“Have you told your parents?” she asked, toying with the straw in her milkshake.
He shook his head. “Not yet.”
She sighed. “How long are you going to keep putting it off?”
“I promise, I will tell them—when the time’s right.”
“And when will that be?”
“I don’t know. My parents are old fashioned…”
“So, they won’t accept me because I’m Japanese. I’m American too.”
“They’re not racist, it’s just…”
“It’s just what?”
“They don’t believe in races mixing.”
“That’s racist.”
“Look, today’s the Fourth of July. Let’s just celebrate.”
She stood up. “You can celebrate. I’m leaving.”
“Tomika!”
100 Words
This was written for the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields For more details, visit Here. To read other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit Here.
I wish everyone in America and Americans living abroad a Happy Fourth of July!
It’s our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. We decided would celebrate it in the comfort of our home. So, after eating Thai food delivered at our door we drank champagne. A single red rose lay between us on the bed.
“Happy anniversary,” Martin says as he holds my hand. “Thank you for the best twenty- five years of my life.”
I smile as I raise my glass. “Here’s to another twenty-five years.”
We toast. I have a lot to be thankful for. God has blessed me with a wonderful man. We don’t have any kids but we have each other. He’s my world and I am his. Together, we have chartered calm and rough waters but through it all, our love, marriage and faith have grown stronger. Tonight, we are celebrating twenty-five years of wedded bliss.
This was written for the Ragtag Daily Prompt for today’s prompt, Farm. If you’re interested in participating, click HERE for more information.
This was the tree where David and I met after school. He was the sweetest boy I ever knew and I always imagined that one day we would get married and have lots of children. It never occurred to me that laws would soon be put in place to make relationships such as ours illegal.
As soon as school was let out, I ran to the tree and he would be waiting for me. He was so tall and handsome with thick black hair and gentle brown eyes. We would hold hands and kiss but that was as far as things went. We would sit under the tree and talk for hours. Parting from him was always hard. I always willed the hours because I couldn’t wait to see him again.
Then one day, I showed up and for the first time he wasn’t there. I waited for hours but he never came. I was understandably frantic. After several days went by and still no sign of him, I decided to go by his father’s shop and was appalled to see the word, “Jude” painted across the window and the star of David. The shop was empty. I ran home and asked my father what had happened to David. My father sat me down and explained to me that the Germans had moved the Jews to the Ghetto. I learned that they were banned from from entering certain streets, squares, parks, woods and other public places. That meant that David and I couldn’t meet by the tree anymore. It was in the woods. David couldn’t go to my brother’s school any more.
After my father finished telling me everything he knew, I went to my room where I cried and cried. David who was forced to live like an animal because of deeply rooted hatred. My world had become a dark and ugly place of intolerance and ignorance. I wanted so desperately to see him but it was out of the question. My father told me it was best to forget about David. There was no future for us. He was a Jew.
I knew that I would never forget David. I loved him. He was my first and only love. And I never gave up hope that we would be together again–not even when I learned that the Jews had been deported to concentration camps. No one was willing to take them in and for some Jews, going into hiding would break up their families and that was unthinkable, especially those who with children.
The years went by, the war raged on and I became a nurse. My father died of a heart-attack a couple of days after his fiftieth wedding anniversary. Only my mother and I were left. My brother was killed years ago after he was arrested for being a part of a resistance movement against the Nazi Regime. My parents were devastated but I was proud of him for fighting against evil. I only wish I had the guts to do something too. Instead I prayed that David and his family would somehow survive and that when the war was over I would see him again.
Well, the war is over and I’m the only surviving member of my family. My mother died from a stroke a month ago. I buried her next to my father.
Tomorrow is my birthday but I have no one special to celebrate it with. It’s a nice afternoon so I decided to go for a walk in the park. I head straight for the tree. A man stood there with his back to me. He was wearing a hat and a trench coat. Something about him looked familiar. My heart began to beat faster. I could feel the color drain from my cheeks. “David?” My voice was barely above a whisper and yet he heard me.
He turned around slowly. “Ingrid.” He removed his hat and stepped forward.
