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“I last posted during week 44 and it’s week 51, which means I have six entries to post.”
One down, five to go! 😉
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#52weeks52stories: Week 45
Word prompt: journal
Word count – 281
Reading time – 1 mins, 10 secs
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“Wake up, sleepyhead! It’s Christmas!”
Gordie Williams bolted upright.
Aw, man. I overslept.
He rolled out of bed, brushing past his older brother.
Not slowing down at the top of the stairs, Gordie took them two at a time.
He raced into the family room and dropped at the foot of the Christmas tree, his eyes searching the piles of boxes and gift bags.
Finding the box with the Tompkins Fine Writing Essentials label-tape, the twelve-year-old’s heart leapt into his throat.
Gordie lifted the box with reverence and leaned back against the sofa.
Removing the top, his fingers caressed the faux leather journals. His lips twitched at the corners as he picked up one of the balanced pens.
No more one-subject notebooks. No more of his father’s cast-off legal pads with the scant few pages left, or dried-up pens from the 99-Cent Store left too long on the shelf.
Gordie fanned the pages of the matching undated planner wondering which story he should write first—the epic pirate adventure or the one about the magician’s son with low self-esteem.
He jumped when his mom knelt next to him, sliding her arm around his shoulder.
“Merry Christmas, baby.”
“Thanks, mom. Merry Christmas.”
Celeste Williams kissed her youngest son’s forehead.
“Mr. Lawrence is a great English teacher, Gordie, but never let anyone tell you your imagination is too broad or unbelievable.”
She reached out, touching the gift box.
“Write your stories, baby. Your way.”
Gordie dropped the writing tools and pulled his mother into a tight hug. It muffled his reply as he buried his face into her neck to hide the tears forming.
“I will, momma. I will.”
And he did.
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Felicia Denise, Author 