This is in response to Velvet Verbosity’s 100 Word Challenge. The prompt this week is FAMILY. Please be sure to check out the 100 words others have written.
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She looked out her window and watched kids playing below.

“Twenty years I’ve been in this office. People have come and gone; yet I’m still here. Not sure why, but there you have it. And, it’s really not crazy for me to sit here talking to myself, either.”

The full OUT basket waited to be picked up by her assistant. Much had been accomplished on a very full day. Cases had been opened, others closed and lives had been changed.

One file lay open awaiting her signature. She picked up her pen and sighed. Terminating family rights is never easy.
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This is another response to VV’s 100 Word Challenge: Bathed.
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Annie’s hair shone in the sunlight. The sounds of children playing brought dimples to her face, joy to her heart.

“Cinderella dressed in yellow, went upstairs to kiss her fellow.”

“Mama, the kids bothering you?” asked Rilla.

Annie shook her head and took a roll from her tray with shaking hands.

“I was startled when I walked in and saw you bathed in the sun. You’re just like an angel rocking there. I love you, Mama. I will miss you when you leave us.”

Annie patted Rilla’s hand, another smile crinkling her eyes. “I know, child. I love you, too.”
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Today’s A to Z Challenge letter is Y.

How perfect is it that the letter for today is Y? I am one of (apparently) millions of people who stayed up all night to watch the royal doings.

Being in Alaska has some drawbacks when what you want to see is waaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy over across the pond. 4 a.m. on the East coast is midnight in Alaska. So I stayed up – mostly. Set my cell phone alarm to go off at periodic times to make sure I was AWAKE enough to see.

The kiss was so quick I almost missed it. Nice to see him do an instant replay.

Love is in the air –

Found a new prompt – A picture is worth 1000 words – The blogger posts a picture and you write about it. I found this earlier this month, started writing the piece below, but only just went back to it. May develop into a full on story at some point, but for now it is at a good stopping point.
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Jeff coughed. He started when the echoes rang around him, but then settled back against the polished wood again. Dust motes sparkled in the flickering candlelight and a slight scent of incense tickled his nose.

Quiet – maybe too quiet, but that was what Jeff was seeking when he entered the church that night. He just needed a rest from the incessant voices inside his head. It seemed this building quieted them.

Or maybe the statues and marble columns swallowed up the noise like the cavernous sanctuary swallowed up Jeff.

He felt, more than saw, that he was no longer alone. The hairs on his legs stood at attention against his jeans. His arms tingled and the back of his neck just felt plain creepy. Someone was approaching and Jeff wasn’t quite ready for that.

“Evening, son. Is there anything I can do for you?”

The white-haired priest placed a meaty hand on Jeff’s shoulder. His senses already prepared for the appearance, it was still everything Jeff could do not to jump at the touch.

“No, Father. I’m just resting if that’s okay. I like being here in the candlelight – just me and the saints and that man up there on the cross.”

“I like it, too, son. Sorta peaceful, isn’t it? Well, I’m going up there to the sacristy behind the altar. If you need me just call out. You rest and if you want to talk, that Man up there? He listens to us all.”

The priest walked to the altar, genuflected, then entered the door to the right and Jeff was once again alone. Funny, the voices had quieted down when he entered the church, but now they were silent. “Wonder what secret he holds,” thought Jeff.

photo courtesy of PJOnori see it here.