“David!” I cried again and then we were in each other’s arms, laughing, crying and kissing. I don’t know how long we did that and I didn’t care. All I knew was that David, my David was alive. He had survived the ghetto, the camp and the war.
I was so engrossed in the article I was reading on my laptop that I didn’t even notice that Marcia had walked into my office. I looked up when she tapped on the door frame. She was smiling broadly. “It’s April 12 today,” she said.
I stared at her blankly. She looked great as usual. I wonder if she knows that I have a “thing” for her.
She came over to my desk. “Today is my tenth anniversary with the company,” she said. “Didn’t you read my email?”
“No, I didn’t. Sorry,” I mumbled as I quickly pulled up my emails and sure enough, there was an unopened one from her. It wasn’t there before or I would have definitely opened it. I opened it and read it. It said, Guess what, Ramesh. Today’s my tenth anniversary with Catapult. To celebrate I was wondering if you would like to join me for free barbecue lunch at Joe’s right down the street?
My heart was beating fast with excitement now. She wanted to celebrate her anniversary with me. I looked up at her. “Sure, I’d love to join you,” I said, eagerly.
She smiled, making my heart skip a beat. “Great. We’ll leave at twelve-fifteen and get there for Twelve-thirty. I’ll come and get you.”
I smiled and nodded. After she left my office, I turned my attention back to the article I was reading but couldn’t concentrate. I got up from my desk and walked over to the window.
As I looked down at the busy street below, I thought about the times when I wanted to ask Marcia out but was too chicken to do. I had no idea how she felt about me. I didn’t know if she would be interested in going out with me. I’m floored by the fact that she asked me out. The thought scared and excited me at the same time. I didn’t want to get my hopes up. Maybe this was just what it was–I was going for a free barbecue lunch with a co-worker and nothing more. Still, the way she looked at me when she was standing in front of my desk and the fact that she came to my office when she didn’t receive a reply to her email encouraged me.
I glanced at my watch. Two hours to go. I hope they go by quickly. I was anxious to leave my office and step out into the bright sunshine. It was a beautiful day, not your typical spring day, mind you, it was mild. The weather was in double digits.
I returned to my desk and tried to get some work done. I will finish reading the article another time.
I was ready when she popped by my office and as I followed her to the elevators, I felt like I was on my first date with a pretty girl whom I had a major crush on. I was nervous and prayed that I wouldn’t make a fool of myself. I tried not to stare at her when we were in the elevator but it was hard not to. She looked amazing in the sleeveless dress which was knee length, revealing very long and shapely calves. Her thick curly hair fell in unruly waves about her shoulders. I was tempted to touch them but I kept my hands to myself.
I felt a little hot in my jacket but I wanted to look presentable. It was a pleasant walk to the restaurant which was filled but we were able to get a table by the window. Over mouthwatering beef and lamb ribs we talked animatedly about a lot of things. We had such fun getting to know each other better and sharing funny stories about family and friends. I was sorry when it was time to head back to the office.
We were alone in the elevator this time. I turned to her. This was my chance. “Marcia, thank you for inviting me to lunch. I had a great time. If you’re not busy tomorrow evening, I was hoping that you would have dinner with me.”
She smiled. “I thought you’d never ask,” she teased. “Of course, I’d love to.”
My chest swelled and as we exited the elevator and I walked to my office, there was a little spring in my step. I couldn’t wait for tomorrow evening to come.
This was written for the Ragtag Daily Prompt for today’s prompt, April. If you’re interested in participating, click HERE for more information.
Young and sassy are the words my husband use to describe me. We are opposites. He’s an introvert and I’m an extrovert. He’s in his mid-fifties with grey sideburns but he still has the body and libido of a much younger man. I’m in my late twenties and I’m trying to keep up with him.
We met last year when a mutual friend invited a group of people to Maui for a week of sun and fun. Lorenzo didn’t go with anyone and nor did I. We were immediately attracted to each other and for the rest of the vacation, we were inseparable.
A year and four months later, we are newlyweds. For our honeymoon we went on a 12-day Mediterranean cruise which ended in Venice, the city of love. After we spent two days there, we headed to Milan to visit his family. We figured we might as well since we were in Italy.
