(Because some people like Blogger and some like WordPress, i am putting the same content at both. If you would prefer to read this on the other site, it is linked here.)
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"Please, ma'am, I'm not a bum, I promise, I'm a working man, I just need a little more money for gas so I can get where I need to go..."
She sighed and closed her eyes. It was his art, his spiel, and he was in his zone, not letting up, and she felt the pressure of the headache building behind her eyes.
Two clients had stiffed her this week, another cancelled at the very last minute, one was out of town and would pay in two weeks when she returned -- right now, she did not need this.
Digging out a few dollars she was saving for a book she needed for some upcoming meetings, she cut him off with, "I am a janitor, I have not been paid for the last couple of jobs I have done, I do not have much, but if you are telling the truth, this will bless you, and if you are not, it will be required of you to give an account someday!"
It was his turn to close his eyes, whether because he was conning her as she believed and he was now ashamed or whether it was because he was truly in need she didn't know or care, she was just glad that he thanked her and left so she could get on with trying to solve her own problems.
Linking up with Denise at Girlie On The Edge Blog, where she hosts Six Sentence Stories, and the cue is Zone. www.girlieontheedge1.wordpress.com
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Gosia at Looking for Identity has taken over Good Fences, and it's now Good Fences Around The World. Post a picture of a fence or gate, link back to her blog, and go visit other blogs to see what interesting fences there are out in this big world.
This looks to me like a great shady spot, i would love a bench by this fence to sit and dream on.
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It's Angel Sammy's Poetry Day! This week's image and my poem:
Nomad (a tanka poem)
Life as a nomad
Relying on her own wits
Roaming town to town
She carries all that she needs
Home is where she is right now
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Brian of Brian's Home hosts the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop. It's time to share something for which i am thankful.
Today i am thankful that i am preparing because this school year's first rEcess is tomorrow!
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Today is:
Be Late For Something Day -- sponsored by the Procrastinators' Club of America, Inc. (if they can get around to mentioning it in their newsletter, of course)
Genesia -- Ancient Greek Calendar (a day of the dead; date approximate)
Hassaku-sai -- Matsuo-taisha Shrine, Kyoto, Japan (rituals to ask the gods for mild weather, good harvests and safe homes)
International Day of Charity -- UN
Jeune Genevois -- Geneva, Switzerland (Genevan fast, dates back to the 16th century; now a flower and garden show also)
Jupiter Stator Festival -- Ancient Roman Calendar (commemorates that Jupiter helped Romulus to stop the Sabine invasion under Titus Tatius)
Jury Rights Day -- marking the decision by a jury, in 1670, to not convict William Penn of laws which they considered unjust which would have prohibited him from the practice and preaching of his religion to a peaceably assembled congregation; this decision became the basis of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the US
Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials -- Stamford, England (within the beautiful parklands of Burghley House, Stamford in Lincolnshire; through Sunday)
Longs Peak Scottish/Irish Highland Festival -- Estes Park, CO, US (wonderful celebration of the heritage of the Highlands and Ireland; through Sunday)
Marion Popcorn Festival -- Marion, OH, US (performances by nationally renowned entertainers, races, parade, arts and crafts, and more popcorn than you could ever shuck; through Saturday)
National Cheese Pizza Day
St. Laurence Gustiani's Day (First Patriarch of Venice)
St. Teresa of Calcutta's Day (Mother Teresa)
Sts. Zechariah and Elisabeth's Day -- Anglican and Eastern Orthodox Churches
Teacher's Day -- India
Toronto International Film Festival -- Toronto, ON, CA (through the 15th)
Wag and Carrot Fancying Day -- Fairy Calendar
Yellow Daisy Festival -- Stone Mountain, GA, US (annual arts and crafts festival and fun; through Sunday)
Anniversaries Today:
John Travolta marries Kelly Preston, 1991
Birthdays Today:
Kim Yu-Na, 1990
Rose McGowan, 1973
Dweezil Zappa, 1969
Kristian Alfonso, 1964
Cathy Guisewite, 1950
Dennis Dugan, 1946
Raquel Welch, 1940
William Devane, 1939
Carol Lawrence, 1934
Bob Newhart, 1929
Arthur C. Nielsen, 1923
John Cage, 1912
Arthur Koestler, 1905
Darryl F. Zanuck, 1902
Morris Carnovsky, 1897
Jesse James, 1847
Johann Christian Bach, 1735
Debuting/Premiering Today:
"Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy"(TV), 1966
"No Mother To Guide Her"(Play), 1905
Today in History:
Peter the Great of Russia imposes a tax on beards, in an attempt to Westernize his people, 1698
The First Continental Congress is assembled in Philadelphia, 1774
The French National Convention initiates the Reign of Terror, 1793
Napoleon surrenders Malta to Great Britian, 1800
Sam Houston is elected as the first president of the Republic of Texas, 1836
The First Opium war begins in China, 1839
James Glaisher, pioneering meteorologist and Henry Tracey Coxwell break world record for altitude whilst collecting data in their balloon, 1862
Sioux Chief Crazy Horse is killed, 1877
The First Labor Day Parade is held in NYC, 1882
The first gasoline pump is delivered to a gasoline dealer in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, 1885
The first legal forward pass in American football is thrown by Bradbury Robinson of St. Louis University to teammate Jack Schneider in a 22–0 victory over Carroll College (Wisconsin), 1906
The French Upper Volta is broken apart between Ivory Coast, French Sudan, and Niger, 1932
The first conference of the Non Aligned Countries is held in Belgrade, 1961
A Palestinian terrorist group called "Black September" attack and take hostage 11 Israel athletes at the Munich Olympic Games. 2 die in the attack and 9 die the following day, 1972
Voyager 1 is launched after a brief delay, 1977
The St. Gotthard Tunnel opens in Switzerland as the world's longest highway tunnel, 1980
The current international treaty defending indigenous peoples, Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989, came into force, 1991
Tuvalu joins the UN, 2000
For the first time, a browsable, analysable overview of four million functional elements of the human genome discovered to date are made available to the public, 2012
The World Health Organization estimates that 1,900 people have died from the Ebola virus out of 3,500 infected in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, 2015
I like your poem.
ReplyDeleteAnd a big yes to the attitude expressed in your six sentence story (I am thinking it is based on your truth).
There are now many con people around but there are some who are genuine cases. Beautiful poem. It is also not safe to thumb a lift from strangers.
ReplyDeleteNothing better than a good shady spot on a hot day! There are so many people asking for money these days, some even have kids along to try to work more on emotions. It is impossible to tell who really is in a jam.
ReplyDeletevery touching Six. and to be able to give in such circumstance surely is a gift
ReplyDeleteThat was a really good story and a cute poem too. Thanks for joining the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
ReplyDeleteMoving. I'm always leary of handing cash to someone. But I feel guilty when I don't help. It's a palaver. Good six. And Raquel Welch is 79! Good grief.
ReplyDeleteNeat story ~ so true, I bet ~ Lovely fence post photo with the sunlight ~ ^_^
ReplyDeleteHappy Day to You,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
I don't give money to pan handlers. They rarely use it for anything good. I give to those that I want to. It's just the way I am.
ReplyDeleteLove your poem. Good job.
Have a fabulous day, my friend. ♥
we wood like a bench by that fence two...coz sum timez catz DUE like ta chillax in de shade !! :) ♥♥☺☺
ReplyDeleteI've watched way too many forensic type crime shows to trust any old handy man in my house. I'm looking for background checks for anyone that comes near my house.
ReplyDeletenot common colur of Fence in Europe
ReplyDeleteI will stop procrastinating tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Hi Mimi. Have a wonderful Thursday my friend.
ReplyDeleteCruisin Paul
That was a nice story.
ReplyDeleteIt's true, you never really know someone's true intentions, but I think it's always better to be a blessing to someone if you can, even if they may trying to con or take advantage of you. Because you never know.
Love your story, how much information you got into just a few sentences. I'm not sure I could have done it, but then I'm the woman who makes a short story long.
ReplyDeleteI like your six sentence story very much, Mimi.
ReplyDeleteBe late for something today? Sigh. Yes, I was. Now you know why my blog name is what it is.
And she, she is collecting pennies in heaven (as my father would say). Her generosity superseded her suspicion.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the poem. I had heard of the form but did not know the specifics. Will have to try my hand at it!
Great story and poem.
ReplyDeleteGreat SSS, but an all too common situation, especially in certain areas of the country.
ReplyDeleteYes a seat would be good at that fence to sit and dream or maybe read a good book. Have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDelete