Monthly Archives: December 2020

Flower of the Day – Celebration

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Flower of the Day – Celebration

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Yellow and white flowers in a bouquet. There are a few decorations of fireworks, too.

If you are celebrating New Year’s Eve, be careful if you have fireworks!

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For Cee’s Flower of the Day:

FOTD – December 30 – Daffodils

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Thanks for visiting! Peace ☮️

© 2020 BS

Two Souls: Into the Fire # 91

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Two Souls: Into the Fire # 91

Warning … adult content

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Steve, meanwhile, had left the house that afternoon with a mission in mind. The problem was, that he wasn’t sure how to go about it. He’d never had any dealings with guns, or people who used them. He figured he could buy one at a gun store, but he was afraid they’d ask him what he wanted it for. And, if they did a background check, well…he was sure his record wasn’t exactly spotless. So, he drove over to Terry’s place. He knew he’d be at work at the record store, but maybe he could ask his advice.

Terry was busy with a customer, when Steve entered the Whirling Disc, so he just kept walking all the way to the back room, letting Terry know he needed to talk to him.

When Terry came back there, Steve just blurted out, “What’cha know about guns?”

“Uh…why, Steve? You planning on getting one?” Terry asked.

“Yeah, I gotta get one, and I need to know where should I get it,” Steve said.

“You gonna go hunting this year?”

“Yeah, something like that,” Steve said. “Only I never used one before. How do I get one, and how do I learn how to use it?”

“Well, if you’re hunting dove, ya need a smaller rifle, than if you’re hunting something bigger. It all depends. And, I guess the sporting goods store over in Raleigh would have shooting lessons, or something. Why don’t you just go there and find out?” Terry explained.

“Well, it’s not that easy, Terry. I need something now, today, and I need to know how to use it…today.”

“Wait a minute, Steve. What’s going on? This don’t sound like a hunting trip. What’s the real deal?”

“Terry, if I told you, you wouldn’t believe me, anyway. So, all I can say, is someone’s been breaking into our house, and I’m gonna be ready for next time.”

“So, do you know who it is? Did they take anything, did they threaten you and Ghost?”

“I know who it is, and it feels threatening, when they come in and harass us and spy on us all the time,” Steve said. “So, ya gonna hook me up, or what?”

Terry thought for a minute, frowning. “Let me think…uh, I know a guy over in Raleigh…deals in cash only, no questions asked…but, are you sure this is how you want to handle it? I mean, just call the cops on the guy; let them do their job…get him off the street, ya know.”

Steve nodded, then said, “I get ya, Terry, but this is a special circumstance. It’s an old score I need to settle, so yeah, I need protection at the house.”

“Well, okay…here’s the guy you need to see,” Terry said, as he wrote down the information. “But, really..try not to kill anyone. Just scare him off. That’d probably work, too.”

“We’ll see, Terry…thanks,” Steve said as he left.

~

As he sped off down the highway out of town, he didn’t notice he was being watched. Terry needed a break, so he put his ‘Be Back Later’ sign on the shop door, and walked on down to the Yew. He needed to see Kinsey…let him know what was going on, now. He pushed open the door the the club, and hollered, “Hey, dude, where are ya?”

“Back here, Terry, c’mon in,” Kinsey hollered back. Kinsey was doing some office work, but motioned for Terry to take a seat. After another minute of adding up receipts, he looked up. “What’s up?” he asked.

“Uh, ya know I’m not one to gossip…heh, heh…but, I got something I want to let ya know about,” Terry said.

Kinsey shook his head, and sighed. “Don’t tell me, let me guess…it has something to do with those two renegades we call Steve and Ghost.”

Terry nodded, “Yep, and it don’t sound good.”

“What did they do this time…no wait…I don’t even want to know.”

“Well, here it is anyway. Maybe you can makes heads or tails out of it,” said Terry. “I got no freakin’ clue.” He shrugged, then begin telling Kinsey what had just happened.

“So, Steve comes in, just a few minutes ago, and he goes – hey, do you know anything about guns? – Well, sure I do, I mean, I got one under the counter…almost shot Ghost, that time. Anyway, come to find out, he wants to buy one. Like right now. Says it’s for protection out at the house…” he was interrupted by Kinsey.

“Protection…from what? They never had any trouble out there…why now?”

“Well, he says someone’s been breaking in, and threatening them, and all kinds of shit…I don’t know. Anyway, what I did, was I gave him the name of a guy over in Raleigh, ya know, he’ll sell him one, for sure. So Steve takes off, and now I’m telling you. What’d’ya think?”

Kinsey sat back, closed his eyes, and rubbed his forehead. “Could be about that business last night. Probably is…I swear, Terry, I think they just go making up shit, so they can stay in trouble; can’t wait to get in the middle of something…gotta go looking for it.”

“What are you talking about?” Terry asked. “I was here for awhile; I didn’t see anything going on.”

“Well, you missed it then. There was plenty going on. I think they’ve finally gone crazy, this time,” Kinsey explained. “Steve was in here ranting about some kid was a goddam vampire, and he was after them. I laughed in his face, and told him he was officially insane, and to get outta my office. But, then Ghost comes in and totally freaks…thought he was gonna die on the spot, and kept saying why did Steve tell me.” Kinsey stopped, seeing Terry’s reaction to this was the same as he’d had the night before.

“Then, Steve goes on and on about New Orleans, and murder, and Ann, and I don’t know what all. Ghost was crying, and Steve was banging his fist on my desk, saying I have to believe him. And, it’s something to do with that little kid, Nothing, and it’s all his fault. Shit, Terry, I’d heard enough, and I kicked them out. That’s the last I heard. I don’t have time for this kinda crap…ya know?” Kinsey said.

“That’s crazy, Kinsey. Vampires? I know that kid is kinda creepy, but he does a good job booking our gigs, stuff like that,” Terry said. He thought about it a minute. “Well, you  know those other two in the band…they’re kinda weird too, living out there in the *murder house, where Trevor’s family got killed…but vampires?”

Kinsey nodded, “That’s what they said.”

“Sounds like Steve’s been smoking some of that shit I gave him, and watching too many horror movies on TV,” Terry said.

“Well, I don’t know, but Steve with a gun? That is real trouble, right there…you know how he is. I don’t like it, I don’t like it at all, Terry,” Kinsey said.

“What are you gonna do about it?” Terry asked.

“What do you mean, me? All I know is he’s not bringing it in here. I’m just scared they’ll kill each other, trying to figure out how to use the thing.”

They sat there imagining the many things that could go wrong.

“They’ll probably be here tonight, to see the band. At least, that’s what I heard ’em say,” Kinsey said. “Should I just not let them in?”

“Kinsey, they’re like our family…you can’t do that. These other guys…we don’t even know them, really. They just showed up outta nowhere. Maybe you should tell them to get lost.”

“Crap, Terry, I feel like I’m the mediator between two warring gangs. Why? Why me?”

“‘Cause, dude, you’re the only one around here that acts like a grown-up. You’re the only one that can keep us ‘kids’ in line,” Terry laughed.

“Hmmph, maybe I’ll resign the position and let hell break loose…let everybody do whatever the hell that want to,” Kinsey said.

“Good luck, man,” said Terry, as he got up to leave. “See ya tonight at the show, I guess.”

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*reference to murder house = in the book “Drawing Blood”, by Poppy Z. Brite, 1993, published by Dell

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Next Part Coming soon

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Thanks for visiting! Peace ☮️

© 2020 BS

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This is a work of “fan fiction” based on the novel, “Lost Souls” by Poppy Z. Brite. All credit for the original characters, places, and some backstory mentions, belong to Ms. Brite and her publishing affiliates. Only newly introduced characters, places, and original elements of this story are entirely from my imagination. Character descriptions are a blend of the original book descriptions and my interpretation of them.

All songs included in this work will be solely owned by the original performers/writers and will be credited. Creative license is taken in including them in this story.

No harm is intended toward author, musicians, or people and situations to whom there may be a resemblance.

warning      warning      warning      warning

The content herein is rated by me as being at the high end of MA (Mature Audience). It includes strong language, violence, sexual themes, including same sex pairings, religious themes, and fantasy horror.