I must say that although I half-expected it, it still came as a bitter disappointment when his parents made it painfully obvious that they didn’t approve of me. No doubt my color had more to do with it than my age. His teenage children from his previous marriage were polite but I could tell that they didn’t approve either. Being married to me meant that their father wasn’t going to return to Milan or reconcile with their mother.
I feel sorry for them. When my parents divorced and my father remarried, I was upset. I wasn’t nice to my step-mother, Violet because she ruined all chances of my parents getting back together. It took years for me to get over that disappointment and be civil to Violet. Now, she and I are friends. And I can see how happy she makes my father. I hope that one of these days, Lorenzo’s children will come around too. He’s the love of my life and his happiness means the world to me.
Lorenzo and I ended up spending only two days in Milan and then we were off to Rome. I loved Rome–the people, the food and the piazzas. On our last night, we visited Piazza Navona and enjoyed a couple of gelato as we admired Bernini’s perfectly lit Fountain of the Four Rivers.
Lorenzo and I were sorry to leave Italy but we were excited about beginning our life as a married couple and moving into our new home overlooking Central Park. It took a while for me to get back into a routine because of jet-lag.
Ten weeks have passed since our honeymoon and I’m standing in front of my enormous closet, looking at the designer clothes, bags and shoes I brought back from Milan and Rome. As I look through the outfits a smile tugs at my lips. I can’t wait to see Lorenzo’s face when I tell him the good news tonight over a home cooked dinner. We have two wonderful reasons to celebrate.
That’s right. We’re going to have twins. Whether they are boys or girls or one of each, we won’t know for some time or maybe, we’ll decide to wait to find out. Already, I’m making plans to turn the extra bedroom into a nursery and I’m just dying to go shopping for the babies.
The chiming of the clock reminds me that I have to get dinner ready. I close the closet doors and leave the bedroom. I’m going to make sure that tonight is a very special night for Lorenzo.
I’ve been learning to cook Italian dishes thanks to Jamie Oliver. I’m going to make tasty tuna meatballs with pasta and Caesar salad. And for desert, what else but his favorite–pistachio gelato from our favorite neighborhood gelato place.
After dinner and when we’re relaxing in the living-room, then I will tell him that we’re going to have twins. And then, we celebrate with a bottle of Martinelli’s Gold Medal non-alcoholic Sparkling Cider.
This was written for the Ragtag Daily Prompt for Sunday’s word: closetand Monday’s word: jet. If you’re interested in participating, click HERE for more information.
The atmosphere is festive as tourists and locals celebrate Dasara, the autumnal equinox festival and public holiday. It’s the day in the Hindu legends when the goddess Chamundeshwari killed the demon Mahishasura and good triumphed over evil. Dasara is observed through special prayer meetings and food offerings to the gods at home or in temples, outdoor fairs, large parades and bonfires in the evening.
I watch my husband and our children as they celebrate. One day, I will have victory over him too.
83 Words
Photo by Sylvester Dsouza
This is for the Weekend Writing Prompt by Sammi Cox. For instructions, click HERE.
He remembered the day he proposed to her as if it happened just yesterday. She was waiting for him on the train tracks where they met one fine summer day. As he approached, holding the wild flowers behind his back, she turned and smiled that smile that melted his heart. She looked beautiful in the sundress and her hair fell in thick, dark tresses down her back.
Slowly, his heart racing, he walked over to her. Still holding the flowers behind his back, he leaned down and kissed her. Then, he held out the flowers. “Happy birthday, Emily Rose.”
Her eyes lit up and she took them. “Thank you,” she exclaimed, reaching up to kiss him in delight. She breathed in the sweet, fresh fragrance of the flowers. “They are beautiful.”
“I have something else for you,” he said. He reached into his back pants pocket and kneeling down on the dry leaves in between the tracks, he produced a red, velvet box and opened it. He saw her eyes widen. “Emily Rose, I have loved you since we were children but that love changed to what it is now. You are the love of my life–my soulmate. You are my heaven on earth. When I look at you, I am amazed not only because you are the most beautiful girl I know but because everything I have ever wanted or dreamed is right in front of me. When I look at you, I believe that God really loves me because He blessed me with you. I want to spend the rest of my life loving and taking care of you. Emily Rose Carter, will you make me the happiest man on the planet by saying that you will marry me?”
