Showing posts with label OUaT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OUaT. Show all posts
7.16.2013
OUaT Journal: My story - Part IV
[Two years later we had another big surprise which was...] a freak snowstorm in July! Mack and Maria were so upset wen they woke up to snow on the Fourth of July.
1.10.2013
OUaT Journal: My story - Part III
This is the third portion of Cold-Blooded Companion. This was a collective effort between myself and some other Swap-Bot members. I began the story, another person added to it - each only being 5 pages long - and this is the third person's addition. Be warned; you may want to rip your hair out. I have typed it as it appeared in my journal - flaws and all.
["I...] questioned him over and over trying to get him to reveal who he was and he finally said I am your Prince Charming. When I asked why the pet shop lady didn't tell me what the bearded dragon really was he laughed and said because she had hoped you wouldn't let me go in the light until you had finished college and had a good job and could support us both since I was disabled as it seemed to her since I had no legs but what she didn't know was when I found my true love my legs would grow and I would be a normal person and my snarley personality becomes a more loveable human the more that I am loved this was to only be revealed to the one that I know would truly love me. I have been returned to 5 different pet stores by ladies that didn't care for me thought I was just an ugly creature, but the day you first took me home after carefully placing me and my tank in the car with a seatbelt and feeding me my favorite meal of crickets. I knew you were different.
I then asked Luna what happened to cause him to become a bearded dragon to begin with. He said he was born to a wicked woman and her wonderful husband the man asked his wife one day before Christmas what she wanted for Christmas and she said she wanted her son destroyed so that she could no longer have to take care of him. So her husband tried to please her but prayed and asked God to show him a way of getting rid of their son without actually killing him. God reminded him that she had always wanted a bearded dragon and assured him that if he wanted him to turn his son into a dragon that she would love him and cure for him and that when he found his true love then he would then turn into a handsome prince and that he would be loved and blessed with many children and grandchildren to carry on the family name and that unless they chose to tell him that there secret would be always safe as long as they loved and cared for their own children and grand children. So for the next 4 years while I went to college and finished my Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education every time she had visitors he turned back into a bearded dragon and as soon as they left he returned to being her handsome prince and kept her from being so lonely in her apartment and helped her study for test and do projects she was assigned especially chemistry which she hated and never understood but he made it so easy and fun to learn. But he always makes things funner than they normally are because he loves being with me.
I got my first teaching job with a local school in Texas teaching third graders how to read and writing in cursive which was a challenge to me as well as to them. But most challenging was teaching them their multiplication tables they rather do any thing than sit down and memorize but by the end of the year they were excelling in all areas. We had a pet bearded dragon as a class pet in which no one not even the kids knew his true identity it was kept a secret. At the end of the year I announced my engagement to Luna and he no longer had to turn into a bearded dragon to conceal his true identity. He started college at the local Junior College in the fall where he studied to become a vetinarian of exotic animals (imagine that). He finished his two year degree in May of 2000 and we married in June of the same year. We then moved to another bigger town closer to the University of Texas where he could continue his studies to be a exotic animal veternarian in which he maintained a 9.0 Grade point average throughout his eight years of study while maintaining a full time job at the local rodeo arena caring for animals that are injured during a rodeo if their injuries wasn't to serious or if one of them became sick or needed some kind of medical attention. I taught third grade in the local school becoming the Teacher of the year my 6th year their which I didn't feel I deserved and was totally shocked when it was announced. Luna Graduated in may and started his exotic animal veternarian practice in San Antonio. He also cared for other animals to supplement his salary since their were few needs for an exotic animal veternarian.
In May of 2004 I gave birth to Luna Mack Watson Junior an 8 pound 12 ounce healthy baby boy that looked a lot like his father and had a love for animals just like him. He even found a bearded dragon that I hoped would bring him as much enjoyment and pleasure as his father has brought me even though I knew it was different.
He started pre K in August of 2008 and loved it. On Christmas day of 2008 I delivered a 3 pound baby girl which was 3 months premature and had to stay in the hospital for 3 extra weeks til her lungs and other organs became more developed. We sure had a big surprise for Christmas that year we named her Maria Anna Watson and she came home on January 28 and was a nice addition to our family.
Two years later we had another big surprise which was...
So if you read the other entries then you may have realized how rushed and jam-packed this 5-page portion comes off. While the first two entries took place within the span of 24 hours, this entry seems to have a lubed up timeline and has packed (it seems) about 16 years in 5 pages. I suppose when you take out punctuation and don't bother spacing things out much, you have lots of room to put years of information in. :P
["I...] questioned him over and over trying to get him to reveal who he was and he finally said I am your Prince Charming. When I asked why the pet shop lady didn't tell me what the bearded dragon really was he laughed and said because she had hoped you wouldn't let me go in the light until you had finished college and had a good job and could support us both since I was disabled as it seemed to her since I had no legs but what she didn't know was when I found my true love my legs would grow and I would be a normal person and my snarley personality becomes a more loveable human the more that I am loved this was to only be revealed to the one that I know would truly love me. I have been returned to 5 different pet stores by ladies that didn't care for me thought I was just an ugly creature, but the day you first took me home after carefully placing me and my tank in the car with a seatbelt and feeding me my favorite meal of crickets. I knew you were different.
I then asked Luna what happened to cause him to become a bearded dragon to begin with. He said he was born to a wicked woman and her wonderful husband the man asked his wife one day before Christmas what she wanted for Christmas and she said she wanted her son destroyed so that she could no longer have to take care of him. So her husband tried to please her but prayed and asked God to show him a way of getting rid of their son without actually killing him. God reminded him that she had always wanted a bearded dragon and assured him that if he wanted him to turn his son into a dragon that she would love him and cure for him and that when he found his true love then he would then turn into a handsome prince and that he would be loved and blessed with many children and grandchildren to carry on the family name and that unless they chose to tell him that there secret would be always safe as long as they loved and cared for their own children and grand children. So for the next 4 years while I went to college and finished my Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education every time she had visitors he turned back into a bearded dragon and as soon as they left he returned to being her handsome prince and kept her from being so lonely in her apartment and helped her study for test and do projects she was assigned especially chemistry which she hated and never understood but he made it so easy and fun to learn. But he always makes things funner than they normally are because he loves being with me.
I got my first teaching job with a local school in Texas teaching third graders how to read and writing in cursive which was a challenge to me as well as to them. But most challenging was teaching them their multiplication tables they rather do any thing than sit down and memorize but by the end of the year they were excelling in all areas. We had a pet bearded dragon as a class pet in which no one not even the kids knew his true identity it was kept a secret. At the end of the year I announced my engagement to Luna and he no longer had to turn into a bearded dragon to conceal his true identity. He started college at the local Junior College in the fall where he studied to become a vetinarian of exotic animals (imagine that). He finished his two year degree in May of 2000 and we married in June of the same year. We then moved to another bigger town closer to the University of Texas where he could continue his studies to be a exotic animal veternarian in which he maintained a 9.0 Grade point average throughout his eight years of study while maintaining a full time job at the local rodeo arena caring for animals that are injured during a rodeo if their injuries wasn't to serious or if one of them became sick or needed some kind of medical attention. I taught third grade in the local school becoming the Teacher of the year my 6th year their which I didn't feel I deserved and was totally shocked when it was announced. Luna Graduated in may and started his exotic animal veternarian practice in San Antonio. He also cared for other animals to supplement his salary since their were few needs for an exotic animal veternarian.
In May of 2004 I gave birth to Luna Mack Watson Junior an 8 pound 12 ounce healthy baby boy that looked a lot like his father and had a love for animals just like him. He even found a bearded dragon that I hoped would bring him as much enjoyment and pleasure as his father has brought me even though I knew it was different.
He started pre K in August of 2008 and loved it. On Christmas day of 2008 I delivered a 3 pound baby girl which was 3 months premature and had to stay in the hospital for 3 extra weeks til her lungs and other organs became more developed. We sure had a big surprise for Christmas that year we named her Maria Anna Watson and she came home on January 28 and was a nice addition to our family.