A Mused Poetry Contest – Resolutions

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A Mused Poetry Contest – Resolutions

The A Mused Poetry Contest 12/12/2020 – 1/8/2021

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The theme is resolutions, done in the form of a limerick.

To join in this fun and also see other entries, just click the above link. Thanks, Chel. 🙂

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Here’s mine:

Click to view

A cat spoke up with meows

His resolutions he sealed with vows

To catch more mice

Would be nice

But all he got was cows

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Thanks for visiting! Peace ☮️

© 2020 BS

Color Your World X 5

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Color Your World X 5

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I’m way behind on the CYW posts, so will keep these short this time.

The colors are: Razzle Dazzle Rose, Razzmatazz, Red, Red Orange, & Red Violet

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Color your World: Razzle Dazzle Rose & Razzmatazz

Color your World: Red

Color your World: Red Orange & Red Violet

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Drinking jar tops & package of cotton candy

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Light up butterfly

Children’s merry-go-round with horses

Red Orange canary

T-shirt decoration of pink mouse & red violet background

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Thanks for visiting! Peace ☮️

© 2020 BS

Share Your World

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Share Your World

SYWGlobalCelebration

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Time for the SYW questions of the week. To join in and also see other entries, just click the link below. Thanks, Melanie!

https://sparksfromacombustiblemind.com/2020/12/28/share-your-world-12-28-2020/

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Pick three words to describe this past year.   (please keep them PG. Thanks). … Scary, sad, horrible

 

What were the best books you read this year?   Or the best movie you saw?  … No movies, but tons of books I’ve read this year. I re-read all my many series, most of my TBR piles, quite a few on Kindle, and now am even reading my Mr’s series by Clive Cussler – 7th book of those already.

 

Because there was lots of time for looking inward, what is one big personal lesson you learned this past year? … Don’t trust anybody except my family. Stay away from people (idiots who don’t follow safety protocols)

Do you think Covid has strengthened or weakened societal bonds? … Very much weakened. People (idiots) don’t care who they might infect. Everyone’s afraid of everyone.


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Thanks for visiting! Peace ☮️

© 2020 BS

Two Souls: Into the Fire # 90

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Two Souls: Into the Fire # 90

Warning … adult content

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They didn’t wake until almost noon the next day. After grabbing a bite to eat, Ghost settled on the couch to write awhile. Steve was restless, pacing around, muttering to himself.

“I’m going out for awhile,” he finally said.

Ghost looked up, knowing what Steve had in mind. “I’m not going with you,” he said.

“Okay, then…I’ll be back later,” said Steve.

Ghost tried to keep calm. He knew when Steve got back, he’d have a gun. It made him nervous. What he hadn’t mentioned to Steve, was that there was already a gun in the house. It was his own. His grandmother had left it to him. In fact, Ghost was a pretty good shot with it. He’d been using it since he was a kid. His grandmother let him shoot at tin cans, and other targets, until he was familiar with it, and was pretty accurate.

He never would shoot a bird, or squirrel, or rabbit, but she would. They had meat on the table that way. He hadn’t used it in a long time, though. He thought maybe he should get it out and practice a bit.  He didn’t know why he’d never told Steve about it. Even when Steve came to live with them, they never brought it out when he was there.

Ghost went into the kitchen. The gun was hidden behind a false panel in the top cabinet. It had always been there. Steve had never had much interest in exploring up there, and he hardly ever cooked anything, so he’d had no reason to look way up there.

Pulling a chair over, he climbed up onto the cabinet. There wasn’t anything left up here anymore. Not since he’d thrown out all the old stuff, when they were looking for the journal. He pulled open the false panel, and reached in. The strong-box was right where he’d left it. It wasn’t locked, so he opened it. There was his gun, and a box of bullets. It wasn’t a huge one…just right for easy handling, and powerful enough to kill a squirrel, or an intruder…and maybe a vampire.

