The Duck Song
A duck walked up to a lemonade stand
And he said to the man runnin' the stand
"Hey! [(bam bam bam)] Got any grapes?"
The man said: "No, we just sell lemonade
But it's cold, and it's fresh, and it's all home-made!
Can I get you a glass?"
The duck said, "I'll pass."
Then he waddled away - waddle waddle
'Til the very next day
"Bom bom bom bom bom babom"
...
I've been babysitting my small 1 1/2 cousin, L., while his mom is in the hospital with his little brother. And L. is hooked on The Duck Song Ever spent 18 hours straight listening to it? Trust me, you haven't missed out on much. It gets stuck in your head, and you get it stuck in everyone else's as well! (Don't know what it is? Just google it, hit play and then you'll know...) Everything, even your innermost secret thoughts, are about it!
For example, you catch yourself singing this in your head to the tune:
"I need to put my clothes in a lemonade stand...oh, phooey! I mean I need to do a duck in my little clothes dryer. NO!!!!"
Ugh. If I could get this song out of my head, I would SO happy.
But...there are worse things to have stuck in your head, I suppose. :)
ZZZ (Z’s are HARD!)
Zachary zipped zombies' zig-zag zippers zealously. Zazzy Zuri zapped zonked zookeepers' zucchinis zestfully. Zip-zapping zaniness!
The Unforgettable Man
He was a cheapskate. That I know. He bought things on discount and in bulk. His family turned badly printed napkins inside out; they split one can of orange juice between 9 kids. They wore hand-me-downs clothes and cheap shoes.
He was a plant-person. He saw a plant, and he bought it. He stuck it randomly in the yard. He planted hundreds of pine trees and other evergreens.
He was intrigued by new inventions. He bought a portable telephone and kept in his car. But, to make sure nothing would happen to it, and because it cost money to make or receive a call, it was never ever used.
He loved words, but couldn't say them right. He used a hard 'g' in the word "gee" rather than a soft 'g'. And only stopped when his wife pointed out that "gee whiz" wasn't said with hard 'g'.
He loved to argue. He could drag out an argument for hours...and hours...and hours.
He loved to read aloud. His kids heard many, many stories from him, and then read them to their own children.
And then, he died of cancer. Leaving 9 kids between the ages of 19 and 2, and his wife behind him.
Yes, I know many, many things odd things about him, but much about his everyday life. I've imprinted everything I know about him in my memory, so that someday when we meet in heaven, I'll recognize him. I'll fling my arms around him, and tell him who I am.
Who was he?
My Grandpa.
And I never met him.
In the Dark
I was in the dark and I couldn't see a thing. I fumbled around with one hand, searching for a flashlight. I finally found it laying on the floor where I had dropped it when the scream had startled me. Holding it aimed towards where I thought the door was, I flipped the switch. Nothing happened.
"The batteries must be dead," I muttered, "It would happen right now."
I took a few cautious steps towards the light switch, and stumbling over a cord, fell. I decided to crawl the rest of the way. Soon my head bumped against the wall, and I stood up. In the pitch black darkness, the feel of the wall against me was comforting. I grabbed the light switch and flipped it to the 'on' position. But instead of the room lighting up, it remained just as dark. Had the power gone out? Perhaps. It had gone dark right after that hair-raising scream I heard. I leaned against the wall and thought my situation over. If I remained in the dark much longer, I was going to go crazy! I needed some light, and I needed it NOW. As I stood there, I felt the door next to me open. No light came through it though, so I supposed that there was no light out there either.
"Frank?" a quiet voice, whispered.
"I'm right here!" I answered.
"Oh good!" there was relief in the voice, "Why aren't you coming back down? We need to get out of here."
As I took a deep breath to start explaining about the power going out, etc., my friend spoke again, "And what on earth are you doing with all the lights on? It's the middle of the night and we're not supposed to be here!"
I froze in bewilderment.
"The flashlight didn't work, so I was going to turn on the lights." I mumbled, my brain still trying to understand that line about the lights being on.
"Frank? The flashlight is working just fine. It's bright enough to light this room up by itself!"
"It's on?!? Wait, you're telling me that the lights in this room are on, and the flashlight is working?!?" I repeated with a frantic note in my voice.
"Yes..."
I began flipping the light switch back and forth in a frenzy.
"Frank?!? What is the matter?"
A hand closed around and stopped my frantic flipping.
I pulled my hand free and sank to the floor. Staring out into the inky blackness, I whispered, "I can't see a thing..."
My Favorite First Line
"In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth."
The first line from the Holy Bible
King James Version
The Ultimate Love
When I saw this challenge, I just had to write something. Even though I was taking a break from The Prose for the summer. So I did and here it is:
We tend to think of LOVE as being a nice feeling we have. But what is real LOVE like? It's not a just a fuzzy, warm feeling!!!
