Pay it forward - the Flag

[As the newly free nation watched, the Union Jack was symbolically lowered, and the Indian Tricolour hoisted at the historical Red Fort. This is to celebrates sixty-three years of Freedom for India and Indians.]

I was a reedy, bespectacled boy; the kind bullies always picked on. From the edge of the crowd to which I had been shoved, I watched in wonder as the dignitary prepared to hoist the flag. What a great man he must be to be accorded such honour. Rope in hand, he paused and took in the crowd. He beckoned me to assist him. Knees trembling, I did.

Thirty-seven years later, I am at the flag-pole. My eyes scan the crowd, and alight on a boy who could have been me. "Will you help me hoist the flag?", I ask.

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A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words. This is a work of fiction.

A Random Act of Kindness always sets off a chain, which may or may not circle back to you, but which makes the world a better place to be in. See it play out in our Pay it Forward feature, exclusively at the Burrow.

Old Man and the Tree

What do you think of when you see this man sitting under a tree?

A holy man contemplating the mysteries of the universe? A sage waiting to dispense knowledge among his followers? A religious pacifist wishing people would understand that no religion preaches hatred.

What if I zoomed back, and showed you in his true setting?

Wouldn't you agree he makes an unlikely proprietor of a shop that sells plumbing supplies.

Looks can be deceptive, can't they?

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I have been really guilty about hoarding awards, and am determined to pass at least some of them along in the next week.

Sometime in April, Mason Canyon at Thoughts in Progress passed on the One Lovely Blog Award to me.

I know longer remember the rules of passing it on, so am going to use my discretion, and pass it on to five awesome bloggers who have truly lovely blogs, which I look forward to visiting (they are also four people I really like, but that's a different story) -

Margot Kinberg at Confessions of a Mystery Novelist is a genius- there is no other word to describe her. Each post of her's can be the basis of a dissertation in itself, and she comes up with one everyday.

Patricia Stoltey - friend, philosopher, guide. 'nuff said.

Karen Walker of Following the Whispers writes with so much honesty, it is impossible not to be carried along.

Clarissa Draper of Listen to the Voices has a lovely blog - book reviews, writing tips, characterisations, she has them all. She's also an awesome commentator.

Hart Johnson of Confessions of a Watery Tart- it seems almost like nepotism to give an award to my Thursday Twin, but her blog defines lovely for me.

Hoard it, flaunt it or ignore it. This Award is honoured to have been passed on to each of you.

A fine balance

A friend is going through a crisis. It could have been avoided- for years, we've tried to get her to see she's running down a dead-end, but failed. Now, there is only one course of action- the one that could have taken anytime in the past.

She needs a shoulder to cry on. But I can't resist trying to get her to see reason. It is a fine balance. You want to be there for her, but you don't want her to get over it so well, she continues on the same destructive path.

Why are things always so hard?

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A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.

And do drop by at Burrowers, Books & Balderdash for a Motivational Friday Post.

I am bored

This one is for Michele Emrath at Southern City Mysteries- your day will come......

"I don't want to watch TV any more", said my older one strolling into the kitchen with a sulky expression. "I want to read a book."

"Not now, I'm busy", I said, irritated. "Let me finish what I am doing, then I will read to you."

"I don't want you to read", he drawled. "Just turn the light on so I can choose my book."

He actually read, and the younger one giggled with him.

I couldn't believe my luck- a year back when all they seemed to do was watch TV, did I even dream this day would come?

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A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.

Aliens battle it out

"Did you know, Mamma", the older one began while waiting for the school-bus to arrive. "Yesterday night, two aliens came here, and they were bad aliens, and they started fighting.

They hit each other with their shiny crystal swords. And because they are aliens, no blood came." His eyes were gleaming with excitement. "And then you know what happened? One alien hit the sword of the other alien very hard with his sword, and both the swords broke, and scattered small pieces of crystal everywhere. See!" He motioned with his hands.

All that to explain dew-drops glistening on the grass.


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A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.

Professional courtesy

Of the six organisations I worked for, three came to me because a person who had worked with me recommended me to the person who was hiring. Not all of them were people with whom I got along with from the start- I even had major professional differences with one, which we managed in a mature manner, without having to resort to name-calling.

Even if you don't think being nice is the right thing to do, extending basic professional courtesy to the people you work with is a sensible thing to do.

Why do so many people not get it?

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A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.

To the Down

"Mamma, can I go to down to play", asked my four-year old.
"You cannot go to down to play, but you may go down to play", I replied. In his hurry to rush off I am sure he didn't hear me, but hopefully some internal component will process it and commit it to memory.

It is complicated when an adjective gets pressed into usage as a noun. If I go to the gym, why shouldn't my son go to the down, since that is what we call the place where he plays?

How do non-native speakers manage to speak English?

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A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.