Dear Santa,

Maybe it’s a stretch, given the incident with fluffy, 

And when I said your lap is comfortable, I meant to compliment, 

not that you’re, like, a big fatty,

Um,

Never Mind.

http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/

For many of us, the holiday season is in full force.  Which can be amazing, overwhelming, exhausting and even depressing.  I re-discovered the magic by recalling my favorite holiday movie, Elf.  The wacky humor and the irrepressible optimist, Buddy the elf, can melt the cold, black heart of the Grinchiest of us.  And make us laugh until we turn the snow yellow.

This weekend we're asking you to write 33 words that will make us laugh or smile.  Even a chuckle will do.  We look forward to the communal spirit lifting.  Good luck!

Anticipation

Anticipation

“Ho, dear, stop fidgeting. You’re making me nervous. I’ve been making this trip for well over a thousand years now. It will go as smooth as skates on ice. I promise.”

“I know, dear. I just don’t want.. It’s getting late, is all.”

“Just one last kiss. I’ll check in at Florida and let you know how I’m getting on.”

“Okay, but if I don’t answer the phone... I might be sleeping, you know.”

“As if you could sleep with me gone all night. I know how you worry. Well, I’m off. Merry Christmas, dear.”

“Merry Christmas.”

At last. He’s gone. My one night off a year. I hope my little red dress still fits.

http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/

There is anticipation in the air around these parts.  Anticipation of semesters ending, of reunions with distant loved ones, of sleigh bells on rooftops.  We hope you are all reveling in it instead of being consumed by it.  And we hope you revel in the weekly prompt.  Good luck!

ANTICIPATION (noun)

1

a : a prior action that takes into account or forestalls a later action

b : the act of looking forward; especially : pleasurable expectation

2

: the use of money before it is available

3

a : visualization of a future event or state

b : an object or form that anticipates a later type

My Definition of Forgiveness:

Paper towels sandwiched in mommy’s purse 

between cheerios and a shopping list. 

Because sometimes the potty 

is too far away. 

And that’s okay.

Surprisingly, courage’s definition is the same.

From the website http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/

This weekend we are giving you three variations on a prompt.  We need you to give us 33 words back, and 2 of those words must be either "cheap flights," "sandwiched in" or "spectacularly clean."  This weekend, your piece must also be non-fiction (poetry or prose).  And yes, we reserve the right to call your mothers and former lovers to ask for verification on your tales.

This weekend's challenge, being a Trifextra evenly divisible by three, will be judged by the community.  Please be sure to come back and click on your favorite three posts (or up to three posts).

How to Heal 

If your victim is small, weak and annoying, a sharp strike should suffice nicely.  Think empty paper towel roll, stray sneaker or cast off copy of Cosmo. 

For a more stubborn object, it helps to cut it in half with something sharp, exposing the softer inside before applying rapid taps of a pestle.  The vitamin, reduced to powder, added to my daughter’s strawberry smoothie. “Pinkmyfavoritecolor!” Her smile is expected; it unmakes me still. 

If your aim is to disfigure, and you are of a patient disposition, the slow turning of a screw, mechanized by relentless teasing, petty cruelties, missed opportunities for praise and bonding and outright rejection over the course of thirty-five years or so can do the trick quite nicely; the tired cliche of a truncated childhood. 

Sometimes, though, the pain is acute. “Oh honey, I’m so sorry, I didn’t see your fingers, I should have paid closer attention, I shouldn’t have closed the drawer so fast.” Her hands clenched together above my shoulders. My esophagus is flattened, but I welcome it.

And then the crush feels more like a melt. “It’s okay, mommy...,” her little girl voice, staccatoed by sobs, “you didn’t... mean it... it’s not... your fault.”

---

The challenge:

This week's word is:

CRUSH (transitive verb)

1a : to squeeze or force by pressure so as to alter or destroy structure <crush grapes>
b : to squeeze together into a mass
2 : hug, embrace
3 : to reduce to particles by pounding or grinding <crush rock>

Please remember:
Your response must be between 33 and 333 words.
You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post.
The word itself needs to be included in your response.
You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above.
Only one entry per writer.