Momwriters Contests

{All About MomWriters} {MomWriters Write}
{Special Events} {Projects} {Resources/Links}
{Contact Momwriters}

Word Picture Contest 1999 First Place Clothes Line by Donna M

The wind tugged at my hair as I bent down and plucked a tiny pink checked romper from among the basketful of damp clothes. I felt the warm sun on my arms and remembered Mrs. Arnold saying how she loved to hang out the clothes because she could get a tan without trying. I thought about those childhood summers and watching momma hanging out the wash every day. Oh, how I hated those stiff clothes. I could never understand how momma could hang out all those clothes when it would be so much easier to toss them in the dryer.

I bent down again and let my thoughts wander as tension flitted away on warm summer breezes. As I worked I watched two yellow butterflies dance to a silent song. Outside the fence tall grass bent and whispered gentle secrets to lower lying weeds. Even though they were near me I could but hear the children distantly. I was somewhere else among the clean smell of summer.

I worked my way down the line hanging tiny eyelet lace trimmed dresses and rosebud covered gowns interspersed with baseball jerseys and boys’ cutoffs, stopping occasionally to admire my handiwork. My eyes passed over a row of yellow, pink and flowery print baby clothes billowing out in a sudden puff of air, catching the gust like sails. I never thought I would be washing little girl things and I reveled in having them all spread out before me, banners declaring to the world that I had a daughter.

Back to Top