EOTD—“Date Night”

Allie puffed some finishing powder on her face and smiled at her reflection. “Perfect,” she said grabbing her little bottle of Hors D’oeuvre, spritzed the perfume on her wrists, rubbed them together, then wiped some onto her neck, careful to avoid touching her face.

Smoothing her hands along the skirt of her scarlet satin cocktail dress. She smiled again!  “That black velvet trim I added really did the trick.  Henry had better say something about it when he picks me up… Shoes.”  She twirled left and opened the bathroom door.  “Hi, Cooper. Whats in your mouth? Cooper, my favorite shoes!”

EOTD—“Dogsled”

Jack rubbed his hands together vigorously, but gave up after a minute or two—his hands were too wet.  He attempted to put his gloves on again, but the ice rendered them unwearable.  His sled lay at the bottom of the channel, at least he managed to free the dogs before it sank.  Ice filled boots flaming with frost, he slowed with each step.  Soon crawling. Then face down in snowpack.  How long? Who cares.  He pushed himself up.  Eyes frozen shut.  A rosy white light burned through the eigengrau.  Strange, God’s voice sounds like a helicopter.

“We’ve found him.”

Nicholas’ Killer Garlic Beans

Ingredients:

• 1 Lb fresh whole green beans

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

• 1/4 tsp garlic powder

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• 2 Tbsp of water

Steps:

1. Rinse and break ends off of the green beans.

2. Heat a Large 10”-12” skillet on high until water boils when flicked onto surface.

3. Pour a 3-4” circle of Olive Oil into skillet, and swirl until bottom is coated.

4. When oil is hot add green beans to skillet.

5. Toss green beans until coated with oil.

6. Add spices and toss beans until evenly distributed.

7. Reduce heat to medium-high and allow to cook 2 minutes, tossing occasionally.

8. Add 1 Tbsp of water to the center of the skillet and cover with lid immediately. Steam for 3 minutes, shaking skillet occasionally to agitate beans.

9. Taste a big bean CAUTION HOT while letting remainder of water (if any) dissipate.

10. If bean is desired texture, remove from heat and serve. If not proceed to step 11.

11. Add 1 Tbsp of water to the center of skillet and cover with lid immediately. Steam for 2 minutes, shaking skillet occasionally to agitate beans.

12. Uncover beans, toss one last time, and serve.

Enjoy.

EOTD—“A Prairie Vignette”

A gentle wind washes through the field of long grass which ripples from dark to light as its tips undulate rhythmically.  Overhead, two kites relax on a thermal, floating as if held by some invisible string as they orbit the sun.

On the side of a hill an aquifer attracts a twelve point buck, who dips his head to drink from the glassy cold rivulet.  Movement in the switch grass. Tail up. Head erect.  His ears cock to the left, head following. While he stares toward the charred cedar stump by the bank, two rabbits glint across the water and into the weeds.

EOTD—“Deer Stalking”

Scott’s high Gore-tex boots left fat prints in the sludge of decaying leaves and meltwater, as he stalked through the thick wet snow.  Finding the trunk of a large tree, he pressed his back against the black bark and peered around the side.

A buck grazed about forty yards away, its back to the tree.

Scott smiled, then pressed his lips together and broke cover. Crouching low, he crept along a dip in the ground toward the next trunk, pausing when the buck turned toward him.  Scott quietly positioned himself to take the shot.  Inhaling, he squeezed the shutter release.

EOTD—“Don’t Feed the Animals”

As the beam from Nathaniel’s 6D Mag-Lite raked over a pyramid of culverts, a shadow darted inside one of them. “Raccoons.” Continuing onward, he whistled House of the Rising Sun.

Passing close by the culverts, he reached into his pocket, grabbed a bag of salted peanuts and tossed a few in front of the opening nearest him.  Soon, a pair of eyes glowed inside the tube.  “You love peanuts,” he said, “don’t ya?”

As two little hands reached out, grabbing the nearest peanut, another pair of eyes opened, and another, until hundreds of green eyed shadows stared back at him.

