Welcome to Week Three! Can you believe we’re at the halfway mark for the challenge?
You all did so well with your stories last week! There were so many interesting and unique ways you interpreted the prompt. It’s now the third week, so it’s time to do it again! Will your story have aliens? Zombies? Maybe it’ll have a dragon in it! Whatever you decide, we can’t wait to see what you come up with.
So, without further ado, here’s your next prompt!
Week Three Prompt – The Starting Sentence Prompt
Write a story that starts with the
following sentence: So this is what drowning feels like.
Wait…what’s a “Starting Sentence” prompt?
A sentence prompt is a prompt that uses a particular sentence. It doesn’t matter where your story takes place, who’s in it, or what’s said. The only thing that matters is that your story must start with this sentence: So this is what drowning feels like.
Before you start writing, we have some important rules for you to follow.
Writing Rules
1. Please keep the content of the stories you post to a PG rating. Please avoid real curse words. Violence/fighting should be limited and purposeful. Please do not include any spice.
2. Your story must be 1,000 words or less, and must contain the prompt to be counted for the challenge. You’re not required to post it in order to “win” the challenge, but if you want it to count for your team, your story must be posted by Sunday at 11:59 PM ET, and you must include your team name.
Remember to scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and post your story as an “answer” to this question, not a “comment”. 🙂 You’re all doing such a great job! I’m so proud of all the stories you’ve posted.
Happy Writing!
Will you notice if someone is like 1-25 words over the 1000 word limit (asking for a friend hahaha)
what if i accidently posted my story as a comment last week lol? does it still count?
Hey Izzy and Ava,
If you accidentally post your story as a comment instead of an answer, you should get an email to alert you! It will still count for points for your team, but no one will be able to vote for it.
And, to answer your question for your friend 😉 As far as word count, for your story to count for the challenge, it does need to be 1,000 words or under. Great questions!
Team A
(Always open to comments/critiques)
Mary’s Moment
by Michele Lieske
So this is what drowning feels like, Mary thought drolly as waves of water rolled over her.
She stood, dripping wet, on the outside of the bathtub, while her three children rolled with laughter inside the bathtub. It has been at Joy’s instigation again. Mary squeezed out her shirt.
“Okay guys, bath time is over. Pull the plug.”
Still laughing, six-year old Joy moved to obey while four-year old Nathaniel complained. Two-year old Grace just giggled along with her big sister.
Am I making a difference? Mary sighed as she lifted each child out and dried them off. She sent Joy and Nathaniel to their rooms for PJs while she carried Grace to her room and dressed her in cuddly pajamas. David, Mary’s husband, was at a church meeting tonight. He was one of the church elders and by day he was an engineer.
I feel like he does much more important work than I do. Mary thought
“Tickles mama” Grace reached up to Mary.
Mary smiled and obligingly blew raspberries into Grace’s belly button before zipping up the pajamas. Grace’s delighted giggle was so loud both Joy and Nathaniel came running. Joy was wearing her favorite princess nightgown but Nathaniel had his Ninja pajama shirt on backwards and only one leg in his pajama pants. Mary set Grace on the floor to help Nathaniel with his pajamas.
I know we agreed that my staying home with the kids was important, my idea even, but am I really doing anything worthwhile?
“Story mama!” Nathaniel begged as his foot finally came through the pajama pants.
“Soon honey, first we have to brush teeth.”
Mary herded all three children back to the bathroom, where she had forgotten the floor was soaked. She herded them right back out again, but not before Grace sat in a puddle. Sighing, Mary asked Joy to read them a story so she could dry out the bathroom. Joy was delighted at being given the responsibility and took Grace’s hand as she led her siblings to the living room.
“You both have to sit veeeery still and veeeeery quiet while I read so you don’t miss the story or pictures.” Mary heard Joy instructing them as they walked down the hallway.
Mary found the mop and began sopping up the mess. Her eyes quickly glanced around the room as she cataloged all she needed to do to set things aright. After she finished mopping, she could hear Joy still reading to Nathaniel and Grace so she moved on to cleaning out the bath tub and putting away the toys.
This will just need to be redone tomorrow. What kind of lasting difference am I making? Am I just wasting my life? Mary wondered as she walked down the hallway to again herd the kids to the bathroom to brush teeth.
“Look at how good I am mommy!” Joy said as she brushed her teeth, dripping toothpaste all over her face and pajamas.
“I do by myself!” Nathaniel insisted, grabbing the toothpaste and squeezing it much too hard over his toothbrush.
“No brush!” Grace argued, clenching her mouth shut when Mary tried to insert the toothpaste.
David is getting to help plan the summer outreach event and help pastor visit the homebound. I’m brushing teeth and cleaning up toothpaste. Mary thought, blinking rapidly.
After cleaning up the toothpaste from the kids’ faces, the countertop, and yes, even the floor, Mary sent Joy to change her pajama top into a clean one, Nathaniel to pick out a book, and took Grace to change her into clean and dry pajamas, setting the ones Grace had worn for thirty minutes into the overflowing laundry hamper.
What am I possibly doing that makes a difference? What should I be doing? Mary’s heart cried out for answers.
After each child selected a book they all climbed into Joy’s bed together. Snuggled up, Mary read each of their bedtime stories. They said their evening prayers and sang “Jesus Loves Me” together before Mary kissed Joy goodnight, told her she loved her, and picked up Grace. Nathaniel followed Mary out of Joy’s room, but not before tripping over the books scattered on her floor.
More things to clean up that will stay a mess. Mary thought as she helped Nathaniel back up.
With Grace in her arms, Mary tucked Nathaniel into bed with a kiss and a “Good-night. I love you,” like she had with Joy, then left to take Grace to her bed. She nearly lost her balance with the toddler in her arms when she stepped on a matchbox car hiding in the dark. A tear slipped down her cheek.
Mary sat in the rocker, nursing Grace with a heavy heart and tears in her eyes. Will I ever do anything important? Grace snuggled in while Mary sang “Jesus Loves Me” once again and soon her soft, rhythmic breathing filled the room. Mary gently and carefully carried Grace over to the bed and laid her down. She brushed the toddler’s hair out of her face before kissing her forehead.
“Good-night, I love you.” She whispered before tiptoeing out to her own room.
Mary knew there was so much cleaning yet to do. She still had dishes to clean, the living room to put back in order, and piles of laundry to wash. She felt so weighed down she went to her own room for just a moment to gather her strength.
Oh Lord, will I ever doing anything important? Or will my whole life be mundane? I have nothing to show for how I spend my days.
She didn’t mean to, but Mary soon fell asleep exhausted, on top of the blankets, wearing still slightly damp clothing. Meanwhile, three children smiled as they slept with feelings of love and security.
I love this Michele! And it’s so close to Mother’s Day too. Now that I’m older I often think to myself the many sacrifices my mom made to care for me and my brother as a housewife. I know like Mary there are times when she feels overwhelmed and doubtful about her purpose, but the actions and smiles of Mary’s children truly reveal what she’s been questioning all along. Very loving story highlighting moms!
Very nice. Bonus points for using my name and the facts that I was an Elder and an Engineer.
Thanks for sharing. This made me think of some of my own experiences as a Mama of four! The first broken bone I ever had came from stepping on a toe crane walking down the basement stairs… I slide down half the staircase with a baby in my arms, scared to death. Broke my big toe in two places. It was quite the event!
Wait so if we like accidentally post our stories as a comment here, will it count or be ignored?