Poetry ~ Cabbage After Christmas

Oh yes, it’s that time again–more 6-sentence stories rolling in from all parts: east & west, north & south!  Get ’em while they’re hot!  Every week our hostess with the mostest, Denise, serves up a fine prompt word, and away we go…frantically carving a story which is only allowed 6 sentences (thus, many of us are grateful for the grace of St Denise…if our sentences “run-on” long, she doesn’t use a red pencil to discipline us).

Here’s the link for info, and to meet the crowd of talented writers–just do it–you, too, can write 6 sentences!  The prompt this week is FLOAT!

https://girlieontheedge1.wordpress.com/2026/03/11/its-thursdays-six-sentence-story-blog-hop-62/

~♥~

“I’m thinking of changing my name,” Lorelei said, refilling Judd’s coffee cup–he looked at her, wondering what could possibly come next; she smiled like the Cheshire cat and he asked innocently, “first or last”—which made her giggle, “first, silly–remember that guy who sat next to me in English class, never really talked to me, but called me ‘Zelda’–I like the sound…like Zelda Fitzgerald.”

Judd aligned his thoughts carefully; he vaguely recalled the story about her classmate (whom he would never have met, as he was 20 yrs their senior)–a lad naturally smitten with her, but oddly reticent.

“Love, Zelda Fitzgerald was a very unhappy woman–not a good name–Lorelei is the one dearest to my heart, keep it”; a last swallow of coffee, and he stood–“I’ll be back soon, just a couple errands”; he kissed her twice and was out the door before she could request his itinerary.

~~~~~

Richard greeted him warmly at the church office door–“hey, Judd–what brings you to church on a weekday?”–and nodded when Judd asked if he had time to talk.

Judd sat in the offered chair, rubbed the furrows from his brow and began telling the pastor some of his and Lorelei’s history, followed by their recent drive to the entrance of Birchwick Cliff–the warning signs, his concerns about the town’s backstory, Lorelei’s vulnerabilities and fascination with Richard’s experiences; when he paused, sighing, Richard leaned forward to speak:  “Judd, the sensationalism surrounding the town is foolishness and inaccurate–there was no cult behind the misfortunes I wrote about; people who lived there, and others, got caught up in their own suspicions and fears–it can happen in any small town.

“Now, let me float a solution past you: I’d be happy to give you and Lorelei a personal tour, and answer any questions–I’m an open book; there are no ghosts, nor inherent evils–and I’ll check out those signs at the gate…they must be left over from last Halloween’s festivities–if your schedule’s fairly open we can set a date, and lunch is on me.”

~ Cale