Once there was Darkness

Sandstorm

Part 6

The entire party held up their hands. King Brum slid off his horse. “We are here to help.”

King Kol met him. They looked at each other with caution. “You will answer to Kessa.”

He bowed to her, “what do you need?”

She, Max, and Kol looked over a map of the city. “We need to figure out where to move the debris too. Do we burn it?” She asked as she wiped her face with a cool towel that Beth had handed her. “Thank you.”

“You know what we could do?” Max pointed at two spots next to the barracks. “We could use the debris to expand our training ground.”

“Or,” Kol pointed at the ocean. “We have been talking for years about putting up a barrier against the waves. We have extra help. Why not start now?”

“Alright.” Kessa answered.

They started to walk away. Kol called to her. “Kessa, you and your team need rest.”

She bowed her head, “thank you, my king.”

She and Max led King Brum and his troops to the beach. “Let’s not have to work harder than we need too.” She disappeared for a moment. There came a loud noise followed by two explosions. Kessa wasn’t about to show the Shadow People the full might of Mecca, only two ships answered the call to the harbor. The first one docked to the left of the beach. She pointed to the small yet impressive vessel. “Let’s start filling her up. The platform is wide enough that a horse drawn wagon can go down and turn around. While you are getting your first load ready, we will test the platform.”

King Brum bowed and they left.

She and Petro took a small boat out to find the spot where to start putting the barrier.

Kol was standing on the beach when she and Petro returned. They had placed five barrels out in the water outlining the spot where the debris was to be dumped across the water front.

When she stepped out of the boat, Kol was furious. “Kessa, I want you to rest.”

“There’s still a lot of work to do.” She said in protest.

“That’s an order,” he hissed. “You and the Bejhar.”

Frego was standing by his side. She stared at the prince for a moment. It was disrespectful to protest. Even more so in front of his son. She said not a word as she walked away.

It was almost night fall before the first load of debris was loaded onto the ship.

Writing

Describe one positive change you have made in your life.

I started writing again. It has done wonders for my overall meal health. Honestly, didn’t realize it until now. I can say so much in written form that I can’t say with my actual voice. So much has been going on in my life, I can just pour it out in verse.

This blog has been good for me. If you read my poem: ‘Tweet, Tweet.’ I posted a story on Twitter for 15 minutes. 🤭 I’ll try again. Someday. 😉

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement. I’m getting there.

Screaming

https://youtu.be/V6Xoa1twIt4

Can you hear me?

I’m screaming.

I scream in the driveway.

I scream in the car.

I scream at work.

I scream on the road.

I scream in a crowd.

I scream at the grocery.

I scream in the parking lot.

I have screamed till my throat hurts.

Do you hear me?

Do you care?

If I cry, will you comfort me?

Will the amount of tears I cry matter?

A single tear rolling down my cheek?

A puddle?

A pond?

A lake?

A river?

An ocean?

Can you hear me?

Do you care?

If you look into my eyes, will you see?

Will you see me screaming?

Will you see my tears?

Will you see the defeat?

Can you see that I’ve lost?

Will you see me?

Can you see me?

Do you care?

The End

Thank you

My humble attempt at drawing my poem.

Tweet, Tweet

Am I ready to let my babies leave the nest?

I was on THAT sight all of 15 minutes.

Each little birdie will do its best.

I learned real quick the extent of my limits.

15 minutes my link was up.

15 minutes @ to my muse.

Don’t think I’ll do that again, yup.

Think I’ll take the slower road. Wear out my shoes.

At least now I know.

That’s a nervous road.

My babies will grow.

Healthy but slow.

When they are ready to fly;

God will drive.

Once there was Darkness

Sandstorm

Part 5

Max came running up the steps. “The wall is intact. No breeches. We have found a great number wounded. Mostly by debris.” Kessa and Max walked away.  

Kol shouted after them. “What do you need?”

Max shook his head, “hands to look for survivors, my king.”

“What do we do?” Rajaf asked. 

“If you find someone, bring them here or to the temple whichever is closer.”

A soldier came running around the building, “the fire is spreading!”

Kol stayed at the palace. Kessa went with the new soldier. People that wanted to help find survivors went with Max. Those that didn’t, stayed behind in the palace.

The fire raged into the night. They were able to contain it to the market.

Daylight found Kessa and the fire fighters covered with black soot. All of the hot spots had been put out. Every muscle she had ached.

General Marcus spoke from behind her, “that was a great idea you had.” They both stared out at the sea.

“Thank you kind sir.”

For the people that their homes survived, they were cleaning up. Mostly sweeping out sand or replacing shutters. Repair work had already started on the palace.

Over all, five hundred people had been injured. But no one was killed. Truly a blessing from God.

Beth and Petro had even come down from the mountain to help.

They were at the palace when all the fire fighters came walking around the corner. Kessa in the lead. Kol’s heart was about to bust when he saw her. It took every ounce of resistance in him not to run to her. Even though she was dirty from head to toe, she was a sight for his eyes.

Kol was covered in sand and blood. Rajaf and Frego were teaching him how to do minor things; clean and bandage wounds. The Queen Mother was cutting material into bandages and filling water pots.

Kessa turned her head and in an instant pulled a sword from nowhere. A circle formed around the king.

King Brum and a group of shadow people rode into the city. With the soldiers being so busy with other duties, no one was guarding the city. An oversight they might pay for with their lives.

Waste not. Want not: grease

This poem is being written in stages to highlight the things I do toward frugal living.

I got the yummy delicious benefit of the meat.
To my taste buds, it did greet.

