I know ya’ll will think this real queer, but Netta jotted a note next to every wine stain on her tablecloth. Used a Sharpie; make it stick.
Weddin’ night 5/21/68
Mama passed 7/18/68
Baby stillborn 3/21/70
Bought me a rowboat. Waaaa-hoo!!! 8/20/70
For why did Hank shoot Boomer-the-Mutt? 6/1/71
Floozie in our house!!! 1/1/72
Hank done punched me!!! 3/12/73
Bought me a new fry pan, feelin’ better 3/15/73
Damn! Punched me again! 12/24/73
Walloped s.o.b. in the head Mary Merry Christmas. 12/25/73
s.o.b ain’t movin.’ 12/26/73
Real nice row in the swamp today 12/27/73
I’m tellin’ ya, read the table. Them dates is scattered, but the truth is in there. Guarantee.
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Up From the Ashes 
Sounds like he was asking for it.
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Indeed! Thanks, James.
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It’s right there in black and white and wine… he done deserved it real good.
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He sure nuf did. Thanks, Dale.
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Glad she bought that frying pan. =)
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She is too. Thanks.
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I hope she destroys it before the police come looking round. Great idea.
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Me too! Thanks, Ian
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Inventive,Alicia, so inventive
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Thanks, Neil.
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That was…. well… something my Mom would have done had we a tablecloth or sharpie. For her, it was keys… every key had a memory, a man, a bar, a car, etc. etc. So darn heavy to carry away when she died. Somehow, can’t bear to part with them, especially the ones that were her and Daddy’s “special” keys.
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Interesting! I bet they were a bit heavy to carry around. Thanks for sharing, Jelli
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Wow, that was a brilliant read. I loved the ‘voice’ in this. Well done.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you!
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the tablecloth will be a fitting heirloom someday. somebody better take care of it. 🙂
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Indeed.
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LOL – maybe I shouldn’t be laughing at the harshness of some of the hard aspects jotted down here, but the voice, the tension, and the end results are just priceless. Well done and what a great twist of inspiration from the prompt!
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Thanks, wildchild!
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An innovative narration – very impressive.
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Thanks so much, yarnspinnerr
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What a great story this is, from the inventive set up to the voice, to the gradual build of events to the nice row through the swamp. Really terrific and my favourite of the week.
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Oh! That makes me so happy! Thanks! 🙂 Just before I fell asleep one night I thought about someone tracking their life through wine stains. I’m glad I jotted it down before I fell asleep.
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I’m glad you did too! That’s my failing, writing ideas down that come as I’m about to doze off, or ones that come in the middle of the night. You think you’ll remember but you never do. It’s a good discipline to have
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I love the structure you’ve devised for this; so ingenious. And the voice is just great. A little gem of a story Alicia!
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Thank you, Penny.Just before I falling asleep one night I thought about someone tracking their life through wine stains. I’m glad I jotted it down. I’d never have remembered it in the morning.
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Brilliant Alicia!
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Thank you very much.
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I had a feeling when the frying pan came after the first punch it and Hank were going to get acquainted. Nice one!
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I made Nettie by a frying pan, because at first I just had her hit him and that didn’t have much impact (ha!). Also I was trying to have something on the list that wasn’t negative.
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Dear Lish,
There’s a man what needed killin’. Ma knew how to keep a journal. Good one!
Shalom
Rochelle
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Maybe should hide the journal under the bed. Thanks, Rochelle. Have a grand day.
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This is so original and quirky. Love the voice
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Thanks very much! Glad you stopped by.
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Oh, the truth is in there alright ….!
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Yes indeed. Thanks for reading!
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He had it coming. Sometimes a girl just needs a frying pan.
Tracey
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And a boat! Don’t forget the boat.
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And a boat
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Love that- could make an excellent novel…
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Thanks for thinking so. Alicia
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Love the story love the style, Alicia. Delightfully different and welcomely so!
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Thanks, Keith! It was fun to write.
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Sad and funny at the same time. Well done.
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Thanks for reading and finding it both. Alicia
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sho did dish this out – to reap what he be sewing….
ha
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Indeed! Thanks for reading.
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🙂
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Absolutely brilliant!
Such a lot of story in just 100 words.
I loved the jumbled number pattern that was really unique too.
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Thanks, Moon. It took a bit to make the dates jumbly. I appreciate your noticing that.
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So clever the way you told this. Netta has had a hard life and Hank was asking for it. I hope Netta enjoyed all subsequent rows in the swamp.
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Thanks! I think she does. 🙂
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A unique example of show dont tell – awesome!
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Thanks so very much, Dahlia.
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Sometimes it only takes a single note to draw the conclusion…
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It surely does. Thanks, Bjorn.
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Wonderful!
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Thank you!
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AND … yet, another use for wine. Stains to locate just where our lives are going.
Hubby wasn’t going anywhere too soon. Hopefully, his head stained the tablecloth too.
Isadora 😎
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Oh! You can be a wee bit naughty! Happy Valentine’s Day! HugsnKisses to you and yours.
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😊🤗 Happy Heart Day 😍
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What an imaginative way to record events, cryptically and in the voice of the woman. Liked that she wrote next to the wine stains !
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Thank you very much.
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