The challenge is to simply read the prompt and see where your creativity takes you. You can use one, two or all three words in your post, there are no restrictions regarding length, style, or genre apart from keeping it family friendly. You can use the 3TC, #threethingschallenge or TTC as a tag and the logo if you wish. The three things for today are:

CREAK, SOCKET and TISSUE
*****

The Prime Minister stood with head bowed. Tears trickling down her cheeks.

So many weeks without a break, the slightest hint of bad news causing hysterical reactions from the press and people both.

Her eyes were sunk deep into their sockets. You could hear her neck joints creak as she lifted her head and looked out over the crowd.

“I am sorry,” she said. “I am so sorry.”

Obviously no longer able to carry the weight, her shoulders dropped, hair fell over her face and she wiped tears with her jacket sleeve.

“Give her a tissue,” somebody called from the crowd.

A tidal wave of arms passed a starkly white handkerchief from person to person, hand to hand, from far in the back of the auditorium on up to the stage.

An aide reached down and grasped the hanky, turned, and handed it to the lonely, sobbing woman.

“Madam,” he whispered. “Please, take this.”

This kind and human gesture almost brought the country’s leader to her knees, as she gracefully accepted the gift.

She wiped her eyes, her face, her neck and then blew loudly. People laughed.

“We will do better, I promise,” she said and looked out, strong again. “We will persevere.”

She turned to leave the stage with a straight back, nodding to well-wishers and shaking hands.

“There goes a super spreader,” mumbled the camera man.

Three Things Challenge