He took it and a handful of the bullets, got his jacket, and backpack, and left out the back door, heading for the woods. He grabbed a few empty beer cans from the trash barrel, on the way down the path. After walking about half a mile, he set the cans up. Taking aim, he began shooting. He hit most of the cans, but kept practicing. After about an hour, he put it away, and thought he probably should tell Steve about it, now. Steve should come out here and practice; maybe he’d never shot a gun before.

He walked on down to the big cemetery, where his grandmother’s grave was. He felt like he needed advice. As he reached her headstone, he knelt down and brushed away some fallen leaves.

“Hey, grandmother, it’s me. Sorry I haven’t been here in awhile. Me and Steve had a lot of stuff to do. We went on a road trip, and saw some graveyards. They weren’t as nice as this one, though. We stayed in a haunted house, for real…and the lady said she used to know you, but I didn’t like her. She called me a liar, and she was mean, so we left.

Well, I really need to ask you something,” he stopped for a minute. Picking up a crisp, fallen leaf, he twirled it around. Taking a deep breath, he continued. “Steve went to buy a gun, today, because he didn’t know I already had one. So, should I tell him?” He closed his eyes, gathering his thoughts, and leaned back against the headstone.

“He says he’s gonna maybe have to kill a vampire. See, there’s this kid who’s half vampire, and he’s maybe after us… I don’t know. I’m kinda mixed up about it anyway. I know what I saw, and I already killed one, and so did Steve. But we had to, ’cause they would’a killed us. But sometimes I don’t even believe there is such a thing.” He frowned, remembering.

“I saw them turn into a pile of dust. So, what am I supposed to do?” He gazed up into the overhanging trees, trying to clear his mind to any messages he might receive. It was quiet way out here in the cemetery…only the sounds of nature. Sleepy chirping of birds, ready for their afternoon naps, was all he could hear. The breeze ruffled the tops of the trees, a few yellow and orange leaves, swirling down onto him. Picking one up, he studied it, knowing it was a small death, to the tree, but not a forever death; the tree would recover in the spring.

“Are you here?” he whispered into the air. He closed his eyes. Memories of him and his grandmother began to form in his mind’s eye. The times they’d walked in these woods, her showing him plants…good ones and bad ones. She’d taught him about the way insects and squirrels, and all of nature prepared themselves for the cold winter ahead. And, that they did the same, by gathering food from the garden, preserving it for later. He remembered her teaching him to use the gun, and her stories of the old days…how they’d learned to survive.

And, how there were good and bad people in the world, just like the insects and plants, and how each learned to defend themselves…their place in the world. They all had in them the will to survive, and the stakes were high. It was kill or be killed back then, just as now.

And then he could hear her voice, as clear as if she were right here in front of him. “Ghost child, you are a survivor. You are strong and you know in your heart what is right and what is wrong. You must allow this to guide you when faced with a choice…a difficult choice…in whatever form it presents itself to you.

Your spirit wants to live, at whatever cost, and you must take action to preserve that. You must be willing to do whatever it takes, to commit to your beliefs, and not be swayed in the presence of ridicule or evil. That is your true self. Listen to it, Ghost child, listen to it.”

Ghost opened his eyes, waiting for more, but there was no more. A feeling of calm and peacefulness was left in him. He felt more sure of what he should do, now. And now, it was time to go home…to find Steve, to face whatever came their way together.

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Next Part Coming soon

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Thanks for visiting! Peace ☮️

© 2020 BS

***

This is a work of “fan fiction” based on the novel, “Lost Souls” by Poppy Z. Brite. All credit for the original characters, places, and some backstory mentions, belong to Ms. Brite and her publishing affiliates. Only newly introduced characters, places, and original elements of this story are entirely from my imagination. Character descriptions are a blend of the original book descriptions and my interpretation of them.

All songs included in this work will be solely owned by the original performers/writers and will be credited. Creative license is taken in including them in this story.

No harm is intended toward author, musicians, or people and situations to whom there may be a resemblance.

warning      warning      warning      warning

The content herein is rated by me as being at the high end of MA (Mature Audience). It includes strong language, violence, sexual themes, including same sex pairings, religious themes, and fantasy horror.