Sehri Tales 2020 - May 13

Top entities for the prompt ‘Spare’, by popular vote

Writer: Masud Mass Hoque

"Kill the spare!"

And that was it.

Writer: Afrida Nurain

Plants have become my friend in this quarantine. We talk and listen to each other nowadays.

Me: Oh dear, here are some weeds! Let me remove!

Plant 1: See (pinching Plant 2)! Here she goes!

Plant 2: What's your problem with her (annoying face)?

Plant 3: Welcome! Welcome, your majesty! The weeds give pain to us (pricking Plant 1)

Me: Yeah! I know they are itching (cleaning the weeds with scissors).

Plant 1: I've got a question Afi, may I ask?

Plant 2: (whispering) Don't ask any creepy question.

Plant 1: (overlooking Plant 2) Will you take care of us like this way after the lockdown?

Me: Why are you asking this?

Plant 3: Actually, you're sparing time with us because now you've no works to do! You're less active with your studies!

Plant 1: That's why we're getting extra attention by the way!

Plant 2: Apology on behalf of them! I hope you won't forget us!

Me: I won't, dear! Don't bother! I do care....(interrupt Plant 1)

Plant 1: Promise us you will spare

Plant 3: Time with more care

Plant 2: And always be aware

Plant 1, Plant 2 and Plant 3 (said together): Because we love your compassion, oh dear!

Plant 1: So we need it every day!

Plant 3: Don't limit it only this lock days!

Writer: Tareq Adnan

-Something Other than Desperation-

Please, will you tell me your favorite word?

Today I am a little taken with assiduous. It is such a sibilant word and so soft as it leaves your lips.

Yesterday, I was a little in thrall to embellishment. I’ve lost so much of myself over the years. The veneer is only there so you can’t see the rust beneath. And much like a coat, all my embellishments have hardened.

Recently, another found its way to me through the aether. Foible. It is just a fun, made up word. Foible. Simply saying it out loud speaks it into existence. All the times I said things that didn’t fit; the gaping maw of my worry that I need to fill every day in order to distract myself. Foible is such a difficult word to accept.

Years ago, ablate took up residence and I couldn’t get it out. It’s an odd word, jagged-edged and abrupt. I still can’t get my teeth around it. I would call it a fever dream and it was, for a while. Inside my head, I would hear a ringing. I wanted a better story for myself because well, who wouldn’t? I had to go cold turkey before I could get it all out. Ablate took a while to excise.

But today though, I am a little taken with assiduous. It’s such a liquid word, fills you right up. So desperate and insistent and spilling out. Tomorrow, I’d like something nicer.

Please, tell me your favorite word.