Writers Resolve

It's 2014, and the Varenna Writers are ready to tackle a new year of writing with some powerful resolutions!

Jack Russ plans to complete two short stories and resume work on his novel.

Joyce Cass is determined to learn to attach and send manuscripts via email!

Elizabeth Poulsen will continue to enjoy meeting with the Writers Club and writing.

Hal Peters will record some of  his amusing memoirs.

Dorothy Herbert plans to begin her memoir also.

Elisabeth Levy has pledged to finish her travel book.

Gary Sadler will attempt to create at least one autobiographical sketch with his inner critic as his ally.

Shirley Johnson hopes to write a piece she is actually pleased with.

Susan Bono is planning to treat her writing like an appointment  she must keep.

Sally Tilbury is keeping her resolution to herself!

The Hummingbird's Adventure by Elisabeth Levy

                                  

            Strange things can happen and I am still recovering form my latest adventure.

            My name is Summa.  I have three siblings and we are always full of mischief, having lots of fun. We are lucky, our parents taught us how to find food, what plants are best and which ones to avoid. Interesting for us is observing something called humans. Sometimes they are like standing statues, sometimes they move, and if they come too close, we fly off. They seem to like watching us; in fact some are feeding us. They know we like red and sweet syrup. It is great fun to get food out of those hanging containers, they sway just a little when we nibble. Most of the time we go after geranium or other colorful flowers and always have great conversations with them. There is never a dull moment.

            We had a perfect warm summer. ‘Every day was as nice as the next day.  The precautionary lessons from the parents were forgotten. There is a balcony high above a little lake I like especially well. It has all sorts of flowers, the geraniums I like best. However, all of a sudden the weather turned. It got cold, very, very cold. One evening I must have lingered around too long and all of a sudden the sun had set. It was dark, icy cold, and I could not fly back home.

           I had to look for a warm place to spend the night. I knew my family would worry, but there was nothing else I could do. I was hiding in the Christmas cactus plant next to a door. I saw light inside and all of a sudden, the door opened, light poured out, as well as warmth.  I quickly flew through the door and sat mouse still on the windowsill. A human got out, covered the Christmas cactus plant with something called a towel, came back in and closed the door. It was so warm, so light, and so delicious.  After a while the human turned off the lights. All was dark inside, but now I could see the glimmering lights outside, far away. I kept thinking of my worried parents, but never mind, there I was, feeling warm and cozy on my perch. Tomorrow is another day. I slept until daybreak. 

            Now I am hungry, I need some food. How can I get out, I am surrounded by glass. No way to escape.  I begin to panic. I try to fly, in vain. I try and try and try again and again and get so tired. All of a sudden I hear a voice, a soft voice, shocked, startled and surprised. She opens the door and tells me to go outside in the cold; I don’t know how to do it. I know the door is open, but how do I get out? She tries to make some wind with something like paper and tells me to fly. I can’t. I tire more and more, fly a little, rest a little. What can I do? What will my family think?         

            All of a sudden there are two voices. One calls the other June. Both talk to me softly and encouraging. I don’t know what to do, I am so tired, I make some more weak attempts, it doesn’t work. All of a sudden it gets dark. I feel something around me. Will I suffocate?  Wrapped as a bundle I get carried a short, distance and, like a miracle, the dark thing opens, I am free, free to fly off, free to fly home. I am stunned and try to find my way. It works, I can fly, the good feeling is overwhelming and lifts me up right into the sky.

            Getting back home my mother scolds me and tells me in the future to pay better attention to the instructions she had given us, always be aware of circumstances and come home on time. Yes, I know, I learned my lesson.