To be pretty for you I have dropped two seeds of turnsole in the dark of both eyes.
— by Isabel Duarte-Gray, from the poem, Garden
I remember the date my soul left my body. It was the night before the winter solstice of my seventeenth year. Mother had been down with the grip for a week; and as the oldest daughter, cooking, laundry, and tending to the young’ns fell mostly to me.
One younger sister and I baked mincemeat pies late. I remember a pale, swollen moon in a starless black sky outside as we set them on the window ledge. She stumbled to bed; while I prayed to Lady Luna for deliverance.
Then, a light tap at the door. Perhaps a lost traveler? The opened door revealed a tall, gaunt stranger who cast no shadow.
“You called?”
~ ~ ~
To be pretty for you I have dropped two seeds of turnsole in the dark of both eyes. You have become my sun in our immortal nothingness.
[143 words]
This story has shades of John Updike’s novel, “The Witches of Eastwick.” Be careful what you wish for. Also, I’ve been watching an excellent comedy series, “What We Do in the Shadows” so I have vampires on the brain. In the series, Guillermo, the familiar, dreams of being made a vampire.
Sanaa is today’s host of d’Verse’ Prosery. Sanaa says:
This evening I would like you to write a Prose piece which includes the [top quote.]
Tao Talk 
Those tall dark strangers that come calling are a mystery. Very nice! :)
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Thanks much! :)
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An eerie suspense hovering over this one leaves us wondering… What’s next?? Well done, Lisa.
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Thanks much, Dwight.
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You are welcome, Lisa.
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Another dark story. I like it though! :-)
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Thanks much, Christian!
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The introduction was great…it’s like the beginning of a TZ or movie.
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Max, I’m honored you feel that vibe to it, thank you :)
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My kind of story, Lisa! I love the opening line, which sets up the story so well, and the voice of the narrator, with its hints of local dialect. I especially love the description of the moon. I really enjoyed John Updike’s novel, ‘The Witches of Eastwick’ and ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ is great fun. I always enjoy supernatural stories, films, series…
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Thanks much, Kim and happy you like that kind of story as well.
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Tall dark strangers without shadow will only come when invited. I wonder how soulless immortality has any benefits.
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That’s the thing, when you make those wishes, you have made the invitation — a mistake that the naive are clueless to. Like the young girl who wants deliverance from chores or the familiar who wants to be a vampire, neither has a clue to the reality :(
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This prompt sure conjured up the dark sides of most. I think the exhaustion explained in this piece prevents a psyche to keep equilibrium.
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Petru, you’re so right on both the dark nature of the quote and about what exhaustion leads to. Thank you for reading and your insightful comment.
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Wow, wow, wow! This is exquisitely dark and enticing, Lisa! I love what you did with the line at the end 😍😍 Thank you so much for writing to the prompt 💖💖
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Thank you, Sanaa, and you are most welcome <3
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Wow! Out of nowhere. A delightful twist full of enchanted mystery.
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Love how you describe my story, thank you, Susan :)
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You usually describe mine in beautiful terms. So pleased I was able to return the feeling. ❤🤗
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<3
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You’ve integrated the line seamlessly Li. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
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Thank you, Sadje. I see you have a new profile pic. Very nice :) <3
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Thank you my friend 💖
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You’re welcome.
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💙💙💙
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Gothic seems to fit the archaic prompt line :)
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:::maniacal laughter echoing::: Yes!
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Nice one. Bravo!!!
Much🖤love
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Gillena, thank you <3
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Most, most excellent, Lisa <3
Much love,
David
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Thank you :)
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Ooh! An intriguing tale, Lisa. Love how you set the scene for what was to follow :-)
On another note, I am a massive fan of What We Do in the Shadows, it’s one of my favourite comedies! Guillermo’s character just gets better and better :-D
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Yes he is! I just finished S2. Thanks for reading and your comment.
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A fun vampire tale, Lisa. I guess she invited him in! 🙂
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Lady Luna always comes through. Thanks, Merril!
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You’re welcome, Lisa!
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Intriguing tale!
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Thanks, Reena!
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I enjoyed where the prompt took you! Especially love the very last line.
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Sherry, thanks much.
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Spooky! (K)
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Thanks, K!
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Dark and mysterious Lisa – a great take on this not so easy prompt…
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You’re right it was a very challenging line to fashion a story around. Thank you.
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I really enjoyed it 😊😊
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Love this, Lisa! And you’ve given me something new to watch. I love good comedies. Thanks!
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Thanks, Chu. The show goes a little risque from time to time, but it is great fun to watch.
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Oo risqué sounds very fun lol
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Pretty hefty price to pay. But then, I can imagine being the eldest and being in charge does make one want to leave…
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I think if she knew, she *probably* would have stayed put… Thanks for reading and your comment, Dale.
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Hindsight and all that …
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Hi Li :-) This one was awesome! An oldie, but a goodie! X
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Carol Anne, I like this story also. Thanks!
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