Two years later we had another big surprise which was...
So if you read the other entries then you may have realized how rushed and jam-packed this 5-page portion comes off. While the first two entries took place within the span of 24 hours, this entry seems to have a lubed up timeline and has packed (it seems) about 16 years in 5 pages. I suppose when you take out punctuation and don't bother spacing things out much, you have lots of room to put years of information in. :P
1.09.2013
OUaT Journal: My story - Part II
Previously posted was the first part of my story, Cold-Blooded Companion. This is the second entry written by another member of swap-bot. I included with my journal a note explaining that my intentions for the story was to have the lizard revealed as a vampire. I think she did a good job and keeping with the mystery of the animal.
"(But I...) I still have questions?! I don't... is there food in there?" I asked, still feeling bewildered. What type of shop owner doesn't really explain how to care for a pet beyond thrusting a pamphlet at you stressing the difference between day and night bulbs before nearly shoving you out the door?!
"You'll be fine. Everything you need and need to know is right here," the owner replied, gesturing at the bag she held, a strained smile on her face again.
I glanced at her for a long second before half-nodding, trying not to scowl. I don't normally scowl at people, but ever since I picked up the tank... I don't know, I'd begun to feel odd... on edge. I stepped past her, headed for my car and sat the tank on the top of the car before I headed back to her to get my bag. She handed it to me, strained smile still on her face. Her bracelets jangled as she moved, her voice fierce as she stepped back into her shop.
"Remember - no longer than 9 hours. Ever."
I glanced at her once more, half-nodding. Obviously the times to use the bulbs is pretty strict, so I'd better commit the instructions to memory.
Once I reached my car again, I carefully opened the passenger's side door, trying not to jostle the tank. I didn't know much about bearded dragons but figured jostling them around was probably not for the best. The lizard never moved, however I suppose "Luna" is a heavy sleeper. I sat the bag of supplies on the floorboard and then carefully picked up the tank and sat it on the front seat. I stared at the tank for a moment, then reached for the seat belt and pulled it across the tank.
OK, I felt a bit... well, more than a bit... ridiculous "belting" the reptile in, but... well... I didn't want the tank to fall off the seat...
Shaking my head, I straightened and slammed the door. Walking around the car, I paused when I reached my door and glanced back at the pet shop. I think the owner was standing by the door but she moved as I glanced in the direction, the neon "open" sign flickering off. I frowned as I got in my car and buckled myself in before starting the car.
It wasn't until I was pulling out of the parking lot that I realized the shop owner never charged me for the lizard or any of the supplies. Knowing what I know now... it must have been a sign.
After getting groceries, I headed home and settled Luna into her new home and tossed some crickets into her tank. She slept through it all until I fed her. I don't know... maybe she smelled the crickets or whatever, but she rather lathargically wandered out from under her little rock/cave and eyed me for a moment before pursuing her dinner. It was a weird interaction. To be honest, because I swear it was almost like staring into the eyes of another human and the dragon sort of snorted disdainfully before slithering off. Like I said... bizarre.
I read the brochure - it was a brief read, before putting the supplies away, along with my groceries before settling in for the night with a book about pixies or something from the library. Luna finished her dinner and slithered back under her rock - I guess to sleep again... bearded dragons must sleep a lot. Since I heard no more noise over from her corner, I sort of forgot about her until I decided to head for bed - I had to get up early to go pick up some things from my mom in the morning. I turned on the night light and set the timer for 7 hours and went to get my own sleep for the night.
I overslept that next morning and cursed as I flew out of bed, already an hour late to begin my trek to my mom's. I threw another handful of crickets into Luna's tank before leaving, making sure that the day lamp had switched on, which it had. I broke multiple speed limits going to my mom's who told me not to freak out - it's not like she's a job or anything, and the rest of the day was spent getting the rest of my possessions from home. I had this nagging suspicion I'd forgotten something this morning, but couldn't remember what. I mentioned it to my mom who told me not to worry, it must not be important if I can't remember. My mom is like that - not up tight like me.
I tried to banish it from my mind, but promptly remembered what it was about 15 minutes into my drive back to my apartment - I'd forgotten to set the timer for the day bulb and it was now going on hour 10 of the day light being on. Swearing again, I broke the speed limit going home too... running a few red lights too I think. I kept muttering this sort of mantra to myself on my way home... that 1 hour doesn't matter, but in the back of my mind, I knew it did.
I had barely put the car in park in the parking garage at the apartment before I vacated the car, running through the garage and up the 3 flights of stairs to my apartment. If my neighbors had seen, they'd thought I was nuts. It took forever to get my door open, and I was huffing and wheezing when I opened it and glanced inside. Heading for the corner with Luna's cage, I noticed the top was snapped off the cage and I saw Luna nowhere. I started moving the supplies aside looking for her and was startled half out of my mind when a deep male voice spoke up behind me.
"If you're looking for me... ah, "Luna"... over there, you're wasting your time."
Whirling around, my jaw dropped as I took in the man sitting behind me - in my favorite chair, no less - in my tiny living room.
"Wha... huh... who the heck are you? How'd you get in here?!" I screached as he smirked.
"Who do you think I am?" He snarked off. I hate snarky guys.
"I...
Just as I made an effort to not place a gender on the main character, neither did this entry and I'm glad it was picked up on. The next entry will be posted soon.
"(But I...) I still have questions?! I don't... is there food in there?" I asked, still feeling bewildered. What type of shop owner doesn't really explain how to care for a pet beyond thrusting a pamphlet at you stressing the difference between day and night bulbs before nearly shoving you out the door?!
"You'll be fine. Everything you need and need to know is right here," the owner replied, gesturing at the bag she held, a strained smile on her face again.
I glanced at her for a long second before half-nodding, trying not to scowl. I don't normally scowl at people, but ever since I picked up the tank... I don't know, I'd begun to feel odd... on edge. I stepped past her, headed for my car and sat the tank on the top of the car before I headed back to her to get my bag. She handed it to me, strained smile still on her face. Her bracelets jangled as she moved, her voice fierce as she stepped back into her shop.
"Remember - no longer than 9 hours. Ever."
I glanced at her once more, half-nodding. Obviously the times to use the bulbs is pretty strict, so I'd better commit the instructions to memory.
Once I reached my car again, I carefully opened the passenger's side door, trying not to jostle the tank. I didn't know much about bearded dragons but figured jostling them around was probably not for the best. The lizard never moved, however I suppose "Luna" is a heavy sleeper. I sat the bag of supplies on the floorboard and then carefully picked up the tank and sat it on the front seat. I stared at the tank for a moment, then reached for the seat belt and pulled it across the tank.
OK, I felt a bit... well, more than a bit... ridiculous "belting" the reptile in, but... well... I didn't want the tank to fall off the seat...
Shaking my head, I straightened and slammed the door. Walking around the car, I paused when I reached my door and glanced back at the pet shop. I think the owner was standing by the door but she moved as I glanced in the direction, the neon "open" sign flickering off. I frowned as I got in my car and buckled myself in before starting the car.
It wasn't until I was pulling out of the parking lot that I realized the shop owner never charged me for the lizard or any of the supplies. Knowing what I know now... it must have been a sign.
After getting groceries, I headed home and settled Luna into her new home and tossed some crickets into her tank. She slept through it all until I fed her. I don't know... maybe she smelled the crickets or whatever, but she rather lathargically wandered out from under her little rock/cave and eyed me for a moment before pursuing her dinner. It was a weird interaction. To be honest, because I swear it was almost like staring into the eyes of another human and the dragon sort of snorted disdainfully before slithering off. Like I said... bizarre.
I read the brochure - it was a brief read, before putting the supplies away, along with my groceries before settling in for the night with a book about pixies or something from the library. Luna finished her dinner and slithered back under her rock - I guess to sleep again... bearded dragons must sleep a lot. Since I heard no more noise over from her corner, I sort of forgot about her until I decided to head for bed - I had to get up early to go pick up some things from my mom in the morning. I turned on the night light and set the timer for 7 hours and went to get my own sleep for the night.
I overslept that next morning and cursed as I flew out of bed, already an hour late to begin my trek to my mom's. I threw another handful of crickets into Luna's tank before leaving, making sure that the day lamp had switched on, which it had. I broke multiple speed limits going to my mom's who told me not to freak out - it's not like she's a job or anything, and the rest of the day was spent getting the rest of my possessions from home. I had this nagging suspicion I'd forgotten something this morning, but couldn't remember what. I mentioned it to my mom who told me not to worry, it must not be important if I can't remember. My mom is like that - not up tight like me.
I tried to banish it from my mind, but promptly remembered what it was about 15 minutes into my drive back to my apartment - I'd forgotten to set the timer for the day bulb and it was now going on hour 10 of the day light being on. Swearing again, I broke the speed limit going home too... running a few red lights too I think. I kept muttering this sort of mantra to myself on my way home... that 1 hour doesn't matter, but in the back of my mind, I knew it did.
I had barely put the car in park in the parking garage at the apartment before I vacated the car, running through the garage and up the 3 flights of stairs to my apartment. If my neighbors had seen, they'd thought I was nuts. It took forever to get my door open, and I was huffing and wheezing when I opened it and glanced inside. Heading for the corner with Luna's cage, I noticed the top was snapped off the cage and I saw Luna nowhere. I started moving the supplies aside looking for her and was startled half out of my mind when a deep male voice spoke up behind me.
"If you're looking for me... ah, "Luna"... over there, you're wasting your time."
Whirling around, my jaw dropped as I took in the man sitting behind me - in my favorite chair, no less - in my tiny living room.
"Wha... huh... who the heck are you? How'd you get in here?!" I screached as he smirked.
"Who do you think I am?" He snarked off. I hate snarky guys.
"I...
Just as I made an effort to not place a gender on the main character, neither did this entry and I'm glad it was picked up on. The next entry will be posted soon.
1.07.2013
OUaT Journal: My story - Part I
The following is the beginning of my Once Upon a Time journal meant for a swap on Swap-Bot.com. The task was to write the beginning of a story in about 5 pages and leave it open ended so that the person who received it next could add on to it, etc. I will post each entry in separate posts so this one isn't extremely long. I will not be including usernames (as I've gone back and edited previous entries on this subject to protect their identity and myself from being labeled a meanie for criticizing their work).
Cold Blooded Companion
Once upon a time, fairly recent in fact, I had a pet. Well, I've had other pets like the family dog in my teens, the less successful hamster phase and the previous fairly short attempts at carnival goldfish. But those pets don't warrant any formal record keeping. In fact, maybe I shouldn't refer to it as a pet since perhaps it is deserving of its own category - and retracting my thoughts, this will seem more like a tale than actual records, but I assure you that during the few months with the cold-blooded subject of this 'tale', I journaled my suspicions.
While the journal may have been a more accurate depiction of the events, I also felt it was too revealing of my lonely, stressful life and perhaps may have been used as evidence to claim insanity - which I assure that I am not. I've read stranger things that thousands believe. Please allow me to describe the evening I found Luna.
My freshman year of college was a bit lonely, spent mostly in class and local diners; rarely in my dorm. There were even weeks where I got more sleep in a booth or my car than in my own bed. I had been roomed with, who seemed to be, the 'lay of the century.' It was obvious that my next years' living situation would require a change, and as I packed up my belongings and headed to the address of my soon-to-be apartment the week before my sophomore year, I couldn't stop wondering if I'd be more lonely. I knew having dried noodle cups thrown at my head was not something I wanted to put up with anymore, but perhaps any sort of communication was better than silence.
I exhaled heavily as I put my car in park and made my way to the apartment office that smelled like Raid. The mound of curly orange hairs in a sweat-stained shirt rose from behind the desk, threw a clipboard at my chest and motioned me to follow. During the guided tour I discovered some run-down facilities, an over-crowded pool, a smaller-than-expected everything in my soon-to-be apartment and that this man apparently found Raid to be a suitable cologne.
Finishing up the paperwork as the late afternoon sun was preparing to clock out, my eyes revisited the pet clause portion of the contract. It seemed loose pets such as dogs, cats, birds and 'ask for more clarification' were not allowed but tanked animals were. My mind sunk back to the few goldfish I had before jumping forward to a pet shop I had visited on my Spring Break with my younger sister.
Reptiles were tank animals that I might be able to keep alive longer. I wrote 'reptile' in the appropriate space, searched the empty office before placing the clipboard behind the desk and going back to my car.
I found myself at a small burger joint a few miles from the apartment, a fresh ketchup stain in my lap. Eating in your car has its disadvantages. I finished my burger as I flicked through the radio stations.
Now that my burger was devoured, my face acquainted with a napkin and a few more dabs at the stain near my crotch, I surveyed my surrounding to the tune of 'Pet Cemetery' by The Ramones. I had parked in the back lot overlooking a small cluster of shops. I tried to read their signs unlit. They all seemed like family-run places, based on the names and that they were closed by 8pm.
I started my car just as a shops lights turned on, the one marked "Special Pet." My car purred softly as I watched a young woman with lengthy hair walk through the isles. Her lips moved but I saw no one else in the store so I assumed she may be talking to the animals. Maybe I too would soon be talking to my own animal.
I drove my car into the adjoining lot and parked in front of the neighboring shop. As I walked up toward the door, I viewed rats, snakes and empty tanks near the front. A chime in the rear of the store sounded off as I entered. The young lady's head popped out from behind an isle.
"Need something?"
I looked at her face which seemed to say 'I wasn't expecting a customer, make it quick.'
"Oh, I uh, was wondering if you had any reptiles good for a beginner?" I said with a nervous smile as I walked towards her.
She disappeared behind the isle again, her voice revealing her movement.
"A beginner? Well, maybe you should tell me the environment the reptile will be in."
"Environment? Well, it's an apartment and I guess I'd need a tank or whatever..."
"No," she popped up behind me and locked her eyes on mine, "emotional environment."
She must have noticed my confusion. Before I could begin to form an answer she whisked around, the tips of her hair lightly lashing at my face, and walked away while she explained.
"Will it need to be very social? How much time is going to be spent on care? What is your budget for food?"
I followed her around the furthest isle, passing small frogs and thin snakes as I explained that I attend college and plan to spend most of my time in my apartment on a tight budget since off-campus living was more more expensive.
The overhead lighting in this isle was dim, possibly a lack of funds to fix that now, or the broken floor tiles.
"No crazy parties going on in your place?" She vanished behind a curtain leading to, I assumed, a back room.
"Oh no! No, no, I don't throw parties. I keep to myself really."
The curtain muffled something the woman said before joining me in the dim isle again, with a glass tank in her hand. I caught a glimpse of a dull colored scaly tail. She moved to the counter, I followed.
"This is a bearded dragon. Her name is Luna and I think she'd be a good fit for you."
I looked in the tank but the tail was gone, hidden in a hollow plastic rock with the rest of the body. The woman began collecting supplies and info sheets on "how to care for your beardy."
I slid the top of the tank back and reached in to move the 'rock,' to familiarize myself with my new pet, but instead got a slap on my hand from the woman.
"No! She's sleeping. You leave her be."
I took back my hand, shocked at the overreaction as she replaced the top screen.
"Now, be sure to put her in a corner away from windows and doorways. You will have this bulb to run at night," she placed one boxed bulb in a paper bag, "and this one during the day," she placed another bulb in the bag. "Do not leave the day bulb on for more than nine hours," she warned.
She placed another small box in the bag. "This is a timer with instructions - use it."
The bag was stuffed with other items as she gestured that I pick up the tank. Just before I did, I saw the pale yellow tail again and it disappeared as the bag was placed on top of the screen.
