I joined a creative writing swap on Swap-Bot.com and decided it was a good time to use the story cubes I had just bought. The first story was made by rolling the story cubes one at a time after one was rolled, I wrote a little story, another roll, more story, etc. This made my story pretty boring so I did another story and rolled them all at the same time so I could view all the pictures (kept them in the same order) and figure out a story line before writing. Here are my two stories in that order:
ONE BY ONE story cube result:
Cluster of arrows all pointing outward in a circular shape, Tree, letter L in a box, Lightening bolt, Globe, Face with Z's coming out of it, Hand, Teepee, Bee
The ferris wheel hadn't moved an inch in over 10 years but it still stirred memories within me. I've come to the conclusion that it's the main reason I still live in this apartment despite falling value and decline in community report and quality neighbors. One yank of my balcony curtain could compare to a glass of Brandy after a hard days work - especially under the star studded night sky.
I stood near the entrance of the boarded-up boardwalk and admired the massive construct. Unlike many things that seemed lesser as an adult when you sifted through childhood memories, the ferris wheel seemed bigger. I had realized the reason for this after a few visits upon my return; shrubbery had grown wild, free and high at the base of the wheel creating the illusion of Godzilla among puny buildings.
Once known as the Wonder Wheel, locals now refer to it as the Lonely Coney. I visit a few times a week to keep it company, but today was the first time in almost two weeks because of the recent cluster of thunderstorms. And even though the cold weather brings pain to my joints, the lightening behind the wheel, lighting each spoke, is a thing of beauty. I enjoyed the show from behind the glass on my balcony, wrapped in layers with a cup of cocoa.
I sat on a nearby bench after clearing the fallen leaves. I remember the insane amount of energy I exerted in my youth. I also saw it in other children but there aren't many around here too often. I am thankful I had the opportunity to travel the globe in my lifetime, always wanting to see more. And here I sit near a deteriorating dock, wanting to be nowhere else.
A loud chime rang up the streets; the leaves rustled and dogs barked from a distance. I jerked awake, not even realizing I'd dozed off. The sun was slowly taking a dip in the cold, flat reflection of the sky. I slowly rose to my feet and made my way to my apartment with the help of my cane.
The streets were full of more trash than people and that was typical. I stood at the crosswalk waiting for the red hand to allow me to cross. The short walk had reminded my body that it was cold out and that joint pain was an appropriate response. I gripped my cane and slowly made my way across the street and to my apartment.
I turned on the heater, put the kettle on and went to my favorite chair. I slowly sunk in and reached for my pipe and tobacco. In the past I would not have smoked out of it, let alone have it out in the open, believing it was worth money. I was materialistic. Thankfully that curse was broken by the same Shaman who gifted this pipe to me. I will always be grateful to him for setting me free and promised myself that if I don't return as a Ferris Wheel, a spoke or even a shrub nearby, I would try to help others cursed as I once was.
Only a few puffs in and the kettle called. I made my way to it, grabbed a mug, spoon, tea bag, sugar and of course honey. I prepared my tea as my children may have a few years ago, as their children may have learned from me but I prefer not to dwell, merely reminisce.
Snoozefest. So here's the other story:
ALL AT ONCE story cube results:
Theatre 'smile now, cry later' faces, Cloud and rainbow, Letter L in a box, Globe, Lightbulb, One die, Abacus, Cane, Key
Pruit Valley Charter High School had sent in their request to claim Wizard of Oz for their end of the year production to arrive at 8 a.m. the first day of registration. I was born to play Dorothy, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" being the first song I belted out at age 2. I suggested to our theatre department head that this was an ideal production for our - and by 'our' I really meant 'my' - final performance. The majority of our theatre troop were graduating this June.
Unfortunately, I do not attend Pruit Valley Charter. My parents seem to believe that the superior education that can be gained at the minimally more expensive Pruit is not worthy of their only daughter. Mr. Dotree also seems to have it out for me since he "forgot" year end production registration was this past Monday - four days ago - despite my frequent reminders and comments on 'how wonderful our production will be.' And then he tacks on "I'll have it sent off first class immediately," as if salting my wounds. What is the point of that?! Pruit has already won. He should just give me the first class envelope so I can send off my transfer papers!
Trudy calmed me down before second period.
"Look on the bright side; Chet had a good chunk of Theatre high on his experimental idea to produce 'Tetris - The Musical.' Just thank the stars that he was sick when we voted."
I sighed heavy as I sunk behind my desk.
