A couple in their early stages was walking the mall. She pulled him into a Victoria's Secret store and picked up a frilly red nightie.
He scowled. "You aren't wearing that for me."
"But Babe, red is for love and romance."
"Blood and anger," he retorted.
"You said you left the service five years ago. You gotta let it go."
"You hold your buddy on the battlefield with blood gushing out of his guts and get over it."
"It's in the past..."
"It's every night in my colorful nightmares." He stormed away, leaving her there with no way home.
January 2, 2024, prompt from Charli Mills at Carrot Ranch Literary: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story using the color red. It can be a descriptor, a setting, a character, or a metaphor. How far can you get in a story by expanding “red”? Go where the prompt leads!
From behind the bar, Katie watched the female veteran come into the No Thanks and once again go to the shadowy back corner booth where Kurt was waiting. She said, “Grandpa, every time Gloria comes in here, she’s more gussied up. Have her talks with Kurt turned from discussing PTSD to more intimate ideas?”
“PTSD is pretty intimate if you ask me,” he responded.
She smacked his elbow. “You know what I mean. Maybe boyfriend and girlfriend?”
“You keep an eye out. You’ll soon get your answer.”
“Kurt kissed her hello! That’s cool. They can share understanding and happiness.”
Written in response to Charli Mills March 6, 2023, prompt at Carrot Ranch Literary: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about Gloria. You can name a character that comes to you as Gloria or you can interpret the Laura Branigan song into a story. What image comes to you? Go where the prompt leads!
The Band of Brothers was finishing a practice session at the No Thanks when two young women arrived. They purchased beers and went to the back corner, darkest booth like they were regulars. Soon, Kurt joined them.
They sat in the shadows long enough to have a second round that Mac delivered. At the bar, Katie asked who they were.
Mac explained, “We met them on Thanksgiving eve. Their MOS was the same as Kurt’s, but a generation later. They are discussing how to deal with things I hope you never experience nor volunteer for.”
“I won’t volunteer, Grandpa.”
Note: MOS stands for Military Occupation Speciality Code. In past episodes, it was revealed Kurt was an army sniper. Currently, there are less than 100 women in the Army that could be assigned the same job, but women are gradually becoming part of the front lines. It’s also a fact that only 10% of the troops deployed to the front experience combat. Others are mechanics, cooks, vehicle drivers, medics, etc.
In this episode, Mac doesn’t want his granddaughter to enlist in the military as service is often a generational family occurrence.
Sue Spitulnik 