As she leans into her car, she spots three red dots launch
from near Jenna’s memorial card and land– the world’s smallest
aerobatics team– onto her white sleeve. The beetles’ gloss
flashes like her friend’s gaudy jewelry. She puffs them, gently, away.
Northwest Journals 
So easy to picture this moment. Well done, Mr. Gargleblaster Master.
I love ladybugs. Its what remains we cherish. NIce gargle ;=).
So touching. I love the away her mind works – smallest aerobatics team – despite her grief. Lovely.
I love how, even in moments of grief, we can be distracted and entranced by something small and beautiful. It puts things in perspective, I think. Really thoughtful post, Nate. I liked it very much. Thanks for linking it up.
I love these posts. So much detail with so few words. Excellent.
Thanks, Amberly. If you click on the badge and scroll to the bottom, you’ll see a community of people writing these 42-word posts. If you have time, read them all and vote on your favorites!
A world’s worth of story in a tiny little piece. There was so much said. This was gorgeous!
Appreciate it, Jen!
Beautiful, Nate! Especially love the aerobics team and the gaudy jewelry. I see my lost ones in butterflies and dragonflies all the time : )
Hmm. You’re not the first to read that as aerobics instead of aerobatics. Maybe I used the wrong word. Glad you like it, Kymm!
Nope, my bad, Nate! I read it as aerobatics, but my reply was probably a slip due to my own post – haha.
Beautifully, expertly written. I’m enchanted by the connection of something whimsical to the moment of grief at a funeral. Wow.
Thank you, Jo-Anne! That’s what I was trying for.
Lovely, evocative lines drawn by bugs. Great take.
Lines drawn by bugs – I like that! Thanks iz!
Love the metaphor, and the way she gently puffs them away. Very nicely done.
Thanks Suzanne!
I loved how she gently puffed them away and the connection with the jewelry.
Thanks Marcy!
Ladybugs are good luck. I can only imagine how fortunate a person visited by three would be. Lovely. Evocative.
I don’t know what part of the country you’re in, but there was an outbreak of Asian Lady Beetles (more orange but otherwise exactly like ladybugs) where I lived about 10 years ago. They were absolutely everywhere!
you draw clear pictures…”beetle aerobics”
haha! Beetle aerobics is a great idea for a children’s book! But that’s aerobatics – synchronized flight, like you’d see at an air show.
“the world’s smallest aerobatics team”—that is so descriptively and imaginatively wonderful.
Thanks C.C. I had to look up ‘aerobatics’ – but it’s such a wonderful word.
I’m always noticing those small signs. Beautiful.
Me too. To the point where I suspect I’m finding them in pure coincidences just because I like to find them.
Really like this Nate. Do you know/like the poet William Carlos Williams? He’s my favorite and this piece reminds me of his poetry.
Thanks, Sean. I’m sure I read him in college, but I should go back.
That’s very beautiful. “The beetles’ gloss
flashes like her friend’s gaudy jewelry.”
Thanks for saying so. I was worried ‘gaudy’ was too judgmental, and I vacillated between that and ‘costume’ for most of the day.
Yes, very visual. Beautiful last line.
Thanks, Jennifer!
Very nice, I can see them, pretty little things.
Thank you, Claudette!