Save the left over grease for my dog.
Add it to his kibble. Then share it on my blog.

Cheekie gets more than just grease from the table.
Added treats to his kibble, whenever I’m able.
Waste not. Want not.

Growing up; my daily life was filled with the saying, “waste not, want not.”
When you’re young, what clue do you have in lives dot?

As we grow; we learn, “money doesn’t grow on trees.”
I save the salt from chocolate squeeze.

To my stew you are added.
Flavor has been padded.

Aw sheet!
Blasted hole. This is not a treat.

I’m gonna fix you. I guarantee.
From my needle you need to flee.

More time will be added to your life. Around you I shall mend.
So more dream filled nights, you can tend.

Coffee. Nectar of God. You help me through another day.
Upright and functional, you help me stay.

What about your grounds?
A use for you, I have found.

Nutrients to the soil you will add.
Helping my veggies grow big and strong. Which will make me very glad.

Leftovers are my jam.
From me, they do not scram.

I freeze you to eat you for lunch.
Which helps my overall finances a bunch.

Someday I’d like to retire.
I’m sick of this mire.

Toothpaste: squeeze, squeeze you. But never tease me.
I will cut you open before I let you be.

Give me all your power.
Your contents, I will devour.

Inside I find more paste.
Enough for at lease 5 more brushings. No waste.

Mustard, ketchup, butter, pepper, or salt.
I don’t eat out a lot. Put that spending to a halt.

When I do, those condiment packets will be saved.
Eaten later or added to a recipe, usefulness will be made.

Some restaurants now days are making us pay for those.
Concerning our budgets, we must be on our toes.

I’m doing dishes anyway. No electric dishwasher near.
I pack my lunch almost every day. These sandwich bags here;

I haven’t bought new ones in years.
I wash them out until cracks appear.

Organized in old tissue boxes. Painted and labeled neat.
Baby steps toward my financial goals, meet.

Sincerely, I’m addicted to chap stick.
My lips, I do not lick.

I have it everywhere; on my desk, in my pocket, in the car, on the coffee table, by the night stand.
Use a tube to the nub. Throw it away? No way man.

Use a cosmetic spatula to get every last soothing ounce.
Apply to dry lips, give them bounce.

I got the yummy delicious benefit of the meat.
To my taste buds, it did greet.

Save the left over grease for my dog.
Add it to his kibble. Then share it on my blog.

Cheekie gets more than just grease from the table.
Added treats to his kibble, whenever I’m able.

Dr. John Watson

If you could be a character from a book or film, who would you be? Why?

I am a Sherlock Holmes fan. I own the canon; the Granada series staring Jeremy Brett; the remake with Benedict Cumberbatch and a few reference books. I’ve even written two pieces fan-fiction (I might share) later in the years.

Why Dr. Watson and not Sherlock himself? Dr. Watson was not the idiot that some commentators make him out to be. He was a medical doctor; had a practice and was smart in his own right. Holme’s wheelhouse was so very different. The friendship these two had was beneficial for both friends. It wasn’t a one sided friendship. Watson’s ability to tell a story enabled Holmes business grow faster than it would have if he was solely relying on word of mouth from his clients.

Though a soldier (who had seen action), Holmes offered a different adrenaline rush. Laying wait for criminals late at night; Watson got to see a different side of humanity being a soldier and a doctor hadn’t provided up until this point in his life.

If you are on the fence or are not a fan of Holmes, watch the Granada series (read the canon first if you can). Granada took great pains in trying to make the series as accurate to the canon and the period as possible.

Once there was Darkness

Sandstorm

Part 4

“Thank you my son.”

“Forgive me sire. I meant no disrespect.”

“Forgiven this time. No, we will not go check.”

“We could be here all night.” She said with panic in her voice.

“God will let us know when it is time to leave.”

She sat back down.

Frego fell asleep.

Rajaf continued praying. Kol laid his hand on Rajaf’s shoulder, “she’s okay.”

He let out a long sigh, “thank you, my king.”

There was a pounding at the door. Everyone stood. Kol opened the door to Kessa. She was covered from head to toe in sand. The only clean spot on her was where her eye coverings had been. “May I have a word with you, my king?” He closed the door behind him stepping out into the hall. He took her by the arm, “are you okay?”

“Yes, my king. There has been extensive damage to the city. If at all possible, let these people stay here tonight. It is dangerous out there.”

He opened the door with Kessa standing beside him. “It has come to my attention that extensive damage has occurred to our city. You are welcome to stay here tonight and go home first thing in the morning.”

Emma asked, “do we have to stay?”

Kessa looked at Kol, she answered. “No. However, if you choose to go home do so with great caution.”  She walked out into the hall where Rajaf gave her a great big fatherly hug. Sand bellowed from her.

People were stopping to talk to Kol.

“Stay here tonight dad. The street to your house is impassable.”

She and Kol walked down the hall together. “Everyone that can, has been instructed to go to the temple. It has very little damage. The bell tower; however, has been destroyed.”

A voice called from behind them, “is there a safe path from here to the temple?” It was Emma.

Kessa just stared at her before answering, “as safe as any. Soldiers have lit torches to serve as a path.”

“What about the gas?” A male member of court asked.

“There is a fire next to the market that started before we could stop it. But the flow of gas to the city has been stopped.”

Everyone was following them. They stopped at the great steps leading out of the palace. Kol’s heart sank as he looked out at his city. It looked like they had been invaded. Homes had been reduced to rubble. Stones lay everywhere. Chunks of the steps were missing. Wooden beams littered the courtyard.