Six Sentence Stories – The Blizzard
“Sir, you can return when we re-open the warming shelter this evening.” She knew that he would not; turning him out into a blizzard was an act even the devil would find unthinkable.
He squared his shoulders, willing the lump in is throat and the tears behind his eyes not to betray him. “I understand.”
Icy shards stabbed at his skin as he picked his way forward to nowhere, stopping only to huddle in a doorway to rest.
He heard a tiny mewl at his feet as he pulled open the can the woman had thrust into his pocket. Her little body tucked inside his coat, man and cat shared their meager feast as the door behind them opened.
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This has been a Six Sentence Story.
Each week, the lovely and talented Ivy Walker hosts a fun and challenging link-up asking writers to spin a tale in six sentences – no more, no less.
Click right here to find this week’s prompt and link up your own post. While you’re there, click on the blue frog button to find more six sentence stories from some terrific storytellers.
This week’s prompt was CAN.
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Sad, and heartwarming. Lots of imagery crammed in to those six sentences, Lisa. Lovely piece.
Wow, Kimmie! You got here fast! 🙂 Thanks for reading.
Yeah, this makes me sad but I wanted a little compassion in there, too.
You nailed it!
🙂
Sad . often true. Although ive never asked anyone to leave DURING the snow…. After can be just as tough.
Absolutely. A warming shelter near here actually did this during our recent storm, claiming they had no staff and had to close during the day…which is how these work, I guess, the theory being that during daytime it’s a bit warmer and stores and restaurants are open for shelter. But in this storm everything was closed and conditions are awful. If they had put out a plea for volunteer I promise you people would have helped.
Such a sad, all too true story. I felt the icy shards stabbing his skin. But there’s a warmth generated by his pocket friend and the sharing. Great job.
Sad because it happened. Not exactly like this, of course – totally my fiction. But the shelters closing in the morning? Yes, that happened. It was on our news the other day. Shocking.
I read this earlier today and got called away from my computer, but I loved this flash piece so much that I had to come back and say what a great story this is! The emotion is thick, and I feel so sorry for the poor guy. If only we humans had as much compassion for our fellow human beings as this man had for the kitten. Alas, life is a series of unfortunate events for some of us, and even when we intend to do more, sometimes we just can’t. I felt that in this piece, too. Thank you for sharing!!
Sondi, thank you so much for reading AND for coming back to say such lovely things. It’s nice to “meet” you!
Hmm…yes, if only we all had so much compassion. Are you familiar with the 1000 Voice Speak for Compassion group? You should check us out. PM me if you want more info, OK? Easier than taking up all the comment space here. You can also just click here… http://www.facebook.com/1000VoicesSpeak or here… http://1000voicesspeak.org/.
I will check it out, thank you!
Welcome!
Good grief, I can imagine this happening. But as always, you leave me wanting MORE, my dear – who opened the door? What next? DANGIT!
I really really love these six sentence things. I always hope to leave the end a bit of a cliffhanger. I could tell you what happens next…or not. 😀
When I write these, if anyone cares, I usually tell my story however it falls out of my head first, then work to make it six sentences (this one refused to go less than seven for about an hour) and also in as few words as possible. It’s just a thing I’m working on. I think I’m raging against all the descriptive narrative writing courses that said to use vivid adjectives. I’m trying to paint my picture without them. *laughs evilly*
Clearly, I need to sleep. 😀
Hehehe don’t we all, always need sleep!
As few words as possible! Reminds me of that ‘shortest story ever written’ in six words, which, as I recall, is something along the lines of “For sale, baby shoes. Never worn.”
Eli over at Coach Daddy does a six words roundup every month – just did one the other day and I saw Beth T. in the list. Anyway, those are always fun and sometimes rather thought-provoking because when you only have six words, you have to choose wisely.
Anyway.
I’m hoping to get back on a wiser sleep schedule this week. I’ve been quite backwards for about the last ten days.
Yeah, he once asked me to be part of it and I agreed but he never followed up with anything, so I’m none the wiser.
I’m hoping that when I’m in Murica, my sleep goes to ‘normal’ because I’ll be in the right timezone 🙂
oh man!*
too good a story.
* a compliment on the emotionally potent story from the Y Chrome side of the fence.
I love the “oh man!” *fist pump*
How important stories such as this one are for us to put a perspective on shelters and their work. Those with homes to go to often do not give the homeless much though at all and the feelings the dispossessed have too. Excellent post.
Thank you, Old Egg. And you’re absolutely right. The woman here was just doing her job, following the rules. But the circumstances on this occasion were extraordinary – where in the world would staffers think these people would go in a blinding snowstorm? All for lack of staffing. A public plea for volunteers would have helped, I’m sure of it. People have a way of jumping in where help is needed. I’ve seen it.
Ah this was like a smack in the face. Society really does my head in. Brilliant emotive writing as usual.
Doesn’t it? Unbelievable how people can be sometimes. The headline really touched my heart and this is what happened as a result. Thanks!
Great story! We are on the same wavelength, that was the direction I was thinking of taking the prompt too!
Well we kind of have snow on the brain here…and on the ground…and everywhere. So it was kind of obvious. Although how I got from “can” to blizzard is beyond me. OH, right – the tuna. 😀
Oh boy! So much of emotion in a six sentences. And to think that this might be close to the truth.
Hi, Corinne. Yes, that’s the saddest part – that there is some truth behind this one. Horrible. But I’m glad that the emotional reaction came through.
Sad and sweet at the same time. Love it!
Thanks, Brian. I’m glad both elements came through. Thanks for stopping by!
Well written. In few words you painted a world I could visualize and feel (brr….)!
Thank you, May. I’m sorry I made you cold, but I’m glad it was effective!
This is the reality for too many people in our country. I cannot imagine being on either side of that door, I am often heartbroken enough by the limited help we are able to provide or refer to where I work. It is never enough, it often feels inhumane. Answers are too few. What spoke volumes in your story is not only the heart of the person responsible for clearing the shelter for the day, but also the heart of the man who shared all he had with the kitten who was surely just as cold and miserable. We can all take a lesson from that. Do what we can, share what we have!
You’re absolutely right, Josie. Thank you for your beautiful words.