Light Show
Deborah stopped half way up the stairs. The chandelier sent shards of light splashing all over the walls and ceiling. It was a light show she’d seen all her life. In the center of the cheerful display, the glare from a window revealed a form that left her cold. Her niece, dead now for nearly ten years.
“Mom? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing Dear,” she told her son. “Nothing at all.”
If she told him, he’d have her locked up some place where everyone would try to convince her she was crazy just like before. Better just keep it to herself.
The Challenge: Write a story in 100 words or less
The Hub: Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
The Photo Credit: Roger Bultot
Mirror Rock Cave
At this point our group split up. About half flew home. The rest of us continued on to Flores Island for an extra week of exploring.
We flew in, arriving mid-day. On the way from the airport to our hotel we stopped off at Mirror Rock Cave for a little light spelunking.
We were very lucky to do it during the dry season. On the walk in from the parking area to the cave you could easily see how the whole area might be boggy during the rainy season. They typically get 80 centimeters of rain per year. As it was, we encountered only a handful or mosquitoes.
There are thick groves of bamboo in the area. It’s considered particularly good bamboo because it is so solid that it can be made into furniture. Normally it would for for the equivalent of $3 for 20 meters. This particular grove belongs to the government and is not taken.
Suzie’s House 475 : Working vs Not Working
“It’s jarring.” Miranda’s co-worker stooped to see what was on her screen.
“Jarring’s not bad. Necessarily.” She sounded too hopeful even in her own ears.
“You should just use the canned music. It’s cheaper anyway, isn’t it?” The guy gave her a pat on the shoulder before exiting her cubicle.
Offerings
When we got on the boat to visit Trunyan Village and the Bali Aga Cemetery there were a couple of trays of offerings in the middle of the walk way. When we came back they had accumulated, spilled down the steps, and crept out onto the dock.
Quick Decision
Jane tiptoed away from the rest of the tour group. She should have used the bathroom at the previous stop. Now, if she wanted to go, she would either have to announce the need to everyone in the group, hold it on the bus while they rattled over who knew what kinds of roads, or help herself to the nice family’s commode. She considered the choice obvious.
But where would the facilities be? She finally found a tiled room that must be it, though there was no running water. She lifted the lid of what might be the toilet. Corn.
“Hurry up, Jane. It’s time to get on the bus!”
The Challenge: Write a story in 100 words or less
The Hub: Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
The Photo Credit: Shaktiki Sharma
Accommodations
All the places we stayed in Indonesia were quit grand. Marble floors were common. The beds were all very comfortable. Generally we each had our own double or even queen sized. Although I struggled with it, I could be sure every place offered wireless. They didn’t even charge extra for it. Every place offered some kind of breakfast. Most offered turn down service complete with sweets.
I didn’t get any pictures of the one in Jakarta. We arrived in the middle of the night to find their staff waiting up for us. They got us registered and sent to our room with gratifying speed.
It was a tall building with an elevated driveway to a wide but shallow entrance. I was so per-occupied with missing luggage and such that I didn’t’ really pay much attention.
To the left and above is the entrance to the hotel in Jogjakarta. We were there for several nights. They had the snack tray that looked like sushi, musicians who sang off-key in the foyer every evening, and the absolute best breakfast buffet with dozens of food choices available.
Suzie’s House 474 : Pulled Over
Jim pulled the blankets over his head and held very still. He was playing possum, but with so many people in the van, who was to say he wasn’t really sleeping? Maybe no one would even notice.
“License, registration, and proof of insurance, please.” The cop’s voice, firm and grave -the way cops all over the country always sounded, came from right above Jim’s head. It felt too close, even through Jim knew the man stood next to the driver’s side window on the other side of the seat.
Julia Robert’s Beach
This is at the very back of the farthest trail to the left at Uluwatu Cliffside Temple. they were very busy putting in a new segment to the trail when we arrived. I went just because I have a bad case of Down The Trail Syndrome. Though I like Julia’s acting, I feel no compulsion to visit a every place she’s done a bit of it. I don’t even know which movie that beach appears in. But if there is something to be seen, I must go. So go I did.
I found the walk way to be the most interesting part.
A Stitch in Time
Becky pulled her chin up to look over the edge of the table at the noisy machine.
“Are… are you sure?”
“Yes,” her mother said. “This will fix it. Don’t touch that.”
Becky yanked her hand back away from the pointy thing.
The machine whirred. Mother snipped the loose threads. Then Teddy was back in Becky’s arms.
“And what did we learn from this?”
“Never put Teddy in the dishwasher. And.. and if you do, then don’t put in a whole bar of soap. Or Fluffy. Fluffy didn’t mean to scratch me or Teddy. She just didn’t like the bubbles. And call Mommy right away.”
“Close enough.”
The Challenge: Write a story in 100 words or less
The Hub: Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
The Photo Credit: Sandra Crook
Uluwatu Cliffside Temple
The grounds around the Uluwatu Cliffside Temple are extensive. From the parking lot we had a leisurely half hour walk to where the temple perches on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea. Most of that walk takes place along a wide, brickwork walkway filled with little steps up and down. The walkway runs along the top edge of a cliff. A nice, thick wall runs along the outside of the walkway.
The walkway curls off to the right as well, but we didn’t bother to go that direction. It just goes to show the area is huge and scenic.
Suzie’s House 473 : In Need of Gas
Big Jim didn’t tell anyone that there was a gold watch in his pocket. Not even in the Van Family. He sat in the van with his legs dangling out the back door and tried to read a newspaper someone had tossed them while Boney and Rick stood in the road flying a sign on cardboard that said, “Help us Tom Cruise.” It was Rick’s favorite sign.
The Lap of Luxury
The Girl is moving out! She signed her first rental agreement and is loading up her boxes. In a matter of mere…. Well, whenever she gets around to it. Considering the disaster area she calls a bedroom it could be a while.
She tells me it looks worse than it is because of the packing process. I’m pretty sure there aren’t even available paths to get around. As the the pet spiders she was raising under her bed, I’d rather not think about it.
Isn’t it a little odd for someone with arachnophobia to be naming the critters? Well, as soon as her stuff is out I’ll clear them out. It’ll probably be a lot easier than it was getting her to move out.
I’m looking forward to taking over the room for my office. She’s got the best room in the house! I’ve been making plans for months.
Meanwhile she’s going to a much swankier place. It has a gas fireplace and a both a bathroom and a kitchen to put mine to shame.
Still, I’ll happily settle for her southern exposure.
Sparks
“How much more you think?” Toby leaned over and looked into the bucket between him and Matt.
The two of them sat on the porch and cut off match heads. After hours of work, they’d filled the bucked about half way. It didn’t look like much.
“What? To blow up City Hall? No, man. We’ll need a lot more.”
“I don’t care about city hall. I just want to see someone go boom!”
“Hey! What are you guys up to?” Old Man Matheson looked over the fence at them.
“Nothing. Just making some fireworks,” Toby said. Matt nodded enthusiastically.
The Challenge: Write a story in 100 words or less
The Hub: Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
The Photo Credit: Vijaya Sundaram