Emily was crying now. In between sobs, she managed to gasp, “Yes, I will marry you.”
After he slipped the ring on her finger, he stood up and picking her up, he swung her around, making her laugh before setting her back down on her feet. He cupped her face and kissed her for several minutes. “Let’s celebrate over dinner,” he murmured after raising his head to gaze down into her radiant, tear streaked face. She nodded and they walked, arms wrapped around each other to their favorite eatery. It was a balmy afternoon.
Over dinner, they planned the wedding which they wanted to take place as soon as possible. They didn’t want a long engagement. They decided to have a fall wedding which was about three months away. Arrangements were made for a vintage country wedding in a church hall. The weeks went by quickly and the day which seemed a long way off was nigh. Then, the unthinkable happened…
Emily and her roommate, Rita were driving home from Emily’s bridal shower when a car ran a red light and slammed into the passenger-side of the car. Emily died at the scene but Rose was taken to the hospital in critical condition. When he heard the news, he was devastated, inconsolable and he lashed out at God. Emily was only twenty-five–in the prime of her life and looking forward to their future together. How could God have allowed this tragedy to happen?
It was the first day of Fall, just a couple of days before what would have been their wedding ceremony, was Emily’s funeral instead. He sat there, stone faced still bitter but no longer angry with God. He had reached the place where he could seek God in prayer and ask him to help him with his anger.
After the funeral, he went home where he remained until the next day when he forced himself to get up and go to work. He went through the day like an automaton, trying to keep it together but a couple of times, he had to go to the washroom and pull himself together as waves of emotions swept over him. He missed her so much. How was he going to function without her? Her beautiful, expressive face filled his thoughts and her winsome smile tugged at his heart strings, making him ache for her.
It was during one of these meltdown moments that he decided that he had to leave New York and move to another state where he wouldn’t be reminded everyday of his loss. It took months for him to get everything sorted out and before he left for Seattle, he visited Emily’s grave where he left fresh wild flowers.
Moving to Seattle was the best decision he made, although, it still took five years for him to recover from his grief. Teaching at the university, going to church and making new friends helped tremendously. His friends invited him out to different venues and he went. It was better than being cooped up in his apartment. However, he made it clear to them that he didn’t want to get fixed up with anyone. The idea of dating didn’t appeal to him. He was quite content to be single.
They say love finds you when you’re not looking. And it did one afternoon when he was walking in the park. It was a pleasant day. The sun was high in the cloudless sky and there was a slight breeze. He went to the lawn flanked by trees and sat on the bench. There was a group of young people playing Frisbee and he watched them. They seemed to be having a great time.
The Frisbee landed close to where he was sitting and one of the young women ran over to get it. She looked to be about twenty or twenty-one–attractive with long chestnut hair which streamed behind her as she ran towards him. She was dressed in a white tee shirt and denim shorts, exposing long defined legs. It was obvious that she worked out.
She stooped down and picked up the Frisbee. When she straightened up, she paused. For several minutes she just stood there, staring at him, making him uncomfortable and then, she approached him, an inquiring look on her face. When she stood in front of him, she asked, “Daniel Miller?”
He nodded. “Yes. Have we met before?” This close, she looked vaguely familiar now.
She nodded. “Yes. We met at my brother’s barbecue.”
“What’s your brother’s name?”
“Mark Brown. I’m his sister, Cheryl.” Just then her friends started yelling and waving.
“Oh, yes. I remember now. You were in charge of the bean darts.”
She laughed. “Yes, I was. And you got the highest score.”
“I got lots of practice from throwing darts. Um, I think your friends are trying to get your attention.” They were yelling and waving.
She looked over at them and then back at him. “I’ll be right back,” she said before bounding off.
He watched as she gave the Frisbee to one of the guys, say something to the group before walking away. It seemed that Cheryl would rather talk to him than continue playing Frisbee with her friends and for some reason which he couldn’t quite understand, that pleased him immensely. When she sat down, he asked, “Are you attending university?”
“Yes, Seattle Pacific University.”
“How long have you been attending there?”
“This coming semester will be my second year.”
“What are you studying?”
