Dec 23, 2015 Friday Fictioneers

PHOTO PROMPT – © Scott L. Vannatter

Word Count:  100 words of text, exactly
Genre: Death-myth fiction

The Mower
©December 23rd, 2015
By Vijaya Sundaram

The farm-cat knew it.  Both dogs knew it.  Even the little mice scurrying behind the walls knew it.  The sheep in their pens knew it, and baa-aa-ed nervously.  The cow and her calf in the shed moo-ed forlornly.

Only Simon sleeping in his little farmhouse bedroom didn’t know it.

Suddenly, he awoke.  A Form had glided into his room, carrying a scythe.

“It’s time, human,” said a voice, dry as deserts.

Simon protested.  “I haven’t mowed the fields.  I’m NOT ready.  Go!  Return at season’s end.”

Simon’s cat stared.  Hesitating, then nodding, the Form faded.

Simon lived till season’s end.

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Thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for being our gracious host at Friday Fictioneers, and to Scott Vannatter for the photograph-prompt!

Tags: #Death, Cat, Farmer, Mowing fields, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, Scythe, Season's end

Dec 23, 2015 Friday Fictioneers

PHOTO PROMPT – © Scott L. Vannatter

Word Count:  100 words of text, exactly
Genre: Animal Tails

Mesmer (Dog-Tail #2)
©December 23rd, 2015
By Vijaya Sundaram

Hypnotia, our cat, had trained us well.  Her lamp-like stare could arrest us in our tracks.  We’d play the piano for her any time she needed to yowl.

Then, Mesmer, our dog arrived.  He was three months old when we brought him home, milky-sweet and eiderdown-soft.  And though he disgusted Hypnotia by peedling everywhere, she was fascinated by his alarmingly excessive canine charm.  They became inseparable friends, and often sang together, not heeding our strenous objections.

We laid down the law:  No more singing.

We lost that battle:  They left us.  We heard that they were last seen in Bremen.

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Thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, for being our Fairy Blog-Mother host on Friday Fictioneers, and to Scott L. Vannatter for that arresting photograph.

Tags: #Dog-Tail#2, Cats and Dogs, Mesmer, The Musicians of Bremen

Dec 23, 2015 Uncategorized

Click on the audio link above to hear John Lennon sing “Julia,” written for his mother (with references to Yoko Ono, as well).

All photographs @Vijaya Sundaram / Warren Senders, between July 2008 – December 2015

Dec 23, 2015 Daily Life

All photographs ©Vijaya Sundaram, December 23rd, 2015

Holly and I took a walk together earlier today.  It was a warmish-cool afternoon (in December!), with the temperatures between 57° and 52° degrees, and yes, the world is slowly coming to an end, while global warming and climate change do their gritty business, fulfilling their promise to the humans who began it all … but it was still a pretty day.

There were scores of ducks on this shallow pond two miles away from my home, quacking up a storm.  I even saw a drake mating, or attempting to mate with its partner, who seemed to be drowning, but shook herself, and sailed on.

It was a beautiful, if somewhat sombre afternoon, with grays and red-browns dominating.  Duck-lust was in the air, but the dog couldn’t care less.  I expected Holly to strain and point at the ducks (which she did when she was younger), since Standard Poodles are duck-hunters historically, but beyond a cursory look, she padded on, more interested in checking her pee-mail (I have to credit my husband for that pun!), and checking out the new surroundings, fully ready to protect and serve.

Walking with my dog always puts me right.  The world could be falling apart around me, and the skies could be raging with methane fires, but with my dog by my side, and a wooded area, with some water, I can steady my breath, and feel whole again.

Happy almost-Christmas Eve, for those who celebrate, and for those who don’t, well, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year!

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by Vijaya Sundaram
December 23rd, 2015

Tags: #walkingwithdognearpond, A warm day in December, Dog-Tails, Ducks, Pond

Dec 23, 2015 Culture, Daily Life, Uncategorized

Of Human Boatage*  Photograph ©Vijaya Sundaram, Nov. 14th, 2015, View of the Yamuna River across from the Taj Mahal, Agra, India

With apologies to W. Somerset Maugham

Tags: #YamunaRiverTajMahal, Original Photograph by Vijaya Sundaram