The Word Worker

Tag: Moments

  • Memories

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    wordworkerrussell
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    My youngest turned five this week. It’s an odd feeling to realize my last baby is now officially school-age. I thought about trying to throw a big bash to mark such a momentous occasion, but with all the fullness of life we have going on right now that just wasn’t gong to happen. Fortunately she…

  • The Chapel

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    wordworkerrussell
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    “Boris, dorogoy, please come away from the window! The hall will not come to you, no matter how hard you stare. We must go to it, and soon or we will be late and the Chinovnik will mark against us.” Boris sighed and twisted his cap in gnarled fingers, his eyes not leaving the hall.…

  • The Mercy Seat

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    wordworkerrussell
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    On the Day of Atonement the High Priest carried the blood of the sacrificial bull and goat behind the veil and sprinkle it on the mercy seat. This was a symbol of God’s cleansing and sealing the people for His own holy purpose. It was also a solemn moment, as on the Day of Atonement…

  • Black and White Summer

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    wordworkerrussell
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    This flash fiction was inspired by a photo prompt that I unfortunately don’t have the right to share. You the reader get to imagine the scene for yourself this week! Enjoy! ********************************************* Gramps kept the old black and white postcard in his wallet, folded up neatly to fit in a card slot. Sometimes he would…

  • The Christmas Gnome

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    wordworkerrussell
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    Ellen switched on the light in the cluttered garage and sighed. She had put this off as long as possible but with the house being listed in a week there was no more time. Maybe she could just load all the boxes and junk without opening them, haul them to the dump, be done. She…

  • A Beautiful Mess

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    wordworkerrussell
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    Last night I made pumpkin sweet rolls to surprise my kids for Thanksgiving breakfast. I only do things like this for one reason – the reaction. The truth is that I hate cooking, especially baking. It’s tons of work, takes a ridiculous amount of time, and overheats the house. Often ingredients must be mixed just…

  • The Assignment

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    wordworkerrussell
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    “Today’s writing assignment is to write a one page short story using this picture.” “It’s a rowboat!” “I don’t know how to write about a rowboat!” “That’s a wooden framework, y’all.” Now, kids, there are many elements in the picture. There’s a sunset, and water, and a boat, and you’re right, some kind of wooden…

  • The Test

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    wordworkerrussell
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    Su Lin stood on the steps of the brick building, hands twisting the tail of her shirt into a tight knot. Today was the day. In a moment she would step through that door into the Naturalization Office. Mr. Munro would be waiting for her in his stuffy little office, a jar of pens and…

  • The Cafe

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    wordworkerrussell
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    The Cafe was still there, tucked away in its remote little corner. The structures surrounding it had grown even older and more drably brown with time, a stark contrast to its bright colors and neat facade. In the afternoon light it almost seemed a sun unto itself. The evening rush had not begun, and the…

  • Book Review: One Morning in Maine

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    wordworkerrussell
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    Robert McCloskey has always been one of my favorite storytellers. I love his gift of capturing the all-important little moments of childhood. One Morning in Maine chronicles one such rite of passage. Little Sal has a loose tooth, her first, and can think of nothing else. Losing a tooth means she’s a big girl and…