EOTD—“Alone Time”

Frank approached his car holding some fresh cut flowers.  Opening the back passenger door, he clenched his closed lips tight against his teeth.  Attempting a smile as he placed the flowers into the sun-bleached car seat.  He stroked the near edge of the carseat as if it were a child, and blinked away a tear.  “I shouldn’t’ve been so quick to suggest that she take you with her on the trip.” 

The door only latched half way when he shut it, but that didn’t matter.  He slumped into the drivers seat, where he remained.  Keys between legs.  Eyes shut tight.

EOTD—“A Faded Rose”

Victoria rocked along to Delta Dawn in her reclining chair.  Rubbing the tears from her eyes, she wiped them onto the threadbare armrest.  The yellow light from the tiffany lamp on the end table provided little warmth.  But, even its glow fell cold on the pile of unpaid bills scattered beneath it.

“How could you leave me like this,” she asked, staring at the ceiling?  After wiping away more tears, she reached for a small syringe full of clear liquid on the table.  A cat jumped onto the table, knocking the syringe to the ground, then nestled into her lap.

EOTD—“Almost Home”

Damon watched the yellow stripes racing toward him, and smiled.  “Only 40 more miles to home.”  The moon-cast world shadowed in burnt navy and carbon passed slowly by.  Blobs of crack filler like black amoebas seemed to levitate off of the road in the curve of his windshield. 

Eyelids sagging, he ran his finger over the volume knob as far to the right as it would go, and slapped himself hard across the face.  With hair flapping in the max ac, he slugged down some more coffee.  His eyelids hesitated at the bottom of a blink, “Thirty more miles.”

EOTD—“Mansplain”

“Liza, I heard you’re dating my little brother,” Chanel said.

“Don is such a sweetheart.”

“Is he? I’ve never thought so.  He’s so infuriating.”

“How so?”

“He refuses to come out of hiding, except for sometimes crawling to the library.”

“Sure he’s a little agoraphobic, and awkward. But he’s really smart.”

“He’s dull.  If you took him to an Italian restaurant, he’d order buttered noodles.  He’s the type that gets steamed rice as an entree and a side, and doesn’t even use soy-sauce!”

“What are you saying?”

“I don’t know how else to articulate it to you. The man’s plain.”

EOTD—“Trial By Combat”

The knight of the silver rose’s split toothed grin sent a chill through me as we raised our maces in salute.  The officiant’s words of prayer lost in favor of my own appeal for life.  Weapons at the ready, we circled.  My strike crept flaccidly through the air, my blow landing as formidably as a blade of grass striking at the wind. The next moment, my helmet smashed downward over my eyes.  My nose crushed by its own protector.  Eyes dancing in their sockets, I lost my sight and collapsed.  Waking into a blood soaked pillow, I pinched my nose.

EOTD—“A Chance Meeting”

A woman placed her hand on my forearm, and said, “please pardon me for saying this, but,” she cleared her throat and nodded at me, pursing her lips like she was about to continue speaking. Only silence ensued as she glanced into and away from my eyes.

When her basil green eyes next settled on mine, we maintained eye contact for a moment, and I asked, “but what, ma’am?”  I smiled and followed her slight downward gaze, her eyes matched her sun dress.  My smile widened as we made eye contact again.

“I’m sorry, sir, but your pants are unzipped.”

EOTD—“No Good Deed”

Rick pulled off the highway, and put on his hazards.  Getting out of the car, he shouted, “looks like you two ladies could use some help.”

“Yeah, our tire’s flat, could you finish changing it for us?”

“Sure,” Rick smiled and picked up the tire iron from the ground near the spare, “losing a front tire is no joke.”

Sam smiled, and winked, “we could’ve died.”

“Probably not, but you never know,” he said, tightening the lugs.

Making sure that nobody was coming, Catherine took out a large wrench, and brought it down hard on the back of Rick’s head.

EOTD—“Roadside”

Diana put on her hazards, and pulled onto the shoulder.  Checking for traffic, she exited the car.  “Do you all need some help changing that tire?”

“We’d love some help. We tried using our spare, but it’s flat too.”

