Welcome to Wednesday’s writing prompt. Before we get started I just want to remind you of the shake up in schedule. Today I will be posting the longer About Writing post instead of posting it tomorrow as tomorrow is Thanksgiving. As I am not traveling this year and the morning has a lull before the holiday cooking begins, I’ll be posting the regular prompt tomorrow morning as well as Friday morning, barring unforeseen events anyway. so those are the changes. Not to bad when you think of it. So on with the prompt. Timers set? Excellent, then write my lovelies write!
I rather enjoyed that one.
Wednesday, November 25th: The comet blazed across the sky.
The comet blazed across the sky causing every other star to fade into the blackness of night. It arched overhead, a ball of fire and gas. He watched mesmerized by the beauty. Even the fact that it wasn’t the first comet he’d seen in his short life, or even the first one this week didn’t stop him from turning his face skyward in awe.
Hearing the screen door on the back porch squeal as it was opened and then thump again as it closed, Juvan took a deep breath and waited. He knew it was past his bed time. He just couldn’t resist coming outside to see. The comets at night were so much better than the ones in the day.
Juvan heard the crunch of adult feet over grass. The summer was a dry one and hotter than any of the older ones remembered and was burnt to a dry crisp looking more autumnal than high summer. Extra water rations went to the herders but for personal use water had been rationed since before the heat even rose to the scorching depths of high summer.
He jumped as a hand was placed on his shoulder. He waited for the recriminations, the explanations always given when he was told it was time to sleep despite something exciting going on.
They didn’t come. From the size and weight of the hand and the scent of his pipe, Juvan knew it was his grandfather who stood by him. As he was the strictest about rules Juvan expected not only recriminations but a small punishment to drive the lesson home.
It didn’t come.
Juvan reluctantly tore his gaze away from the sky and looked at his grandfather. The old man’s heavily lined face, the skin tanned deeply from a lifetime working under the sun, was turned to the sky as his had been. But his face held no joy, no wonder.
It held something dark that Juvan couldn’t name. He felt the stirrings of fear in his belly.
“There are too many,” his grandfather said. “And they are coming too close.”
Juvan frowned and looked at the sky. The comet was almost out of sight, edging towards the horizon. Juvan liked to watch until the final tail disappeared beyond sight but instead of keeping his eyes glued to its descent he turned back to his grandfather.
“Come,” his grandfather said. The heavy hand slipped from his shoulders and the old man turned and walked back towards the house. The one word was a command and Juvan automatically turned his steps to follow his grandfather’s, the threat of fear he saw when looking at the old man’s face spinning out, longer and longer. As it grew it began to tangle into knots in his belly. Instead of walking into the house, his grandfather led them along the side of their little house. To his surprise, his mother and grandmother were waiting there. Each was carrying two bundles. As they arrived, one bundle was passed to his grandfather and another, smaller one to him. Juvan looked to his mother. Her face looked pale and frightened.
Ten til Midnight 