"She should be just fine if you follow the instructions and don't leave the day bulb on too long." She locked eyes with me again, "I cannot stress that enough." Something in her eyes now read desperation, but shifted to accompany a smile as she said, "thank you, we're closing now."
"But I... (to be continued)
I attempted to make the sex of the main character as hidden as possible. I also sent a note with the journal to my partner stating that my intention was to reveal that the pet was a vampire but did not have enough space since we were limited to around 5 pages, and it was up to her to carry on with that course or not.
The next part of the story will be posted soon.
Cold Blooded Companion
Once upon a time, fairly recent in fact, I had a pet. Well, I've had other pets like the family dog in my teens, the less successful hamster phase and the previous fairly short attempts at carnival goldfish. But those pets don't warrant any formal record keeping. In fact, maybe I shouldn't refer to it as a pet since perhaps it is deserving of its own category - and retracting my thoughts, this will seem more like a tale than actual records, but I assure you that during the few months with the cold-blooded subject of this 'tale', I journaled my suspicions.
While the journal may have been a more accurate depiction of the events, I also felt it was too revealing of my lonely, stressful life and perhaps may have been used as evidence to claim insanity - which I assure that I am not. I've read stranger things that thousands believe. Please allow me to describe the evening I found Luna.
My freshman year of college was a bit lonely, spent mostly in class and local diners; rarely in my dorm. There were even weeks where I got more sleep in a booth or my car than in my own bed. I had been roomed with, who seemed to be, the 'lay of the century.' It was obvious that my next years' living situation would require a change, and as I packed up my belongings and headed to the address of my soon-to-be apartment the week before my sophomore year, I couldn't stop wondering if I'd be more lonely. I knew having dried noodle cups thrown at my head was not something I wanted to put up with anymore, but perhaps any sort of communication was better than silence.
I exhaled heavily as I put my car in park and made my way to the apartment office that smelled like Raid. The mound of curly orange hairs in a sweat-stained shirt rose from behind the desk, threw a clipboard at my chest and motioned me to follow. During the guided tour I discovered some run-down facilities, an over-crowded pool, a smaller-than-expected everything in my soon-to-be apartment and that this man apparently found Raid to be a suitable cologne.
Finishing up the paperwork as the late afternoon sun was preparing to clock out, my eyes revisited the pet clause portion of the contract. It seemed loose pets such as dogs, cats, birds and 'ask for more clarification' were not allowed but tanked animals were. My mind sunk back to the few goldfish I had before jumping forward to a pet shop I had visited on my Spring Break with my younger sister.
Reptiles were tank animals that I might be able to keep alive longer. I wrote 'reptile' in the appropriate space, searched the empty office before placing the clipboard behind the desk and going back to my car.
I found myself at a small burger joint a few miles from the apartment, a fresh ketchup stain in my lap. Eating in your car has its disadvantages. I finished my burger as I flicked through the radio stations.
Now that my burger was devoured, my face acquainted with a napkin and a few more dabs at the stain near my crotch, I surveyed my surrounding to the tune of 'Pet Cemetery' by The Ramones. I had parked in the back lot overlooking a small cluster of shops. I tried to read their signs unlit. They all seemed like family-run places, based on the names and that they were closed by 8pm.
I started my car just as a shops lights turned on, the one marked "Special Pet." My car purred softly as I watched a young woman with lengthy hair walk through the isles. Her lips moved but I saw no one else in the store so I assumed she may be talking to the animals. Maybe I too would soon be talking to my own animal.
I drove my car into the adjoining lot and parked in front of the neighboring shop. As I walked up toward the door, I viewed rats, snakes and empty tanks near the front. A chime in the rear of the store sounded off as I entered. The young lady's head popped out from behind an isle.
"Need something?"
I looked at her face which seemed to say 'I wasn't expecting a customer, make it quick.'
"Oh, I uh, was wondering if you had any reptiles good for a beginner?" I said with a nervous smile as I walked towards her.
She disappeared behind the isle again, her voice revealing her movement.
"A beginner? Well, maybe you should tell me the environment the reptile will be in."
"Environment? Well, it's an apartment and I guess I'd need a tank or whatever..."
"No," she popped up behind me and locked her eyes on mine, "emotional environment."
She must have noticed my confusion. Before I could begin to form an answer she whisked around, the tips of her hair lightly lashing at my face, and walked away while she explained.
"Will it need to be very social? How much time is going to be spent on care? What is your budget for food?"
I followed her around the furthest isle, passing small frogs and thin snakes as I explained that I attend college and plan to spend most of my time in my apartment on a tight budget since off-campus living was more more expensive.
The overhead lighting in this isle was dim, possibly a lack of funds to fix that now, or the broken floor tiles.
"No crazy parties going on in your place?" She vanished behind a curtain leading to, I assumed, a back room.
"Oh no! No, no, I don't throw parties. I keep to myself really."
The curtain muffled something the woman said before joining me in the dim isle again, with a glass tank in her hand. I caught a glimpse of a dull colored scaly tail. She moved to the counter, I followed.
"This is a bearded dragon. Her name is Luna and I think she'd be a good fit for you."
I looked in the tank but the tail was gone, hidden in a hollow plastic rock with the rest of the body. The woman began collecting supplies and info sheets on "how to care for your beardy."
I slid the top of the tank back and reached in to move the 'rock,' to familiarize myself with my new pet, but instead got a slap on my hand from the woman.
"No! She's sleeping. You leave her be."
I took back my hand, shocked at the overreaction as she replaced the top screen.
"Now, be sure to put her in a corner away from windows and doorways. You will have this bulb to run at night," she placed one boxed bulb in a paper bag, "and this one during the day," she placed another bulb in the bag. "Do not leave the day bulb on for more than nine hours," she warned.
She placed another small box in the bag. "This is a timer with instructions - use it."
The bag was stuffed with other items as she gestured that I pick up the tank. Just before I did, I saw the pale yellow tail again and it disappeared as the bag was placed on top of the screen.
"She should be just fine if you follow the instructions and don't leave the day bulb on too long." She locked eyes with me again, "I cannot stress that enough." Something in her eyes now read desperation, but shifted to accompany a smile as she said, "thank you, we're closing now."
"But I... (to be continued)
I attempted to make the sex of the main character as hidden as possible. I also sent a note with the journal to my partner stating that my intention was to reveal that the pet was a vampire but did not have enough space since we were limited to around 5 pages, and it was up to her to carry on with that course or not.
The next part of the story will be posted soon.
11.13.2012
OUaT Journal: Add to second journal
I thought the previous journal was difficult to add to because it didn't really have a lead into what should be happening, only really laid out a setting and a few characters. The new partner's journal came in, I read it and realized how well written the first one was! This second one is PACKED with too much information and practically is a full story in itself! It's rushed, it's convoluted and I had a task set in front of me to slow it down and make sense of it for the next person.
Here is the beginning of the story which my partner started, including errors:
Once upon a time in a far away land there were two princesses one named Anna and one named Amanda they were very rich and had everything they ever dreamed of, Diamond rings, beautiful dresses, Big spacious bedrooms to themselves, when old enough fancy cars to drive, but they missed one thing their Brother a prince Brian had been kidnapped from his bed one night when he was about 3 years old. They were older and no matter what they offered it seemed no one knew anything about him they had searched for twelve years with no luck. Then when Amanda the younger princess was sixteen she met her dream boyfriend though he was very poor barely had enough food to eat and his clothes were thread bare and his shoes were obviously too small and his hair was very long and stringy seemed it had never been cut. But he had the best manners and treated her like any gentleman should he opened doors and pulled out chairs for her, walked her to the door and all of the other polite things gentlemen do for their ladies. If they went out though she always had to pay for things because he was so poor he couldn't even pay for a coke to split between them. This didn't matter to her because she was in love. His name he said was Douglas and she called him Doug just to make it a little shorter. They dated all through high school and they Both went to the same college at Brewton Parker in Mt Vernon, Georgia. Her parents knew they were in love and so they paid the way for both of them. Amanda became a teacher and Douglas studied Law and while Amanda taught first Grade at a Elementary School near Harvard Law School Brian went to Harvard and Became a lawyer. Anna by this time had also met a guy named Steve at ABac where she earned a degree in nursing he was also in nursing with her and they fell in love and married and had three kids Aneika, Athena and Albert and she also continued her search for her brother she feared the worse that he had been killed but no one had found a body so she still hoped one day to see him again someday.
After Law school Amanda and Doug decided it was time to get married and they went to get marriage license which required a blood test. It came back that they were related so they got to figuring things out and asked Their mom Tina and Dad if they had any clue what was possible so they submitted a request for a faternity test between them and Doug guess what they found their long lost brother and son turned out Doug was there son Brian that was kidnapped when he was 3 years old. It was a happy but yet sad time for Amanda because they were sibblings neither of them could be married it was against the law for sibblings to be married.
So instead of getting married they drove back to Georgia to be reunited with Anna there sister. They didn't tell her they were coming nor the secret that they discovered. So Anna and Steve were so glad and surprised to see them she thought they were married so they went to a locally owned and operated seafood Restaurant where they had fresh lobster and fried shrimp with cole slaw and French Fries. After the Delicious meal Amanda and Brian (he decided to start going by his birth name) revealed their secret. Anna at first didn't believe them until she seen the papers with all the proof. She was so amazed and happy to meet her Brother from her past so many years ago. They laughed and talked about their few short years that they grew up together and caught up with things from that point on. They spent the next week enjoying one another then Amanda and Brian returned to Texas where they were now living. Brian and Amanda promised Anna and Steve they would keep in touch and they did by letter, phone and visited each other at least twice a year.
For a long time no one discussed what had actually happened so many years ago it was like the taboo subject. But one day when visiting with Anna the subject came up and Brian said when he woke up he was told that the couple Jenifer and Richard was his new Mama and Daddy at first he cried for his real family and everytime he did they beat him with a belt so hea learned fast that he had to not cry no matter what he felt. He was later placed in a foster home due to neglect and abuse but was even then scared to reveal the truth. His foster parents wasn't much better than his real parents. They took the money the state gave them to buy Alcohol and drugs. He was in the home with Two other foster children and the couple had two of their own children. So after he revealed this Anna and Amanda encouraged Brian to go to authorities. They then confronted his kidnappers and while in jail awaiting trial again for neglect of another child they had kidnapped and was caught up with they admitted they saw this cute little blond headed and blue eyed boy some 20 + years ago shopping in Walmart with his mom and dad and followed them home then when the family was sound asleep that night they broke a bedroom window and took the child quietly so they didn't disturb others sleeping in the house and ran to New York where they thought they would never Be caught. When Brian started school they had Jenifers sister Tina which worked at ta Health Department make a phony birth certificate so he could go. They provided him with handmidown clothes or clothes they found in dumpster until he started dating Amanda he had never had a set of new clothes nor new shoes he had to make do with what little they provided. They didn't ever cut his hair said it was too expensive. His foster parents was just as bad they didn't care how he looked only thing they had to do was make sure they bought food with the food stamps the state gave them. The state never once checked on his well being though many teachers questioned Brian about how he was treated they never followed up on the information that Brian gave them.
They went to court and the judge actually wept after hearing the story of the Life of Brian. He said Brian was a shocking story of how the state and officials had been a failure and set another court date requiring everyone Brian could remember and give names of to appear in court. Brian represented himself since he was a lawyer. Anna and Amanda both were there to support him morally during the month long trial for the Judge and jury to decide what to do with the many people that had mistreated and abused Brian over his life time. Brian held nothing back he wanted justice for all of the many sufferings he went through during his childhood. In the end the judge decided to...
So that was the story I had to work with. Way too much in it (5 pages and the handwriting actually gave me a headache) but I did my best to slow down the pace, but not abruptly and gave it a reason to be slowed down. Here's my entry.
... make this case an example by passing a new law. The new law said adopted and foster children needed to be checked on more and be issued a psychologist.
Bryan was happy it meant future kids might avoid what he went through but still felt personally cheated.
One day the doorbell rang and Bryan answered it to find a stranger who introduced himself as Deitrich. This man was a scientist and said he read about the trial in the newspaper and wanted to help.
"I know you did this to make them pay and they are not. I have a way for you to fix it, but it's dangerous. I have made a time machine but haven't tested it yet. Just before I was going to try, I read your story and know you deserve to try it first."
Bryan felt honored to try to fix his past. He knew he would miss his sisters but knew this was his chance to get the real life he was supposed to have back. He packed a few personal items and went with Deitrich.
The time machine got a tune-up while Bryan wrote a letter to his family. Deitrich gave Bryan instructions and stood back as the machine went to work, focusing on the year, month, date and location Bryan had input. He held tightly to his seat and closed his eyes as the time travel machine hissed, buzzed and violently vibrated.
A high pitched screech filled the tiny space before everything stopped. Bryan unclenched his teeth and hands and slowly looked around the cabin. Nothing looked out of place, though it was a bit cloudy; maybe smoke.
Bryan slowly opened the door. Before it was even fully opened, Bryan already noticed something felt different. His actions felt slower, more detailed. He noticed faint scars on his hands as the door fully opened.
He recognized the location which he landed - a park near the house that his sisters were raised, the house he should have been raised in.
So while one might assume the time travel machine had worked, Bryan still felt odd. However, it wasn't a bad odd - in fact, he heard a small voice in his head that this world felt more right than the one he came from.
In this world, everything seemed more colorful, detailed and lively. When he began slowly making his way toward the house, he noticed the sound the grass made under his shoes, the light breeze playing through his hair and a light trace of music the breeze brought from the nearby town square.
Bryan smiled and neared the large house at 221 Valient Boulevard. He made his way up the walkway, heels clacking against the pavement. He took each astep in beat with the distant music, raised his arm to press the doorbell and heard the chimes sound inside. The distant orchestra stopped and Bryan's smile faultered.
What are you doing?! Bryan thought to himself. Rather, it was actually a voice in his head whispering frantically in his ear.
You're a stranger! Do you even know what you're goin to say? 'Oh hi. Just passing through town, your son is going to be kidnapped!'
The voice was right, Bryan realized. He looked around as sweat collected on his brow, realizing there was no where to hide and trying desperately to think of a story for being at their doorstep.
His ears threw up a warning; faint footsteps from inside the house. His eyes darted to the newspaper on the porch near the first step. He hurridly grabbed it, stood straight and looked at the date. The time machine had done its job; the date read July 4 and the front door opened.
The man who answered the door was a young version of the father he knew in the other world. Although confused with the stranger at his doorstep, a smile continued to brighten the face of the father Bryan never had.
It's true they had reconnected when the blood tests had come in and revealed the confusing news, but his father was weathered by the years of stress and worry and Bryan had felt the father-son relationship he had longed for would never come to fruition.
But that was in that world. Here in front of Bryan was an untainted man who very much still had the capacity to be a loving father.
He is a father, dummy. There's a 3-year-old you in there somewhere, said the voice matter-of-factly.
"Can I help you, sir?"
Bryan's arm shot out, the newspaper in it, but he was much too far from the door to actually hand it to his father. He had been examining this new version of his father closely, and with the depth of details in this new world, Bryan had a false sense of the distance between them. He gave a nervous smile.
"Hi there, just picking up the paper for you," said Bryan. "Must be a busy day for you if it's still out here this time of day. I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"Not at all," Patrick stepped forward and grabbed the paper. "How can I help you?"
"Well I was actually heading over to visit family today and my car broke down just out of town. I was wondering if I could use your phone to call a tow?" Bryan felt a relief, as the story had just fallen into place.
"Hmmm," Patrick's face had a little confusion on it. "Broke down outside of town and this is the house you come to?"
