One small step
Weekly Writing Prompt No. 85
Hello everyone and welcome to the latest writing prompt. This month I’m exploring the moon, sometimes directly, mostly side-along. This is a side-along …
A writing prompt for anyone who has managed to avoid them thus far can never be right or wrong. Its only purpose is to help you exercise your creative writing muscle, and it does this by taking you out of your literary comfort zone and helping you explore a different side of your internal creative genius. So dive in, try something new and above all have fun.
My writing is reader-supported and is an important part of how I make a living. Everyone can read most new posts for about a month before disappearing behind a paywall. My work is supported by those who are able and willing to do so. If that’s you, you can subscribe at the usual rate of £3.50/month or £35/year. It’s roughly the cost of a (cheap) coffee every month. Alternatively, why not share this post with friends, family, writer connections and anyone else who wants to explore their creative self?
Sandy looked at the flight of stairs with trepidation! It looked long and it looked hard but she’d promised Jack she would make the effort. With a sigh she lifted her right leg and pulled herself up, her gammy leg landing beside it. What was it Neil Armstrong said when he walked on the moon? One small step..!
“Just another twelve to go” she thought and started on step two.
Ten minutes later and feeling slightly queasy from the effort she looked back over the bannister rail. Giving herself a mental pat on the back, she hobbled to the bedroom where Jack was waiting.
“See, I said it’d be fine”, he smiled at her.
She grinned, “I never realised how much effort it took to get upstairs before”.
“Why would you, we just take it for granted. After all, it’s not every day you lose a leg.” Climbing off the bed he grabbed her hand and pulled her into a tight hug.
“We can do this together you know.” He spoke softly into her hair, “you don’t have to be afraid as I’ll be there to catch you if need be”.
She glanced up at his face, clear dancing eyes smiled down on her and she felt safe.
“I know, and I’ll always be there to catch you too my love.” Sandy whispered back.
The Prompt and Reflection
Great changes are often made up of different-sized steps. One decision leads to another, leads to another and so on. In this story, the initial change was profound, the loss of her leg may have happened due to an accident or illness. The next change Sandy makes though is taking the first step to get up the stairs towards a different kind of healing.
If you were to tell a story about one small step, what would it involve and why?
If you feel like sharing your thoughts please leave a comment as I’m always curious to read what everyone creates.
Mentoring
If you are a writer who wants to manifest your writing hopes and dreams from the practical and pragmatic to the esoteric and spiritual, or who would like to clear any subconscious self-sabotage you may be experiencing, why not work with me? To find out more head over to my website by clicking the button below.
With love, light, and laughter
Linda
x
(Image by Klaus Stebani from Pixabay)
CONFIDENCE IS THE KEY.
Brad had worked for me for a few years. We worked well together, and he enjoyed the work we did. In time, like all lads. He needed more money than a labourer’s wage. I encouraged him to go out alone. I would always be there to lend a hand if he needed it. The first year I helped him with many jobs until he was fully confident. After a while the only phone call I got was when he had a kitchen to fit. They are the hardest thing to do. The rooms are almost never square, and they need to stand close inspection. In other words, you need to work to half millimetre accuracy. Everything is very expensive and if you make a mistake, you can throw away a £400 work top. The phone calls usually came when Brad had fitted all the cabinetry and there were only the worktops left to cut. This meant I got all the stress. Brads excuse was always that he didn’t have the jig to cut them with. I walked into the kitchen and put the jig on the table. I told him that I had shown him how to fit worktops so many times that this time I was going to watch him do it. I was going to be the labourer. His face dropped and his usual happy look was replaced by a look of sheer terror. He told me he didn’t know where to start. I said of course you do; you are just waiting for me to confirm it. So, get on and do the job. I said I would stop him if I saw anything wrong. I checked his measurements as he went along. I checked he set the tools up right. I watched him make the first cut. I watched everything. It was so frustrating. He was triple checking everything and taking so long before he made each cut. I was doing all the labouring jobs that he would normally have done while I did the cutting. Time was going on but he was getting more relaxed as each bit was cut and fitted. In the end we finished an hour or so later than usual, but the job was as good as anyone could wish for. All the joints were tight and invisible. I poured us both a cup of coffee. I hadn’t had to intervene at all. Brad said he would still ask me to come and help with the next kitchen to boost his confidence. I told him that he could do the job as well as me, but he was right he needed to have the confidence to do it. Next time I sent my present labourer, so he had back up, but had to rely on his own knowledge. Of course. I would still be on the phone in an emergency. I must have trained him well because I never did get a call.