No matter how heavy & hectic my day has been or how the drama of the world gets me down, EJ never fails to make me laugh. And I love her for this!
Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-BookandPaperback) yet?
I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak aboutthe most recent events with my place of employment, as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.
The image depicts a close-up of a payphone on a wall. There are stickers on the phone that read “4 MINUTES FOR $1.00,” “LOCAL CALLS 50¢,” and others. Photo by Nellie Adamyan on Unsplash
He stood at the pay phone, short on change and on love, and waited for the last seconds to tick by.
“Please insert $0.50 to continue.” The automated voice chimed in before Lacy could complete her sentence.
The two of them were like peas in a pod. Damien, with his wild antics, and Lacy, with her calm demeanor. Opposites attract, and they were inseparable.
Who would have ever thought Lacy would be on the other end of what would have been a collect call, but Damien had $0.50 on him to spare. His last bit of change for a woman who changed him.
“I should have stayed outta that store, Dame. Ain’t no changing it now. I did what I did.”
“It’s supposed to be me! I’m supposed to be in there! Not you! Not you, Lace!”
The automated voice chimed in once again to remind Damien of the pressing need for more money for the call. Please insert $0.50 to continue. Please insert $0.50 to continue. Please insert $0.50 to continue.
“I AIN’T GOT NO DAMN $0.50, OKAY!”
Damien banged the receiver’s cradle with the handset three times to match the automated voice’s demand. The last words he heard from Lacy before the call was cut short were, “I’ve done time for both of us.”
He dropped to his knees, held his head in his hands, and sobbed for the love of his life.
The execution was scheduled for 10:00 AM sharp. He had forty-five minutes to save her. The spare change he had to make the call to her was his last.
David T. Pulman, Jr., Esq., sat in his oversized office chair, his hands folded perfectly in his lap, his hair slicked back in a greasy ponytail, and waited for the phone to ring.
It didn’t.
Time of death: 10:05 AM.
This flash fiction piece is in response to Melissa’s Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge. I couldn’t let this one pass when I saw the pay phone as the image from which to create. If you want to try your hand at it, go for it!
Encouraging messages that have been AI-generated as I grow through the messes and joys of life.
AI-Generated Image: A young White girl wearing glasses with blonde shoulder-length hair, brown eyes. She is also wearing a shirt that says, “Let’s Help One Another Toward Greatness.” Created with Canva. T-Shirt Message #4
“Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.” – Booker T. Washington
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-BookandPaperback) yet?
I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak aboutthe most recent events with my place of employment, as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.
Sunday Microfiction #9: A Day To Bloom. Created with Canva.
Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-BookandPaperback) yet?
I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak aboutthe most recent events with my place of employment, as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.
#9: Bobby Caldwell, What You Won’t Do (Do for Love)
I guess you wondered where I’ve been/ I searched to find the love within/ I came back to let you know/ Gotta thing for you, and I can’t let go/
What You Won’t Do for Love, Bobby Caldwell. YouTube
This will probably be my favorite segment on my blog in a very long time! Welcome to Opening Lyrics to Songs That I Love!
“What You Won’t Do for Love” is a hit song by American singer-songwriter Bobby Caldwell.
The song was released in September 1978 as the lead single from his debut album, also titled Bobby Caldwell. Bobby Caldwell co-wrote the song with Alfons Kettner.It’s considered a classic example of smooth soul and “blue-eyed soul”. It incorporates elements of jazz fusion and R&B.
The song was incredibly successful, becoming Caldwell’s signature song.It reached number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100.
It peaked at number six on the Hot Selling Soul Singles chart. It reached number ten on the Easy Listening chart.The song became a long-lasting standard and a career-defining hit for Caldwell.
It’s been covered and sampled many times by other artists, including Tupac Shakur’s posthumous 1998 hit “Do for Love”.-Google Gemini AI Mode via Wikipedia
I was nineteen years old when I found out Bobby was not Black. I am forty-five years old now, and I am forever changed by this man and this song. He had a sound that was incredibly distinctive and overwhelmingly soulful. He was one of those singers I refer to as a crooner.
His melodious riffs and perfect inflections will draw you in. It is my belief that he had a ton more hits inside him. However, he passed away in March 2023 — far too soon.
He will continue to be missed, but his music, especially this song, lives on.
For one more Sunday, I’ll share with you my favorite opening lyrics to songs I truly love. Maybe you’ll enjoy it. Maybe you won’t. Perhaps you’ll share your favorite opening lyrics to songs you love as well. Perhaps you won’t. Either way, we’re going to have a good damn time.
This will probably be my favorite segment on my blog in a very long time! Welcome toOpening Lyrics to Songs That I Love!
“You Sure Love to Ball” is a song released by Marvin Gaye on January 2, 1974. It was the third and final single released from his album “Let’s Get It On”.
The song was issued as a single on January 2, 1974. Initial radio airplay was good enough for the song to peak at 13 on the Hot Soul Singles chart and 50 on the Billboard Hot 100.[4] However, “You Sure Love to Ball” soon peaked out allegedly due to the controversial nature of the track, making the song the least successful of the three tracks released on Let’s Get It On. Its b-side included the solemn ballad closer of the album, “Just to Keep You Satisfied”. –Wikipedia
I find it hard to believe this song couldn’t reach the top ten of any musical chart-topping list. Sure, the lyrics are sensual and overwhelmingly sexy, but this is Marvin Gaye. People were used to his overuse of sexually-charged songs.
Not only that, the melody is catchy and the chorus is unforgettable. If I want to take it further, I’d say even the instrumental is worth listening to repeatedly.
And if I’m willing to listen to an instrumental over and over again, that tells you a lot about the actual song.
Marvin was strategic in developing and crafting his lyrics and took his presentation of them seriously. He played up shows and wooed the panties off women faster than a bullet train. The man was a gift to creating music for baby-making.
Don’t believe me? Listen to this song. The opening lyrics are enough to reel you in. The rest of the song will keep you in its grip.
For the next two Sundays, I’ll share with you my favorite opening lyrics to songs I truly love. Maybe you’ll enjoy it. Maybe you won’t. Perhaps you’ll share your favorite opening lyrics to songs you love as well. Perhaps you won’t. Either way, we’re going to have a good damn time.
A Cornered Gurl 
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