"Oh, well I tried other houses but no one would answer the door," Bryan explained. "I thought it was the weirdest thing and almost thought this nice place may have been abandoned or something, but then I heard the music over there and realized everyone must be out celebrating. Your house was my last stop before just heading over there. My feet are just killing me. I didn't expect to be walking today."
"Ah yes, my wife and children are there right now," Patrick laughed a little. "I suppose it is weird that I am the only one who is at home, Independence Day is a big celebration for this town. I was just on my way out actually."
Patrick turned and locked the door. "You won't get a tow on the phone today. I'll take you into town and find Roger for you. He runs the shop but today is running the grill." The infectious smile never left his face.
"Besides, you can celebrate with us for a bit." Patrick motioned to the driveway where his car was parked.
Bryan followed suit...
Here is the beginning of the story which my partner started, including errors:
Once upon a time in a far away land there were two princesses one named Anna and one named Amanda they were very rich and had everything they ever dreamed of, Diamond rings, beautiful dresses, Big spacious bedrooms to themselves, when old enough fancy cars to drive, but they missed one thing their Brother a prince Brian had been kidnapped from his bed one night when he was about 3 years old. They were older and no matter what they offered it seemed no one knew anything about him they had searched for twelve years with no luck. Then when Amanda the younger princess was sixteen she met her dream boyfriend though he was very poor barely had enough food to eat and his clothes were thread bare and his shoes were obviously too small and his hair was very long and stringy seemed it had never been cut. But he had the best manners and treated her like any gentleman should he opened doors and pulled out chairs for her, walked her to the door and all of the other polite things gentlemen do for their ladies. If they went out though she always had to pay for things because he was so poor he couldn't even pay for a coke to split between them. This didn't matter to her because she was in love. His name he said was Douglas and she called him Doug just to make it a little shorter. They dated all through high school and they Both went to the same college at Brewton Parker in Mt Vernon, Georgia. Her parents knew they were in love and so they paid the way for both of them. Amanda became a teacher and Douglas studied Law and while Amanda taught first Grade at a Elementary School near Harvard Law School Brian went to Harvard and Became a lawyer. Anna by this time had also met a guy named Steve at ABac where she earned a degree in nursing he was also in nursing with her and they fell in love and married and had three kids Aneika, Athena and Albert and she also continued her search for her brother she feared the worse that he had been killed but no one had found a body so she still hoped one day to see him again someday.
After Law school Amanda and Doug decided it was time to get married and they went to get marriage license which required a blood test. It came back that they were related so they got to figuring things out and asked Their mom Tina and Dad if they had any clue what was possible so they submitted a request for a faternity test between them and Doug guess what they found their long lost brother and son turned out Doug was there son Brian that was kidnapped when he was 3 years old. It was a happy but yet sad time for Amanda because they were sibblings neither of them could be married it was against the law for sibblings to be married.
So instead of getting married they drove back to Georgia to be reunited with Anna there sister. They didn't tell her they were coming nor the secret that they discovered. So Anna and Steve were so glad and surprised to see them she thought they were married so they went to a locally owned and operated seafood Restaurant where they had fresh lobster and fried shrimp with cole slaw and French Fries. After the Delicious meal Amanda and Brian (he decided to start going by his birth name) revealed their secret. Anna at first didn't believe them until she seen the papers with all the proof. She was so amazed and happy to meet her Brother from her past so many years ago. They laughed and talked about their few short years that they grew up together and caught up with things from that point on. They spent the next week enjoying one another then Amanda and Brian returned to Texas where they were now living. Brian and Amanda promised Anna and Steve they would keep in touch and they did by letter, phone and visited each other at least twice a year.
For a long time no one discussed what had actually happened so many years ago it was like the taboo subject. But one day when visiting with Anna the subject came up and Brian said when he woke up he was told that the couple Jenifer and Richard was his new Mama and Daddy at first he cried for his real family and everytime he did they beat him with a belt so hea learned fast that he had to not cry no matter what he felt. He was later placed in a foster home due to neglect and abuse but was even then scared to reveal the truth. His foster parents wasn't much better than his real parents. They took the money the state gave them to buy Alcohol and drugs. He was in the home with Two other foster children and the couple had two of their own children. So after he revealed this Anna and Amanda encouraged Brian to go to authorities. They then confronted his kidnappers and while in jail awaiting trial again for neglect of another child they had kidnapped and was caught up with they admitted they saw this cute little blond headed and blue eyed boy some 20 + years ago shopping in Walmart with his mom and dad and followed them home then when the family was sound asleep that night they broke a bedroom window and took the child quietly so they didn't disturb others sleeping in the house and ran to New York where they thought they would never Be caught. When Brian started school they had Jenifers sister Tina which worked at ta Health Department make a phony birth certificate so he could go. They provided him with handmidown clothes or clothes they found in dumpster until he started dating Amanda he had never had a set of new clothes nor new shoes he had to make do with what little they provided. They didn't ever cut his hair said it was too expensive. His foster parents was just as bad they didn't care how he looked only thing they had to do was make sure they bought food with the food stamps the state gave them. The state never once checked on his well being though many teachers questioned Brian about how he was treated they never followed up on the information that Brian gave them.
They went to court and the judge actually wept after hearing the story of the Life of Brian. He said Brian was a shocking story of how the state and officials had been a failure and set another court date requiring everyone Brian could remember and give names of to appear in court. Brian represented himself since he was a lawyer. Anna and Amanda both were there to support him morally during the month long trial for the Judge and jury to decide what to do with the many people that had mistreated and abused Brian over his life time. Brian held nothing back he wanted justice for all of the many sufferings he went through during his childhood. In the end the judge decided to...
So that was the story I had to work with. Way too much in it (5 pages and the handwriting actually gave me a headache) but I did my best to slow down the pace, but not abruptly and gave it a reason to be slowed down. Here's my entry.
... make this case an example by passing a new law. The new law said adopted and foster children needed to be checked on more and be issued a psychologist.
Bryan was happy it meant future kids might avoid what he went through but still felt personally cheated.
One day the doorbell rang and Bryan answered it to find a stranger who introduced himself as Deitrich. This man was a scientist and said he read about the trial in the newspaper and wanted to help.
"I know you did this to make them pay and they are not. I have a way for you to fix it, but it's dangerous. I have made a time machine but haven't tested it yet. Just before I was going to try, I read your story and know you deserve to try it first."
Bryan felt honored to try to fix his past. He knew he would miss his sisters but knew this was his chance to get the real life he was supposed to have back. He packed a few personal items and went with Deitrich.
The time machine got a tune-up while Bryan wrote a letter to his family. Deitrich gave Bryan instructions and stood back as the machine went to work, focusing on the year, month, date and location Bryan had input. He held tightly to his seat and closed his eyes as the time travel machine hissed, buzzed and violently vibrated.
A high pitched screech filled the tiny space before everything stopped. Bryan unclenched his teeth and hands and slowly looked around the cabin. Nothing looked out of place, though it was a bit cloudy; maybe smoke.
Bryan slowly opened the door. Before it was even fully opened, Bryan already noticed something felt different. His actions felt slower, more detailed. He noticed faint scars on his hands as the door fully opened.
He recognized the location which he landed - a park near the house that his sisters were raised, the house he should have been raised in.
So while one might assume the time travel machine had worked, Bryan still felt odd. However, it wasn't a bad odd - in fact, he heard a small voice in his head that this world felt more right than the one he came from.
In this world, everything seemed more colorful, detailed and lively. When he began slowly making his way toward the house, he noticed the sound the grass made under his shoes, the light breeze playing through his hair and a light trace of music the breeze brought from the nearby town square.
Bryan smiled and neared the large house at 221 Valient Boulevard. He made his way up the walkway, heels clacking against the pavement. He took each astep in beat with the distant music, raised his arm to press the doorbell and heard the chimes sound inside. The distant orchestra stopped and Bryan's smile faultered.
