© irene waters 2015
“I failed my uni exams” Steven smiled at his client.
“I failed my uni exams and lost the client” Steven smiled at his boss.
“I’ve been fired because I failed my uni exams and lost the client” Steven smiled at his wife.
“Jenny’s left me because I was fired, failed my uni exams and lost the client” Steven smiled at his mother.
“So why are you smiling?”
“My other test results came back today. Clear. No abnormalities. I can again see the dew on the rose petals and relish the sun. The fear is gone. I’m alive and I’m rejoicing.”
In response to Charli’s prompt:
June 3, 2015 prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes a rose. It can be straight-forward, romantic, funny. What is your rose today and what is its story? Who craves the rose or shrinks away? Why? Let the prompt fully bloom in your imagination.
Respond by June 9, 2015 to be included in the weekly compilation.Rules are here. All writers are welcome!
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) 
This is so neat. Well done.
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Thank you Tish. I was hoping the repetition would work. 🙂
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Love this! Beautifully done, showing how our priorities shift. ❤
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Yes you have to keep in sight what is important. Mind you I would be a bit upset if my husband left me no matter how happy everything had made me feel.
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Great story. He has got his priorities right.
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Yes I think it does make you rethink life and work out what is important. 🙂
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Love the smile on what I think is a papier-mache horse? (Is this the same one from the bed long ago?)
Not to mention Steven’s enduring smile – his health is obviously more important than everything else! I hope he can keep smiling when the realization of what else he has lost sinks in!
Great flash! And an interesting response to the rose prompt – seeing the dew on rose petals – looking for the good in the everyday – the silver lining in each cloud. Well done! 🙂
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Thanks Norah. It is a camel and yes it did feature some time back in what context I can’t remember.
Yes I hope that immediate elation doesn’t deflate and send him to the depths. I think losing his wife could be a bit depressing. I know I’d be depressed if Roger walked out. But the prompt was a rose for the day and this day Steve was elated.
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Oops! A camel. Sorry. 🙂
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Gosh I don’t expect you to remember. I can’t even remember what I posted him for but he does have a great smile.
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He does! 🙂
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Cocky attitude or positive outlook? Either way Steven will succeed because the failure doesn’t matter to him. Well done, Irene.
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Thanks Ann. Yes I think he will survive this and go on to bigger and better with his priorities tucked in the right place.
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We recently experienced that kind of relief that has Steve smiling! Kate’s newest grandchild tested positive (twice) for cystic fibrosis. The day I arrived the parents returned from a trip to the specialists (three hours away) for more conclusive tests. The doctor said he’s never seen negative results after two positives. Well, he has now! The baby is a carrier but she does not have the diseases. We were all smiling crazily yesterday upon hearing that news. I’m learning how focused we become on simply living when confronted with dying. Thank you for your poignant flash with a shade of your wry humor!
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I couldn’t have heard better news than that which you and Kate’s family received. I can see those ear to ear smiles and they have given me a smile.
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Visible relief and Kate got to hear it on a good day!
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I understand Steven’s joy and relief. It would be a hard thing for me to cope with if I were to lose my sight. Well done. 🙂
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Thanks Rob. I agree having previously had a temporary experience of being sightless.
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This certainly was a very provocative and unusual response to the prompt! It was amazingly inventive and creative – and the ending – well, it speaks volumes – about the human condition and the ability to see true value and beauty and meaning in life. Great job 😀
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Thanks very much MJ. Yes sometimes we get our priorities all wrong.
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