The story challenge!

[Gemini]

The challenge is to write a story beginning with the sentence

Every April, the same thing happened. ...

[Gemini]

Please add your challenge story to this thread.

[Daisy]

Now, Gem, that is a challenge. I think mine might be quite short!!! but I'll have a go.

[Gemini]

Short is good

[Gemini]

Any topic, any style, short or long, just go with your imagination

I have already had a false start, but will try to write something this weekend.

[Daisy]

I've got an idea - but it needs fleshing out and bringing under control - if that isn't a contradiction!

[Oma]

Every April the same thing happens Christian decides to do some DIY after watching lots of DIY shows on TV over the winter , The house was full of half finished projects , a half stripped door hear , a half papered room there , last year it was knocking the kitchen and dining room wall down to make one large room that was still waiting to be finished and ceiling still being held up with props , The fish pond he started to dig out in the garden was the size of a small swimming pool and was filling up with mud and rain water. No matter how many times she asked when he would finish the answer was always the same , Dont nag i will get it done next weekend , well next weekend never came Marge had had enough she couldn't live like this any more either he finished these jobs or it was the end for them she was going to do something about it herself .
4 Weeks later with workmen in finishing all the jobs Christian had left half done ,Marge was working in the garden , her next door neighbour looked over the garden fence and commented on the new flower bed Marge was planting up where the fish pond should have been, That's looking good Marge much better than that muddy hole , by the way we haven't seen Christian for a while , Christian had gone down under on a very long holiday said Marge as she patted the last plant in place and smiled and whispered to herself Never to return

[Daisy]

Oma - I love it!

[Gemini]

Oh naughty Marge!!
Excellent Oma, and thank you for taking the challenge

[Gemini]

Every April the same thing happened.
Julia picked up the envelope from the doormat. She opened it, smiling as she took in the spring flowers design on the front, and loving words inside the card. Mum never forgot. The card arrived on April 4th, every year.
For several years Tim had remembered too, but now he never mentioned the day. Perhaps he too remembered, if so he didn't share it with his wife.

After breakfast Julia drove to the quiet spot that she chose to go to on this day each year. She sat on the bench overlooking the sea and laid the small bunch of spring flowers on the grass beneath the tree.
This was her remembering place. She and Tim had shared it, and now it was hers alone. She didn't blame him, everyone handles these things in their own way. This was hers.
They came here together in those dark days 10 years ago, to cry and grieve. The feeling of peace it gave her then was still there for Julia.

Such a tiny baby, too small and unformed to tell if it was a boy or a girl. Julia had always felt her unborn baby was a girl, and this was how she remembered her, her tiny daughter. Unfinished , but beautiful. She had lived and grown and moved inside her. They had loved, and welcomed and prepared for her arrival. Then all had gone badly wrong.
They had held each other, and their little daughter, wrapped in a soft pink blanket. Julia thought back to that memory on this day.

Julia sighed, held unto the bench for support and pulled herself to her feet. Rubbing the small of her back and cradling her full and curving belly. she smiled "Goodbye my sweetheart. I love you. I will be back next year, and then I will bring your baby brother with me."

[Oma]

Awww that was lovely Gem

[Qwerty]

Goosebumps Gem but in a nice way simply lovely💐

[Daisy]

Aww, lovely story, Gem.

[Daisy]

Every April the same thing happened …



on the first of the month, Martha would go to the calendar, tear off March and turning to Harry would say “Well, it’s April. What shall we do for your birthday this year?”

Every year Harry would say he didn’t want a fuss, he’d had far too many birthdays to be bothered with them, and Martha would tut quietly to herself and let the subject drop. But every year, Martha went quietly to work so that when the Big Day arrived on the 30th of the month, Harry would wake to a series of surprises - a new trowel to potter in the garden with, the latest thriller by his favourite author, tickets for United’s cup match, a booking for the new Italian Restaurant in town …. the surprises would appear throughout the day, and in the evening Martha would say “Come on, get changed, we’re going out” and one or other of the children would collect them and take them to a show or out for a meal.

All day Harry would say “I don’t know what all the fuss is about - it’s only a birthday”. And every year Martha would tut quietly to herself and take no notice.

Harry sighed. This year would be different. As he took the March page off the calendar he heard his Martha’s voice “Well, it’s April. What shall we do for your birthday this year?” But this year Martha wasn’t there to ignore him. He would get his wish at last - there would be no fuss for his birthday.

It was a sunny morning but chilly, so he wrapped up warmly and strolled down to talk to his Martha as he did every day. Sally, the kindly nurse with a mop of unruly curly blonde hair greeted him. “She’s just the same, Harry, but go in and see her.” He opened the door into the stark room lit by pinpricks of light, beeps and a low hum from the machines which were keeping his Martha breathing. Her eyes, as always were closed, and he sat by her side, gently taking her small hand in his big warm ones.

“Martha, it’s Harry. How are you today, dear?” He always asked her the same thing, knowing there would be no answer, but the doctors had told him to talk to her as much as possible - hearing his familiar voice might help to rouse her from her deep coma. He was just about to tell her about their daffodils looking beautiful when he felt the smallest pressure from her hand. He gently squeezed it as it nestled in his, and her eyelids flickered briefly - so briefly he thought he’d imagined it. Her voice was quiet, slightly hoarse as she whispered “Well, it’s April. What shall we do for your birthday this year?” Through his tears, Harry replied “I don’t want a fuss, dear, it’s only a birthday”. Martha tutted quietly to herself as she always did, but a small smile played round her lips as Harry gently planted a kiss on her forehead.

[Oma]

Oh my goodness I actually got goosebumps at the end that was amazing Daisy 😊