The countdown has begun in earnest. Five days from the end of the challenge, I see the possibility of my finishing it.
Today’s story is short — STOP CHEERING! — in tribute to my new internet friends Nikita the Cat and his sister, Elvira, Mistress of Felinity. Their daddy, Kiril Kundurazieff, helps them post 100 word cat stories on their very own blog, The Opinionated Pussycat. This month, they’ve been chronicling the adventures of Aubrey, who was stolen from his boy but escaped captivity.
In honor of Nikita, Elvira, Aubrey, and Kiril, today’s story is exactly 100 words.
Hand of Judgment
by Marian Allen
How many times had his mother’s hand smacked his young bottom? How many meals had it helped prepare, helped serve? How many times had it gripped his head, turning his face toward his plate while his mother ordered him to eat so the children in Asia wouldn’t starve?
How many letters had it written his grown self, questioning his decisions, criticizing his choices, dampening his enthusiasms?
Hospital beeps marked time as he sat beside her bed, waiting, hoping. He took the offending hand between both of his, lifted it and kissed it.
Come back, he told it. All is forgiven.
~ * ~
MY PROMPT FOR TODAY: 5
MA
Kiril Kundurazieff
May 27, 2013 at 8:32amWonderfful!
Nikita, the author of the May series on The Opinionated Pussycat, is well pleased by the honor you give him by writing one of your own, but he’s a tad cranky this morning after his morning breakfast, and has gone off to take a nap and contemplate his own Day 27 piece for later(He claims it’s his arthritis acting up)….
You see, the one thing we have always had a hard time explaining to non-pet bloggers is that Nikita and Elvira are among those who do their own writing and most of the research (I do what can only be done by leaving the apartment w/o the kitties).
I am just their “Official Research Assistant and Photographer”! 😀
Marian Allen
May 27, 2013 at 10:41amPoor Nikita! I hope his arthritis eases. 🙁 I didn’t know there were pet strollers! That sounds like a good thing for an arthritic kitty to have.
Please tell Nikita and Miss Elvira, or let them read for themselves, that I apologize if I indicated they were in any way less than totally responsible for the wonderful posts on The Opinionated Kitty! I was judging them by Katya, who makes me do as much of her work as possible.
Nikita and Elvira
May 27, 2013 at 11:05amApology accepted, hee, hee!
We miss our Pussycat Purrambulator!
Because the bus systems in SoCal allowed pet carriers on wheels on the bus, as long as they didn’t block movement in the aisles, we actually ranged pretty far, though mostly for an hour or 3, especially on trips to the vet.
Nikita once made it all the way to Long Beach for a story, on a 4 hour trip, and managed to get back home in Santa Ana and his litterbox. 😀
We have a whole picture filled archive for any kitties and their humans who may be contemplating getting a stroller.
http://www.opinionatedpussycat.com/strolling-come-stroll-with-me-see-the-world/
Kiril Kundurazieff
May 27, 2013 at 8:59amI should say that there have been times that Nikita and Elvira HAVE left the apartment, and done more than paw the keyboard, for a story, but that was when we had a pet stroller.
The one I had broke just before we moved to Texas last September. 😀
Jane
May 27, 2013 at 9:48amA really good story.
Marian Allen
May 27, 2013 at 10:42amHi, Jane! ~waves happily~
Holly Jahangiri
May 27, 2013 at 10:03amDammit. You made me cry. In under 500 words, you made me cry. I think I need another adventure on the high seas, now, to get over it.
Marian Allen
May 27, 2013 at 10:43amYou want an adventure on the high seas? I gotcher adventure on the high seas. Still working on it, anyway. “Surviving the Book” is under construction.
Maryann Miller
May 27, 2013 at 2:49pmWhat a touching story. I cried, too. So glad it ended with forgiveness, that made her passing easier for both of them. The chaplain knows. (smile)
Marian Allen
May 27, 2013 at 3:03pmIn my head, she gets better. 🙂
Maryann Miller
May 27, 2013 at 5:46pmAnd since you wrote the story you can do whatever you want. (smile)
Jen Christopherson
May 27, 2013 at 4:34pmOh! You made me cry!!! How sad this story is today! What a great writer you are! I thought of my relationship with my own mother for many years. I am grateful to say, we have a great relationship now! I am proud of the progress she has made since her stroke in December. We are looking at walking without a walker! Yay!
Marian Allen
May 27, 2013 at 4:57pmCongratulations on your mother’s progress AND ON YOUR BOOK RELEASE!!! How great is that??? I just ordered my copy. How could I resist that title? WARRIOR CRONE — I love it!
My mom had a stroke seven years ago, and ended up regaining everything except some of her eyesight. Then she fell and conked the back of her head and gained some sight back!
Hugs to your bf, your mom, and your bf’s mom. 🙂
Jen Christopherson
May 27, 2013 at 8:30pmI am sooooo walking on cloud 9!!!! Wow! I am amazed at the wonderful things happening in my life right now! I am grateful for my Father in heaven.
You bought you a copy?!? Oh! I hope you enjoy it! I had a great time writing and editing it.
Mr. Nikita Cat
May 27, 2013 at 11:37pmMarian, this is really cool!
A very moving story, thank you for trying your own 100 word story and succeeding so brilliantly!
As for our old Feline Utility Vehicle; I miss it, especially being able to take naps & snoozes in it when not in use!
I have just posted my own Day 27…The Returned
Marian Allen
May 28, 2013 at 10:05amMr. Nikita, thank you for introducing me to 100 word stories. I had heard of them before, and had even read some, but you caused me to want to try one myself.
Katya says she would only want a stroller if I took the wheels off and sat in it myself. She doesn’t want to sit anywhere except next to me or in my chair.
Christine Campbell
May 28, 2013 at 3:52pmLoved this one, Marian. Poignant and beautiful. Thank you. X
Christine
Marian Allen
May 28, 2013 at 4:40pmThank you, Christine. 🙂
Jo Robinson
May 30, 2013 at 12:48pmAww! Poor little guy. Pets really do know what’s happening around them, and feel for the humans they love, I reckon. Lovely story Marian.
Marian Allen
May 30, 2013 at 9:25pm<3