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String of Beads

July 11, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner

This story is written for The Write Tribe contest incorporating the following  7 words in random order :


postcard, coin, tidy, wild, help, calendar, responsibility…

escaping winter, creative writing


At precisely five o’clock, she made a final ‘X’ through the calendar, gathered work files into a tidy stack, and recorded an out-of-office voicemail message.   

Her co-worker, who for the last twenty minutes attempted to help a disgruntled customer, covered the telephone mouthpiece with her fingertips and whispered, “Don’t forget to send me a postcard.” She nodded and closed the door, leaving responsibility behind in her corner office.

From her far chair on a secluded stretch of sand, she meditated on the turquoise ocean, a masterpiece of creation stretching to sunset. A lone sea gull floated overhead, dipped toward crashing waves, then soared with dinner in his talons. Stress evaporated into the briny air.
She sipped a salty margarita and watched the local man walking near the water’s foamy edge. With every step, waves collapsed behind him, erasing each sandy footprint as though perfectly choreographed. Across his forearms, strings of beads and shell necklaces glittered in the sunlight. As he approached, he held his offerings toward her and flashed a brilliant smile. His hair was wild and knotted, his face scruffy and tanned.

“Is this enough?” She raised a tarnished coin rummaged from the bottom of her new straw beach bag. 

He nodded and placed smaller coins in her palm as change.

The tiny beads were pale blue and aqua green like sea glass and draped almost to her waist so she looped the strand twice. She closed her eyes and listened to the soothing fall of waves. As the sun disappeared into the sea, she realized she would never return to her life in the city. 

talya

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life




Filed Under: Life Tagged With: creative writing prompt

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Comments

  1. Lana88 says

    July 11, 2013 at 5:25 am

    I love your writings. SO much awesome imagery!!

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 11, 2013 at 6:19 am

      Thank you Lana!

  2. Talya's Mom says

    July 11, 2013 at 5:56 am

    This is wonderful. So well written. I loved it.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 11, 2013 at 6:20 am

      Gracias.

  3. Vidya Sury says

    July 11, 2013 at 8:09 am

    That was a lovely read, Talya!

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 11, 2013 at 6:42 pm

      Thank you!

  4. Gary Henderson says

    July 11, 2013 at 8:10 am

    You did a lot with 270 words! ๐Ÿ™‚ When I’m given a length, I usually hit it on the nose.

    I’m also going to try this one. I liked the concept of using 7 words randomly. ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 11, 2013 at 6:44 pm

      Thanks Gary! I look forward to reading your story.

  5. Writercat59 says

    July 11, 2013 at 9:15 am

    Love it, Talya. You incorporated the words in seamlessly and I loved the whole premise and setting. I don’t blame her for not returning. I didn’t want to either and was sorry the story had to end.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 11, 2013 at 6:44 pm

      Thank you!

  6. Sreedev Soman says

    July 11, 2013 at 9:06 pm

    wow…beautifully written…who is the she?…is this an impersonal piece…liked the writing style…loved reading it…

    Sreedev Soman @ KookyDom

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 12, 2013 at 8:33 am

      Totally fiction:)) Thanks for reading and commenting.

  7. Patricia A. Laster says

    July 12, 2013 at 6:18 am

    I love doing this kind of exercise. In fact, one of the “Journey” chapters developed after such a one. Check-plus-plus.Plus.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 12, 2013 at 8:35 am

      A check-plus-plus-plus from you is flattering!

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 12, 2013 at 8:36 am

      A check-plus-plus-plus from you is flattering!

  8. Kathy says

    July 12, 2013 at 8:27 am

    This was an amazing story and you did well with the challenge!!

    Kathy
    http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 12, 2013 at 8:36 am

      Thank you Kathy. It was a fun challenge!

  9. Dances With Vodka says

    July 12, 2013 at 4:41 pm

    You just took all the pressure off, and sent me straight to heaven! I really need to come here more often. Thank you!

  10. themuseumpiece says

    July 13, 2013 at 9:30 am

    Nice imagery created with words. A good read ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 15, 2013 at 7:17 am

      Thank you!

  11. Joyce Lansky says

    July 14, 2013 at 7:40 pm

    Wonderful way to string the words together. Congratulations!

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 15, 2013 at 7:17 am

      Thanks Joyce!

  12. Corinne Rodrigues says

    July 15, 2013 at 7:53 am

    She definitely made the right choice! ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for joining the contest, Talya.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 19, 2013 at 11:20 am

      Thank you Corinne! I love your contests:))

  13. Tim Hardin says

    July 17, 2013 at 10:23 am

    Very nicely written…I felt as though I was there and witnessed this event. Also, on a different subject, this is a great way to remember words on a list where you take the words and create a story using each word. Not only can you remember all the words, but you can also remember them in order…just sayin’.=)

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 19, 2013 at 11:20 am

      Thanks Tim!

  14. Dot says

    January 7, 2014 at 6:28 am

    Talya, this sounds like chapter one! Because I’m ready to learn more about her.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 7, 2014 at 4:46 pm

      Awww thanks Dot! I appreciate your encouragement so much.

  15. Colene says

    January 7, 2014 at 8:07 am

    This is so good! A sequel would be wonderful!

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 7, 2014 at 4:46 pm

      Maybe I’ll have to work on that!

  16. Bryan Jones says

    January 7, 2014 at 3:41 pm

    Who would, willingly that is! Great effort!

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 7, 2014 at 4:46 pm

      true Bryan.


Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (2022)

THE THIRD ACT OF THEO GRUENE (coming 2025)

Recent Ramblings:

  • Sunday Letter: May 25, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: May 4, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Rainy Day Edition
  • Spiderwort: my love-hate relationship
  • Sunday Letter: March 23, 2025

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