Saturday, August 6, 2011

Saturday Centus, Fresh Start

Saturday has rolled around again and that means Centus. In  my world that is so hot and boring, Jenny is doing her part trying to help me avoid a melt down by priming my creative pump! This week she gives us the right to use a picture, made more words available, and tossed in a prompt of "You are my sunshine..." Did she know any wording with sun right now might push me over the edge?

We are on our way to another 106 day here. I have watered flowers, dumped pots that couldn't make it water or not, and been to the farmer's market for tomatoes and cantaloupes. I have read other Centus writers this morning, and their takes are a lot lighter than mine--which is often the case. Something about writing bring out my serious side. While I drove to the town square my Centus formed in my head, unbidden, and I am going to go with it.

The picture is my great-great grandfather of Cherokee lineage who lived on the Missouri/ Oklahoma line, among other places. One of 16 children, he died in 1919.
For more Centus to read and complete rules to play today, go to
http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2011/08/saturday-centus-you-are-my-sunshine.html


                                                   Fresh Start
John Walks Forward was sitting on a rock ledge by the Illinois River thinking about his life. Two years ago, he and Star Morning had lived through the Trail of Tears, but not without paying a premium price. They had buried the baby just before crossing the Mississippi at Missouri’s bootheel. Then they lost their son somewhere after leaving Springfield in the frigid march towards the White Man’s Midwest.



He and Star Morning swallowed their sorrow and started again in a leafy area near the Illinois. No forest could be as dense as those in Carolina, but they made the best home possible of saplings they found. The garden was dug, planted and now grew squash and corn. Five cows of the Walks Forward place grazed on an Ozark hillside. Now he waited for his wife to deliver them a new baby, a new hope.


He heard the woman whistle him up and headed back. He stood over his wife’s sweat-riddled face as she prayed thanksgiving. “You are my sunshine, that which puts light into my sky, that which will put stars in my night. You will give me my song again.”


“He is named,” said John. “Star Morning’s Sunshine.”

17 comments:

Bookie said...

Okay, don't anyone throw me in Centus Jail! I read 5 blogs and then went to the farmer's market. Still I totally misundertood the rules. Thought is was an extra 50 words and not ONLY 50 words. When I returned and continued reading blogs I figured it out. Well, sorry but I don't think I can do it again today. 50 lashes with wet noodles and no sweetner in my iced tea.....

Ames said...

Beautiful! Steeped in history and so full of meaning. Love it!~Ames

cj Schlottman said...

This historical take on the prompt has taken my breath. Your words flow so easily on the page and are so very readable - the sign I good writing, I think! Thanks.

Namaste..........ch

Nonna said...

What a wonderful post. I love this real history behind it...lovely and enjoyable !

BTW,I misread the instructions too, Bookie and then corrected my story when I was given a heads up by Beckyp down to the allotted 50 words plus the prompt !

To the Toy Box and Beyond said...

great post thanks for stopping by my page

Daydreamer said...

Awwww bitter sweet and lovely. Sad to lose a child and blessed to have another.

bj said...

hahhaaa....I read your comment here..Yep, I could see at a glance we were over 50 words but it mattered NOT. A great story and I promise NO one will poke you with wet noodles and you can have all the sweetner in your tea you want. :)))
Hugs and hope to see you next Sat at the Centus..
(what IS that word, anyway?)
xo bj
oops..word verification.
I have it posted on my sidebar that I can no longer brake for word verif. but....I just had to tell ya I liked your post. :))

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

This is really touching and extra meaningful with the picture.
xoRobyn

Jo said...

not only was this fascinating, but it was very well written as well ... i loved your take on the centus ... oh, and don't worry, i also thought Jenny meant 100 + 50 extra ... so you are not alone ....

Unknown said...

Loved this piece...broken rules or not. It needed to be written and needed to be read. I applaud you!

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Brilliantly done. One of my favorites this week. I felt like I was there.

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

I forgot to mention that I'm following you now.

Susan Anderson said...

I read it the same way, Claudia. And I simply loved this!

=)

Unknown said...

Dear Claudia/Bookie,

What a wonderful post! Perfect!
I am so glad that you misread the instructions! This needed to be written with more that 50-words, and is one of the best SC-posts I have ever read!

Love the photograph. Are you a descendant of Morning Star's Sunshine or perhaps a younger sibling?

Beautiful. And amazing that you have the photo and know all about this.

Best wishes,
Anna
Sanna's Sunshine SC Wk 66

For a little lighter reading, visit my cat's blog:
P is for Presents - Sara Cat AT-rd-3-P

Unknown said...

Dear Claudia,
Thank you for visiting and commenting on my SC-post. You were first and got an extra picture-link.

For the benefit of other readers:
Sanna's Sunshine SC Wk 66

Jenny said...

Fifty, schmifty! I'm so glad you didn't read that (I hope this weeks was easier to follow) because this story was MAGNFICENT!

I love history and this felt like I was sitting around the campfire hearing Grandpa John tell this amazing tale.

Absolutely amazing.

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