Elaine Elliott

“Karina's Cave” by Elaine Elliott

Submitted to Contest #247

February 10 We’ve arrived! After a long hot day in the double cab pickup, Jack driving, Alex in the front, Amara, Jaime and I in the back, we’re “home.” Our site is as far down a dirt road into the jungle as ever. Francisco and Louisa have done a wonderful job cleaning out and refurbishing our old haunt. Jack thanked Francisco for keeping guard on our past excavations so no one bothered them. His frail and elderly wife is a good cook and we’re glad to have them here along with five other workmen.  Tonight I found I couldn’t ...

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“A Gift from the Fire” by Elaine Elliott

Thea stared at the waterlogged photo. In it, her husband had his back to her as he sat on a log looking over a valley. She didn’t remember taking it, but most every moment of that backpacking trip remained vivid, a month in mountains and valleys and rivers and trees. It was an old snapshot, color fading, and now damaged beyond repair. She would have to throw it away along with the whole album from that trip. She remembered her camera, rolls of colored film and pleasure in making this album. No, she would dry this out sinc...

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“Holding the Stone of Kings” by Elaine Elliott

Submitted to Contest #242

Abby slipped through the metal detector. Wearing black slacks and a colorful woven Guatemalan huipil blouse, she nodded politely at the man holding the tray with her small purse as she retrieved it. Her partner Ryan followed, picking up his phone and keys, and the two of them sauntered into the MUNAG, the Museo National de Arte Guatemalteca. Free, located on the Antigua central park in the immense old yellow building of the Capitanes Generales from the Spanish colonial era, a few other guests entered behind them.   They meandered t...

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“The White Almond Tree” by Elaine Elliott

Submitted to Contest #239

THE WHITE ALMOND TREE Sarah stared at the sailboat wishing it would take her around the world.  It would never happen. She scraped by, barely paying rent and making car payments, so a long vacation on an expensive boat—a fantasy. She reluctantly took down her beach umbrella, folded her beach chair, shook sand off her towel and carried things to her car, ending a pleasant but lonely Saturday afternoon.  Her willowy blond hair fell over her green bathing suit, and she shook the sand off her flip-flops and washed her feet at the ...

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“The Quest for the Quetzal” by Elaine Elliott

Submitted to Contest #238

THE QUEST FOR THE QUETZAL Silvia loved painting birds of paradise. And peacocks. And toucans. And quetzals. Her architectural watercolors of Antigua had often found a buyer. As did her acrylics of multicolored Guatemalan huipils, the woven Mayan blouses used by indigenous women. But mostly birds.           The new English teacher, Cara, shared an office with her at the school where she taught art and had exclaimed over some of her paintings, immediately buying some t...

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