What are you doing?! Bryan thought to himself. Rather, it was actually a voice in his head whispering frantically in his ear.
You're a stranger! Do you even know what you're goin to say? 'Oh hi. Just passing through town, your son is going to be kidnapped!'
The voice was right, Bryan realized. He looked around as sweat collected on his brow, realizing there was no where to hide and trying desperately to think of a story for being at their doorstep.
His ears threw up a warning; faint footsteps from inside the house. His eyes darted to the newspaper on the porch near the first step. He hurridly grabbed it, stood straight and looked at the date. The time machine had done its job; the date read July 4 and the front door opened.
The man who answered the door was a young version of the father he knew in the other world. Although confused with the stranger at his doorstep, a smile continued to brighten the face of the father Bryan never had.
It's true they had reconnected when the blood tests had come in and revealed the confusing news, but his father was weathered by the years of stress and worry and Bryan had felt the father-son relationship he had longed for would never come to fruition.
But that was in that world. Here in front of Bryan was an untainted man who very much still had the capacity to be a loving father.
He is a father, dummy. There's a 3-year-old you in there somewhere, said the voice matter-of-factly.
"Can I help you, sir?"
Bryan's arm shot out, the newspaper in it, but he was much too far from the door to actually hand it to his father. He had been examining this new version of his father closely, and with the depth of details in this new world, Bryan had a false sense of the distance between them. He gave a nervous smile.
"Hi there, just picking up the paper for you," said Bryan. "Must be a busy day for you if it's still out here this time of day. I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"Not at all," Patrick stepped forward and grabbed the paper. "How can I help you?"
"Well I was actually heading over to visit family today and my car broke down just out of town. I was wondering if I could use your phone to call a tow?" Bryan felt a relief, as the story had just fallen into place.
"Hmmm," Patrick's face had a little confusion on it. "Broke down outside of town and this is the house you come to?"
"Oh, well I tried other houses but no one would answer the door," Bryan explained. "I thought it was the weirdest thing and almost thought this nice place may have been abandoned or something, but then I heard the music over there and realized everyone must be out celebrating. Your house was my last stop before just heading over there. My feet are just killing me. I didn't expect to be walking today."
"Ah yes, my wife and children are there right now," Patrick laughed a little. "I suppose it is weird that I am the only one who is at home, Independence Day is a big celebration for this town. I was just on my way out actually."
Patrick turned and locked the door. "You won't get a tow on the phone today. I'll take you into town and find Roger for you. He runs the shop but today is running the grill." The infectious smile never left his face.
"Besides, you can celebrate with us for a bit." Patrick motioned to the driveway where his car was parked.
Bryan followed suit...
9.30.2012
OUaT Journal: Add to first journal
So I'm part of an online community of crafters and creative people. I recently signed up for a writing swap which requires us to all get a notebook with at least 80 pages, start a story (about 5 pages) with the sentence "once upon a time" and end it with a portion of a sentence for the next person to play off of. I was so excited to get my first one sent off, I forgot to type it up (so I really hope I get it back in the future) and hope that my partner will type it up and send it to me as I've asked of future writers in my notebook via the front page.
Below is the story started by my partner and my addition to it.
CHAPTER ONE
"Once upon a time," Ellie started, "there was a little old woman who lived in a pumpkin."
Thunder clapped and there was a flash of lightening. Marky cuddled closer to Ellie.
Ellie continued, "She had a donut tree growing in the back and a cotton candy tree."
"And when it wained, it wained Nerds candy, wight?" Marky asked.
"Ellie chuckled and said "of course."
But before Ellie could continue, Kimberly stood in the door and shouted, "That's not how the story goes!"
Marky looked up at Kimberly and said "You mean wady, get out!"
Ellie laughed and agreed with Marky. She finished telling the tyke the story, kissed him goodnight and tucked him into bed with his stuffed zebra. Before she turned off the light she told him not to worry about Kimberly, she would take care of it.
When Ellie got downstairs, Kimberly was sitting on the couch looking bitter.
"You shouldn't have agreed with him - he's never going to respect me."
"Kim, shove it. No one in this house respects you, not even the hamster! You're a mean 'wady' and how ever you convinced my father that you were a good catch is beyond me. He obviously wasn't thinking with the right head!"
Ellie grabbed her keys and sweat shirt and left.
She walked across the road to her boyfriend's house. It was raining, but the rain felt good - it brought her peach. She opened the door and walked into the garage.
"Hey."
"Hey baby," Cory said as he peaked his head out from under the hood of the car he was working on.
Ellie turned on the tv and put on a channel that was monitoring Marky's room.
Ellie was 17 and about to be a senior in high school. Marky was five and her half brother. Her parents divorced when she was younger and her mom remarried.
Tragically when Marky was four, their parents were in an accident and ddin't make it. Upon hearing the news, Ellie's dad moved her and Marky in to care for them. He treated Marky like he was his own child, Ellie admired that.
Cory kept messing with the car and Ellie just sat on the old couch staring into space.
Ellie and Cory had always been friends and were just recently trying to take it to the next level.
About an hour pased and Ellie kissed Cory goodnight and went back to her house. When she got home, she checked on Marky and went to bed. Kimberly was in her room and their dad would be home in a few hours.
As she layed in bed listening to the rain fall outside her window, she couldn't help but think of happier times. How she wished she could go back to her grandparents farm and play with her cousins.
Suddenly, she felt a wet nose on her cheek, she opened her eyes and it was her kitty, Pudding.
Pudding was a silly cat. Beautiful long-haired orange cat, who hissed everytime she was around Kimberly.
Pudding loved to have her tail twirled, and Ellie nestled closer to Pudding and curled her tail as she fell asleep.
When suddenly...
Now, I get to continue the story. Shannon wrote pretty big and I have a tendency to write more squished together, so my portion is longer. At first reading, I wanted to continue the story by blowing up her boyfriend's car, but I thought that was too much, too soon. So instead, here is my continuation.
When suddenly Ellie jolted out of bed. Her heart was pounding and her breath was speedy. She stared at the wall in front of her, mindfully coaching her breathing back to normal while trying to figure out what woke her so violently.
While this was a common reaction to some nightmares she had, she was not covered in sweat (which always accompanied the nightmares) nor could she recall the night's images.
She stood at the edge of her bed. Finding no answers internally, she decided to check on Marky.
Ellied slowly creaked down the hallway, hearing low-growling snores from her father from behind the door on the right, continuing to slowly open Marky's door on the left.
She peaked her head in to the tyke's room to discover nothing out of the ordinary, and became entranced in the doorway watching the subtle rhythm of his chest taking in small, sleepy breaths.
Ellie's eyes widened with initial fear as she felt something foriegn and sudden upon her calf, but relaxed when she decided how silly that was. She looked down to see Pudding begging for attention.
Ellie scooped up Pudding, closed Marky's door and went back to her room. Petting the furry purr-machine, she went to her window to find that it was no longer raining, but that it hadn't stopped too long ago, made obvious by the still glistening blacktop under the watch of the streetlights.
Just then, she noticed a figure make it's way out from Cory's front door. The figure was making it's way down the driveway steadily when Cory whisked out the door as well.
Ellie's face contorted with confusion as Cory stalked up to the figure whom she now noticed was unbalanced due to alcohol or injury. Cory's mouth was moving, his fists in massive clenched balls.
Pudding jumped from Ellie's non-petting, nervious-gripping hold, but no attention was paid to that as Ellie reached out to open her window. Curiosity had got the best of her. Who was this stranger, what were they fighting about, and why at this hour?
The window slid open slowly, a burst of freshly-rained air filling Ellie's nostrils. Her ears were less satisfied with the results. While she could make out Cory's voice, she couldn't decipher the words. The tone of his voice confirmed his body language - Anger.
Ellie had not seen Cory angry too many times besides in sport competition and bad mess-ups when working on his car, but Ellie was used to seeing this explosion of emotion quelched as soon as he set eyes on her. In the current situation, this would not be his saving grace.