The LOVE I know and have experienced is awe-inspiring. A LOVE that OVERCOMES, OVERWHELMS, FORGIVES and UNDERSTANDS.
I'm talking about the LOVE of GOD.
"For God so LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVETH in Him should NOT PERISH, but have EVERLASTING LIFE."
John 3:16 KJV
Farewell! (for now)
I bring you sad news, fellow writers. I am leaving The Prose. :(
But wait; don't cry! It's only for the summer!!!
I can see the relief on your face. Come on! I wouldn't do that to you!
So, why am I doing this? Because I've got stuff to do.
Things like weddings, graduations, family vacations, writing (and writing contest entries), work, helping relatives (which I have a TON of) and DIY projects. (In other words: LIFE GETS BUSY THIS SUMMER! And yes, to me, this is a good thing. I like being busy!)
Yeah, I know that it's very sad for you.
Now, don't worry; I'll be back in the fall! And maybe, just maybe, I'll drop by now and then to check on what my favorite people are doing. (For example, I have to read any new chapters of Princess Undercover by PhelaTK that come out. If I don't, I'll go crazy!!!)
Other than that, I will be silent.
I might randomly enter a challenge or write a post.
But I doubt it.
There is a good thing about this, though!
This fall, you can get super excited when I rejoin you! :P
Anyway, I hope you guys don't miss me too much. You see, I've got this idea that there's a few people who might, but maybe I'm wrong. :)
(Hopefully I'm not too addicted to The Prose, or this will be extremly painful...)
So, friends and fellow writers, this is...
FAREWELL! (for now)
A Duel
Sir Riley headed towards a deserted castle deep in the forest. There he waited, for he had sent a note to the villain and they were to meet there.
At noon, he heard a noise. Into the clearing stepped the man that had attempted to murder the princess.
“Hello.” Said Sir Riley.
“Hello, so you found me out.” Said the man.
“Yes.”
The man was…Prince Leos!
“I did not expect you to figure it out so quickly. Though, I knew you would some time.”
“I’m flattered. Tell me prince, why did you try to kill her? You were to have married her.”
The prince laughed bitterly. “Yes, I was going to marry her. But I saw that she loved you, and I could never win her heart.
“The reason I attempted to kill her, I wished to hurt her father, the king.”
“but why did you wish to hurt him?”
“So, you didn’t figure that out? Why don’t you guess?”
“Very well, prince. Is it because he killed your father in battle?”
Prince Leos’ eyes blazed, “So, you know that too! Yes, he murdered my father. I know it was in fair fight, but he should not have done so!”
“He did not know it was your father at the time.”
“So? He killed him anyway. When my father was alive, I had a chance to get the throne. I was my father’s favorite son. But he died and left no will. So, my elder brother has the throne. I hate King Ronald!” Prince Leos exclaimed angrily, “And I hate you, too! You ruined my plans!”
“But it is not because of me that you failed in murdering the princess.”
“I don’t care! I’m going to kill you!”
With that, Prince Leos whipped out his sword, and leapt at Sir Riley.
But Sir Riley had already gotten out his sword and blocked the blow.
Then, began the most stunning and skillful duel ever. Prince Leos sought to destroy the man whom, he considered, to have ruined his plans for revenge. Again, and again he stabbed his sword at Sir Riley, but the young knight’s sword always met each onslaught. Finally, seeing his chance, Sir Riley ran his antagonist through the shoulder. The prince dropped his sword and gripped his shoulder. His face was white with fury.
“Now, prince, you can do something for me. Sign this confession.” Said Sir Riley, panting.
“Never!” screamed Prince Leos, in rage.
Sir Riley placed the point of his sword against the prince’s throat.
“Sign it and I shall not kill you as you so richly deserve.”
“No!”
Sir Riley put more pressure on his sword. Prince Leos went pale. Then he said, ’Very well, if you will let me go free.”
’All right, but I warn you, if I ever see your face again, I shall kill you.”
The prince grasped the pen and paper and quickly signed it.
“Like all murderers you are a coward.” Said Sir Riley, as he took the paper.
Prince Leos glared furiously and would have leapt at Sir Riley, but Sir Riley pressed on his sword.
’Now, get up and ride. Before I kill you.”
The prince mounted his horse and disappeared. Sir Riley gazed after him thoughtfully. Then he carefully folded the paper and placed it in is pocket. He wiped the blood of his sword and then, mounting his horse, he rode away.
* * * * *
“I cannot and will not believe it!” exclaimed King Ronald, “Prince Leos is a perfectly good man, why would he want to murder my daughter?”
