Sangria Sundae Part Four
Author: Lauri
Story: Jackson in the West
Prompts: Sangria 6 ("What one refuses in a minute/No eternity will return.") chopped nuts
Rating: G
Word Count: 663
Notes: First I definitely want con crit on this piece. I feel like it isn't quite finished, but I'm at a loss on what exactly it needs. Secondly, I used the term croup in this, and at least one of my beta readers wasn't familiar with the term, so I'm including a definition here. The croup is any condition larynx or trachea characterized by a hoarse cough and trouble breathing.
"'What one refuses in a minute, no eternity will return.' So wrote Friedrich Schiller in the last century. A simple straight forward statement with no allowance for exception. The words speak with such authority, you might expect they were spoken by our Lord rather than Mr. Schiller. And yet, it is that very authority that quiet assurance that these words are fact, that evokes a desire in the human heart to find a situation that contradicts the message.
"Taken merely at face value, it would seem to say that second chances don't exist. Yet we all know that they do exist, so we must look at it less literally. The true keys to unlock the quote, are 'in a minute,' and 'no eternity.' We oft regret for an eternity a choice we made in haste. And there is no choice that will effect our eternities more strongly than that of our souls eternal dwelling."
Jackson sat back and relaxed as he listened intently to the sermon. The frenzied pace of the past week had drained him and he was glad to be back in the Lord's house. Here he could forget about delayed stages and trains. Misprinted fliers and a clerk with the croup were no longer insurmountable peaks but anthills in the larger scheme of things. He was in the presence of the Almighty, and everything else seemed small.
Of course it did help that he'd managed to get all the problems ironed out yesterday. Oh he expected plenty to go wrong tomorrow, it was a grand opening, small things were bound to crop up. But everything he could set right had been. The rest was best left to providence.
No if there was anything distracting him from the sermon, it was Katherine Billings. Sitting right in front of him, the scent of the lavender water she always wore danced under his nose and brought to mind images of her hard at work over the last week.
He forced himself to focus by reminding himself that he would be having dinner with her and her brother directly after the services. Somehow that seemed to do the trick, and he managed to get through the next hour without too many distractions.
After they were dismissed he stood in line to thank the preacher and compliment him on his services.
"Brother Thompson, that was a marvelous sermon, and it does make one think about how much we owe to our lost brothers and sisters. And what will be required of us, if we ignore the spirits gentle prodding."
"It does indeed, Brother Xenobia. Brother, I wanted to let you know, a letter for you arrived at my house this morning."
"A letter for me? Why would it be brought to you?"
"I haven't the foggiest notion, and I'm not even sure who delivered it as it appeared on my doorstep, and no one noticed it until we were leaving. Although with 4 young children around the house, I suppose that isn't out of the ordinary. Here."
Jackson reached to take the letter and recognized his father's script immediately.
"Well, I suppose I will find out when I read it. Thank you again, Brother Thompson."
He slipped the letter into his pocket and then crossed to where Hiram and Katherine Billings were standing. "Mr. Billings, would you be offended if I were to stop off at my place for a few short minutes? I have a letter from my father that I have not had a moment to read, and would like not to have it hanging over my head and distracting me from Katherine's delicious meal."
"No, of course not. Please take all the time you need. It is a very short walk after all."
"Thank you. I shan't be long Miss Billings." He nodded and then headed down the road toward home. His father had went out of his way to get this to him, and his curiosity was demanding to know why.
Story: Jackson in the West
Prompts: Sangria 6 ("What one refuses in a minute/No eternity will return.") chopped nuts
Rating: G
Word Count: 663
Notes: First I definitely want con crit on this piece. I feel like it isn't quite finished, but I'm at a loss on what exactly it needs. Secondly, I used the term croup in this, and at least one of my beta readers wasn't familiar with the term, so I'm including a definition here. The croup is any condition larynx or trachea characterized by a hoarse cough and trouble breathing.
"'What one refuses in a minute, no eternity will return.' So wrote Friedrich Schiller in the last century. A simple straight forward statement with no allowance for exception. The words speak with such authority, you might expect they were spoken by our Lord rather than Mr. Schiller. And yet, it is that very authority that quiet assurance that these words are fact, that evokes a desire in the human heart to find a situation that contradicts the message.
"Taken merely at face value, it would seem to say that second chances don't exist. Yet we all know that they do exist, so we must look at it less literally. The true keys to unlock the quote, are 'in a minute,' and 'no eternity.' We oft regret for an eternity a choice we made in haste. And there is no choice that will effect our eternities more strongly than that of our souls eternal dwelling."
Jackson sat back and relaxed as he listened intently to the sermon. The frenzied pace of the past week had drained him and he was glad to be back in the Lord's house. Here he could forget about delayed stages and trains. Misprinted fliers and a clerk with the croup were no longer insurmountable peaks but anthills in the larger scheme of things. He was in the presence of the Almighty, and everything else seemed small.
Of course it did help that he'd managed to get all the problems ironed out yesterday. Oh he expected plenty to go wrong tomorrow, it was a grand opening, small things were bound to crop up. But everything he could set right had been. The rest was best left to providence.
No if there was anything distracting him from the sermon, it was Katherine Billings. Sitting right in front of him, the scent of the lavender water she always wore danced under his nose and brought to mind images of her hard at work over the last week.
He forced himself to focus by reminding himself that he would be having dinner with her and her brother directly after the services. Somehow that seemed to do the trick, and he managed to get through the next hour without too many distractions.
After they were dismissed he stood in line to thank the preacher and compliment him on his services.
"Brother Thompson, that was a marvelous sermon, and it does make one think about how much we owe to our lost brothers and sisters. And what will be required of us, if we ignore the spirits gentle prodding."
"It does indeed, Brother Xenobia. Brother, I wanted to let you know, a letter for you arrived at my house this morning."
"A letter for me? Why would it be brought to you?"
"I haven't the foggiest notion, and I'm not even sure who delivered it as it appeared on my doorstep, and no one noticed it until we were leaving. Although with 4 young children around the house, I suppose that isn't out of the ordinary. Here."
Jackson reached to take the letter and recognized his father's script immediately.
"Well, I suppose I will find out when I read it. Thank you again, Brother Thompson."
He slipped the letter into his pocket and then crossed to where Hiram and Katherine Billings were standing. "Mr. Billings, would you be offended if I were to stop off at my place for a few short minutes? I have a letter from my father that I have not had a moment to read, and would like not to have it hanging over my head and distracting me from Katherine's delicious meal."
"No, of course not. Please take all the time you need. It is a very short walk after all."
"Thank you. I shan't be long Miss Billings." He nodded and then headed down the road toward home. His father had went out of his way to get this to him, and his curiosity was demanding to know why.