Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: CANDY (04/28/16)
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TITLE: Magic | Previous Challenge Entry
By GiGi Mezzio
05/05/16 -
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“Sometimes memories sneak out of my eyes and roll down my
cheeks.” She pondered this incessantly---the story of her life now.
How long had she been alone—-her husband dead, her children
grown and gone?
How long had she been sitting alone in the cracked, brown leather
La-Z-Boy recliner?
“ I buried Austin thirty years ago tomorrow,” Granny Mary
reflected as she pensively sucked her Werthers butterscotch lozenge.
“It’s been twenty years since my youngest left home, leaving
me with this tedious loneliness.”
She tentatively held onto the belief that everything could be
solved with a Werthers. When her husband died suddenly in an
automobile accident, leaving her a fortune of six kids and a
paltry inheritance, she relied on those delectable Werther
confections much like a smoker to a cigarette.
Ironically, Granny Mary was a long-standing, two- packs- a- day
smoker.
Austin had teasingly called her “Smokey Joe”, even though he smoked
many more of those nasty, unfiltered Lucky Strikes, whereas she
preferred her Virginia Slims menthols claiming,
“Of course, menthols are not near as bad for you,” and “I’m
going to stop soon.”
That was when her house reeked of butterscotch toffee.
She stumbled to unlock the screen door, trailed by 20 feet of
clear, plastic tubing that was attached to what she casually called
her “breathing machine”.
Granny Mary had a warning sign posted on her threshold that read,
“DANGER—Oxygen In Use! NO Smoking Or Open Flame!"
That would normally stop all but the most determined and oblivious
smoker. But it didn't stop Granny Mary.
She often laughingly said that the Werthers had magical powers to
help her stop smoking, but they didn't work. Nothing did.
They didn’t even work their magic when she lost her own nicotin-
stained teeth to neglect and become another old lady adding Fixodent
to her shopping list.
While in the hospital, hoping that her emphysema had only gotten
worse, though accepting the cancer, she felt most alone.
All of the memories began to fade as she stood expectantly
before the door.
“ The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her
hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for
help.” (1Timothy 5:5 NIV)
Granny Mary heard a distant voice assure her that she had never
really been alone.
He told her that He was “the friend who sticks closer than a
brother.” (Proverbs 18:24 NIV)
There was always only Granny Mary and God.
She opened the door and was guided through, as if by magic,
leaving only a faint scent of butterscotch behind.
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This story may encourage someone to break a harmful habit.
The ending was very uplifting knowing she was called home, and no longer "alone."
Beautifully written, authentic tone and vision.
Hauntingly lovely!
Blessings~
I was confused by the line: While in the hospital, hoping that the emphysema had only gotten worse, though accepting the cancer ... Did she want to die?
Well done. I hope you continue writing.