Topic #4: My Little Green Monster

Write about envy (or if you want to look at it another way, jealousy).

Fretwork.

you haven't known love
until twelve calls at 2:10
praying for "hello"

The Fretmaker

Perhaps it was cruel of me to tell him to stop worrying
and list for him the consequences if he couldn't do it.

Topic #3: Fretting

Write about fretting.

It's True, You Know.

The boy was skinny, like Eric himself had been at his age, twenty year ago. Jesus, twenty years. The wide, toothy grin flashed easily, and he bounced carefree around the carpet with the two dogs, each of them heavier than he was. He'd try to tackle them and they would shake their enormous heads to break free, then cover him in doggie kisses. His spindly limbs swung around to catch one or both of the huge creatures and try to pin them down. Eric had considered joining in, but the three of them seem to have found their own little dance and he didn't want to intrude.

Half an hour later, laid up on the couch while his father checked his counts and attended to the boy's insulin pump, he still wore a dazed version of that same smile, still hung out a hand for the dogs to lick. Childhood, it seemed to Eric, was a force that would not be denied. You could saddle it with any number of burdens and it would not only find a way to express itself but would incorporate those burdens into its expression. It would not let go until its time was up. From his seat at the kitchen table, an adult among other adults at a dinner party for their own kind, he loved the little stranger on the couch.

An actual conversation

"I'll get those invitations to you later this week. You should try to come up with a guest list of 40 people."

"Mom."

"40 people? Really? That many? My apartment is too small for so many people."

"Mom."

"Well, not everyone's going to say yes. Even some of the people who say they'll come won't actually show up. Don't let that get to you, though."

"Mom."

So if I invite 40 people, how many do you think I should expect to make it?"

"Mommmm."

"Hmmm, well that depends. I'd say about 10-15, to be on the safe side. That would be a good turnout. They also might not all be there at the same time. Sometimes people will drop in and place an order and leave."

"Maaaaaaa."

"Well, okay. I suppose even if it's a bit cramped, it will be fun. Besides, the more people who come to the show, the more people who will potentially buy..."

"Mom!"

"...and the more people who buy, the more free jewelry you can earn!"

"Mom mom mom mommmmmm."

"What, Jason?"

"Um. Uhhh... um. Um... I smelled a funny noise?"

"..."

"Heh, you and Timothy Leary, kid."

Topic #2: When You Were Young

Please write about children or childhood.