"You're right, my final performance could have been disastrous. I'm just upset that we lost our leading musical and so the second on our list is 'The Fall to Earth.' I'll give it to Joel, it was a smart move to choose it since no other school's are likely to. Maybe I can convince him to change one monologue into a solo?"
The classroom was filling up with students and other mumbled conversations. Trudy raised her right eyebrow and puffed her lips out; Unlikely is what it meant.
"It's a gamble," is what she said.
Mrs. Stoddard entered the room, the chatter petered out and math class began.
The rest of the day was uneventful for the most part. I continued to discuss the horrible mistake that could have been avoided, but by the end of the day I had finally taken it all in and mentally threw my hands up to claim 'what's done is done.'
When auditions had come around I performed my rendition of Gretta's monologue which included some 'sing for talk.' If that hadn't been what sealed the deal then my costume did. Gretta was the eldest character, roughly in her 60s, so I had borrowed clothes and a can from Nanny's room.
While I landed the role, I was less successful in convincing the board to allow a musical number. I did my best to perfect Grett'as monologue as I felt it was the key turning point in our production.
Come opening night, my monologue had received a standing ovation and, try and I might, one tear managed to squeeze its way past my lashes and down my cheek.
This was my 'Over the Rainbow.'
I've come to realize I really like writing in first person (it makes sense that it comes easiest) and need to try and put more effort into creating stories from other points of view.
12.21.2012
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.
6.30.2012
Creativity Alley - 1
(from the 'Creativity Alley Jumpstart' program) http://writingbliss.com/
Possible Uses For...
This is one of the simplest block busting methods. It stimulates the mind and helps you break out of a functionally fixated mindset. This method involves thinking of an ordinary object and listing all possible uses for that object within a specified length of time. When you use this creative thinking method, you do not think about what that object is normally used for or how it is usually thought of.
For your first creative activity, list at least 20 original uses for tons of punched paper holes. Do this in 10 minutes or less. Describe each use in a sentence or two.
----
1. Confetti, multi-colored would be best. Cheaper than buying pre-made confetti, and a hastle to clean up!
2. Colorful mulch! Maybe, I don't actually know what mulch does.
3. Use along-side bubble stone thingies as decorative filling for vases
4. Can create the illusion of sprinkles on a paper-art cupcake.
5. Can be used to create the illusion of cobble stone in a miniature town structure.
6. Can be used to fill clear balloons to spice them up.
7. Can be used to pad something. Perhaps put them all in a plastic bag with something fragile.
8. Can be used to make a trail to the bedroom, preferably use white, red and pink. :)
9. Can be used as bedding for a small animal (ex: reptile, rodent)
10. Can be used to annoy the shit out of a friend, surprise bomb the inside of their car if they have a habit of leaving the window down! That will teach them a lesson.
11. Can be used in monster make-up to create the illusion of peeling skin or scales.
12. Can be used to make children laugh. Pretend to sneeze and blow it all over the place!
13. Align punches in forms of letters, glue them down, laminate and you have a bookmark!
14. Use them when painting to create a bubbly/raised illusion. (It will probably look shitty though)
15. Make a shit-ton and blow them in front of a fan to create the illusion of SNOW!!!
16. Annoy your friends by sending these in a letter, so while they're happy they got a letter, now they're upset that they have to clean it up and that possibly their animals are at their feet trying to eat it.
17. Create a game where contestants choose a balloon (but cannot touch, just from a distance) and all at once everyone pops their balloon over their head and the one with the hole punches/confetti/big mess all over them, wins! Game of chance.
18. Use them to help teach a child to count or basic math skills.
19. Use them to create snowglobes (probably without the water).
20. Stuff a bunch in a bag for a make-shift pillow.
6.27.2012
DCW prompt - Day 7
#211 - "Write from the point of view of a clean sock that was mistakenly placed in the hamper."
----
I know she probably didn't do it on purpose, it was a mistake. She's been very stressed lately with finals and her boyfriend is being consistent in making it difficult for her to study while he plays his video games at volumes that cause her dorm mates to bang on the door to 'keep it down.' Yes, I realize this, and I recognize that I shouldn't feel personally attacked by her slip up, but it's hard to fight those feelings. While I'm grateful for the towel and pair of pants that separates me from her boyfriends dingy drawers, I still feel a tinge of sorrow for being banished to the dirty clothes hamper.
