© sandra crook
Despite the cold Juanita rose early. Dawn, her favourite time of day, filled her with hope and joy. She ran to the bridge and stopped. It was dangerous to go further. Later in the day the sound of artillery fire would sound beyond the trees. The conflict had cut off transport routes and communications leaving her village without supplies. They grew what they could in the frosty ground. Hunger and cold had killed many this winter. The cycle of life. She hoped he’d come out of the trees. She wantonly craved to do her bit to keep the cycle unbroken.
In response to Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers and the photo prompt by Sandra Crook
About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Moving, Irene. I often wonder what people isolated by war do without the basic necessities of life. Thank heavens for generous countries around the world.
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It is an unimaginable situation living in a war zone and lucky we have aid organisations and the United Nations that help. It would be lovely to have a world of peace rather than conflict.
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Oooo…who is he?
Don’t tell me!
Let my imagination imagine :))))
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I won’t tell you. Your imagination might be better than mine and then you’d be disappointed. Either way it’s either love or lust.
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I’m assuming this man in the trees is her lover? Great story!
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Yes he is. Glad you enjoyed it.
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That’s an epic short story with so much to imagine and hope for.
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You can get a lot into 100 words as you know.
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I hope he did come out of the woods…
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I hope so too.
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I love how it isn’t food she’s thinking of. Nice story.
Claire
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Thanks Claire. Yes she has other thoughts on her mind. You have to have something to look forward to in those circumstances (in fact in any circumstances).
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Dear Irene,
And that is why the world is overpopulated.
Great story and an excellent sketch of human nature at its best. have to love it.
Aloha,
Doug
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LOL. Thanks for your comment. Cheers Irene
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Dear Irene,
Doing her bit should warm things up for a little while. 😉 Hope he comes out of the trees soon. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle, The frost might be putting him off the thought of warming things up. Thanks
Cheers Irene
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I just came back from the Morgan Library seeing their Lincoln exhibition so this feels very timely. Love the word artillery. Saw cannons and muskets, sabers and men in gray and blue. The word village provoked another memory of living in Middle Village, Queens during the terrorizing of the summer of Sam when young couples were being watched then killed. Prose, you have to appreciate what it brings up. Thanks for adding to my day. Susannah
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I am thrilled that my 100 words bought so many of your memories to mind and fortuitous that you read it so soon after you had seen the Lincoln exhibition. I have to admit that I didn’t know about the summer of Sam (at that time I think I was much more interested in boys and having a good time than reading the papers and the books and film seemed to have passed me by). I’ve just had a fascinating read of David Berkowitz’s bio and I can understand the terror that must have been felt in New York at the time.
I too find prose allows the imagination to go where it wants. This I find missing when you watch films and television – you are taken to where they want you to be.
Thanks for stopping by.Cheers Irene
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grim but great
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Much appreciated. Pleasure can be found in difficult circumstances.
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A nice story, despite the background of war – you’ve shown the cycle of life, as you say, and it’s good that they’re playing a part in that.
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Thanks Margaret. With some enjoyment I feel.
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You painted a nice picture here. I hope her lover shows up.
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It might be too frosty for him…
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i hope he has a lot of energy left to do her bidding. 🙂
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She’s just hoping the frost doesn’t put him off. 🙂
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Great use of the prompt, nourishing the body and the soul is important for surmounting ice and snow. Nicely done 🙂
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Thanks Joanna. Plus it keeps you warm
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Somehow life goes on.. even when it hangs by a thread…
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People do what they do to survive – not only themselves but to ensure their are future generations.
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