Sarah's prompt: these things are essential, those things are not.

Whispering my name just when I need to hear it the most
Dancing in the park under a pale moon
Soft sweet caresses and gentle kisses
Knowing how I like things and making that matter
Making me laugh out loud even when you’re not here
Knowing when not to speak
Wanting me always
Loving me forever

These things are essential

Letting me always have my way
Giving me space
Making lots of money
Getting ahead
Buying things for me

Those things are not ……. remember

Sarah's prompt: Night train (in honor of john ryan)

A little moaning and groaning, a little huffing and puffing, a little further to go. While the rest of the world sleeps, on and on it goes. Slowing a bit here, then picking up steam. Occasionally those who know how all this runs, check to make sure everything is going as expected. Like the engineer they keep checking their watches as if to keep the train moving. Chugga chugga, chugga chugga.
The wind is howling, the rain is pouring, literally coming down in sheets in all directions. Suddenly there is a stillness but they continue forward, chugga chugga, chugga chugga. A course has been laid so they press on. Occasionally he gets up and stretches his legs, then he settles in again, patting her hand, giving her a kiss.
Huffing and puffing, with the destination a few short hours away there aren’t any real surprises, but its all new territory for both of them. They try not to show their anxiety, but is the way its supposed to go? It seems like they've been going uphill hours the whole way. This trip has been planned for years, and all though they’ve been expecting all of it, its been quite an adventure ever since the date was set, and changed and then set. The waiting will soon be over, chugga chugga, chugga chugga.
More checking of the gauges, making sure everything is progressing as expected. It seems everytime they settle down for a moment someone is coming in to check something. The dawn breaks clearer. Excitement visible on both their faces, although her’s is a bit more worn then his. Almost to the end, breathing deep, pressing forward in excitement. Looks like this train ride is over as the doctor exclaims, “It’s a boy!”

Prompt from Twitterlit: "The cop car I rode in the night I was arrested was really clean"

The cop car I rode in the night I was arrested was really clean, which really surprised me. I don’t know, I guess its from watching all those cop shows where they are arresting all those drunks, or trashy looking people and you just expect that the car would would reflect that.
I wondered as I sat there what other people were thinking. You know on tv when they do those interviews the neighbors all say the same thing. “He seemed like the nicest person you would never suspect that he was an axe murderer,” or some such nonsense. I hoped they didn’t think I was some sort of axe murderer or something like that.
It was all rather bizarre. I had worked late, as I usually do. Come home to a bowl of cheerios and the 7 o’clock news when there was a knock at the door. When I went to the door there were two policemen who had apparently come to arrest me for I’m not even exactly sure what they were arresting me for but they were very polite about it all. Something about robbing the convenience store down the street, a stolen vehicle and the attempted murder of Devin Conway.
I had no idea what they were talking about but they had a search warrant, and handcuffs. I rode to the station believing that there had been some sort of mistake and when I tried to explain to them as well as the people at the police station they seemed to not really understand me. They found a handgun and some candy bar wrappers in my apartment and now it looks like I may be going to jail. They keep asking me if I want to call my lawyer, but of course I don't have a lawyer. So I don't really know what's going to happen from here. When they asked me about the handgun and the candy wrappers I dont' have any answers. I don't know where the handgun came from, but the candy wrappers, well I didn't know it was a crime to eat Three Musketeers Bars.

Sarah's prompt: "exploring somewhere you know well"

I hear the water flowing somewhere off to my left. There’s a blue jay making a terrible racket up ahead. Spring is making its appearance in big and small ways along this path. There are new shoots appearing on the branches of the trees, some so pregnant with them you’re certain if you look away and look back they will have burst forth in that short time. Amongst the trees here and there you will see one or another covered in white or pink or lavender blossoms. In another couple of weeks they will have green leaves on them and look like every other tree but now is their time to shine, to inspire, to cause you to wonder about them.
As a high school English teacher I feel the same way about my students. Most of them look the same but here or there are a few that are blooming in amazing ways. The potential, the possibilities of what could be is there to be seen by those who are paying attention. Too soon they will look like the rest, hopefully there is a harvest of something sweet to come but sadly I’ve watched the blossoms fall away and fruitless they live the lives of everyone else. Not understand that they have opportunity to shine.
Like the trees, there are times of blossoming and times of harvest and interestingly enough those times vary. Peach trees bloom and produce fruit within a few short weeks. It takes pineapple plants years to produce a single fruit. Perhaps my students, that I have seen bloom, will have opportunity to produce before their gifts are destroyed by blight or neglect, the wearing of the day to day life they have to live. Perhaps they will find that match that will bring fruitfulness to them, that cross pollinator that will help bring forth the sweetest of fruit in their lives.
As I walk further I suddenly come to a place where the river comes near the pathg I see the water has risen high and there are wild flowers growing everywhere, I wish there was a way to bottle this sense of fresh hope. Save it, store it to be given as gifts to those who have grown weary in the day to day, to remind them and myself of what can be found here down a path, around a bend and just beyond the winter.