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Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie and Wordle #216

The challenge is to use at least 10 of the words to create a story or poem. The words can appear in an alternate form. Use the words in any order that you like.

1. Forgotten
2. Crux
3. Slip
4. Deprecate
5. Minister (also has a verb form)
6. Bother
7. How
8. Heartstrings
9. Maim
10. Placebo
11. Oblique
12. Glow

Johnny and Dorothy were having problems with their marriage. Instead of their heartstrings twanging and fluttering when they saw each other, their hearts didn’t bother to skip a beat anymore. The crux of the situation is that they had forgotten how to have fun with each other. Instead of laughter, flirting, and coy oblique glances that used to make both of their cheeks glow, they slipped into a consistent reliable rut. Cruelty was never part of the equation; more that security became their placebo for contentment. Unfortunately something was lost along the way.

During one long and particularly consistent and uneventful winter, Johnny suggested that they join in on a retreat being put on by a member of his bowling team. Jerry, a fun-loving guy who used to be a minister, now sold time-share condos. Nothing was known about why Jerry had left the ministry. The retreat was to be held at a remote hunting lodge an hour north that Jerry was able to borrow for the weekend from his good buddy, Chucky.

Dorothy barely knew any of Johnny’s bowling buddies and was total strangers to their wives and girlfriends. Normally she didn’t like socializing for long periods of time with strangers. At the same time, the dreariness of the weather and the mind-numbing predictability of her days and nights made the idea of something different and out of her comfort zone alluring.

All six couples drove separately and were instructed to bring hiking gear and hunting gear if they had it. All arrived within an hour of each other. Jerry greeted Johnny and Dorothy as soon as they pulled up to the fancy 2 story cabin, with a lower level overlooking a frozen lake. A fire was already roaring in the double-sized fireplace which made it toasty warm near it. Jerry’s wife, Jamie, was quick to whisk the women off downstairs to a large room with a pool in the center and cushiony lounging cushions everywhere. Soft music was playing.

On the main floor Jerry checked to see who had hiking and hunting gear. An outdoor outing was arranged and all of the men quickly piled outside and followed Jerry towards the lake.

Jamie pulled out a large bag of white powder and started forming lines on the table. Dorothy had never tried white powder but she had heard so many terrible things about it, she was uncomfortable at the idea she would be expected to try some. One by one, the ladies sat in the sniffing position on the couch and partook. Soon it was Dorothy’s turn. Dorothy said, “I’m sorry I will have to pass.” Jamie immediately got down on her knees and began a loud lamentation, deprecating the powder. Everyone else was so high at that point they broke out in pealing laughter. Dorothy’s cheeks were burning in embarrassment and a little agitation. OK, she was not going to be the wimp of the weekend, she would try it. She sat and sniffed and soon was laughing and dancing with the other ladies, having the time of her life.

Jerry and the guys approached the lake. It looked solidly frozen. The plan was to split into teams of 3 and have a competition to see who could bag game first. Jerry, Johnny, and Jimmy went one way and the other 3 guys went due north. Picking their way through the undergrowth, looking for deer runs, suddenly a loud SNAP was heard and Johnny cried out in agony. He had unknowingly stepped into a bear trap. Jerry and Jimmy quickly pried it off of his ankle, then helped him hobble back to the cabin.

They burst through the front door. Jerry called for Jamie, but there was no answer. He went downstairs to find the coke-snorting ladies who were higher than blazes in the pool. Jerry asked Jamie to get the SUV ready to take Johnny into town for medical treatment. Dorothy, in a haze, thought she was dreaming when she heard her husband’s name. She asked what was happening and Jerry said Johnny’s leg had been caught in a bear trap. Dorothy heard but could not believe, she knew this was the drugs. She started laughing very loudly and said, Yeah right!

When the weekend was over, things were different between Johnny and Dorothy. They longed for the days when everything was dull and consistent.