Big Check & Book Gift (6SS)

https://girlieontheedge1.wordpress.com/2026/01/28/its-thursdays-six-sentence-story-blog-hop-56/

It’s amazing how a bad day can turn around as soon I as grab my clipboard and start numbering the lined notebook paper 1-6…where a story’s about to happen!  Our 5-Star host, Denise, never fails to deliver a weekly prompt word filled to the brim with creative potential.  So if you need something to lift those winter blues, I recommend you click her link above, get the info you need, and WRITE.  Then join all the fine authors for their big reveals by week’s end.  Don’t just sit there, do it!😊  The prompt is CHECK!

☑🎨🖼📚❣

Coming back from the frost-covered mailbox, Lorelei shivered as she entered Judd’s studio–“warm me up and I’ll let you have this ivory vellum envelope that smells like a Big check,” she teased.

He pulled her close, rubbed her back and chided gently, “you know–you could wear that sweater I gave you for Christmas”; smiling, he then drew out a thank you note and check, payment for a commisioned painting he’d done two months before.

“Now you can buy me another sweater,” she whispered, planting a kiss on his gray temple– “and you’d best change into something not paint-spattered before Pastor Richard gets here–dinner’s in an hour.”

The pastor wore a shy smile as Judd opened the door, welcoming him–the two had exchanged only brief small talk, infrequently (Judd mainly served as Lorelei’s chauffeur on Sunday mornings).

Her greeting was effusive: “come in, Pastor! hope you’re hungry”, to which he responded, “I am indeed–and please call me Richard.”

Oh my! you brought your book!” she exclaimed, and he handed it to her, his cheeks pink…whether from winter chill or bashfulness; “our friend at the library told me Judd’s been asking for it a couple times a month”, he said–“so, as it seemed an urgent request, I thought it might substitute for a potentially bad choice of wine.”

~ Cale

 

The Letter…

I’ve combined Di’s 3TC (three things challenge) with Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt, “Letter” ~ their links are at end of poem.

Di’s prompt words are:  Youth, Yesterday, Yonder

💘💌💘

Since youth, her heart

had penned this letter…

living cossetted

in imaginary world

she possessed no skills

for reality’s requirements–

At 30 she remained

naive…lacking good

sense she followed

her heart instead

of guarding it

and thus set her course

certain that with yesterdays

long passed, “he” would

receive her with love equal

to hers, and make invitation…

But his kind reply did not–

Yonder, all dreams fled

out of reach forever–

~ Cale

https://sammiscribbles.wordpress.com/2026/01/24/weekend-writing-prompt-452-letter/

https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/2026/01/25/three-things-challenge-mm315/

Altruism ~ JusJoJan

https://lindaghill.com/2026/01/23/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-23rd-2026/

FROM LINDA:

Hi there! How are you? I’m here with our 23rd daily prompt for Just Jot it January 2026. Our prompt today is brought to us by Rohini. Thank you, Rohini! Please be sure to visit Rohini’s blog to read their posts and say hello. 

Your prompt for JusJoJan January 23rd, 2026 is “altruism.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

💖🌞💖

The thought which arrived during my pondering may not be exactly what altruism means, but it might be one aspect of it. 

I’m thinking a person who is truly altruistic will neither be a braggart, nor one who hides Light under a bushel…if it’s a selfless generous deed or gift, they won’t be concerned about receiving recognition.  That person will “just do it” and enjoy the glow of satisfaction within, because it’s a privilege and honor to be blessed to be a blessing.

This is what I strive for, and it possibly benefits me more than those I’m intent on blessing.😊

~ Cale

No Fishing (6-Sentence Story)

https://girlieontheedge1.wordpress.com/2026/01/21/its-thursdays-six-sentence-story-blog-hop-55/

If the day comes when I can only do one prompt, Six-Sentence-Story will be my hands-down choice.

This week our host, Denise, offers the prompt word FISH…a bit of a challenge, but not for long!  Click the link above to get all the information you need to join a fine group of writers, and go for it😊

🐟🐟🐟

Judd wandered into the kitchen for a 2nd cup of coffee, kissed his wife and studied her never-changing beauty before asking, “what are you serving the good reverend for dinner tonight?”

“He doesn’t go by ‘reverend’, it’s ‘Pastor Richard’–and I’m thinking my standby, lasagna…either that, or the salmon in the freezer–what say you?”

“Your lasagna is always my top choice, and eagerly received by those who’ve shared our table–salmon is just fish with a lively complexion”, he quipped.

She laughed lightly, and inquired whether he’d be going to the monthly library meeting–if so, would he check again to see if Richard’s book had been added to the acquisitions.

“I am–and I will, Love”; he paused, chose his tone and words carefully: “if his book isn’t available, it may be best that you don’t fish around for details over dinner–he might not be comfortable with your level of curiosity about his thorny introduction to our neighboring hamlet’s history.”

She frowned at what seemed his (annoying) paternal instruction; “all writers like to talk about their books…I won’t be rudely inquisitive–simply showing interest; don’t you want to know if it’s a factual biography, or fictionalized account of his first experiences in Birchwick’s Cliff…the eerie details of multiple mysteries, and how he lived to tell and had courage to make his home there…”–to which Judd gently insisted, “no bald-face-naked fishing”.

~ Cale

May-December Attraction

It was mutually alluring

the magnetic pull between

film-star handsome

older man, and younger

woman of head-snapping

beauty…

wherever they went people

stared, sometimes with smiles

of subtle envy–

Like soldered hearts

the match continued

through “better or worse”

they clung to each other

when Life’s sands shifted…

happy, content, grateful

in love…

And when Time

took the shine off

youthful good looks

they refused to mourn–

Decades after they’d maried

they laughed…thinking

their age difference

would have raised

eyebrows if reversed…

strangers’ admiring

glances turning aghast

if they mistook her

for his mother ~ Cale

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2026/01/15/ragtag-daily-prompt-thursday-alluring/

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2026/01/15/reverse/

To Sail, To Love

Hello, friendly bloggers–I hope you’re in fine spirits.  I bring you another poem from Hagar😊 ~ Cale

~💙~

He liked boats, craved sailing

it fed him the way his work did–

She only adored the water’s

shimmer, its varying color…

and standing on the shore

where wind carried

salted fragrance and

directed waves

as ballet–but didn’t

toss her where she

might not return…

She could see him

not too far distant

she waved

he waved to her…

as long as she kept

his boat in view

he was certain

to come back to her–

he craved sailing

she craved him more

https://thedailyspur.wordpress.com/2026/01/14/sail-2/