This piece was written by a friend of a friend. I obtained permission to share it with you here. I hope you enjoy it. I’ve seen similar pieces but thank you to River this one.

When she walks away from you mad
(Follow her)
When she stare’s at your mouth
(Kiss her you idiot)
When she’s quiet
(Ask her whats wrong,
then listen to her with your heart; not your head)
When she ignores you
(Give her your attention)
When she pull’s away
(Pull her back)
When you see her at her worst
(Tell her she’s beautiful; just because she is)
When you see her start crying
(Just hold her; quietly)
When you see her walking
(Sneak up and hug her waist from behind)
When she’s scared
(Protect her)
When she lay’s her head on your shoulder
(Pull her close, making sure she never feels insecure)
When she steal’s your favorite shirt
(Let her keep it)
When she tease’s you
(Tease her back and make her laugh)
When she doesn’t answer for a long time
(Reassure her that everything is okay)
When she look’s at you with doubt
(Show her how much you love her)
When she grab’s at your hands
(never let go and cherish every moment)
When she tells you a secret
(Keep it safe and untold)
When she looks at you in your eyes
(Don’t look away and move closer)
When you are apart and she misses you
(tell her you miss her too)
When she tell you she loves you
(kiss her like the first time, every time.

~ River

This short story was entered in a competition. I didn’t win nor was I a runner-up. But I had fun writing it.

To read about the competition go here

It was only a small ceramic jar, but it reminded her of that summer back in 1968 when her father had come home from work and announced that they were going to have a Bar-B-Q. She loved it when her father did these spontaneous things.

The jar had been a Christmas gift from someone at her mother’s workplace and it sat at the back of the cupboard gathering dust. Today however, her father had reached for it, taking the lid with its attached brush out and tickling her cheeks with it. He chuckled as she wriggled and squirmed, loving his attention but begging for him to stop.

He opened the bottle of Bar-B-Q sauce and handed it to her. “Go ahead, Peanut”, he said, using his nickname for her. “Pour it in”. He always made her feel so important. She felt sorry for her friends. Their fathers were off in some foreign country called Vietnam. Who cooked their Bar-B-Qs?

Hamburgers, Hot dogs, some Spareribs with the sauce smeared all over them, all cooked to perfection. “Daddy, this is so good. I love you!” she squealed.

Hy paced like an expectant father in a maternity ward waiting room, hands shoved in pockets, head down. Occasionally hy would lift hys head to look around at the people mingling there. Every now and then, hy would stop hys pacing and lean nonchalantly against the wall, hys arms folded across hys chest, hys expression revealing nothing.

Hy glanced at hys watch and somewhere in hys subconscious hy realized hy was hungry. Hy had plenty of time to kill so hy wandered off in search of food. The hunter stalking, hy thought and chuckled quietly. McDonalds, Burger King, KFC … nothing sounded good. Finally hy climbed the stairs and chose a table in one of the better eating areas.

Hands, finely manicured nails on long enticing fingers that move slowly over silk or dance a clicking staccato over keyboards.

I’m not much of a hand person, and I can’t remember the last time someone’s hands were so sensual or … see … I don’t even know how to describe them. But I think you understand.

There’s this path that I am traveling
it isn’t very wide
there’s obstacles along the way
most each and every stride.

It twists and turns and rambles
going on forever more
and my back aches from its burdens
and my feet forever sore.

Yet I must keep on traveling
down this path I chose to tread
and should my bones grow weary
I’ll sit and lay my head.

For now I’m doing good though
one glance is all I need
as step by step I wander
walking onward at slow speed.

I turned and glanced the other day
back from whence I been
the path bore only footprints
small spaces in between.

As far as my old eyes could see
past the horizon I surmise
each small step I’d made in life
a deed, a word, a choice.

What lies ahead I do not know
but one thing is very clear
the time has come to say farewell
to memories once held dear.

The sun sets as the moon appears
stars twinkling in the sky
the path in shadow now
and I need to close my eyes.

So sleep I must and dreams abound
not haunting any more
for finally I know for sure
that I have closed a door.

I’ll look back no more in sorrow
I’ll look forward and be calm
for I’ve made small steps that led me
through the darkness to your arms.

So hold me there tonight love
tomorrow is unknown
and on your chest I’ll lay my head
and not be alone.

No other shall I place above you
for no one matters more
for I finally know for certain
that I have closed the door.

The past is gone behind me
the future lies round the bend
what matters is right here, right now
I’ll get there in the end.

So let love’s light guide me
as a tread this path so long
for I know that it will take me
to the place where I belong.