I thought back to 1966 and us all watching the World Cup Final, except my brother, who had become so anxious once extra time started that he had had to go outside for a walk. I found an internet entry and copied the text therein, thinking to use it as a base for my own piece. However, it turned out to be exactly 80 words long so I take this as an omen and paste it here:
"England played West Germany in the final game. Only seconds before the official play time was called off, Germany scored its second goal to a 2-2 tie and send the game into overtime. A controversial goal from Geoff Hurst marked England's 3-2 lead in overtime, and it was Hurst again to mark the final 4-2 score just seconds before the 30 minutes overtime play was concluded."They think it's all over. It is now!
Quoting from the World Cup History:
"England played West Germany in the final game. Only seconds before the official play time was called off, Germany scored its second goal to a 2-2 tie and send the game into overtime. A controversial goal from Geoff Hurst marked England's 3-2 lead in overtime, and it was Hurst again to mark the final 4-2 score just seconds before the 30 minutes overtime play was concluded."
He appeared calm on the outside, but inside his mind was racing. He turned to see his fellow astronaut smiling, and gave a cheerful thumbs up. This was his childhood dream and he had trained hard for it. The status screen in front of him showed that the computer was now in charge of the countdown. Everything was nominal, but he was after all sitting on a million pounds of rocket fuel. Could anything go wrong in those final moments?
He stands in line at the MEPS looking like he should be lining up for lunch at a junior high school cafeteria. He takes the oath, long hair cascading down his back. We have spoken daily for almost 20 years. He gets on a shuttle. Nothing will ever be the same. They will shave his head and take his phone. He will come back changed...taller, broader, quieter. Doesn't need me anymore. He will never be my little boy again.
She watched until the red tail lights winked as he slowed to take the corner and disappeared from sight. She paused for a few breaths of that balmy summer evening before going back inside to clear their coffee mugs from the floor, placing them in the sink with the rest of the detritus from their meal.
She wonders, as she sits alone on the patio, if she would have done things differently if she'd know the next part of their story.
It's coming, I know it is . I have been waiting for the axe to fall and the remaining siblings to say ," let's sell the farm."
I am devastated. My life revolves around going to the farm. My garden is there. Where else can you get truly clean greens if you do not grow them yourself.?
What will I do without it. I really don't want to live if I can't go to the farm.
Each trip feels like it is the final moment I will be there without care and happy to be there.
Of course the furniture would have to go with it. Our houses are full and Pa made such lovely cabinets.
The farm was our gift from Pa and Ma, our inheritance of who my Mama was and wanted to share with her children. I am the only one who loves it like she did. The rest are too citified and don't care for nature or wildlife.
We have friends in the animals there. The Cardinal loves us almost as much as he loves his mate.
The chickadees recognize the van and begin to chatter because they know something good is coming .
The squirrels are still shy but they are coming around.
I realize I am living out my Snow- White fantasy,complete with the handsome prince but I am 💔 devastated.
The cold metal caught the bright light as it glinted in the dark. So this was it. There was no changing fate now, and no second-guessing. What's done is done. These were the final moments; she closed her eyes, and with every ounce of strength, she prayed, she wished, and she hoped. 'Plop' went the coin in the wishing well. She opened her eyes and smiled.
Ten years passed. His grandchildren laughed beside him, their names always just out of reach. He forgot birthdays, faces, even his own name. But he laughed often, kindly.
On his final morning, he asked the nurse, “Was I... ever loved?”
She smoothed the sheets, her voice steady. “Yes. Deeply.”
He smiled, closing his eyes. Then, quietly, he let go.
Two of the finest grandmasters – one from Ukraine and one from Russia – were tussling pieces around, trying to gain an advantage.
This game has been tense, and now, with both players running low on time, tensions were never higher. Quickly, the Russian moves the bishop, but goes one place too far.
The Ukrainian saw the blunder, moved a pawn up for a queen, and called checkmate.
“Well played,” said the Russian, “you won. I’ll call for my troops to retreat.”
Re: 80 words on Final Moments.
I thought back to 1966 and us all watching the World Cup Final, except my brother, who had become so anxious once extra time started that he had had to go outside for a walk. I found an internet entry and copied the text therein, thinking to use it as a base for my own piece. However, it turned out to be exactly 80 words long so I take this as an omen and paste it here:
[https://www.robots.ox.ac.uk/~ian/wc66.html]
They think it's all over. It is now!
Quoting from the World Cup History:
"England played West Germany in the final game. Only seconds before the official play time was called off, Germany scored its second goal to a 2-2 tie and send the game into overtime. A controversial goal from Geoff Hurst marked England's 3-2 lead in overtime, and it was Hurst again to mark the final 4-2 score just seconds before the 30 minutes overtime play was concluded."They think it's all over. It is now!
Quoting from the World Cup History:
"England played West Germany in the final game. Only seconds before the official play time was called off, Germany scored its second goal to a 2-2 tie and send the game into overtime. A controversial goal from Geoff Hurst marked England's 3-2 lead in overtime, and it was Hurst again to mark the final 4-2 score just seconds before the 30 minutes overtime play was concluded."
PROMPT: FINAL MOMENTS
THE COUNTDOWN
There was just one minute to go.
Sixty seconds until he could finally be free, and walk out of this wretched place.
It’d been ten years of unrelenting tension.
And constant yelling.
But now, he was leaving it all behind.
Being a teacher just wasn’t what he thought it’d be… 🏫😎🏫
He appeared calm on the outside, but inside his mind was racing. He turned to see his fellow astronaut smiling, and gave a cheerful thumbs up. This was his childhood dream and he had trained hard for it. The status screen in front of him showed that the computer was now in charge of the countdown. Everything was nominal, but he was after all sitting on a million pounds of rocket fuel. Could anything go wrong in those final moments?
