Shorties: Number 42

With one end of the metal shaft a dull color of red, Matt pulled it from the furnace with a long set of tongs.  Once he was certain it was securely held, he dipped it into a bucket of oil.  A cloud of smoke wafted skyward.  Matt lifted the metal and promptly submerged it again.  He added, “I need to do the other end now.”

With an anxious tone, Tim replied, “Uh, ok.”

Matt had already advised Tim of the importance of properly tempering the metal in order to make it a usable tool.  If it wasn’t done correctly, it would either shatter or the end meant to make a mark would simply be blunted.  Tim simply wanted a passing grade on his shop project.  He feared he wouldn’t.  Once Matt finished with the other side of the center punch, he let it cool.  He asked, “You wanna test it?”

Immediately, Tim shook his head.  “No, I don’t.” 

“Ok, I’ll do it.” 

Matt picked up a piece of scrap metal from the scrap pile and placed it on the work bench.  Then making sure his gloves would absorb the any residual heat in the center punch, he picked it up with his left hand and placed the tip on a random spot on the scrap metal.  As he tilted it vertical, Matt considered asking if Tim was ready.  It didn’t matter.  The tool had to be tested.  He raised the hammer and fiercely pounded the center punch repeatedly. 

With each blow, the collision repeated throughout the shop and Tim winced.  He just knew the tip was flattened.  Matt stopped and without hesitation, he turned his hand to see the results of the test.  The tip was perfect.  Tim smiled in relief.  He still wasn’t sure of the grade he would get since there were defects in appearance.  He struggled terribly in the class. 

Appraising the tool in his hands, Mat said, ”It isn’t a perfect center punch but it will be a good and useful tool for the rest of your life.”

“Really?”

“Yes, when it comes to tools, appearance isn’t all that important.  It is all in how it is made.  You have all the basics here and we properly tempered it.  This is a good tool.”

Tim smiled.  Then his teacher added to the student who had many obstacles to overcome in his young life.  “Tim, you need to understand that we all endure fires in life.  They will either burn us up or make us the useful tool we are supposed to be. 

Tim lowered his eyes to the shop floor as emotion welled up inside him.  Matt added, “You have the proper metals in you and you are being tempered.  Someday, you will be the tool needed for something specific.  Only a center punch can do the work of a center punch.  If that’s what you are, be the best one you can be.  You hear me?”

Nodding, Tim replied, “Yes, sir.  Thank you.”

My Only Hope

Great storms of life crash

Buffeting still
Feeling the lash
Tossed about the din
Losing my will
Recompense sin
Beaten and shattered
Life so near loss
Rags all tattered
Weak and going down
Surf still doth toss
Open lips to drown
Pulling to great depths
Weakening me
Living my deaths
Deep ocean and dark skies
Wanting to be
Seeking your eyes
Weakened, my will
With look of love
Oh, sustain me still
Tis my only rope
This light above
My only hope
 
 
© October 2017
Duane Windell Phillips

 

Shorties: Number 41

A story fitting for the month of Halloween. 

“Oh, Jason was so cute yesterday?” Melissa said.

Breanne replied as she began pumping the bulb to take her patient’s blood pressure, “What’d he do this time?” 

“He started trying to walk.”

“No!  Really?”

“Yes, he was standing, holding onto the couch and I was telling him what a big boy he is and he just let go and started walking to me.  I got so excited I literally squealed like little girl.”

Breanne smiled and laughed as she prepared to clean and disinfect a vein on George’s left arm.  It would soon be used to supply fluids and some drugs during George’s dental extractions.  Breanne’s face was covered by the surgical mask she wore.  Melissa’s mask was pulled down and exposed her nose but covered her mouth.  George couldn’t help but look at her eyes.  She had the prettiest eyes and a sweet laugh. 

Hearing the story of Jason attempting to walk distracted George from the fear crawling up from the pit of his gut.  Ever since a string of bad dental experiences, he swore he would never again sit in a dentist’s chair.  Too bad he didn’t take better care of his teeth.  He could have avoided this day.  Instead, a week of pain from three large cavities forced him to make the call for a visit. 

Now a day after the initial consultation, George just wanted it all to be over.  Breanne peered down to her patient.  She asked, “You doin’ ok, Mr. George?”

Forcing a smile and giving a big sigh, George replied, “I just want it to be over.”

The doctor walked in as Melissa said, “Don’t you worry about a thing.  We’re gonna take care of you.”

Breanne added, “Yes, it will all be over soon enough.”

George couldn’t help but notice an ominous tone but he could only read her eyes.  He felt nervous tension rise within him.  Then Dr. Craig announced, “Good morning all!  How are you doing today Mr. George?”

