DESCRIPTION
An unfinished work by Grandmother, annexed by permission and posted. A story that is the point of view of a tumbleweed in the desert. [804 words]
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
I am a long time Information Technology Major, and a former Navy Protected Veteran but I have a strong love and passion for writing, also an avid reader with a very large collection of books. I have many influences through the years (Pro Authors) and those influences have kept me writing and strong in literature for over 20 years. I have completed over fifty short stories, three novellas, two serials to my credit and dozens of articles. Most of my writing began for the High School and College Newspapers. It was a hobby at first but the fun and passion started in college where I found a small following of fans who believed in me... [June 2021]
AUTHOR'S OTHER TITLES (50) Apples & Oranges (Short Stories) Based on prompt for writing.com (Give short dialogue between two pieces of fruit) [700 words] [Humor] Character Introduction (Reference) Introduction to a main character that appears in a couple of serials that are currently on display on writing.com/nicestories.com and storymania.com in one short story. An idea I was kicking around. [1,273 words] [Biography] Dark Castle Mud Game: An Article (Non-Fiction) My first article in over eighteen years about a text game called a MUD that was popular from BBS circuits in the 1990s. Which still is active after 20 years of operations. [819 words] [Business] Earthworld (Short Version) (Short Stories) A forbidden romance between a human and a sub culture race created in a new era of Earth's post holocaust future. [9,878 words] [Erotic] Healing Starlight (Novels) A Story Series of Help, Healing, Redemption, and Second Chances. Part one of Four [76,285 words] [Fantasy] Memoirs Of A United States Navy Soldier (Non-Fiction) The journey to and first night at Great Lakes Naval Training Center (Fort Moffett) [1,687 words] [Travel] Msflights: The Article (Non-Fiction) An in depth grievance and warning to all about the shady practicves of their site. [748 words] [Writing Resource] Old Brindle (Short Stories) A story of my Great Grandmother in Cica 1936 rescuing the family cow, their only source of milk during the depression from a bad ice storm and the inventive ways taken. As told my Grandmother. 1st ... [1,559 words] Rose Snow: Space Explorer (Short Stories) A reunion between a father and daughter becomes a harsh choice for the father of what is good for the federation and what is good for him and his daugher personally. Inspired from picture, sci-fi girl... [1,811 words] [Science Fiction] Song Of The Fairy Folk (Poetry) A poem that a friend wrote and i think is worth sharing. [249 words] [Fantasy] Spider Kiss: (Short Stories) A piece based on "The Muse" Photo on Writing.com Picture story contest. A Teen who changes into a drider after an innocent bite from a spider. [2,406 words] [Horror] Starship Down! (Short Stories) A story based on a science fiction picture (stock image) where a crew of humans must fight to survive a hostile world in space. [5,317 words] [Science Fiction] The Abduction Of Shuttle 367 (Short Stories) Inspired on Hubble pic: An Earth Science vessel explores an unknown galaxy, running into trouble becoming prisoners. [4,895 words] [Science Fiction] The Assassination Factor (Short Stories) How a team modifies past to stop harm in the future, but not without a price of existence. Written in HS Literature Class (1991) as an assignment [12,081 words] [Science Fiction] The Assault In The Fog (Short Stories) - [1,813 words] The Beach House (Short Stories) A sinister trip by Vacationers to Florida turns deadly. [2,023 words] [Horror] The Bum And The Angel (Short Stories) Taken from the prompt: “A homeless man on a park bench is awakened by an angel.” [861 words] [Scientific] The Castle Of Dreams: (Short Stories) It uses the concept of the times, contemporary Fantasy and the use of a Elvish language using a mix of three different dialects. [5,046 words] [Fantasy] The City On The Edge Of Infinity (Short Stories) A city colony is in chaos in the Earth Federation against the terrorist group DOOM and it is going to take Veterans and heroes to protect the city from its destruction. [4,438 words] The Cloud Kingdom Of Benvosa (Short Stories) A story of rebellion against a tyrannical King and a forbidden love between a planet dweller and a Cloud Kingdom Princess. 1st place winner Draw Your Swords Fantasy Contest: Writing.com [6,570 words] [Fantasy] The Containers Of Grimm (Short Stories) Plague races across the Earth and the only way is to isolate victims using a new technology until a cure can be found. (Picture Contest Item: Writing.com) [1,434 words] [Science Fiction] The Entity Of Castlebrook Close (Short Stories) An possession of an Apartment building leads to fifty murders and it takes an exorcism to destroy the demon before he destroys the city. [4,441 words] [Horror] The Foundry Of Tomorrow (Short Stories) A science fiction piece about evolution of a machine after centuries alone. Written in HS Literature Class in 1991 as an assignment. [2,446 words] [Science Fiction] The Galactic Empire Chronicles - Eps 2 (Short Stories) A pseudo series based on Game played on BBS in the 90's. Magic