Workshop Writing Samples:

Sierra Smile - Relief


Through five feet of pristine Sierra snow the Aussie shovels the path to the outhouse. In his red plaid pyjama bottoms and furry ear flapped winter hat, red parka flying open with each toss of snow over his shoulder, he stands half way up the path and turns to smile back at me with grey eyes that actually twinkle.

Blue skies outline the ridge above the cabin. Snow tipped fir trees mingle with granite boulders on the steep slope leading up to the double-doored outhouse.

I sit on the couch beside the cabin window, warm with a mug of hot chai watching his effortless movements. He turns and tosses the wet snow over his right shoulder.

Suddenly, feeling urgent pressure in my bladder, I know he had better hurry or there will be yellow snow outside the back door.

Silently I contract my abdominals and chant silently, “hurry, hurry!’

As I rise and reach for my own parka and navy blue beanie, half bent over concentrating on the kegle exercise, I hear the swish of the metal shovel as it slides down the fourteen steps.

Hooray! I rush out the back door and gingerly climb the slippery steps stopping to kiss the tall Aussie with the big smile. Then, I rush toward the icy cubicle.