My Cardboard Balcony

I held the bauble delicately as if I were balancing a tiny world on my battered palm. It was nothing short of beautiful. Not quite silver, not quite gold, it shone like a perfect globe untouched by angry elements, natural disaster, or humanity's aggressive boots. When Mona took the thing away from me, I was ready to cry. Somehow, I found more solace holding a mere metal ball than any other gift I had been given in my entire life.

by Belinda Roddie "Death," she said, "is a gift. It releases you from expectations and responsibilities. There is no need for ambition. Most importantly, any pain or bad taste in your mouth is eradicated. It is the ultimate antidote to suffering - no prescription medication to alleviate chronic pain, no surgery, no modification of lifestyle. Death will give you a quick and easy way out of a desperate situation." With those words, she brought the gun to the side of her head with a small, unwavering smile. "Embrace that gift." This week's prompt was provided by Kyle Oathout.

No OneWord update today, which is fine by me because I'm in the city and having a blast.

Week into the new year, guys. And what did I do tonight? Grab the guitar again and perform in front of an audience for the first time in over a year. I played (and helped sing) "Winter Song" with my sister and a couple of friends at a concert at my sister's former high school. As I always say, it's refreshing to get back to my musical roots. Also, I have started Episode Five of my miniseries. The way this is turning out, this will be a six to seven episode series. Which is fine by me. Sometimes, shorter is better. Not short enough to be a film, but short enough to be a good romp. Tomorrow, my parents will be meeting my future in-laws for the first time. Am I nervous? Yes. Excited? That, too. This is the first big step in getting my wedding, and everything else in my future, rolling forward. I'm thrilled to see how both my fiancée and my families are becoming one. It's incredible and amazing and I'm looking so forward to it. And now, I'm goi...

No Tropical Vacation by Belinda Roddie "Why is the volcano so hot?!" shrieked the virgin sacrifice.

Listen to each note soar on silk, each string bouncing tenderly instead of snapping beneath the grooves of your fingers. Everything was once stiff and unyielding; now, it is all soft and fluid, the collapse into a dozen pillows after a hard, exhausting day. You are invigorated by the sound. Watch the audience never take their eyes off you. It has been quite some time since you've performed live. You haven't grown wooden. You haven't lost your touch. The melody still flies from the fretboards, caressing your throat with your voice is finally freed from its cage.

The Customer by Belinda Roddie The customer wanted a block of cheese, a loaf of bread, and some cider for a rather modest gathering. She wore green shorts, a blue T-shirt, and some tattered gray sneakers, as if she had gone out jogging. When she went up to pay, her face went red, the once bright light in her eyes now fogging up. "I don't have enough money," she said. "I should've known. My ex-wife took me for all that I had." An older man replied, "I'll pay for it. Don't worry anymore, and don't give me a cent back." As she cried, the woman thanked the stranger profusely, as faith was restored in humanity.