“That sucks,” I’d better remember to check mine too.

“Could you give my wife and I a ride to the auto store? There’s one just in the next town.”

“Sorry, but I’m running late,” she said, “I could call motorist assist.”

The wife smiled. “That’s not necessary, dear. Thank you anyway.”

Diana returned the smile, and got back into her car.

EOTD—“The 96th Hour”

“They’ve found us,” Percival shouted, as the light of an ROV appeared in the distance.  Seven men pressed themselves to the viewport to see the answer to their prayers.

On the surface a sigh of relief tempered by the desperation of time.

“Get the recovery vehicle in the water now! I want status updates in ten minutes. They’re out of time.”

Death metered in heartbeats, six shut their eyes, Percival again at watch.

“Tow cable attached, raise away!  Time to surface, under two hours.”

“Forty minutes, get those rafts in position.”

Seven men, poisoned by breath, drifted away.

“Fifteen minutes!”

EOTD—“Smile”

Max smiled toward Janet.

“What are you smiling at?”

“Nothing, in particular,” Max said, “just thinking.”

“Well stop it. You’re creeping me out.”

“I can’t help it. I’m in a good mood.”

“Well it is irritating me. I wish you’d stop.”

“What has you down?”

“Nothing.”

“That’s good, so smile.”

“Nothing I want to talk about.”

“Ok,” he said, shrugging his shoulder palm up stretched.

“Aren’t you going to press me on it?”

“No.” He extracted a book from his backpack, and thumbed it open.

“Why not?” She scowled.

“I’m just respecting your wishes,” he said leaning into his reading.

EOTD—“Frühlingstimmen”

“May I have this dance, Eleanor,” Thomas asked as their favorite waltz lilted on the record player.

Taking Thomas’ hand, Eleanor stood for a moment smiling silently. Then, holding him close, they danced, gliding across the floor so effortlessly Thomas swore they were floating.

“It’s been so long, but you dance even better than I remember,” he said, “I could dance with you forever.”

She grinned toothily as she swung under his arm.  When they came together, she kissed him.

Thomas did not notice his body collapse away from him. He did not care. He was dancing with her—Again.

Dedicated to Grandpa Mel 1931-2024.

EOTD—“Awkward Alex”

“Well what are you waiting for, Alex?” Christine asked, “Nancy said you had something you wanted to ask me.”

“Um.”

“Out with it.”

Alex blushed hard and shook her head, lips pressed together firmly.

Nancy put her hand on Alex’s back and nodded toward Christine, motioning with her radiant blue eyes.  “Stop thinking and just do it.”

Alex’s shoulders dropped at Nancy’s touch and a timorous smile crept up the corner of her mouth. “I was wondering.”

“Yes?” Christina asked.

“You scheduled me to work tomorrow night, but I’ve got tickets to ‘Hades Town,’ can Nancy and I switch days?”

EOTD—“The Full Moon from the Knees Up”

William smiled and shook his head, “I can’t believe you put that in your gallery.”

A lopsided grin took over Don’s face, “sure you can. We’ve only been friends since Kindergarten.”

“God, it’s so detailed. You’ve got some balls for sure.”

“Pretty obscene, huh.”

William held in a laugh. “How long did it take you to carve?”

“I don’t know. Mmm, half a year give or take.”

“Well it really shows.  My favorite part is how you incorporated the crescent moon phase into the design of the buttst’s torso.

“Buttst. Hah! I’ll have to use that on the description placard.”

EOTD—“Doughnut Nirvana”

“Thank you,” Cameron says, placing his change in the tip jar.  He snags some half-and-half pods before heading to a booth-for-two in the corner.  Scooting to the front edge of the bench, he pours the cream into the coffee. Narrowing his focus to the thermodynamic swirls of tan, Cameron straightens his back, ankles crossed, right toes on the floor.  He lingers on a bite of apple fritter, and takes a sip of coffee.  Eyes shut. He breathes in through his nose.  Hands on lap in the dhyani mudra, he exhales, the smell of coffee and fritter forming his olfactory mantra.