Kingdom BBS: "Departure to Destiny" [6,443 words] [Science Fiction] The House In The Woods (Short Stories) How a string of simple lights lure the unsuspecting into the woods to a sinister evil. (2014 Entry for Picture Contest on Writing.com) [2,021 words] [Suspense] The Hunting Of The Snark (Poetry) My favorite piece of poetry from Lewis Carroll... [192 words] [Humor] The Lake Of Yesteryear (Short Stories) A senior of a all-girls HS in Tokyo go on a camping trip to a place at the site of a murder 20 years prior where she finds a twist that changes her life upside down after desiring change in her life. [5,540 words] [Horror] The Last Starfighter 2:Rtl (Short Stories) Concept Story / Sequel to the original film, Working title, Rebuilding the Legion [8,803 words] [Fan Fiction] The Night Before Christmas In Joisey (Poetry) A poem about santa refusing to go into NJ and has his half italian brother Vito Claus having to take over that state to deliver presents. [459 words] [Humor] The Nightmare Within The Mirror (Short Stories) A horror story of a possessed mirror that decimates a christian family leaving one survivor. [1,376 words] [Suspense] The Old Unga Blues (Songs) A parody of the "Old Yellowstain Blues." from the Caine Mutiny Film... (Starring Fred MacMurray, Humphary Bogart, May Wynn, Van Johnson, w/ Claude Atkins and Lee Marvin) This was written for a frien... [95 words] [Humor] The Plainsfarmers Of Mars (Short Stories) 2100 AD and Man has stared exploring space and colonizing the planets of SOL, but not without attack by aliens in retaliation for their push into space. [3,444 words] [Science Fiction] The Rescue Of Anne Frank (Short Stories) A team goes into the past to modify and change the timestream for a better future. Written in HS Literature Class (1991) 1st place winner: Alternative History Fiction Contest: writing.com [2,637 words] [Science Fiction] The Return Of Johnny Sokko And His Flying Robot (Short Stories) A fan Fiction piece based on series from 67-68 that aired in Japan as a live action. [3,202 words] [Science Fiction] The Return Of Starlight (Novels) Sequel of Healing Starlight. Help and Healing that spans across Modern and Renaissance Age. Part two of three of triad series [90,273 words] [Fantasy] The Return To Narnia (Short Story Concept) (Short Stories) A concept story that sequeled loosely the last book of the Narnia Chronicles, by C.S. Lewis. It is unfinished, and being explored in memory of a great author. [8,436 words] [Fantasy] The Shipwreck (Short Stories) Inspired on a picture: The Caves of Fiji, Daughter of a plantation owner in 1850 goes to Australia for her wedding only to be castaway on an island away from her love. [5,581 words] [Adventure] The Suicide Of Jake Johnson (Short Stories) Based on prompt Activity: There was only one way out... [1,276 words] The Themed Resort (Short Stories) A dysfunctional family goes on a needed vacation to a themed resort local to their home only to find when they pick the theme there is a sinister catch that is involved - You actually go there. [2,925 words] [Science Fiction] The Time Portals Of Pharius Seven (Short Stories) Based on picture: 3 expeditions seeking out a new discovery of time portals have vanished and it is up to Enterprise to find them before the Romulans do. [3,756 words] The Tunnel On The Edge Of Heaven (Short Stories) An abused young man is killed on the streets of NYC, but in his transition walking the tunnel to heaven finds because of his bad deeds all his life, travels for all eternity. [1,023 words] [Spiritual] Timmy Swanson: Isis The Next Generation (Short Stories) Contest Entry, writing.com, after an assault of a Teen boy by his peers he turns into a terrorist by the help of a young muslim girl. [2,632 words] [Drama] Unga Rap (Songs) Loosely based on the "Ninja Rap" From Vanilla Ice and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 Movie. These are more Lyrics for my Sys Admin Friend who thinks hes god's gift to women, but a fair hand at the... [358 words] [Fan Fiction] Yamato - Episode 1 (Short Stories) Based on the the Series Yamato and sequel to the "Final Yamato Movie" Part one of Seven in Mini Series format like James Clavell's Shogun [23,227 words] [Science Fiction] Yamato - Episode 2 (Short Stories) Based on the the Series Yamato and sequel to the "Final Yamato Movie" Part Two of Seven in Mini Series format like James Clavell's Shogun [24,642 words] [Science Fiction] Yamato - Episode 3 (Short Stories) Based on the the Series Yamato and sequel to the "Final Yamato Movie" Part Three of Seven in Mini Series format like James Clavell's Shogun [28,409 words] [Science Fiction] Yamato - Episode 4 (Short Stories) Based on the the Series Yamato and sequel to the "Final Yamato Movie" Part Four of Seven in Mini Series format like James Clavell's Shogun [20,507 words] [Science Fiction] Yamato - Episode 5 (Short Stories) Episode 5 of 7 of a mini series serial like James Clavell's "Shogun" TV Mini Series. [16,252 words] Yamato - Episode 6 (Short Stories) Episode 6 of 7 [23,176 words] [Science Fiction] Yamato - Episode 7 (Short Stories) Finale of Yamato Serial [82,169 words] [Science Fiction]
Tommy Tumbleweed. Nathaniel A Miller
Tommy Tumbleweed grew up with many brothers and sisters, a very large family who lived in the western United States.
