If you followed me back in the olden days đ , you might remember that I used to write quite a number of serials. Now I just eat them (cereals). J/K . But I thought, well, we’re smack dab in the holiday season, so why not?
And, again, in them olden days, I would have used WordPress’s daily prompt word as a starting point. Ah, well. Que sera sera. Instead, I’ll be integrating word(s) provided by Word of the day challenge and/or Fandango. And many thanks to both of these bloggers for stepping up. (I still shake my fist at WP for letting us all down on that and I’ll stop here before I go off on a harangue.)
I’m also try to find my writing humor again (presuming I ever had it.) So forgive me if some falls flat. They say the worst thing you can do to write funny is try too hard.
Shrug.
All of the entries will be 500 words or less–one sitting reading! As always, I’m open to comments or suggestions, so just drop a line or two or three…now more than that (kidding).
Here we go!

The Bat Out of Hell Returns!
I flick off the radio. Itâs filled with âho, ho, hoâ and Iâm filled with âno, no, no.â Whereâs Alexa when I need her to give me anti-Christmas songs? Or Iâm strong and I will survive songs? Any songs but happy, happy, joy, joy. Old car, old me, old news.
Every bit of stress builds up and finds its way to my right foot, which presses just a little harder on the gas pedal, which in turn results in flashing blue lights and a siren that doesnât play Christmas music. Thereâs something appropriate in that even if it leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
I pull over. This wonât be a âwelcome home, Madeleine.â After being away for thirteen years, I doubt anyone in the sheriffâs department recognizes me. At least I hope not. Those good times were not good for all. I think they had my picture at the center of a bullseye, although I could never find proof. I have some pretty fond memories of my antics, especially with my cohort, my best friend, my . . . thoughts better left for another day.
Rolling down my window, I wait, eyes forward. I donât even check outâwell, not muchâthe tall, well-built tan uniform approaching the driverâs side. Of course, I’m not noting the ripple of muscle in his forearms. Oh, the deputies have certainly changed since I left. They were all corpulent or string beans. I chide myself. Eyes front.
âAny idea how fast you were going, Miss?â The timbre of the voice is magical, deep, resonating, and . . . somewhat familiar.
â45?â Yeah. No. Iâm thinking 75 but wonât tell.
His laugh is dry. âBroken speedometer?â
âI donât think so.â NaĂŻve and sweet are not in my nature.
âLicense and registration, please.â
I hand them both to him. His footsteps begin to walk away, stop, and then approach again. This time he leans down and I can feel his stare.
Slowly I look over. Unforgettable blue gray eyes peer back at me.
âMaddie?â
Letâs call the next thing I do an out of body (mind) experience. My foot jams on the gas pedal and I am jettisoning back onto the old country road, leaving behind my driverâs license, my registration and the boy/man who I abandoned thirteen years for the greener pastures that have now become as fallow as a desert.
And, despite the fact that I hear the siren wailing behind me, I drive like the proverbial bat-out-of-hell, alas from the person who taught me how to drive like one, toward Great Aunt Killianâs farmhouse where Iâd hoped to find something more uplifting than the underwire bras that have been the only uplifting things in my life lately. There, Russ will take me to task or arrest me or kiss me into a coma (I bet heâs married with eight children so that makes the last one pretty unlikely). And, maybe Iâm a little turned on by this chase because it reminds me of the wild, happy girl who left Conroy, Virginia and not the broken one whoâs returned home. Maybe coming home wonât be so bad after all. A woman can hope, right?
end of 1st installment
All entries for Coming Home.
OMG tell me more….i neeeeed more!!!!!!!!!! This is exquisite…i’m hooked!
Thanks, Phyllis. I am sincerely going to try to make this work! đ
you have to! seriously your such a talented writer!!!!!!!!!!!!
thank you! đ
I honestly can’t wait to read a book! You have such a brilliant way of writing, of drawing your readers in…it would be an absolute delight and a winner!
I love that song and Brandi Carlile’s voice tyvm I seriously can’t wait!
The pressure, the pressure… đ
LMAO you can do it, I know it. Your awesome! smirk smirk that was great hehe
Unexpected. I like it. I can’t wait to see (read) what happens when he catches her!