Not complaining

It’s a small room

Simple

No frills

But I’m not complaining none

Got a roof over my head

A locked door

And a single bed

No pillow and one thin blanket

But when you’ve slept on the floor

or on the ground

It is a big step up

So I’m not complaining none

There is one small window

It has bars to keep me in

Don’t know why anyone thinks I’d run

I can still see the sun

And clouds

and sometimes a bird or two

I’m not complaining none

They bring me food

Three times a day

It isn’t fancy

But I’m not hungry now

So I’m not complaining none

They call me a basket case

I been called worse

Way worse

I’m not complaining none

~Melanie Thomason

1/07/2020

Gina (a short story)

Gina was tired, bone tired as they say. Her journey had been a long one and she was ready for the end.  She really was but first she just wanted a small respite, some comfort and sleep to prepare herself for what was to be her last official act.  There were only so many times she could run through the recent events in her head and she wasn’t coming up with any solutions anyway. She knew that she wouldn’t.  Her impassioned pleas for assistance had fallen on deaf ears once again so she knew she had reached the end of her journey. What she needed was to just not be conscious anymore, shut her brain off and rest.

She started looking for the ubiquitous road signs for hotels and motels up ahead.  As if on cue, Gina saw the sign for the Venus Bed & Breakfast.  She followed the directions and in no time at all she was pulling up in front of the most charming little cottage she had ever seen.  There were colorful flowers in every windowsill and the entire place was surrounded by a field of sunflowers.  It was gorgeous and Gina could already feel some of the tension melting away.  As she watched a butterfly flutter and land on her hand she felt a calmness that was alien to her.

The smell of freshly baking bread wafted through the open window causing her to salivate.  Gina hadn’t realized how hungry she was until that moment.  She went inside and was greeted with a fresh slice of hot bread with butter and jam before she could even check in.  “Heavenly,” Gina thought.

Her room was perfect too.  A cozy bed, piles of books served as the only decorations and there was a cat curled up in what looked like a perfectly comfy armchair. “Yes, if this is to be my last night, what a lovely night it will be.” she thought wistfully.

So it was.  The next morning, refreshed yet still determined, Gina went to check out of the B&B but found no one at the front desk.  She searched the cottage and finding it empty decided to just leave her key on the counter and go.  “After all,” she thought, “I have something to do and I don’t want to do it here.”  Then to her surprise the door wouldn’t open.  She checked the back door off the kitchen and all of the windows.  None of them would open.

That’s when she saw the envelope on table with her name on it.  “How strange” she thought as she opened and began to read the letter.

Gina,

Please find the enclosed receipt for one day at Venus B&B.  You did know that a day on Venus lasts longer than a year that you are used to?  Doesn’t matter if you were aware or not, you cannot leave.  There is no way.  The windows will not break, don’t bother trying.

P.S.  We do hope you enjoy your stay.

 

“What a pretty prison” she thought as she flicked the blade open and slit her wrists.

~Melanie Thomason

11/13/2020

Dirty Windows

Dirty windows  hide a multitude of sins

so they keep them dirty so no one can see within

 

Problem is we are starting to wipe away the grime

and the whole world is witnessing their crimes

 

Wearing a badge doesn’t place you above the law

For many, George Floyd was the final straw

 

There are good police who do actually “protect and serve”

and those who don’t should get what they deserve

 

 

 

~Melanie Thomason

06/05/2020

 

Glad to see that all 4 officers involved have been charged. Hopefully they will not be sentenced lightly.

I remember once… ~NaPoWriMo Day 30

I remember once…

when I thought

I knew more

than I know now

I remember once…

when I thought

dreams could come true

and that love was real

I remember once…

when I thought

all of this mattered

much more than it actually does

I remember once…

when I believed

you

~Melanie Thomaon

04/30/2020

 

Force Majeure?

Image by Emilian Robert Vicol from Pixabay

She normally loved a rainy day but she had been driving most of the day after driving all last night. The rain had been coming down in sheets and while it was tempting to stop she knew it was unwise. She was worn out, her eyelids were heavy and she really was in need of some sleep, but she only had a tiny head start so she couldn’t afford to lose any time.