He stands in line at the MEPS looking like he should be lining up for lunch at a junior high school cafeteria. He takes the oath, long hair cascading down his back. We have spoken daily for almost 20 years. He gets on a shuttle. Nothing will ever be the same. They will shave his head and take his phone. He will come back changed...taller, broader, quieter. Doesn't need me anymore. He will never be my little boy again.
Final Moments – 80mg [overdosed by one]
She watched until the red tail lights winked as he slowed to take the corner and disappeared from sight. She paused for a few breaths of that balmy summer evening before going back inside to clear their coffee mugs from the floor, placing them in the sink with the rest of the detritus from their meal.
She wonders, as she sits alone on the patio, if she would have done things differently if she'd know the next part of their story.
Nice one, Miguel. Clever!
Thanks Diane!❤️
80mg of FINAL MOMENTS
Does it stir a rising panic or bring a sense of relief to watch the countdown reach zero?
Seeing the final gains of sand fall through the hourglass, will you stand proudly or humbled by regret?
In the instant before the sun rises, would you cling to the darkness or allow yourself to step into the light?
When the calm that precedes it arrives, how have you readied yourself for the storm?
Will it be a whimper or a bang?
"He's in the hospital in pretty bad shape; I guess he couldn't breathe and called 911."
I sighed. "What else is wrong, Vince?"
"His kidneys are failing, he needs a lung transplant; guess he's felt bad for a while now. He doesn't want any treatment."
I called; told his nurse to tell him I was sorry he was ill.
In his final moments I wonder if he was sorry he was a pedophile and realized why I didn't visit.
Oh didn't see that coming.
“It’ll be okay,” she said hugging him. “I know you feel sad right now, and I understand, but, really, things will be okay.”
He shrugged her off. “It’s just, I don’t know, I don’t know how this could have happened. I can’t believe it. I’m so young.”
“It’s okay,” she said hugging him again.
He sighed, allowing her to comfort him.
“It happens to everybody,” she said. “Premature ejaculation is quite common, most men just don’t like to admit it.”
Oh I like that. Clever
It's coming, I know it is . I have been waiting for the axe to fall and the remaining siblings to say ," let's sell the farm."
I am devastated. My life revolves around going to the farm. My garden is there. Where else can you get truly clean greens if you do not grow them yourself.?
What will I do without it. I really don't want to live if I can't go to the farm.
Each trip feels like it is the final moment I will be there without care and happy to be there.
Of course the furniture would have to go with it. Our houses are full and Pa made such lovely cabinets.
The farm was our gift from Pa and Ma, our inheritance of who my Mama was and wanted to share with her children. I am the only one who loves it like she did. The rest are too citified and don't care for nature or wildlife.
We have friends in the animals there. The Cardinal loves us almost as much as he loves his mate.
The chickadees recognize the van and begin to chatter because they know something good is coming .
The squirrels are still shy but they are coming around.
I realize I am living out my Snow- White fantasy,complete with the handsome prince but I am 💔 devastated.
Thank you ,Miguel!
Thank you , Mike !
Thank you ,Jeannine!
80mg - Final Moments
______________________________
In her final moment before the full moon rose, Rue felt the shift begin.
Bones cracked, fur sprouted, and her senses sharpened.
She had always feared the change, but tonight it felt different.
The forest called to her, welcoming her as one of its own.
Shadows moved—there were others like her, waiting.
As her paws touched the earth, she let go of fear.
She wasn’t alone.
She was a wolf now,
wild and free,
bound to the supernatural world forever.
LOVED this Miguel. Vampire stories are so awesome
🧛🧛
The cold metal caught the bright light as it glinted in the dark. So this was it. There was no changing fate now, and no second-guessing. What's done is done. These were the final moments; she closed her eyes, and with every ounce of strength, she prayed, she wished, and she hoped. 'Plop' went the coin in the wishing well. She opened her eyes and smiled.
I was holding my breath waiting for the axe to fall. Great tension building and good end
I thought for sure this would be sinister, but there was a major twist at the end. Excellent
Thanks for this one Miguel, it was unexpectedly cathartic
I’m glad you liked it ❤️
At the End of Forgetting
(for nana)
“I’ll give you ten more years,” Death said.
“What will it cost?” asked the old man.
“All your memories.”
He agreed.
Ten years passed. His grandchildren laughed beside him, their names always just out of reach. He forgot birthdays, faces, even his own name. But he laughed often, kindly.
On his final morning, he asked the nurse, “Was I... ever loved?”
She smoothed the sheets, her voice steady. “Yes. Deeply.”
He smiled, closing his eyes. Then, quietly, he let go.
80 words
That's made me cry. Beautiful
Thank you Diane. It was cathartic for me writing this. Hope it was cathartic for you reading it :)
Aw, so sad, Ashlsha, beautifully written
Thank you Izzibella… Most parts of it were a true story :)
Two of the finest grandmasters – one from Ukraine and one from Russia – were tussling pieces around, trying to gain an advantage.
This game has been tense, and now, with both players running low on time, tensions were never higher. Quickly, the Russian moves the bishop, but goes one place too far.
The Ukrainian saw the blunder, moved a pawn up for a queen, and called checkmate.
“Well played,” said the Russian, “you won. I’ll call for my troops to retreat.”
Great to have you back writing with us Dylan! With a good one too. Shame it can’t be this easy :/
Imagine how much bloodshed would be spared if wars were only fought on chessboards...
Agree with Izzibella, if only it could be so simple
If only so simple, right, Dylan