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This has been written to chanter_greenie's prompt requesting Kim Dharka's views on spring. Kim Dharka has appeared briefly in the Nai episode titled Ripples

. This piece runs to 3,026 words and takes place about 2 months before Nai left home.. My thanks to aldersprig

Kim Dharka was packing a bag to take on a short trip out of town. The process of completing, submitting, and defending a first graduate thesis was done. Northern universities considered that the equivalent of their Masters degree, and the young Tang-jian had received some very interesting and flattering offers to study overseas while completing the second, longer graduate degree that would allow one to style oneself a Doctor of Physical Sciences. The disadvantage to such offers was, of course, that one would have to leave Tang-ji to take them up. Dharka had heard that many northerners still considered Tang-jians to be backward compared to them and was of the opinion that certain visiting northern academics did not treat the local professors with the respect that they deserved. Much as one was tempted to reject the offer signed by Professor Vois out of hand because of the way she had spoken to Professor Hu Kun during her visit to Xiamtian University earlier in the year, it was not a decision one should make lightly. There were other offers as well, more or less problematical, plus the desire to remain with known and supportive associates.

Okay, spring is springing in my location, but I’ve probably ensured another frost by buying and planting three tomato plants this last weekend. In the meantime the feral radiata pines out the front and across the road are doing something that, from the amount of yellow pollen lying around, seems to call for a more active verb than flowering, blossoming or blooming.

I think I need to get in the habit of writing more, and I have some smaller pieces of work I would like to get finished. We should also not forget the attraction of the bright new shiny things….

To help me do this, I am opening a prompt call. For each prompter I will write to at least one prompt each and aim for about 300 words a piece. For every four prompts I will write about 300 words on one of four pieces I want to finish that are meant for general consumption. I aim to write at least one piece a day for the rest of September, as well as my regular Nai-writing sessions in the coffee/chocolate shop and making word count in my space opera romance.

We have a theme for prompts this time, well sort of – leave as many prompts as you like but one of them must involve Spring or a spring. Have fun!

I will automatically write to a second prompt if you are one of my patrons on Patreon. I will also write to a second prompt if you tip, and I am willing to negotiate on extensions.

My tip jar:

Tip value

Tip 1 $1.00 AUD Tip 2 $2.00 AUD Tip 3 $3.00 AUD Tip 4 $4.00 AUD Tip 5 $5.00 AUD Tip 6 $6.00 AUD Tip 7 $7.00 AUD Tip 8 $8.00 AUD Tip 9 $9.00 AUD Tip 10 $10.00 AUD

Anything I need to know?