Oz poster

His innocent eyes widened. To discover that fairytales aren’t true, the tooth fairy doesn’t exist and Santa is a fat man at the mall was just too much. It was the final learning curve that pushed him into repugnant reality. He now knew that everything came with shades of grey and multiple levels of truths and lies. His point of view of life, being able to see the other side of things, would become a talent and a strength.

Daytime umbrella

They had dragged him here unwillingly. He understood every good reason to come; the grandchildren would have opportunities never afforded to him. He stood by as his children slaved away to give the younger ones any and everything. The so-called opportunities had soured into spoiling. They were brats. It was an imposition that he tolerated.

Slippered man

Had it been a good life? He wasn’t so sure. To everyone else he seemed accomplished, if he was truthful to himself, it was over compensating that had got him that far. The early traumas had spurred him to do better, but still lived within him like it was yesterday. Now that he had no real power to live up to, they cobbled him. It would take a mysterious turn of events to take him by surprise and realize that he still had more to give.

Walking under king bridge

Being asked to show someone the proverbial ropes was a notch down. Changing her outlook just made her feel foreign and out of place; her face, a mask with its plastered on, outlined smile, her clothing like semi soft exterior of a cockroach, chaffing as she tried to keep it together. With her position being usurped she thought hard and fast about her next moves. And they were to be deadly.

CBC cityscape

Cheerfully she embarked on her day with eagerness. In the face of city cool she wore her excitement on her sleeve. Other colleagues, also like her, from far-flung small towns, faked it like they had spent their lives here. They pitied her positivity and hid their hunger and desire to be the best. It was easy for her to spot the chinks in their armor, and with this knowledge she ploughed forth to win.