This is actually a contest entry, though I have no desire to win. If, by chance, I do, please send my HBI to @thealliance so others can benefit from it as well. This is more of a me saying hello to the #freewrite community and let @mariannewest know I love her 😇 🤗. Also, it's always good to scratch that neocortex with some creative claws from time to time, so here it is. It's called 'A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words' and you can visit the post for yourself by clicking on the title there. The rules are:

• Describe what you see
• Describe what you feel
• Write a story or poem about what you think is going on

1. What I see - I see a black and white sketch of a frantic man, perhaps because of the lady behind him, in a vehicle.
2. What I feel - the smooth cold computer screen as I'm touching it. HA!
3. Here's what I think -

---

"Turn that shit down son! You know I can't handle that 'New-Age' and 'Rap' shit! Sounds like I'm gonna die. You trying to kill me boy?"

"No ma, just trying to get something for the trip."

"Well dammit, make it something more enjoyable. Find some Christmas music for the love of Pete. It is the season after all."

"Fine ma, I try and find some Christmas music."

As he was going through the stations on the old radial dial of the vintage 1955 Cadillac 75, he happened across a very strange broadcast. His ears tuned in quite acutely as there was another voice behind the static and songs that were trying to play. One that seemed to carry through the entire bandwidth of the FM bar and try as he could, he could not get it to tune out. It kept saying, "her time is now, we come for her" over and over again.

"Do you hear that ma? What is that?"

"I just hear white noise and static, find some music already!"

"You don't hear it?"

"Hear what boy?!?"

"Nevermind, I'll keep looking."

"You better, why when I was your age..."

And he tuned her out as it was always the same thing. About how she had it so bad and made the best of it. Like he didn't already know how to do that after years of it being ingrained into his skull. What rang out loudest now though, was that odd message it seemed only he could hear.

He thought to himself, 'I wonder if they mean her', to which the static voice replied - "yes, her".

Will it be quick?

"Yes."

Painless?

"Yes."

Give me a minute.

"Ma, I love you. Just wanted you to know that. Thanks for being there when I needed it most. You've never failed to support me in anything. Merry Christmas."

"What? What are you going on about, ya, ya, I love you too. Where is that music you said was coming?"

Okay, I'm ready.

The song 'Silent Night' then began to play on the radio. He heard his mother trail off about something mumbling quiter and quieter and finally, was silent herself. He took a deep heavy breath, and turned off the radio.

---

Well, that wasn't where I was expecting it to go. I didn't even say anything about the 'Oh, Taunnenbaum' LOL! Guess I was feeling a little dark. Maybe it was the shadowy figure in the back that brought that out, I don't know. But it was fun and always enjoyable to just start writing and see where it goes. In closing, I want to remind you to REMEMBER TO BE YOU! I always am, even when a reaper speaks.