I want to start off by thanking everyone for providing me with such a great list of word prompts. I have plenty of inspiration to draw from in the days and weeks to come. I promise to use every word, at some point, in the next few weeks. So, if you don’t see your story right away, not to worry, it is bubbling away in the cauldron of my imagination and will be ready soon.
I was challenged this very day by one of my writing mentors, Jo-Anne Teal, to create a 33-word post that revolves around the word, “change”. She said that she was going to play along by publishing her own post tonight. So, I found some quiet moments this evening and cobbled together the following piece of writing. i hope that you like it.
The Other Side of the Fence
Once I was entrusted with the lives of young children. Now, my fingerprints are all that separate me from the predators. What a change being on the other side of the school fence.
If anyone wants to know the story behind this story, I will tell you in the comments. Feel free to ask. Thanks, as always, for spending some time in my world.
That is an interesting insight into your new journey in life. Give us a little more infornation in your story.
When I was “Mr. MacInnes”, I was a trusted figure. Now that I am just an ordinary guy, I am viewed with a little more suspicion by those who don’t know me….and that bugs me! Case in point, in order to be a volunteer in Sophie’s school, I had to fill out a Vulnerable Sector Record Check by the police. Not a problem because I am a good person and had never done anything wrong in my life. But, after submitting my form, their search scored two separate hits on the National Sexual Offender’s Registry; one for a gender match and one for my birthday. Suddenly, I became the subject of suspicion and, in order to “clear my name” I had to give samples of my fingerprints which were then sent to the RCMP in Ottawa. And, whatta ya know, the results came back clean as a whistle and my application to be a school volunteer was accepted. “Mr. MacInnes” never had these sorts or innocent-until-proven-guilty scenarios, let me tell ya.
Hi Tom………….. Hey, I experienced the same scenario. After teaching for 32 years in all grade levels, and before being accepted as a school classroom volunteer**POLICE CHECK NEEDED**. I have never even had a speeding ticket. But, I did not suffer the same predicament as you did. I continue to volunteer at a local school. It is also nice to change hats and become your other self again upon retirement.
Thanks, Jo-Anne, for the shout-out.
Tom, so wonderful to write with you again! Your 33 words breathe with authenticity and describe perfectly how you are grappling with the change in your life.
Here’s my try: https://jtealwriter.com/2018/09/22/change/ Please don’t count my words carefully or you’ll discover 34. I promise to get my microfiction mojo back soon!
Thank you for your kind words of support. It is good to get used to differing styles of writing again. I am fairly certain I will have a new post tomorrow, too, based upon another of the word prompts I received recently. Building up good writing habits, as well as, reconnecting with my non-fiction/fiction writing roots is what I am striving right now. It is starting to come a little more easily as the days pass but, much work still to do. This sort of writing and the support that comes from it, is very helpful. Thank you. 😀
I’d love to know!
I’m a stranger in a strange land, right now, so to speak. I am finding one of the transitions I am experiencing since I’ve retired is re-establishing an identity of who I am and what kind of person I strive to be. I guess I took being respected for granted, being a teacher and all. I know this will evolve over time but, as I mentioned in the Police Check comment above/below, having my integrity questioned is a new thing…a definite change, as the story prompt directed me to explain. 😀
Tom, I remember years ago asking, no, begging you to write. Thank you! As a P.S. I’m also hoping to follow in your retired-teacher-writer footsteps. Just a handful of years to go!
I remember that conversation well. Thanks for having faith in me. Right now, I view myself as more of a hack writer but, with time and experience and help from those more skilled than me, I think I will improve and maybe, somewhere down the road, there may be something worthwhile emerge. For now, I am enjoying having the freedom to allow myself to be creative again. I thank everyone who is coming along for the ride. Thank you, Brenda. 👏😀📚