie, Marie, and Yvonne Dionne , 1934
Carroll Baker, 1931
Barry Commoner, 1917
Ian Fleming, 1908
Jim Thorpe, 1888
Louis Agassiz, 1807
William Pitt, 1759
Debuting/Premiering Today:
"The Magic Show"(Musical), 1974
"Lock Up Your Daughters"(Musical), 1959
Melody(Disney cartoon film, first ever in 3-D), 1953
"Zoo Parade"(TV), 1950
"Louisiana Purchase"(Musical), 1940
"Mathis der Maler / Matthias the Painter"(Opera), 1938
"L'Arianna / Ariadne"(Opera), 1608
Today in History:
A solar eclipse occurs, as predicted by Greek philosopher and scientist Thales, while Alyattes is battling Cyaxares in the Battle of the Eclipse;this leads to a truce and becomes one of the cardinal dates from which other dates can be calculated, BC585
James IV of Scotland and Margaret Tudor are married according to a Papal Bull by Pope Alexander VI and a Treaty of Everlasting Peace (which lasted 10 years) between Scotland and England is signed, 1503
The Spanish Armada, with 130 ships and 30,000 men, sets sail from Lisbon heading for the English Channel (it will takes until May 30 for all of the ships to leave port), 1588
In the first engagement of the French and Indian War, Virginia militia under 22-year-old Lieutenant Colonel George Washington defeat a French reconnaissance party, 1754
Big Ben is drawn on a carriage pulled by 16 horses from Whitechapel Bell Foundry to the Palace of Westminster, 1859
In San Francisco, California, John Muir organizes the Sierra Club, 1892
In the Russo-Japanese War, the Battle of Tsushima ends with the destruction of the Russian Baltic Fleet by the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1905
John B Gruelle patents Raggedy Ann doll, 1915
The US Attorney General says it is legal for women to wear trousers, 1923
The first all color talking picture, "On With the Show", is shown in NYC, 1929
The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, is officially opened, 1937
Neville Chamberlain becomes British Prime Minister, 1937
The women of Greece are given the right to vote, 1952
The Palestine Liberation Organization is formed, 1964
Fifteen West African countries sign the Treaty of Lagos, creating the Economic Community of West African States, 1975
Eritrea and Monaco join the United Nations, 1993
NATO declares Russia a limited partner in the Western alliance, 2002
The Mars Odyssey finds signs of large ice deposits on the planet Mars, 2002
The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly of Nepal formally declares Nepal a republic, ending the 240-year reign of the Shah dynasty, 2008
'Le Monde' reports the Assad regime in Syria continues to use chemical weapons, 2013
OH I LOVE THIS!!!
ReplyDeletewe need a series of six sentence novellas.
Love your six sentences.
ReplyDeleteagree with the *sigh*
ReplyDeleteYes, that's a sigh indeed. Many live just like this too.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day. ☺
Addiction is a terrible affliction.
ReplyDeleteexcellent story.....perfect finale!
ReplyDeletewow, okay first I gotta say I am always alarmed at how late it was for women everywhere to get the vote... 1952 in Greece? I love all those facts! ALso. I was really grabbed by the sense of futility in the cigarette purchase then I thought "be kind, it's all he has." Thanks for joining in and making me think in six short sentences ! Theres a cue every sunday so if you enjoyed this that's great!
ReplyDeleteYour six-sentence story is excellent. From your words, I can imagine the scene and the man vividly.
ReplyDeleteAwww. *Sigh* I thought it'd be something else. . . But sometimes it's not. . . &, I guess that is his choice.
ReplyDeleteStrangers can often make such an impression, can't they? I've had experiences like this when the sight of someone lodged itself in my brain.
ReplyDeleteYou captured this moment beautifully. An amazing observation/story in six sentences. Memorable.
ReplyDeleteI prefer to give food instead of money, to avoid the "sigh" illustrated by your post.
ReplyDeleteI was so happy to see you sharing a story with us today! I can relate to this situation well, we deal with many homeless clients at our office, and this can sometimes be the reality of trying to "help out". I try to look at it as what matters most is the intent of the giver, and not what the receiver chooses to do with it. But I too would rather provide a meal or a warm blanket than cash, for that very reason, even though I understand the desire.
ReplyDeleteSo hard not to judge under circumstances like these. Addiction is a terrible beast. Well told.
ReplyDeleteThe trouble is that when your life is empty you fill it with worthless things that you think give you comfort as you have no hope for anything better. This story is repeated all over the world and is an indictment on society in general. Very well written.
ReplyDeleteI thought I knew what I was going to comment, then I read Old Egg's comment and anything else seems silly to say.
ReplyDeleteGreat story, made us all think!