athesaurus.com

…breathe deeply and often…

  • Welcome Back

    No. I’d been gone four days, strangers had been in to feed him, and he needed cream now. 

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  • Skipping Stones

    Bart Goins, ten-year-old, Davis Lake Rock skipping champion has been suspected of cheating.

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  • Reflection

    Susan would have been hot anywhere, anytime, wearing anything, with or without the fan.

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  • Bring it

    Is it terrible that I look for her obituary on a regular basis?

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  • Will stole their words and actions for his newest play. Bad juju. Bad, bad juju for Will. 

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  • Writing Space

    The sun doesn’t shine a lot back here, so it’s always cooler, much cooler, back here in the woods where the flowers grow. 

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  • DP Benches

    To see the edges of the art deco bank covered in blue and green sparkles was something out of a snowglobe.

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  • Palms

    I was developing a terrible dislike for dragons. 

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  • Wishes

    “Well, why don’t you just tell me what’s on your mind so I can deal with it,” said Betty.

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  • My Origin Story

    We’ve seen you coming for a long time now. We cast the calling spell. We been waiting for you.” said Florie.

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  • High School Gossip

    “I heard they broke up and Tom was going to ask Janeen to the prom,” Becky announced it in Social Studies class. “Betty was all upset about it in English this morning. She was so mad she was crying. I’d hate to be Janeen,”  “How do you know that’s why Betty was so mad and Read more

  • Anticipation

    Anticipation, sweaty palms shaking; Jittery, bouncing a foot on the floor Trembling legs crossing, uncrossing, twitching Recheck your hair in a makeup mirror Peek out the window, hover by the door Pace — hide your face behind your hands, cover Hover again, then sit quivering A pounding heart, lack of concentration Glances at the clock, Read more

  • Company

    Tonight. I am company. I tread lightly in my extended family’s home. I am a guest. I am on good behavior. I tell and listen to the telling from children with wide ears, eyes, and smiles. I am more polite than usual.  I have helped the eldest son get an A on an English paper, Read more

  • Interrupting Birdsong

    I asked for the time, but the darkness didn’t answer. I rolled out of bed, and walked down the hall to the kitchen. The clock on the stove said 3:00 a.m., so why not make coffee and enjoy the quiet of the morning? Listen to the songbirds and the breathing of the sleeping humans in Read more

  • Sanctuary

    All day I will talk nonsense. I will repeat a paragraph eight times in a day. I will point out its main idea, drag it out, make people paste it in a book, and read it back to me. I will pass out little pieces of paper with vocabulary words on them and glue bottles, Read more

  • Wedding Cut

    “I was sorta hoping you’d include me in your plans. You shouldn’ta moved your head so fast, now look what happened. You look better with longer hair,” she said. It seemed she was a little bit on the crazy side. “I’m Isabella. Everybody calls me Z for short. Want me to be your date for Read more

  • Welcome Back

    No. I’d been gone four days, strangers had been in to feed him, and he needed cream now. 

    Read more

  • Skipping Stones

    Bart Goins, ten-year-old, Davis Lake Rock skipping champion has been suspected of cheating.

    Read more

  • Reflection

    Susan would have been hot anywhere, anytime, wearing anything, with or without the fan.

    Read more

  • Bring it

    Is it terrible that I look for her obituary on a regular basis?

    Read more

  • Will stole their words and actions for his newest play. Bad juju. Bad, bad juju for Will. 

    Read more

  • Writing Space

    The sun doesn’t shine a lot back here, so it’s always cooler, much cooler, back here in the woods where the flowers grow. 

    Read more

  • DP Benches

    To see the edges of the art deco bank covered in blue and green sparkles was something out of a snowglobe.

    Read more

  • Palms

    I was developing a terrible dislike for dragons. 

    Read more

  • Wishes

    “Well, why don’t you just tell me what’s on your mind so I can deal with it,” said Betty.

    Read more

  • My Origin Story

    We’ve seen you coming for a long time now. We cast the calling spell. We been waiting for you.” said Florie.

    Read more


  • Hall Pass

    The state took over our school and taught me how to teach the way they wanted me to. They didn’t demand I command a hundred seat auditorium, they were more concerned that I orchestrate three classes in one classroom. They noticed I had leadership skills. They didn’t say        whether they were good…

  • Fashion Emergency

    I had on boots, leggings, a sweater dress, and vintage jewelry. The brooch was a stone blue, grey, and weird white that went perfectly with the black of the dress. It had matching clip earrings that were so perfectly cut they glistened in the dark. They were even comfortable to wear. I had lost twenty…

  • Parable of the Long Spoons

    Parable of the long spoons Hell is where the spoons are so long you can’t feed yourself the luscious food on the table. Heaven is where the spoons are the same size as the ones in Hell, but everyone is willing to feed you. I hope there’s a special place in Heaven for those who…

  • A Prayer for School

    Dear Lord, Take the thunderstorm out of my brain when my lightning temper flares. Let my past stop ruling my head and teach me silent grace. Teach me to accept my students as humans with quirks, and humor,  not the hateful banshees I see them as. Lead me to peace and joy with them rather…

  • Patience of the trees

    I grew up on a dirt road with quiet skies and darkened rooms where there was one light in the center of the room and two table lamps, a luxury beside a rocking chair and one end of the couch for reading. The kitchens had a dim bulb in the middle as did the bedrooms.…