Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of "Make Hay While the Sun Shines" (without using the actual phrase or literal example). (03/06/08)
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TITLE: Do You Know My Johnny? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sharon Henderson
03/12/08 -
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How did I get to be a silver-haired woman of eighty-three so fast? Have you heard what they say? “Life is what happens when you are making other plans.” Whoever said that was a smart whippersnapper.
When I met Johnny at the high school dance, my tingle generator distributed chills from the back of my newly pierced ears to the tips of my toes, which were stuffed in the highest heels I’d ever worn.
I married him about five years back. Oh, we have plans. We want to have a houseful of active kids but, of course, Johnny has to get set up in his law practice first. Then we need to be sure that we have a good house in a great community with academically strong schools. No need bringing kids into this world if we can’t raise ‘em right, ya know?
I lost my Johnny when I was sixty. I’ve had to live by myself for twenty-three, long years. We had our chance to start a family. We had the means to as well. All of our family and friends kept urging us to ‘get busy’. Johnny had a great career. You know, he made partner by the time he was thirty-eight. That was awful young back then. People told us that our home was beautiful and that our backyard would make a natural playground for young kids. We always said we’d try soon.
My niece says she wants a big family. Big enough to field her own basketball team. I’m still young. Maybe we can have kids at the same time and they can grow up together. I wonder what Johnny will say to that? Where is Johnny? Do you think he’s still at work?
People need to realize that life flies by. I had the chance to have the kids I always wanted but Johnny and I were too focused on what else we wanted. We had it all! We went on lavish vacations, lived in an antebellum mansion, and drove them fancy cars. We even ate highfalutin caviar. We expressed our love to each other in all that we did. We just didn’t make the kids while our bodies were young enough to do so.
I wonder what Johnny will think if I try to get pregnant before we turn forty? Do you think he will be happy? Wouldn’t twins be double the blessing?
Listen to me now. I’m just an old woman who can’t quite get it right. I wish you had known my Johnny. You would have loved him as much as I did. I’ve rambled quite long enough. I’m going to go rest awhile. If you want to stick around, I’ll try to tell you more about my beloved Johnny when I get up.
I remember some things like they happened last week or last month. Other things I can’t recall at all.
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This part cracked me up: "my tingle generator distributed chills from the back of my newly pierced ears to the tips of my toes, which were stuffed in the highest heels I’d ever worn." That made me laugh out loud.
Very good writing, and great illustration of the topic.
I got a little bit confused when you first shifted to the flashback dialogue, but I soon figured out what was going on.
Great story. Thank you so much for sharing.