Both nurses chimed in unison, “Good morning, doctor.”

George added, “I’m doing as well as expected, I guess.”

More prep work was completed and George sat on chair that was now reclining.  Dr. Craig said, “Ok, I’m going to give you just a little bit of this stuff to make sure you don’t have an allergic reaction.”

“Ok.”

“Ok, you should feel a little coldness in your vein about now.”

“Ok.”

Soon, George had a feeling like his whole being was sliding down.  Thoughts and sights were sliding through time.  Each vision and thought had a trailing edge to them.  He turned his head back and forth as he looked at the three masked people standing above him.  Dr. Craig asked, “Do you feel any itchiness?”

With a slur, George said, “N, nooo.  I don’t ffeeeellll aaannny ttthhhingggg.”

The trio exchanged glances.  Their eyes changed.  Suddenly, George noticed vile, menacing eyes glaring at him.  Was it the drugs?  He saw Dr. Craig shoot another needle into the tube running to his arm and the doctor added, “This will take care of you.”  The nurses laughed maniacally as each revealed a scalpel. 

George started to protest.  He thought he was raising his arms but nothing moved.  Consciousness left him.  As reality faded, George felt cutting begin on his chest and stomach.  He vaguely noted light as Dr. Craig opened his eyes in order to remove them.

When they finished, Dr. Craig announced sorrow over the loss of Mr. George.  Then he added, “At least he died saving the lives of ten of our richest friends.  He will even help a teenage boy regain his sight.”

Shorties: Number 40

This is an excerpt from my story, The Parting


They had dinner at a Macaroni Grill in a town close to them. Bob wore a shirt and tie but no jacket and Samantha wore a form fitting black and gold dress. Bob’s eyes popped when he saw her. Without holding back, he said, “You look great!” Samantha smiled coyly, “Why thank you.”

Ordinarily, Bob would be a little shy around such a pretty woman but his shell had started to crack as he got to know Charlotte better. Still, he was a bit reserved even though Samantha had given many signs of her interest in him. She smiled at him and touched his hand or arm at every opportunity. Bob simply wasn’t used to attention like this. Finally, before the entrees were finished he worked up the nerve and asked, “Are you interested in me?”
“What?”

“Are you interested in me?”

“Well, yes. Is that a problem?”

“Sort of, yes”

“Why?”

“I’m interested in someone else.”

Connecting the dots in her mind, Samantha asked, “Are you interested in Charlotte?”
Feeling like a child who was caught stealing from the cookie jar he replied, “Yes.”

“Does she know?”

“No. I haven’t told her. I was going to tell her the day we met.” He wished he hadn’t added that last part.

“But me being there ruined that, didn’t it?”

Bob nodded and added, “It is for the best since she loves Jack.”

“Agreed but now we have a scandalous love triangle.” Samantha said with a smile.

“Not really. I don’t love you.”

“Are you trying to break my heart already?”

“No.”

“Then can’t we be friends? Hang out from time to time?”

“Sure, I guess.”

“Sounding so certain makes my heart all aflutter.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve just never had anyone as pretty as you express even the slightest interest in me before. I’m just not used to being around women. I would like to get to know you better, though.”

“That’s more like it.”

As they went their separate ways, Samantha leaned in for a goodnight kiss but Bob gave her a hug instead. Surprised, a little insulted and maybe even flattered, Samantha said good night and thanked Bob for a nice evening. In the moments after they parted, she couldn’t help but think that Charlotte was right, Bob was a nice guy. Maybe what she needed for her whole life was a nice guy.

Shorties: Number 39

This is an excerpt from my story, On To The Past.


I lay there with my eyes closed.  Part of me still didn’t believe this was possible.  I wondered if someone would yell, “Smile!  You’re on Candid Camera!”  Nevertheless, I began to relax and focused on specific things of that time and place.  Slowly, I could feel myself drifting.  It was as if I was falling asleep. 

Then there came a sensation that is hard to describe.  It was like a soft rain.  Like warm raindrops softly splashing upon me, I could feel tension washing away.  I was floating, traveling but I wasn’t moving.  The world moved.  It was as if the universe moved at my command.  My mind willed and it obeyed.  More drops fell and it was as if I was being washed away.  Bit by bit, I was going away.  Not me, my flesh was leaving me.

Was it really my earthly body that was leaving?  I retained my spirit and it was infinite.  Great mysteries of the universe suddenly seemed common knowledge.  It was as if without a body, I was free to do all things unencumbered.  Human flesh greatly restricts all that is possible.  It is a governor that squelches all the possibilities that we truly are. 

