Down the Rabbit Hole

The End is In Sight & A Battle Royale

30 Day Blogging Challenge
PROMPT January 30th
It's the last day of the official competition, and the last War Chest Wednesday, so it's only fitting I repeat this prompt from November. *Wink* Write a list of at least 5 blogging prompts to add to the Challenge War Chest to be used for future rounds of the 30DBC. Then, use one of your own prompts to write your entry.

I've really enjoyed participating in this month's challenge. Big thanks to Emily for keeping us all motivated and encouraged all month long - great job!!

My favorite prompts have been the ones that have demanded my own reflection and allowed me to reveal more about myself as a writer and a blogger. The only thing I felt I would have also liked to see more of are those kinds of prompts that would have challenged me to create something outside myself. My selection of prompts would feature a least one or two of these, designed to encourage a piece of new flash fiction, prose or poetry perhaps.

Five Future Prompts for Consideration:

1. Music is a prominent feature in many people's lives. Write a blog, piece of fiction, poetry of prose featuring music as a central theme.

2. What are your go to methods for overcoming writer's block?

3. Write a prompt inspired by the following quote by Emily Dickinson:

"Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all"

4. Let's sharpen our descriptive skills. Take us someplace! Write a story, blog or describe one of the following locations and transport us there with your words: a battle field, an evening carnival, a cruise ship, a country fair, a cemetery, a high school cafeteria, a tropical lagoon, or a skating rink.

5. According to Wikipedia, "Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine,[1] is celebrated annually on February 14. Originating as a Western Christian feast day honoring one or two early saints named Valentinus, Valentine's Day is recognized as a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and romantic love in many regions around the world, although it is not a public holiday in any country. " What are your true feelings about this holiday? Is it a commercial trap? Do you observe or boycott it?

For my final entry of this month's challenge I will take this opportunity to practice my descriptive skills a bit...which would follow my own #4 prompt:

The torrential rains that had kept the battalions at bay for days, suddenly broke and yielded to the late July summer sunshine. The fingers of bright, warm light crept across the field, advancing quickly in the afternoon hours. There was a sudden eruption of sound as four sets of feet clambered noisy across the porch and launched into the damp, green yard, shedding socks and shoes in their wake. The leader John, his body tanned and lithe, was the first to reach the lime green hose on the far side of the house. Cranking the spigot, he began barking orders at his troops.

Georgia, the oldest girl was dispatched to get the bucket. Riley was instructed to gather the bags of ammunition. Bella and Ryan were sent to edge of the yard to watch should any of the enemy venture out prematurely. They all hunkered down and began working, efficiently filling, tying and stacking. They worked, a nearly silent contingent, building their reserves as the sun beat down on their bare backs. After fifteen minutes, their bucket was filled to the top.

"Would it be enough?" Riley looked at John, the question burning in his round eyes.

John looked back as his ragtag unit, their bodies were almost vibrating with the anticipation of the battle. It had to be enough, he thought.

"Go," he ordered Bella and Ryan. The two youngest set off running for the house, raising the alarm with loud, whooping cries.

Riley and Georgie moved into position, flanking John. They moved the bucket closer, well in range of their reaching caramel-colored arms. They were ready.

The decoys came racing back on pumping legs trailed by a good number of the enemy clutching colorful, sweating cocktails and wearing masks of mild confusion.

John waited, letting them draw closer and into range. The enemy moved in a sluggish mass across the wet grass. Their bellies were too full and their senses clouded with alcohol from the hours they'd spent making merriment instead of training, instead of planning their own assault. They were too slow to recognize with the threat in front of them.

"FIRE!" John suddenly shouted, raising both sinewy arms and tossing the heavy bombs as far as he could into the approaching enemy. Georgie and Riley echoed the war cry, letting loose their own barrage of fire power.

The water balloons connected with the group of adults, exploding across the broad chests and surprised faces. Screams filled the yard. Bella and Ryan fell behind their lines and took up arms, pumping fists and shouting in between throws. The four of them soaked the advancing adults, reloading again and again until the balloons began to run low. Sensing a pause in the onslaught, Uncle Leo dove in and snatched little Bella, tossing her on his hip and falling back toward the house. Too late, John realized he was going for the hose.

"Retreat!" John shouted to the remaining members of his squad. They scattered but where soon captured by the adults.

Uncle Leo commended John on his battle plan and bravery of his team before turning the hose on the captive regiment, all except little Bella who had turned traitor. She clapped and squealed with delight along with the enemy as her older cousins were hosed off their feet.

The victors retired to their armchairs and red solo cups while the losing squad traversed the yard plucking the colorful remnants of burst water balloons from the grass. The sun quickly dried their working bodies. They had fought hard. They had fought well. The summer was long. They would fight again.