Saturday, December 4, 2010

Winter Settles In


With so many guests for Thanksgiving (one family of whom filled up every square inch of space in my office), I couldn't find time or room to participate in my beloved Saturday Centus activity last week, but I'm back today with bells on (Christmas bells, of course)! I have added the usual 100 words to Jenny Matlock's prompt, which can be identified by the rather distinctive redness of its text. ;)

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Winter Settles In

He woke up early, empty in an empty house. The loneliness didn’t surprise him anymore, but Christmas upped the ante. Predictable? Maybe, but Evan didn’t look ahead. “One day at a time” worked for more than drinkers.

Were there “Anonymous” meetings for mourners?...people holding hands in a circle, connecting over their new unconnectedness? If so, the "dear departed" probably had to be dead. And Leigh was far from that. Or at least, her body was.

The thought made him shiver. Was it desire? Disgust? A dusting of Christmas frost on his soul?

The bin of tangled up holiday lights beckoned. He was too cold to answer.

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24 comments:

Cheryl said...

Wow! Your take on the prompt was breathtaking. It's been a while since I've read your more serious side. Nice to see that again.

yaya said...

I'm sure you hit the center of many people's holiday spirit...sadly enough...good job.

Kat said...

This was beautifully written Sue. My favorite line was "connecting over their un-connectedness" - perfect. This was a sad, but wonderfully done, use of the prompt. Kat

Donna said...

You most definately could write the most amazing novel by just adding up all your Saturday Night Cenuses!! This was an all too true take on life that hopefully will not be in any of our homes this Christmas!!!

karen said...

How sad... I've had a Christmas or two like that. It makes me really conscious of others who need inclusion. I was fortunate - I had a brother who always made sure we had somewhere to go on holidays.

Tina said...

Hauntingly sad but oh so nicely done! It seems that holidays are for big families. The solitary person gets left behind, or comes and then is all the more sad because they don't fit the mold. But I still invite them...it's a season of reaching out.

Bookie said...

Extremely touching...catches that side of holiday that isn't talked about much.

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

This is one of my favorite centuses by anyone to date! Blew me away!

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

This was so beautifully written, Sue. Thank you.
xoRobyn

Grandma Honey said...

That does it. I'm looking for one of your books to read. You are GOOD.

gautami tripathy said...

You hit the nail with this...

plateau

Judie said...

Sue, thanks for the support. Your post was very meaningful, and the music is one of my favorites. I am in the middle of our annual winter exhibition and sale for our Guild, so I have very little time for my blog. Fortunately (or maybe sadly) the centus fell out of my head and on to the computer all to quickly.

Anonymous said...

Such a cold emptiness! Brilliant.

Viki said...

It's so sad when people are this way and cannot be uplifted even a little by the holiday. I would really love to find out more about his story. Good job.

Susannah said...

Very nicely written and a great use of the prompt. :-)

Lola said...

Hi again!

Bit late visiting this time unfortunately - due to work pressures!

Great post as always.

Wishing you a great week ahead & looking forward to *seeing* you again next time

LOLA:)

Judie said...

One of my friends just lost her husband on Thanksgiving day. Christmas is going to be very hard for her.

Jess said...

Well written, Sue. You have a way of writing about the stuff that's hard, that makes it not hard to read.

cj Schlottman said...

Sue,

This is beautifully written. This time of years in Hospice, we see families either withdrawing from the holidays altogether or going all out to act normal. I feel this in your piece.

Namaste..........cj

Anonymous said...

So sad! Beautifully written, but sad.

Teresa

Malisa said...

While beautiful, the holidays can be so rough on those who miss the ones they love. A nicely written story. Very moving.

I just posted my story today. Hope you will stop by and read.

Malisa

Darlene said...

Very very realistic. It made me feel so sorry for the man whose sweatheart left him right during the holidays. Made me sad sad sad. You really do have a way with words my dear. This one is just so poignant.

Tgoette said...

Amazing, Sue, to the point of giving me chills it was so good. Such a powerful piece, and I loved the last line which tied it all together so nicely. Great job!

Jenny said...

Sue. This made me teary eyed. I try to be mindful of the fact that the holiday season is so sad for so many. I always wish I could light a candle in the darkness for everyone. I will try harder this year to touch more people. Your post compells me to do so.

Thank you.