“Applied Human Biology. I’ve always wanted to find out how the human body works and why it works the way it does. Plus, I’m thinking of doing a therapy doctoral degree program after I graduate.”
“It sounds like you have your future well planned.”
“Yes, as far as my academic future is concerned. When it comes to my personal life, well, that’s a different story. What about you? What line of work are you in?”
“I’m a director of Communications and Marketing at Companier.”
“You’re from New York,” she remarked suddenly, startling him. “Sorry, don’t mean to be nosy. It’s just that I recognize the accent.”
“You’re right. I’m from New York. I moved here to Seattle almost six years ago.”
“How do you like it here?”
“I like its natural beauty, mild winters and the people. I have more friends here than I know what to do with.”
She smiled. “All very good reasons,” she said. “And I heard that it’s cheaper living here than in New York and other cities.”
He smiled. “That’s true.”
“Are you doing anything later?” she asked.
He shook his head.
“My friends and I are going to the Amusement Center to play their Ultimate Real Life Escape Games. This is my first time. It’s supposed to be a lot of fun. You get to solve real puzzles. Afterwards, we’ll grab a bite to eat. Why don’t you come with us?”
The idea of hanging out with a group of university students, most of them probably ten years his junior, didn’t appeal to him but he wanted to see her again. He enjoyed talking with her. She was so easygoing and he felt completely relaxed with her. “All right,” he said.
She looked pleased. “Great. We’ll be there for seven. I’ll wait outside for you.”
“I’ll be there.”
They talked for a while longer and then she returned to her friends. Shortly afterwards, they left the park. As he watched them go, he felt a flutter of excitement in his stomach when he thought about seeing her again that evening.
True to her word she was waiting for him and he couldn’t prevent the smile from spreading across his face as he quickly closed the distance between them. She looked great in a floral top and jeans complete with low heel sandals. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, making her look even younger. Her face lit up when she saw him and grabbing his hand, she took him inside to meet her friends. They turned out to be a rather nice bunch and he enjoyed interacting with them.
There were two games and they chose the Bourne Mission. The object of the game was to recover the documents and get out of the abandoned bunker undetected. No one should know you were ever here and if you got caught, there was no rescue mission. They had a blast even though they fell short of completing the mission. They made plans to try the Bio-Hazard Room the next time. They went to a family run Greek restaurant nearby where they enjoyed generous portions of delicious food. Lively conversation and laughter flowed late into the night.
Daniel offered to take Cheryl home and she readily accepted. On the way over to her apartment building, they talked animatedly about different things and by the time he walked her to her door, they had arranged to see each other the following day. It was a beautiful sunny day so they decided to go to Woodland Park Zoo where they spent the entire day. They bought food from the food truck and then went for a walk in the Rose Garden. They lingered at the Reflecting Pool and Sculptural Fountain. It was sunset by the time they left.
As they stood outside of her apartment, he knew that he was ready to be in a relationship again. “Have dinner with me tomorrow,” he said and she nodded. He gently brushed her cheek with his knuckles before he walked away. They began dating.
One evening, they took the ferry to Whidbey Island where they planned to have dinner. As they stood on the Deception Pass Bridge as it ran suspended over the swirling water, Daniel turned to Cheryl. He cupped her face between his hands and gazed down into her face. “Before meeting you, I never thought that I could ever fall in love again,” he said huskily. “We may not be each other’s first love but I want to be your last and forever love.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. “You are my first love,” she told him. “And my last and forever.”
“I love you, Cheryl,” he whispered.
“I love you too, Daniel.”
He smiled slightly before he lowered his head and kissed her. When their lips touched, he felt a fire stir deep inside him. He felt alive again. He had heard about people feeling fireworks when they kissed that special someone but when he kissed Cheryl, her lips set his whole heart on fire.
That night over dinner, he asked her to marry him. Five months later, they got married in the Woodland Rose Garden witnessed by family and friends. As he gazed into her shining eyes as they danced their first dance, thinking how true the words, God wants to restore everything that’s been stolen from your life. He wants to heal every hurt and every pain. It took five years but God had restored his life and now he was experiencing love and inexpressible joy once again. Very few people could say that they were twice blessed but he was–first with Emily Rose and now with Cheryl.