A year before his parents had gone away in a big wind that took other neighbors as well.
An old Granny Tumbleweed was still near by only because she clutched at a wire fence that helped keep her in place.
Uncle Tex Tumbleweed had traveled far before meeting a sad end while crossing the highway
At first Tommy T. was a tiny seed sleeping under a light layer of soil as cold winter came and passed.
When spring came the sun warmed the ground. Rain softened his outer shell and he felt the stirring of life within.
Soon Tommy T. sent a root down deeper into the soil and then a green shoot peeked through to see and feel the sunlight.
Life was great and he grew fast just as did the other tumbleweeds all around him. They were quite a family.
All summer long, Tommy grew (you could say ‘like a weed’). His branches at first were low, fo9rming a small bush but mostly they reached outward along the ground. They were far longer than the root that only grew a short distance into the ground.
Other members of his family had been doing the same and together they formed a green carpet. Tiny blooms formed all over the surface. I was a pretty sight to the few who happened to see.
As the summer passed there, was less rain and the sun grew very hot. Tommy T. felt a change was coming. His whole plant body seemed different. His pretty blooms dried up and turned into seeds that sprinkled onto the ground under him.
The tips of his branches began to curl upward and he began to get a strange restless feeling. He wanted to travel, to go somewhere else.
He wondered where his parents were. Granny was still there; a bit tattered, but still clinging to the rusty wire fence. What would happen to him? Was he free to roam to unknown places?
As the days passed Tommy’s branches curled up in the hot dry wind. They almost reached each other to make a round ball. His restless feeling became a passionate longing.
TUMBLE! Yes, that was it! He wanted to tumble! ”But how?” He thought, reminding himself that he is still attached to the ground by the root that had given him life. Would he be like Granny forever caught in place to become bleached bones by a fencerow?
Days and weeks became months. Tommy still stood in place. But he wasn’t alone. There were hundreds of his family and friends clumped here and there. They danced and twitched in the breezes that sometimes turned into winds. The days grew shorter and cooler. It was fall with a promise of winter soon to arrive.
The one day it happened! A strong wind caught Tommy Tumbleweed just right. His body snapped loose from the root and he was tumbling. He was so excited that he hardly noticed he was among friends who had done just the same. Together they merrily rolled along (just like the song, you might say).
It was wonderful! Just as he had imagined he was at last traveling. Then suddenly it was all over. Whomp! He crashed up against a fence. No Granny near, but several of his family were caught, too.
Was this the end? Would he be left to gradually break up and blow away? His sorrowful sigh blended with the ceaseless wind.
Then something amazing happened. A car stopped across the ditch from Tommy’s fence. A people person got out and scrambled over the ditch. She looked at the piled up tumbleweeds for a short time while Tommy wondered what was going on.
Soon he felt himself gently lifted and along with a few other of his family was placed in the back of the car. Well, this is another kind of travel, he thought as he now rolled down the highway, but not being pushed by the wind.
When the car stopped, again Tommy felt himself being very carefully carried to the shelter of a porch on a house that was among other houses in a row. He rested there for a few days always wondering if this was the end.
One day the people person gathered up Tommy and the others and carried them out to the front yard. With much consideration and careful handling Tommy found himself at the top of a creation such as he never once imagined could be.
Some wires and colored glass bits were would all through this jumble made of Tommy and his family and friends, other tumbleweeds. Tommy himself couldn’t quite understand what it was all about.
But he knew that he was making many people happy because they all smiled as they passed by. Therefore, that made Tommy Tumbleweed happy!
The end. (However, a happy ending….)
READER'S REVIEWS (3) DISCLAIMER: STORYMANIA DOES NOT PROVIDE AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWS. ALL REVIEWS ARE PROVIDED BY NON-ASSOCIATED VISITORS, REGARDLESS OF THE WAY THEY CALL THEMSELVES.
"Well,now that was refreshing. That's a new twist. I liked that. Knowing you said it was "unfinished" I found my self nearing the end (at the fence) thinking, "oh, I hope granma didn't end her story here." I think it would make a great children's story. The story really "rolls" right along and the ending is delightful. SMCK" -- Stephanie Mckinney.
"A FITTING END FOR TOMMY TUMBLEWEED. I LIKE IT. TO BAD HE COULDN'T TAKE GRANNY WITH HIM." -- GLORIA.
"Very enjoyable story! Brought me back to very fond memories of my childhood and Building a Huge fort all made out of tumble weeds!Would make a great childrens picture book!" -- Leah Ellingsworth, Dallas, Or, usa.
TO DELETE UNWANTED REVIEWS CLICK HERE! (SELECT "MANAGE TITLE REVIEWS" ACTION)
Submit Your Review for Tommy Tumbleweed.
Required fields are marked with (*). Your e-mail address will not be displayed.