I reveled in that moment, that eternity, for it was both.  I was all time.  I was a split second, a flash.  I was eternity.  It was pure energy.  There were colors I’d never seen before.  The veils of my eyes were removed and visions danced across.  I can’t say they danced before my eyes or across my vision.  It was more than that.  They moved by, around, and through me.  But the colors, oh, the colors.  Hues never seen by human eyes.  There is no way to describe them but the brightness and clarity are unsurpassed by any seen on earth.  It is like at one time only seeing black, white, and grays and suddenly seeing color.  There are no words for it. 

Slowly, I descended back to reality and back into the facade that is the human body.  Our bodies are mere housings to our spirit.  Once we can glimpse beyond the veil, we are forever changed.  As human consciousness began to return, it seemed that I was cold.  However, it isn’t that I felt cold.  I believe it was more so that after feeling the warm “raindrops” and being in such an ecstatic state of being, the only alternative was to feel cold.  I was back in the real world.  But in which world was I?  In what time? 

Finally and Always

When I was a boy

I learned how to hate 

Punish the bad

Condemn him to fate

Doing those things

The bad boys would do

Tremors of guilt

Each time I was through 

No one could love

A boy bad as me

I look inside

Great darkness I see 

Wanting some light 

I know I don't shine 

On the treadmill

I'm toeing the line

I would love you

If you would love me

Wishing for hope

With eyes I don't see

I hate the lie 

That ruins my life

Give up the pain

Remove the strife

How well I know

The posture of pain 

Too long I've known

Life full of shame

Let the tears pour

I don't care how long

Make hidden pain

And darkness be gone

Tear after tear

Let it rinse away

Sob upon sob

Revealing the day

Hatred is wrong 

I've known that is true

Hating yourself 

It only kills you 

(c) August 2017

Duane Windell Phillips

Shorties: Number 38

This is an excerpt of a story I am writing.  I'm not completely satisfied with this. I find it hard to place my mind in heavenly realms and see things the way an angel might see them.  Jackson and Jill are married and Bethany is their newborn.  Angelos, Alea and Bene are guardian angels. 

Jackson, Bethany’s father stayed home from work for the next two weeks.  Bene, Jackson’s angel, Alae and Angelos remained vigilant to Jill’s heart and the household.  Postpartum depression darkened Jill’s spirit and she struggled to regain her footing. 

The angelic trio focused energies on their charges.  They knew all humans must endure pain.  It cannot exist in a vacuum and must be held by all people but pain is not a burden to carry alone.  Nevertheless, pain and sorrow are instruments to pry open the light that was carefully placed inside them.  Only humans are given the light of heaven.  Animals recognize a difference and angels marvel the light.  Nevertheless, humans are charged with sharing it.  It takes a human to shine light on another.  When all open their hearts to the heavenly luminance, and the light comes down from heaven, the world will finally begin healing. 

Day and night the angels imparted idyllic memories of the paradise they shared before their earthly arrivals.  Such scenes and perfect endings are not fairy tales.  They are true reflections of a time once held and humans can keep these memories when they focus on the love of heaven in their hearts.  There remains always a measure of heavenly love. 

In quiet moments of bright reflection, humans faintly recognize the mark of Godly perfection left upon them.  Flashes of adoration bathe them and it feels familiar.  They know deep in their being they were meant for more than the monotony of earth.  For all the beauty to behold on terra firma, humans realize there is more.  The earth is a dim echo of heavenly realms for which they created to share.   

Unfortunately, as evil, pain and sorrow continue in life, their vision fades.  Myopic, humans bump about only seeing their own pain.  Consequently, they rush to soothe this ache that never leaves.  Alcohol, drugs, sex, power and many other ointments may dull pain but never quench the thirst that burns them.  Man forgets healing comes when he open his heart and allows his light to shine.  As they look to one another and their brightness illuminates the soul in crossing rays of light, it becomes obvious God wants His creation to love one another.  It is a God given plan to warm the hearts of His creation.  Healing comes to all with open hearts. 

For now, Jill could only focus on the pain she felt.  Jackson poured himself into his little girl.  She looked in his eyes as he held her.  Jill had pumped breast milk earlier and Bethany sucked heavily.  Jackson saw perfection in his arms.  His heart swelled with love for his daughter but the recent actions of his wife gravely concerned him.  He spoke softly to Bethany.  He promised a world of beauty and love. 

In that moment, Jackson and Bethany were as close to heaven as humans can get in this realm.  Angelos, Alae, and Bene rejoiced in father and daughter living as God intended.  Bethany totally loved and trusted her father.  She recognized a memory recently faded.  This caused a stir in Angelos and his spirit leapt.  Then his body shone brightly.  As a result, Alae and Bene joined him to bathe the home in a heavenly glow.  Jill’s spirit began to calm and eventually the darkness left her.