My Cardboard Balcony

Now This Is Paradise by Belinda Roddie Adam was made out of straw, and Eve wore a spine layered with brick. Together, they built a barbed wire fence around Eden to keep the snakes out, and once Adam blew away in the wind, Eve found Lilith and loved how she was forged from the finest steel.

I wanted to invite Stacey to my party, but she was sick with the flu. I wanted to invite Tracey to my party, but she had to study for a test the following Monday and couldn't be disturbed. I want to invite Lacey to my party, but she had been secretly recruited on an undercover mission to assassinate the president of some country I hadn't heard of named Satvania, and she wouldn't be back until the deed was done and "Winter had fallen across Europe." So I guess that was a valid excuse.

Thoughts And Prayers by Belinda Roddie I know for sure you're praying, praying for Las Vegas, praying for the country lovers, their families and friends. I know for sure you're praying, praying that the bullets stop spraying for just a while so you can focus on the "more important" things. You say you're praying on TV so that the people hear your voice. You type a prayer out in a handful of characters 'cause a tweet just can't be beat. Don't forget to feed the rest of the social media maws hungry for sound bites. And you make damn certain to leave a sentimental lipstick stain on every journalist's derriere. And I'm sure that you're still praying, praying for Las Vegas. God knows they need more words while people scream over logistics. The man is not a terrorist, and liberals are to blame. AR-15s keep on getting sold, and we play the same old game. While the numbers keep on rising, and the wounded keep on dyin...

I hope we're not falling back into an every other day pattern, but unfortunately, no update on the OneWord website today. Le sadness.

I saw her reflection in the glass, fading quickly away. I reached out for her hand, but it was nothing but particles of dust collected in the air. As I hovered around the mirror, I felt the warmth of the morning on my back again; soft, sensitive rivulets of light tiptoed their way into the room, leaving their fingerprints and paintings along the carpet. I felt my knees sink into the red plush, and softly, I began to weep.

by Belinda Roddie Turns out Dad was the original inspiration for the Hamburglar. I was beginning to wonder where he always got those cheeseburgers. He claimed they were free because he was friends with the manager of the local fast food joint - but somehow, even as a clueless five-year-old obsessed with television and cool bicycles, knew better. 2015 was when Dad died, and that was also when the Hamburglar got a make-over. Now sporting jeans a five o'clock shadow, he was like me in my twenties - only probably with better aspirations than I ever had. At least the Hamburglar had good amounts illegally smuggled protein while I played video games and devoured cheetos like they actually had nutrients. Dad also liked wearing masks and wide-brimmed hats. I don't remember him ever talking in gibberish. But hey, it was 1971, and McDonald's was going through its weird phase. I just hope Grimace wasn't inspired by my mom. This week's prompt was provided by Dan...

As September ends, the OneWord website remains...not updated. Oops!