Words on Wednesday

  When she needed a break from the loom her father had made for her, she liked to walk down the dirt road towards town.   Listening to the birds, and watching the road for unexpected treasures, like butterfly wings or pieces of robins' eggs, it was often inspiration for her work.   Tonight, however, it was the sound of rushing water that drew her interest.

  She stood on the bank and watched the two rivers combine into one.  Heavy rains had made the water dark and angry-looking as it charged down the mountain, overflowing its banks in some places.  Some residents, still shell-shocked from the flood that early washed the village away in 2016, nervously watched the weather reports.

  "Mischief! Here, Missy Missy!  Mischief!" the child's voice could be heard over the rushing of the waters.  The light from a small searchlight cut through the darkness.  A woman's voice yelled "Mischief!  Come on, girl!  Missy!"

  She turned toward the voices, pulling her hoodie sleeves down over her arms as the night's chill set into her bones. 

  "Hey, need some help?  What are you looking for?"

  "Oh, that would be so awesome.  It's just getting so dark and I'm so worried that she might have gone to the river."

  "She?"

  "Yes.  We got a pug puppy a few days ago, and Dakota insists on taking her everywhere we go.  I wanted to stop at the East End Fruit Stand, and when we got out of the car, Mischief jumped out and took off running."

  "Sounds like she lives up to her name."

  "It's actually better than what my soon-to-be-ex-husband wanted to call her."

  "And what was that?"

  "Unfug the Pug.  Unfug is German for mischief, and he is a Professor of Languages."  She turned to see where her son was, and in a low voice said, "More like a Professor of Arrogancy.  It's why we're getting a divorce.  Missy was supposed to be a comfort and distraction for Dak, but if something has happened to her tonight, it will destroy him.  I ..." she turned towards her son and saw his searchlight bouncing as he was running towards her.

  "I found her!  I found her!  I thought I heard something by the car so I went back and she was hiding underneath it!"

Words for Wednesday is a traveling feast of creativity, and can currently be found [click here> Charlotte (MotherOwl).