The darker side of chocolate

Weekly Writing Prompt No. 73

Hello lovely people and thank you for a. opening this email and b. joining me for my weekly writing prompt. For those new to The Writing Shed, the weekly writing prompt is the core of my activity here on Substack. Paid members can also find an archive of courses I’ve created and access all past writing prompts, flash fiction, writing hints and tips, articles and essays in The Index.

I’ve moved the prompt to the beginning so you can have a go before reading my interpretation. So have fun, and enjoy your reading and writing and if you find my newsletters helpful why not …

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The Prompt

This week I’m returning to simplicity with a photo prompt. I haven’t done this for so long and as it’s the holiday season here in the UK, I thought it might be nice for us all to take things easy.

If you feel like sharing, please add your ideas in the comment section below. I’m always curious about how people interpret the same thing.

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“Would you like some of my chocolate Grandma?”

I looked at Ben and smiled. The last time I’d had a bar of chocolate must have been before the war started, before the rationing came and there was no time, or money for things like sweets.

I remember Mother staring at me in horror when Mr Greaves came to the door to tell her what I’d done.

“I really don’t know you Lucy”, she’d said.

And I, shame-faced, had fiddled with one end of my hair, eyes filling with tears.

She’d handed over the money and pushed me forward to apologise. “Go on Lucy, apologise for what you’ve done; and Mr Greaves, if she’s ever in your shop again, you send her home immediately”.

There was no smack, not like some of the other kids would have had, rather the feeling that somehow I would never be quite good enough again. Her punishments had always been on the lenient side, according to Father, but they were effective.

“I’m very sorry Mr Greaves, it won’t happen again, promise”. I remember my voice was wavering, the words stuck in my throat as they fought with my breath to make it to the surface first.

He smiled back at me, I think he realised that essentially I was OK. “I’m sure it won’t Lucy”.

When Mother closed the door firmly I knew it was time to head to bed. She looked at me and said quietly “Did you enjoy the chocolate?”

I shook my head, the truth was I hadn’t and I’ve not touched a piece since.

“Thank you for offering Ben, but I don’t like it so you enjoy it yourself”. He smiled back at me and stuffed the first piece in his mouth.

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Reflect

I include a reflection opportunity with every writing prompt because our writing always wells up from our inner landscape.

In the story, Lucy knows she’s done something wrong as soon as she steals the chocolate; it’s probably why she didn’t enjoy eating it. As uncomfortable feelings often accompany uncomfortable actions I’m curious about why we still do things we know might make us feel bad.

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If you’re 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.

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Missing in Action

This new section of the weekly newsletter is dedicated to all the words removed from dictionaries over the years. Words that define and describe our world, but which are deemed no longer necessary.

This edition is dedicated to the word Deliciate.

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The Weekly Soulshine

Something to do …

I may have mentioned that Abbotsbury and Portesham villages are celebrating their millennium this year. Tomorrow, Saturday, there is a Millennium Fayre at Portesham School. Extreme Falconry, Elizabethan Dancing, Axe Throwing, Welly Wanging and Basket Weaving will be on offer, as well as so much more. And yours truly has a Writing Shed stall too, so if you’re in the area why not pop in and have a chat. https://map24.org/millennium-fayre/

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The Weekly Writing Competition

This week it’s the turn of the Storyhouse Biographical Non-Fiction Competition. Each entry must be a true story of an individual(s) known to the author personally. Scroll down this page to find a few more details: https://www.storyhouse.org/contest2024.html and then follow the instructions on this page: https://www.storyhouse.org/how.html to submit your entry.

My new book The Music Master is currently on sale in the BIG Smashwords Summer Sale at just $1.25 use the code C59T9 at the checkout to benefit:

With love, light, and laughter
Linda
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(Image by Pexels from Pixabay)

The post ‘The darker side of chocolate’ appeared first on my original blog in 2013 and was moved to Substack in 2022. This is a reposting of the original story with a different image.