Fear had built up inside of her, but curiosity cemented her feet where they were. The stranger had been shaking his or her sweatshirt-hooded head periodically, but even with the window inviting the stranger to be identified by voice, Ellie heard none.
Ellie heard a mew behind her but paid no mind. Cory took another step toward the figure, unraveled his knotted fist and before the stranger or Ellie could react, Cory's hand had clasped to the neck in front of it.
Ellie gasped. What would drive Cory to do this to a person? What is he going to do to this person? Maybe Ellie should yell out for him to stop? All these questions flooded her head, her mind trying hard to find answers.
"Ewwie?"
"Ellie spun around fast, horror and confusion still plastered on her face as her eyes focused on Marky rubbing his sleepy eyes. Ellie bagged her facial expression and put on her smile as Marky walked toward her with his arms out.
"Oh what is it sweetie? What are you doing up at this hour?"
"I had a bad dweam." Marky buried his head in the crook of Ellie's neck as she made her way from the open window and toward Marky's room.
"Me too, buddy." Ellie's curiosity was upset with the break of intensity going on across the street but she let out a heavy sigh, her heart thankful for the interruption.
Ellie lay Marky in bed and sat in the chair at his bedside.
"Now, you get to sleep. I'll stay right here," Ellie assured.
Marky smiled, yawned and put his head on the pillow. He watched Ellie, slowing his blinking, eyes opening at half-mast, until moments later, Mr. Sandman won the battle and Ellie watched the rhythm of his chest as it lulled her to sleep.
Below is the story started by my partner and my addition to it.
CHAPTER ONE
"Once upon a time," Ellie started, "there was a little old woman who lived in a pumpkin."
Thunder clapped and there was a flash of lightening. Marky cuddled closer to Ellie.
Ellie continued, "She had a donut tree growing in the back and a cotton candy tree."
"And when it wained, it wained Nerds candy, wight?" Marky asked.
"Ellie chuckled and said "of course."
But before Ellie could continue, Kimberly stood in the door and shouted, "That's not how the story goes!"
Marky looked up at Kimberly and said "You mean wady, get out!"
Ellie laughed and agreed with Marky. She finished telling the tyke the story, kissed him goodnight and tucked him into bed with his stuffed zebra. Before she turned off the light she told him not to worry about Kimberly, she would take care of it.
When Ellie got downstairs, Kimberly was sitting on the couch looking bitter.
"You shouldn't have agreed with him - he's never going to respect me."
"Kim, shove it. No one in this house respects you, not even the hamster! You're a mean 'wady' and how ever you convinced my father that you were a good catch is beyond me. He obviously wasn't thinking with the right head!"
Ellie grabbed her keys and sweat shirt and left.
She walked across the road to her boyfriend's house. It was raining, but the rain felt good - it brought her peach. She opened the door and walked into the garage.
"Hey."
"Hey baby," Cory said as he peaked his head out from under the hood of the car he was working on.
Ellie turned on the tv and put on a channel that was monitoring Marky's room.
Ellie was 17 and about to be a senior in high school. Marky was five and her half brother. Her parents divorced when she was younger and her mom remarried.
Tragically when Marky was four, their parents were in an accident and ddin't make it. Upon hearing the news, Ellie's dad moved her and Marky in to care for them. He treated Marky like he was his own child, Ellie admired that.
Cory kept messing with the car and Ellie just sat on the old couch staring into space.
Ellie and Cory had always been friends and were just recently trying to take it to the next level.
About an hour pased and Ellie kissed Cory goodnight and went back to her house. When she got home, she checked on Marky and went to bed. Kimberly was in her room and their dad would be home in a few hours.
As she layed in bed listening to the rain fall outside her window, she couldn't help but think of happier times. How she wished she could go back to her grandparents farm and play with her cousins.
Suddenly, she felt a wet nose on her cheek, she opened her eyes and it was her kitty, Pudding.
Pudding was a silly cat. Beautiful long-haired orange cat, who hissed everytime she was around Kimberly.
Pudding loved to have her tail twirled, and Ellie nestled closer to Pudding and curled her tail as she fell asleep.
When suddenly...
Now, I get to continue the story. Shannon wrote pretty big and I have a tendency to write more squished together, so my portion is longer. At first reading, I wanted to continue the story by blowing up her boyfriend's car, but I thought that was too much, too soon. So instead, here is my continuation.
When suddenly Ellie jolted out of bed. Her heart was pounding and her breath was speedy. She stared at the wall in front of her, mindfully coaching her breathing back to normal while trying to figure out what woke her so violently.
While this was a common reaction to some nightmares she had, she was not covered in sweat (which always accompanied the nightmares) nor could she recall the night's images.
She stood at the edge of her bed. Finding no answers internally, she decided to check on Marky.
Ellied slowly creaked down the hallway, hearing low-growling snores from her father from behind the door on the right, continuing to slowly open Marky's door on the left.
She peaked her head in to the tyke's room to discover nothing out of the ordinary, and became entranced in the doorway watching the subtle rhythm of his chest taking in small, sleepy breaths.
Ellie's eyes widened with initial fear as she felt something foriegn and sudden upon her calf, but relaxed when she decided how silly that was. She looked down to see Pudding begging for attention.
Ellie scooped up Pudding, closed Marky's door and went back to her room. Petting the furry purr-machine, she went to her window to find that it was no longer raining, but that it hadn't stopped too long ago, made obvious by the still glistening blacktop under the watch of the streetlights.
Just then, she noticed a figure make it's way out from Cory's front door. The figure was making it's way down the driveway steadily when Cory whisked out the door as well.
Ellie's face contorted with confusion as Cory stalked up to the figure whom she now noticed was unbalanced due to alcohol or injury. Cory's mouth was moving, his fists in massive clenched balls.
Pudding jumped from Ellie's non-petting, nervious-gripping hold, but no attention was paid to that as Ellie reached out to open her window. Curiosity had got the best of her. Who was this stranger, what were they fighting about, and why at this hour?
The window slid open slowly, a burst of freshly-rained air filling Ellie's nostrils. Her ears were less satisfied with the results. While she could make out Cory's voice, she couldn't decipher the words. The tone of his voice confirmed his body language - Anger.
Ellie had not seen Cory angry too many times besides in sport competition and bad mess-ups when working on his car, but Ellie was used to seeing this explosion of emotion quelched as soon as he set eyes on her. In the current situation, this would not be his saving grace.
Fear had built up inside of her, but curiosity cemented her feet where they were. The stranger had been shaking his or her sweatshirt-hooded head periodically, but even with the window inviting the stranger to be identified by voice, Ellie heard none.
Ellie heard a mew behind her but paid no mind. Cory took another step toward the figure, unraveled his knotted fist and before the stranger or Ellie could react, Cory's hand had clasped to the neck in front of it.
Ellie gasped. What would drive Cory to do this to a person? What is he going to do to this person? Maybe Ellie should yell out for him to stop? All these questions flooded her head, her mind trying hard to find answers.
"Ewwie?"
"Ellie spun around fast, horror and confusion still plastered on her face as her eyes focused on Marky rubbing his sleepy eyes. Ellie bagged her facial expression and put on her smile as Marky walked toward her with his arms out.
"Oh what is it sweetie? What are you doing up at this hour?"
"I had a bad dweam." Marky buried his head in the crook of Ellie's neck as she made her way from the open window and toward Marky's room.
"Me too, buddy." Ellie's curiosity was upset with the break of intensity going on across the street but she let out a heavy sigh, her heart thankful for the interruption.
Ellie lay Marky in bed and sat in the chair at his bedside.
"Now, you get to sleep. I'll stay right here," Ellie assured.
Marky smiled, yawned and put his head on the pillow. He watched Ellie, slowing his blinking, eyes opening at half-mast, until moments later, Mr. Sandman won the battle and Ellie watched the rhythm of his chest as it lulled her to sleep.
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