Writer Ellen Morris Prewitt Blog

Not Feeling Smiling or Friendly

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on August 21, 2013. Posted in General. 2 Comments on Not Feeling Smiling or Friendly

Exiting the Office Depot, I saw a sign: “Now Hiring Smiling, Friendly People.” I wondered if I would pass the “Smiling, Friendly” test. I debated this on my way to the car. Talking out loud, to myself. “You flunk!” my examiner shouted. “Smiling, friendly people don’t talk to themselves. They have...

Substitution Will Not Work

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on August 21, 2013. Posted in General. 4 Comments on Substitution Will Not Work

Recently, I have had two distinctive events in my life: the death of my dad and the birth of my second grand baby. These events are distinctive in the sense of momentous and thus distinguished from my otherwise normal life. They are also distinctive in the sense of distinct: they have nothing to do with one another. In their comments to me, folks...

Life is Tough All Over

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on August 19, 2013. Posted in General. 4 Comments on Life is Tough All Over

You can talk all you want about how “sweet” my daddy was. And he was sweet, particularly at the end of his life when he tromped through the brambles of dying without letting erupt anger, complaint, or self-pity. In fact, he did the opposite, insisting always that he was doing great, feeling great, just glad as all get-out to be here. But...

Thank you, Daddy

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on August 16, 2013. Posted in General. 3 Comments on Thank you, Daddy

When I was young, I loathed the publication of grief. I hated the wail of ambulances, screaming death through the streets. Even more, I detested the sight of the black crawling hearse, dragging all of us unwillingly into the otherwise-private funeral procession. I’ve mellowed in those opinions, which I held very strongly, very vocally....

White

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on August 9, 2013. Posted in General. No Comments on White

The sea burbled in, and the child followed the shells strew on the sand like sparkling coins. Her head full of stories of wrecked pirate ships, she skipped after the seagull feather blown in the breeze and gathered shells willy-nilly, scooping and shaking and stacking in her palm, until she spied the white shells. Soft white puffed shells, like...

The Star Fish Story

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on August 9, 2013. Posted in General. No Comments on The Star Fish Story

“Do you want to pet the starfish?” the young woman at the museum’s petting exhibit asked. She did not tell me the exhibit was for kids. She did not ask me to push away from the rail. She made room for my curiosity. She showed me the starfish’s mouth, and its eyes. She said, “It’s softer than it looks.” She let me hold the star fish until it curled...

Leave-takings

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on August 9, 2013. Posted in General. No Comments on Leave-takings

One by one, the family departs. First the young couple who must return to our nation’s capitol to meet their grown-up job responsibilities. A weekend they’re given, but their excitement at life allows no room for regret. * We have a few precious days without leave-taking before my mother and Elli pull from the driveway. They are returning...

“A Trip to the Lawyer” written & read by Ellen Morris Prewitt

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on August 8, 2013. Posted in General. 4 Comments on “A Trip to the Lawyer” written & read by Ellen Morris Prewitt

“A Trip to the Lawyer” First appeared in print in RedHot ChickLit Review. To contribute to Common Ground, a program of the YWCA devoted to conversations on race & communities in action, please follow the link here or visit commongroundmemphis.org Listen to the story here:

How Can You Write a Short Story Making Fun of Old People in a Retirement Home?

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on August 5, 2013. Posted in General. 1 Comment on How Can You Write a Short Story Making Fun of Old People in a Retirement Home?

Mother should be grateful for an attentive son, but she’s glowering at me, her pug nose crinkled as if I’ve spilled sticky pickle juice on her kitchen counter. Mother no longer owns a kitchen counter, and I no longer am a child with clumsy mitts attempting to fix a pickle and cheese sandwich. Mother now lives in this lovely retirement home where...

“Superman at the Manor” written & read by Ellen Morris Prewitt

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on August 1, 2013. Posted in General. No Comments on “Superman at the Manor” written & read by Ellen Morris Prewitt

“Superman at the Manor” To contribute to Church Health Center, a charity providing healthcare for the working uninsured, please follow the link here or visit churchhealthcenter.org Listen to the story here: