The woman on the mountaintop ( A writing challenge by Billybuc. )
" Thank you God " she whispers as tears fill her smiling eye's.
Annie stood at the top of a giant hill overlooking the majestic beauty surrounding her favorite place to visit and dream.
She lives in a run-down house on the wrong side of town down by the railroad tracks. She's married to her soulmate Jim and they have an adorable little girl, Lilly whose getting ready to start school for the first time in the fall.
Annie has heard that old cliche, ( There's no shame in being poor. ) but she feels shame sometimes. She's been poor all her life, but always in the back of her mind is that wishful hope of climbing out of poverty and moving to a nicer part of town. She nor Jim are well educated, neither finished highschool. They both were raised by hard working parents who never made it to the right side of town either.
When she's up high on that hill, watching the clouds billow, she envisions a small little ranch house on a quiet street, flowering trees lining the driveway with a nice shiny car. The school where Lilly will go is just up the street. Instead of Jim working at a sawmill, he's working in a factory and making a good living wage
Sometimes she prays, sometimes she catches a glimpse of Jesus in the billowing clouds.
On a bright sunny day she takes Lilly for a walk and they stop by the stop-and-go-store to get a coke' She sees people standing in line to purchase lottery tickets. She's fully aware that she shouldn't be spending any money on lottery tickets, but throwing all caution aside, she buys one ticket, thinking, " One dollar is not going to make or break us. "
All week long she can't stop thinking about that ticket. Saturday arrives, the winning number is posted. She makes a mad dash to the store. She has the winning ticket! $ 300.000 dollars is her's. She rushes home to tell Jim, he's standing outside with arms outstretched, " Guess what " he asked. I won on a lottery ticket, $ 100.000 dollars! She slowly opens her hand to reveal her winning ticket, he looks at her, they both start laughing hysterically. Lilly runs up to them, asking, " what " when they tell her the good news she squeals with delight.
The next day Annie climbs back up on the hill and looks at the fluffy clouds, feels the summer breeze touch her face, breathes the pristine air and knows without a doubt she'd been given a gift. " Thank you God. " she whispers as tears fill her smiling eye's.
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Comments
When good things happen to good people... this is sweet, Ruby, like you.
Voted UP and AB. Happy Halloween. Hugs, mar
There's nothing like a happy ending to a beautiful story to end my week with. Loved it, Ruby. I'm a sucker for stories like this one and as proof, I used to watch The Waltons. :) Thank you so much for joining in the challenge. I love your "feel good" stories.
this was amazing.. I really enjoyed the read and this little bit for me just made it complete even though it wasn't .. for me it did: Sometimes she prays, sometimes she catches a glimpse of Jesus in the billowing clouds... I love that line.. voted awesome always.. awesome
Ruby, yes there can be miracles when we believe. :)
This is heartwarming and a real pleasure to wake up to this morning. I'm also a sucker for happy endings. Excellent work, voting up and more.
Charming story about hopes and beliefs. The feel good factor is a great way to start my sunny Saturday morning!
This is a lovely contribution to bill's challenge.
Ann
You just need to keep your faith Ruby, even when things aren't going well. Eventually things will change and you never know what blessings are around the corner. Great, feel good story. Very good contribution to the challenge.
Ruby, as they say, "good things come to those who wait". The time was right for Annie and Jim. How cool that they both spent a dollar and ended up winning. I love happy stories!
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Hello Mar. I want Annie and Jim to have that little home and share their good fortune, they better or I'll rewrite this sweet story and take it all away. Ha..lol. Thank you for the sweet comment. Hugs..
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Hello Bill. I still watch ' The Waltons ' every night on the Hallmark channel and ' Little House on the prairie ' when I can catch it. They're my kind of shows. I think that's why I loved Mike's Emeral Wells stories so much. Thank you. Happy you liked my ' feel good ' story. Thank you..
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Hello Frank. So glad you liked my story. Thank you for the awesome comment. Sometimes when I look at the clouds I can see images, I think most people can. Happy you liked that line. Thank you..
Why, this kind of thing - winning a lottery - only happens in stories?
Maybe one day I will be lucky :)
Thanks for keeping my hopes alive, Ruby.
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Hello Jo. Hope is all the poor really have. I'm so glad you liked my story. Thank you for an excellent work comment....
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Hello Ann. There's so many avenues for this picture. I like giving to the downtroden, so many are suffering now in America, hoping for an upswing after election day. Happy you enjoyed...
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Hello Jodah. Yes, I agree. Without faith the world looks dark and gloomy. Sometimes good things happen to brighten the lives of someone in need. Thank you for the uplifting comment.
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Hello Shauna. Of course them both winning would never happen in a million years but that's what I like about writing, you can make things happen with a little imagination. Thank you. I love happy endings too.
Hi Ruby. A happy story at last. Everyone is so glum these days, it's nice have a happy family ending.
Graham.
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Hello Martie. ' Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you if you're young at heart, ' Frank Sinatra's hit. I'm glad my writing helps you keep hope alive. Thank you..Hugs..
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Hello Graham. I know, everyone is feeling gloomy, I guess it's the thought of winter approaching. Burrrrr. Thank you.....
A great story told and I do appreciate your writing style. Voted up, interesting.
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Hello DDE. Always nice to see you. Thank you for coming by...
Hello Ruby, You take 'hope' and add a dash of success, a pinch of luck and end up with a tale that inspires. Wonderful.
Hi Ruby, I love your story of hope, so inspirational and beautifully illustrated too. We must always have faith for a brighter tomorrow.
Voted up +++ tweeting and pinning
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Hello Mike. That's what I love about writing, you can bring happiness to a family, and I get to reap the benefits too by the good feeling inside, does that make any sense? Happy you were inspired. Thank you my faithful friend...
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Hello Theresa. Thank you so much. Hope is necessary to survive in our world today. I'm so glad you found this piece inspirational, and thank's for sharing...
Ruby, the more I am getting to read the responses, the more I find that there are some fascinating poets who dazzle us as story writers as well. You are one among them. I like positive thoughts, positive words and also positive tales as these leave a great effect on shaping our living. This tale is also a tale of hope and happiness. I love this hub-a great response to Bill's challenge. Voted up,
What a wonderful story you've given us in answer to Bill's challenge! I love to hear of good fortune blessing good, hard-working humble people.
The truth in this is that the love in their hearts and the gratitude they had for the simple things in life.....made them "winners" long before they hit the jackpot!! UP+++ Very sweet tale, Ruby. Peace, Paula
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Hello Harish. So gald you liked my response to Bill's challenge. Thank you for a positive comment..
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Hello Paula, so nice to see you on my page, and I'm thrilled you enjoyed. Winners they were, just poor like so many others who struggle to pay the bills. Thank you so much. I see you are now following me. Thank you. I read one of your poems and loved it. I am now following you. Peace.
This is such a happy story! Thank you for sharing it. The couple that you describe sound like they really deserve their good luck.
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Hello Alicia. I think they were deserving. Thank you for coming by..
Voted up and awesome. That just got me smiling wide. You know your wonderful story is inspirational and loved this. Passing this on.
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Thank you Rasma. I'm thrilled that I made you smile wide, thank's for sharing...
Very hopeful tale of faith. :)
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Hello Shanmarie. I guess my story is a little over-the-top but I like to dream. Thank's for coming by. :)
I believe in miracles...and that wonderful things can and do happen to wonderful, deserving people. Thanks so much for this warm, happy ending, Ruby. It made my day. :-)
That was fascinating Ruby when Annie won the $300 but it was also dazzling when her husband won another $100! What a wonderful story. I voted up, shared and pinned it.
Kevin
A happy ending for a woman on the mountaintop who had hope! I liked the simplicity with which you passed on a nice message.
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Hello Genna, I'm thrilled that it made your day! Thank you. I believe in miricles too..Hugs my friend..
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Hello Kevin. I'm so glad you liked my story. Thank you for the wonderful comment and sharing it...
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Hello Suhail and my dog. So happy you enjoyed my simple story of hope and faith. Thank you...
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