Marlie, well actually her mother and her neighbor, are back for this CRLC prompt. As I mentioned in this post most of my recurring characters stayed out of our reality, but Marlie et al did step up over a year ago now and become somewhat current. The Carrot Ranch Literary Community June 18, 2021, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that features a solstice. What is the era and setting? Use the solstice as a celebration, metaphor, or talking point. Go where the prompt leads! To see what sort of thing Marlie might be researching on solstices try this.
Home Schooled
“Tommy! It’s been a long time.”
“Do I still gotta wear a mask?”
“Two out of three rule; outside, distanced, masked. We’re outside and distanced. Shall I get Marlie? She’s preparing for her summer solstice presentation.”
“My daddy says the solstice is stuperstition.”
“Well, there are myths and rituals celebrating this astronomical event that might be considered superstitious… tonight’s Marlie’s Midsummer Eve bonfire. Come and you can learn all about it.”
“Astrology vents! My daddy says the solstice and astrology’s made up by witches.”
“Tommy. It’s been a long time. Are your parents vaccinated? Three out of four rule…”
ShiftnShake 
(sigh) and we may not always get a truthful answer. (K)
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Beautifully skewered, after the jab to the jaw. 🙂
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Ah the superstitious.. superstitious of superstitions. They must live excitable lives! Tommy’s itching for some excitement, and some learning too it seems. Great piece!
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Tommy has some tough times ahead of him- what daddy says and what he sees his neighbors doing.
The other speaker here is Marlie’s mom, all of them recurring characters forming a story here and there.
Thanks for coming by and catching this piece.
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And there’s some scientist that can accept celebrating…
But it is unfortunate that some folks are still superstitious about scientific fact.
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Thinking it’s been encouraged of late. But we shall overcome.
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I don’t know about that – I still know too many people who don’t believe in science, much less that Doctors, scientists and engineers are actually to be trusted especially when a particular story focuses on the down side of any one treatment, experiment (spoof or not – like the one paper that said children were being born with antlers…which was really a promo for a movie) or when stuff that is built that is supposed tot last – due to a last minute change fails…
Hopefully the people of this world can start working together to promote health and equality, food security and housing for everyone.
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Tommy’s been distanced from outside influences. It’s gonna take some time with Marlie to recalibrate him. Burn, solstice fires, burn!
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Yeah. I don’t think we need Tommy’s family at Marlie’s party. I doubt they’ve be vaccinated. Isn’t coronavirus just a conspiracy anyway?
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