“Sir Riley explained it all to me after he had seen the note written by him. He hates you because you killed his father. He might have gotten the throne, but since there was no will, his elder brother has it.”
“Yes, yes. That is all true. But how are you going to prove it?”
“Sir Riley was going to meet the prince and have him sign a confession.”
“Why,” exclaimed the king, “Sir Riley will be killed!”
“I hope not.”
Just then a page stepped in. “Sir Riley.” He announced.
In came the young knight.
“Sir Riley, you made it!” exclaimed Sir Anthony in relief.
Sir Riley handed the confession to the king.
“Prince Leos signed this.” He told the king.
The King quickly read it. He looked up.
’Sir Riley, would you please tell me how this came about?”
“Yes, your majesty, as soon as you release Purvis and John.”
“Of course!”
King Ronald gave orders to release the prisoners immediately.
Then he turned back to Sir Riley.
“Now, tell me your story.”
Sir Riley did so. When he finished, King Ronald sighed.
“I am afraid that I have made a mistake. I am very sorry. But, who gave you the cloak, sleeping powder and sword?”
Sir Riley smiled. He reached out and put his hand on Keven’s shoulder.
“Your son.”
“My son!”
“Yes. He came to my cell and asked what he could do to help. I told him what I needed. He did a good job.”
“Sir Riley, with what do you want me to award you with? I will grant you anything.”
“I want one thing, the hand of your daughter.”
“You want Jewel?”
“Yes, I love her.”
“Very well, if she loves you also, which she has told me she does, you may have her. This matter, dreadful as it has been, has done one good thing. It has freed me of my promise.”
Just then Doctor Harrison stepped in.
“The Princess is asking for you, Sir Riley.”
Sir Riley looked at the king. He nodded. Sir Riley hurried to Jewel’s room. Keven and King Ronald followed.
Sir Riley dropped on his knees by Jewel’s side.
“Riley.” She whispered.
Sir Riley smiled, then he leaned over and softly kissed her.
King Ronald smiled, then putting his arm around Keven, he whispered, “It seems we have gained our Jewel, only to have lost her once more. But, I have gained another son, and you a brother.
The End
(That's it! I hope you enjoyed this story!)
Quilence!
Quilence
/ˈkwī-ləns/
noun
A quiet silence.
Example: “A loud shout broke the quilence.”
Similar: quietness, silence, tranquility, hush, stillness
verb
To order immediate and perfect silence.
Example: “'Quilence!' shouted Jeremy sternly.”
Similar: hush, shush, quieten, silence.
(This is a word that was used often when I was growing up. I believe that my oldest brother was the first to begin using it. Perhaps it is a word other people use; who knows!)
A Regretted Promise
King Ronald sat in his study. He had imprisoned Sir Riley, only to have him escape. To tell the truth, Ronald did not feel that Sir Riley was the murderer. But there still was the flower, and Sir Riley would not tell him where he supposedly lost the flower. He had said that he would sometime, but not then. Ronald had warned Sir Riley that not telling everything would only make things worse, but Sir Riley stubbornly refused to tell him.
Not only this matter had made his life chaos, but the fact that they discovered an enemy spy from Siddel. He had managed to get into the ball. When he was discovered, they barely missed capturing him. This probably meant a war with Siddel, and probably with its ally Ronté.
Doctor Harrison stepped in.
“Sire,” he said, quietly, “The princess would like to speak to you.”
Ronald hurried to Jewel’s room. He stood by her bed.
’What is it, my dear?”
“Papa, I must tell you something, but first let me ask this, is it true that Sir Riley is imprisoned?” Jewel asked softly.
Ronald started in surprise. Then he asked sharply, “Jewel, what does this knight mean to you?”
Jewel lay still for a moment, then said quietly, “Papa, I know you have promised me to Prince Leos, but, papa, I don’t love him. I love Sir Riley.”
Ronald’s head span. Could this be true? That his daughter loved a simple knight? And that he himself promised his own beloved daughter to someone that she did not love? When he gained control of himself, he gazed at his daughter.
“Jewel are you sure that you love Sir Riley?”
“With all my heart, papa. Please, don’t make me marry the prince, I despise him.”
“My daughter, I have promised you to Prince Leos. Now that I know that you love Sir Riley, I know not what to do. I do not want you to be unhappy. I wish that somehow, I could give you to Sir Riley. If I could, that would be wonderful, but I don’t see how I could do it without breaking my word.”
“Please, papa.”
“Well, I shall do my best. I love you dearly, and don’t wish to see you unhappy. If only I knew before now, I wouldn’t have this mess.”
King Ronald, left. His mind was whirling. How was he to get out of this? He wanted Jewel to be happy, but he could not break his word.
End of Chapter Seven
(If you are not being tagged when new chapters come out, and would like to be, let me know!)