Saturday Wordzzle Challenge: Week 80

This is week 80 of the Saturday Wordzzle challenge. Anyone new to the process can refer back here to find out how it works. Had a tough time this week. I guess I say that every week, don't I? Some week's are worse than others, though. Think I must have "renovation" syndrome. Looking forward to reading what everyone has come up with this week.

The words for this week's ten word challenge were: Charitable, alligator, tribute, drunk, slave, preparation, carrots, mountainside, propeller, lark For the mini challenge: chisel, worship, suicide, organic, plus

Today's 10-word:

Martha fought her irritation and was trying to be charitable about the farce that was about to take place. She longed to tell the truth (which in her estimation a blind idiot could have seen), but knew at the same time, that the community of Mountainside, still grieving after the recent tragedies, needed a hero and Martin seemed ready to fill the bill. So she held her tongue, though she knew that the famous "Alligator" killer had lucked into his heroism. Drunk as a skunk he had taken his boat, The Forty Carrots (the idiot couldn't even spell), up the river as a "lark" and had accidentally run the huge monster down, taking it out with the boat's propeller. He had been found scratched up and unconscious next to the gator's huge carcass and somehow the story had gotten out that he had killed it in single-handed combat. Martin, whose reputation had been in need of a boost, did nothing to dispel these rumors and today the town was holding a special award ceremony and dinner in tribute to his service to the community. As she slaved with her neighbors over preparations for the huge feast, Martha comforted her conscience by telling herself that even if it was a drunken accident, the town's children were now safer and free of a dangerous menace. And fame seemed to have sobered her husband up a bit. Now that he had a new reputation, perhaps he would be tempted to live up to it. Time would tell she sighed. She could hope.

The mini:

Janie adored the handsome priest with the chiseled features and the beautiful kind blue eyes. When her brother Jeremy committed suicide, Pastor John had held her hand and let her cry on his shoulder and she had felt safe possibly for the first time in her life. She had signed up for the Worship Committee in hopes of earning his approval. Plus that she volunteered to help with the Church's organic garden and several other activities. The kind young pastor, for his part, did what he could to nurture her spirit while discouraging her crush. It had been a delicate balancing act, but much to his relief and delight, the arrival of a new family with two teen children - one a very nice young boy - had finally begun to turn her heart to healthier dreams. He suspected her relgious fervor might begin to wane, but he took joy in seeing her begin to be happy again.



The mega:

Frank Smith's hands moved so fast that the knives looked like propellers as he chopped up several dozen organic carrots, a dozen onions, a dozen potatoes and a pound and a half of alligator meat in preparation for Mountainside Inn's famous annual cooking contest, a charitable event that raised money to feed the homeless. He hoped that all that plus the best pie crust on earth was sure to make his Tate-Gator Pot Pie a winner. This year's gastronomic creations were to be a tribute to the late great chef, Lark Chisel Sprugo, who had tragically committed suicide two years earlier. Frank had worshipped Lark, whose food could make your soul sing. His generosity to a troubled young man who liked to cook had changed his life, had helped him get into recovery. Putting his pie into the oven at last, he whispered to the air, to himself... "You treated me like a slave in the kitchen and a son outside of it my old friend. Your passion burned so deep that it was like you were drunk on life and taste and you taught me to be drunk on it too... and still be sober. I loved you, old man. I don't understand why you did this to yourself, but I will keep you alive the best way I know how... by cooking the way you taught me to and by feeding people with with all the love my heart and hands can put into what I do." He had to win this year. It was his homage to his friend and teacher, the kindest man he had ever known.

Many thanks to Argent for next week's words.

Next Week's Ten Word Challenge will be: dangerous, engine, sullenly, bespoke, evergreen, bauble, medicine, freight, destined, tinsel

And for the mini: carbon, feelers, outright, ballet, fizzing

Thanks for playing. For those who are new, here are some guidelines to make the process more fun.

Enjoy! See you next week.

DON'T FORGET TO ADD YOUR NAME TO MR. LINKY!!!!!