The growing rumble from her belly reminded her that it had been even longer since she had eaten anything.  Oh well, she thought as she rolled down the driver’s side window part way.  She was hoping the cool air and splashing raindrops would wake her up a bit. She looked at the gas gauge and saw she was at less than a quarter tank so she would have to stop soon to fill up and while she was at it she’d at least grab a coffee.

She knew he was hot on her tail and his blood lust was all the fuel he needed.  There would be time enough for food and rest once she was clear of him.  He hadn’t always been this way…had he?, she pondered while subconsciously biting her fingernails. She remembered when they had first met, he was confident, charming and gorgeous.  She had felt lucky to even be on his radar, a pigeon to his peacock.  But had he always been this mean?

She really couldn’t answer that but it didn’t matter anymore.  She had thought of leaving before but this had been the last straw.  She had always stayed before, partly because she took the meaning of band of gold on her finger seriously but this certainly had to qualify as force majeure!

Now if she could just make it to the train station without him finding her she would be free.  She had a suitcase waiting in a rented locker there with a couple changes of clothes and the little bit of money she had squirreled away.  She knew she wouldn’t have much left over after buying a ticket but that was ok. Where ever she ended up she knew she would find a way to raise this precious life growing inside her far away from him.

~Melanie Thomason

4/14/2020

 

Charly

Everyone breathed easier at the first signs of spring.  But Charly knew that it would make little difference.  Yes, the winter had been brutal but it was the least of their problems.  It was not the weather that kept her up at night.  The cold they could endure but what would they do when they were found? More importantly how far could she go, what would SHE do?

She had leased this place under a fictitious name but she knew that would only slow the inevitable.  True evil would soon be a Charly’s gate and she had to be ready for it.  There was no one else to fight for them.  Her life was in her own hands.  Everywhere she went she kept an eye out for his distinctive gait.  She knew it was unlikely he would approach her in public, it wasn’t his style, but even so she was diligent.

If it were only her life she might give up, stop running cause he was always one step behind them.   She could feel his breath on her neck.  But Charly couldn’t relax, couldn’t let down her guard because it wasn’t just her life on the line and as long as she was alive she swore she would never let him lay one finger on her babies.

Charly fueled up on coffee in preparation for another sleepless night.  With a heavy sigh, she settled into the chair in front of her kid’s room that she had placed facing the one and only door.  The weight of the shotgun across her lap was reassuring.

 

~Melanie Thomason

03/02/2020

1-800-799-7233 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) Highly-trained advocates are available 24/7/365 to talk confidentially with anyone experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information, or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship.

 

Carry

The writing prompt at Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie was …”This week think about what meaning/s you can come up with for the word “carry”. We carry all sorts of things in a multitude of ways. Luggage, a load, groceries, a team member, a loved one when they are unwell and need us to carry them from one spot to another. Let your imagination guide you and have fun.”

So normally I would just write something….BUT

The first thing that popped in my head was this poem..so I went looking and actually found it being read by the poet himself!

This song also popped into my head because I always think of it in relation to my best friend. (NOTE: Love the song but this video doesn’t work for me with it..LOL BUT it is the official video so….)

And because this is a WRITING prompt…here is my contribution

Always

I did not carry you in my womb

nay, you are not from me

yet you are of me

let my love be mother’s milk to you

take the offered nourishment

and as it strengthens you

it strengthens me

⋅

love and acceptance

always

Melanie Thomason

Wizards don’t all wear pointy hats

Lynn was not just a pretty face,

she had been around the block a time or two

and it would take more than just a warm smile or flowery words to ensnare her.

She had, more than once, found herself between a rock and a hard place

because she had allowed herself to be seduced

by a steamy gaze,

a wolfish smile,

or some carefully crafted lies.

She was not broken

but she was cautious.

Lynn was alone, but not lonely

and quite happy with that.

She was a grown woman

she didn’t need a man to define her or complete her

or even particularly want one.

Well not to hang around for any length of time…

 

Enter, this guy.

She didn’t even bother to get his name;

so Not her type.

But there was something about those eyes…

In fact, she could feel her steely demeanor melting from the fever in those eyes.

Her resolve to leave alone going up in smoke as she watched him watching her.

He never even spoke,

but when he saw her shifting in her chair suddenly uncomfortable and antsy,

he laughed

and that sound was more intoxicating than the liquor she had come here for.

~Melanie Thomason

2/07/2020