Creative Perspective Challenge One Links and short story! #writingcommunity #shortstory #writinglinks #creativeperspectivechallenge

Hi!

It’s been a fantastic week full of amazing writing—and I had fun writing a short story. Thank you to those who joined in and forgive me if this is a day late. I wanted to give Diana’s book the attention it deserved!

If you haven’t seen these posts I highly recommend visiting.

Here’s the list:

Yvette Callerio: BLOG LINK 

Jan Sikes: BLOG LINK

Sandra Cox: BLOG LINK

See notes after the story.

Now here’s my part in the challenge at 986 words:

“Person Standing and Holding Lamp Inside Cave”
by Jeremy Bishop

Their Place

This is where love happened, where Tom met Maggie on a geology tour.

“I proposed to you on this date standing right here, didn’t I, Maggie?” Tom sighed loudly and held up his light. “Today though, I’m alone except for a cat who isn’t happy to be in his carrier. No tours. No you.”

Tom smoothed the powdery red dirt with his shoe. Even when the tours stopped and the mining began again, they always returned to their cave. When they returned, Maggie had said she felt a mix of sadness and joy. Tom had pushed aside his feelings because the damage from the mining was done.

Luckily, they left this little heaven alone. In a chaotic world, Maggie and Tom found solace in each other and this cave.

“You were right, Maggie. It was the end of times. I argued there has always been greed and it was nothing new but I was wrong. At least the mining stopped when the war ended.” Tom turned and pulled his mattress from where he dropped it and placed it on a tarp.

The minerals from the mine were no longer necessary. People had to take care of themselves to stay alive, just like he’d been doing.

“I grieved hard when you died from cancer, Maggie. Hard. But with time, I realized it was best for you to be in your heaven — a place I truly hope exists—because we tore this world apart. Your gentle heart would have been crushed. Five years. Five long years, I’ve lived without you. I survived that and I survived the war. But after the war,  there was no one left to lead. No power, no gas, limited food, and no communication. It’s like living in the Middle Ages.”

Tom set Maggie’s picture on the small table he’d brought in. She was standing at the cave entrance with a smile as bright as the sun. It was her twenty-ninth birthday, or six months before they got the news, she only had a few months to live. He sank into the only chair he had brought. There’d be no company to entertain other than the black cat, Tumbles, whom he’d found after Maggie died—or perhaps Tumbles found him. The cat would excel as a mouser and provide companionship in the chilly, dark cave.

He wouldn’t have had to go into hiding if criminals hadn’t taken over their little town, and those who voiced their opinions disappeared. The new rulers were the worst of humanity. He urged his neighbors to go before it was too late, but he was the only one who left with a pickup truck full of his belongings.

“I used the remaining gas I had to come here. I couldn’t think of anywhere else to go except our place. The main entry is destroyed, but we knew a secret entrance, didn’t we Maggie? Good thing there’s a water supply in the cave below us. It’s not too polluted, but I have that water filter you insisted we get in case anything happened. Good call. Don’t worry, I brought our wedding album and pictures, along with your mother’s teapot that you loved. Thanks to all our camping I have some top-grade gear that will come in handy, including that tent stove with the exhaust pipe. There’s plenty of dead wood in the forest and I brought that rod to start fires. The solar generator will be handy as well. I can listen to our records and have a reading lamp.”

Tom stood and brushed the red dirt off his pants. He brought in the heavy boxes of canned and dehydrated food he stocked up on during the fighting, plus the rest of the supplies while his cat waited not so patiently in the truck. They had enough food to last at least a year without his hunting. But he had plenty of ammo for his shotgun. Finally, he brought Tumbles in.

“I got it set up for you, Tumbles. You can come out and see your new home.” The gray tiger-striped cat sniffed the air and refused to leave his safe cat carrier. “You’ll like it you’ll see. Plenty of room to roam and I brought your favorite cat tower.” Tumbles closed his eyes and didn’t exit his familiar space.

After Tom unloaded the boxes containing towels, soap, candles, clothes, bedding, pots, dishes, pens, notepads, books, and all the rest he felt were essential, he arranged them in the shelving unit from the garage. The empty boxes were neatly against the cave wall.

“Be right back, Tumbles.”

Not even a swish of a tail for a response.

Next to the cave, Tom pushed the last of his world over the cliff. The old blue pickup lay in a broken pile like the rest of civilization.

“All set Maggie. If it’s safe, I’ll try fishing at that little lake nearby. Now it’s just Tumbles, me, and our memories until the end. Then we’ll be together.”

He glanced back at the burned pines blanketed by flowers and the grass that had found its way back, along with some animals. Tom entered his new home. He’d explore later and see if the miners left anything behind. Maybe he’d find useful stuff to savage. Yes, he was set. He smiled to see Tumbles lying on his bed, but the grin disappeared when Maggie’s spicy perfume filled the cave.

“Maggie?” Tumbles stood and stared behind Tom, who shuddered. “Are you here?” A white glow appeared next to him filling him with love.

A gentle voice whispered into his ear, “I’m here.”

“Oh Maggie, I miss you.”

“I miss you too, but you’re needed here. Be strong my love.”

The scent and glow disappeared, but the love didn’t. Tom sank onto his mattress and gathered Tumbles into his arms feeling hope. Someday, in a place where love exists, everything will be okay again.

NOTES

  • Watch for Creative Perspective Challenge Two on February 11th!
  • I created a new page on my website with the rules and a list of posts for all those who participated links and what I came up with. LINK

52 thoughts on “Creative Perspective Challenge One Links and short story! #writingcommunity #shortstory #writinglinks #creativeperspectivechallenge”

      2. A lot of potential. I had a heck of a time keeping it under 1000 words…lol. You may have encouraged another book 🙂

  6. Oh, I love that you went into the future for your flash fiction, Denise. And how wise of Tom to salvage what he could and run. It was comforting to have Maggie show up and encourage him to keep living. He has a purpose. Fantastic!

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Jan 🙂 I was surprised at how this one turned out. I like to think we will know what to do when the times come. To have that purpose is so important. I’m so happy you liked it and loved your take, too.

      Reply

  8. I’m so invested! Tom and Maggie’s love story sounds like one which echoes across the ages, just as Tom’s memory of Maggie echoes permanently throughout their cave. I’m just glad that Tom found a steadfast companion in Tumbles.

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Damyanti 🙂 Their connection does each across the ages and time. You are right the memories are permanent in that cave. Tumbles is so good for Tom, a good companion.

      Reply

  13. A good start to the challenge, Denise, and I expect it will grow quickly. I’m looking forward to playing next month. And your story captured my attention as it unfolded. Wonderful sensory details and such poignant longing in a ruined world. The ending was beautiful. 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Diana:) So happy with all the amazing creativity! Can’t wait to see what you come up with, Diana. I’m enjoying flexing my short story muscles with images. Xo

      Reply

  14. Purrfect. A wonderful story with a chilling warning of the future. Love how you always work in a cat:)
    s.c ox

    Reply

  18. Oh Denise,
    this is a wonderful story and I have tears running down my cheeks. I love this and it almost makes me want to write stories.
    So tender and touching and full of hope. I was so glad tumbles didn’t die in the box. I thought for sure he was crossing the rainbow bridge! 🌁

    Reply

    1. I agree, need to get the right age to plant them. Maybe it will increase your life span. Lol

      Reply

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