Prisca's_Writing_Area

Title: Encounter in the Park
Prompt: Coffee
Character: Casey Connor, Zeke Tyler
Words: 483
Finished: October 2017

:::

It was a misty, gray autumn day. Days Casey always enjoyed; he put on his thick old coat, grabbed for the woolen hoodie, and off he was. It didn't often happen that he had the park all to himself on a Saturday afternoon, and he didn't need to worry about it to run into Gabe or one of the other jocks, who were only waiting for the next chance to bully him.

With the camera in his hands, he first walked around the little lake, taking tons of pictures. Finally, he stopped at a small clearing to watch some squirrels jumping around in the fallen leaves. The yellow, orange, and brown mix of colors made a great photo motive.

„Hey, geek boy. What are you doing?“

Torn out of his daydreaming, Casey almost jumped. Instinctively, he tried to protect his camera while he turned around. The bigger boy opposite him smirked slightly.

„Geez, Casey, calm down.“

None of the jocks. Only Zeke Tyler. The rebel from school. He was a year older than him but still in the same class. The girls were crazy about him. Understandable. He was good-looking; he knew how to flirt. Besides that, he was a pretty selfish prick, only interested in his own benefit.

Inwardly, Casey sighed; okay, this was the end of his nice afternoon plans. With Zeke hanging around nearby, it wouldn't be the same anymore. But the older boy held him back when he turned around to leave.

„Hey, wait.“

Distrustful, Casey stared at him. „What do you want, Zeke? It will start to rain again soon, and I'm cold. I want to go home.“

„Mom is waiting?“

„Why do you care?“

„If you don't have anything better to do, I would like to invite you for a coffee. To warm up again.“

Casey blinked flabbergasted. What the heck was this about? Zeke had never shown any interest in him. But now he was here, smiling, his hazelnut brown eyes sparkling. As if he did mean every word. Where was the catch? „Why should you? What do you want?"

Zeke shrugged. „Does everything need to have a reason? Let's say it's a boring Saturday afternoon, and I could need some company.“

Casey huffed. „I bet half of the girls of Herrington would be glad to help you out.“

For a short moment, Zeke's face darkened, not threateningly, more sad and alone, as if a mask had dropped. Casey had never seen him in such a state before and almost regretted his harsh words.

„Well, maybe we could go to Annie's milkbar? It's right at the end of the park, at Hyatt Place,“ he murmured. „Annie makes the best Caramelized Pecan Latte you've ever had.“

To his relief, Zeke laughed. „Sweet tooth! I prefer my coffee with milk, without sugar. But it's okay for me, let head to Annie.“

Title: Jack O'Lantern
Prompt: pumpkin
Character: Rose Smith, Michelle
Words: 394
Finished: October 2017

:::

„What's that,“ Rose asked and pointed at the big, glaring orange fruit in the middle of the table.

Michelle smiled. „A pumpkin. It's almost Halloween; I thought it might be fun if we would make a Jack O'Lantern.“

Curious, Rose bent forward when the young woman grabbed the knife and carefully started to cut out the stipe.

„Now it's your turn,“ Michelle said, holding the spoon out to the little girl. „You can hollow out the pumpkin. We will use the pulp for soup later; that's delicious. But the most fun is to crave the face.“

„A face,“ Rose asked, and her eyes sparkled.

„Yeah. A spooky face. Later, we can put a candle in the pumpkin, and the light shining through the eyes and the mouth will cast out ghosts.“

„What kind of ghosts?“

„Every kind of spooky creatures you can imagine in your fantasy.“

Rose smiled and clapped her hands. „That's cool.“

„Yes, it is,“ Michelle agreed. She watched Rose working at the pumpkin lantern, entirely concentrated, strands of her long brown hair falling into her face; now and then, she wet her lips with her tongue.

As she had done ages ago, she had been sitting at the old wooden table in their grandmother's kitchen. A fire was burning in the oven, and her grandma made hot cacao and told her stories. Old stories of long forgotten times. Back then, she thought it would always be like that.

But the Big Death had changed everything. Her grandmother died during the first days of the outbreak. Her parents about two weeks later. Like all adults. Only the children did survive. Fifteen years were gone already. First, she had tried not to think about the past too often. Then, she realized that it was her mission to keep it alive.

Even if the memories sometimes hurt, it was important that the past didn't vanish into the void. Otherwise, children like Rose would never learn about it.

„Michelle? Did I do it right?"

She looked up and smiled about the more funny than spooky face Rose had craved into the pumpkin. "It's perfect, “she reassured her.

Rose beamed at her. „Will you tell me a story?“

„Yeah, sure. What do you think about the story of Jack O'Lantern?“

Title: Thunderstorm
Prompt: thunder
Character: Casey Connor, Jason Connor (OC)
Words: 502
Finished: October 2017

Author's note: This story is part of my 'Homeland' Universe, where Casey & Zeke are married and have adopted a little boy, but it can be read as a stand-alone story

:::

The storm had reached its maximum. Lightning bolts followed by booming thunder, and rain was drumming on the porch roof and against the windows. The light was flickering on and off for the umpteenth time.

Casey sighed and closed his book. It probably made no sense to wait for Zeke's call; the telephone connection seemed to be falling off. One last round through the house to ensure all windows and doors were looked up safely. Also the cat flap was locked; Bella had looked for refuge somewhere in the closet, instead of sneaking into Jason's room, where she would sleep side by side with the little boy. Poor kitty; she hated thunderstorms.

Casey went upstairs and almost jumped when he heard a thunderous roll of thunder. Once he reached the upper floor, he decided to look after Jason before going into the bathroom.

There was not much that could trouble their little son, adopted son, to be precise when he had fallen asleep, but right now, the boy was sitting on his bed, knees pulled up, shaking all over.

Quickly, Casey stepped closer and sat down on the bedside. „Hey. Did the storm wake you up? It's loud, isn't it? But no need to worry.“

Jason looked at him with wide open eyes. „Not worried. I'm almost five.“ But his shaking voice told volumes.

Inwardly, Casey smiled; brave little guy, his start into life hadn't been the best, but this had only made him stronger. A fighter through and through. „Do you want to sleep in Dad's bed tonight?“

„Dad? He is home?“

Hopefully, Jason looked up; smiling, Casey shook his head. „He's in New York, you know that. When he comes back this weekend, I'm sure he will bring a surprise for you.“

Outside, the wind was howling, branches hit the window, and another lightning bolt lit the room for a split of a second. Booom. The thunder was not long in coming. Jason winced, and Casey put his arm around his shoulder. Indeed, this was the heaviest, most extended thunderstorm he could remember. Tomorrow, he would have a lot of fun in the garden with the damage it would cause for sure.

For the moment, though, he needed to take care of Jason. „C'mon,“ he murmured. „We will move you into the big bedroom.“

But the boy grabbed his blanket, refusing to stand up. „I can sleep in my room,“ he protested. „I'm a big boy.“

„Sure you are.“ Casey smiled. „But to be honest...“ He bent closer and whispered into Jason's ear. „I could need someone by my side tonight. This storm is pretty wild.“

Jason kept quiet for a moment, chewing on his lower lip like he always did when he was thinking hard. Finally, he nodded. „Okay. I guess I can sleep in Dad's bed tonight.“ He grabbed for Casey's hand. „But you don't need to worry, it's just a storm.“