And really, I don't blame her. I realize my anger is with her roommate. I see him sneak in here every so often when she's not around, he opens the drawer I share with my fellow 'undergarments,' usually to rifle through her underwear; sometimes he sniffs them and a few times I've even seen him try them on. Of course he looks silly in them - Jessica is a slim woman with a shapely rear end and her roommate does not share these qualities. Thankfully, the one's he tries on are also the one's he steals so we aren't cooped up with tainted panties. That doesn't happen often though, and the top drawer (that's us - the undergarments) hadn't seen him in a while, but this afternoon he struck again.
His dirty little pleasure was cut short though because Jessica and her boyfriend could be heard coming up the hall. Her roommate frantically tried to put everything back in order. He turned to make his exit, clumsily dragging his hand towards where I sat on top of the other socks, separating me from my partner and landing us both at the base of the dirty clothes hamper atop a towel I assume she had used that morning for her shower before she darted off to class.
So while Jessica did pick the lot of us up and throw us in the hamper to feel shamed, it's not entirely her fault. I suppose if I was a Jessica, I might do the same thing.
6.07.2012
Daily creative writing (DCW) prompt - day 6
#239 "Write about a bucket of distaste."
I think I did a pretty good job on this one.
----
The horizon was blurred. It was a mix of the tears that collected on the brim of her lower eyelids and the warbly heat rising from the flames in front of her. Darlene ran the back of her hand across her eyes, smearing the mascara that was at risk of staining her cheeks across the bridge of her nose where the trail ended just before her temple.
A pile of items was stacked to her right. A large bucket was in front of her, positioned in the middle of a firepit which was used every Summer, but never in this way. Darlene grabbed at the top of the pile, bringing it closer to her face. A photograph of three smiling faces looked back at her, no tears in their eyes. A rush of emotion inspired her silent cries to volumize and tears poured out over the brim and mascara trickled down her cheeks. She clutched the photo in her fist and threw it into the bucket where the flames were licking at previously discarded memories, black smoke adding to her impaired vision.
Darlene continued to grab items from the pile and throw them into the hungry fire, the warmth of the flames devoured the bucket of distaste. Despite watching the photos warp under the intense heat, in the back of her mind she knew that burning physical evidence of memories would not burn them from her mind. She would never forget the overwhelming love and trust she had in Trevor, the love and trust she felt in return. And as wonderful as that feeling was, it would never be remembered on its own. It would forever be tainted by the memory which turned her stomach - her best friend Sharon draped over Trevor, her body trembling and covered by nothing but sweat conceived by passion, and that devious smile she aimed at Darlene who stood petrified in the doorway.
Darlene, enfuriated by the memory that begun to loop in her mind's eye, began to grab at the pile and throw it into the flames. Concert tickets, wrist bands, more photos, keychains and love letters - all burning together, more black smoke billowing into the sky accompanied by her cries.
5.30.2012
Weekly email prompts - Day 3
I'm actually behind and skipped the actual Day 3 prompts but will come back to them when I feel like writing about them. Yesterday I wrote this one, so this prompt is a little late. And yes, I already screwed up daily writing exercises within the first week.
----
Reflect on yesterday's events and identify moments that happened spontaneously. Explore how you felt during those moments.
Yesterday I was at a Memorial Day BBQ with Stuart's family. One spontaneous moment that comes to mind is when his aunt Judy was telling me that I'm going to the lake trip this year, that she needs me to go and that she had a wonderful time with me last year, "more than you'll ever know." My eyes started to water. She wanted to know why I was against going, and I told her it was because it's expensive and I have no way to help pay. She said that she understands that I'm not a person who expects others to pay for me, she knows I'm a good person and wants me to be involved in the family vacation. I felt so loved. This is a woman I've spent one week with at the lake trip last year and have seen not many times other than that, and she is willing to pay my way on the trip because she values my company. It makes me happy to know that my personality is so valued and that, even though she barely knows me, she realizes it's hard for me to allow others to pay such an amount of money on me. I truly love Stuart's family and I am happy I get to go on this year's trip, despite still wanting to figure out a way to help financially. I will most definitely be helping with clean up and everything like that, but of course I would have done that anyway even if I paid for myself, as I did last year.
----
Reflect on yesterday's events and identify moments that happened spontaneously. Explore how you felt during those moments.
Yesterday I was at a Memorial Day BBQ with Stuart's family. One spontaneous moment that comes to mind is when his aunt Judy was telling me that I'm going to the lake trip this year, that she needs me to go and that she had a wonderful time with me last year, "more than you'll ever know." My eyes started to water. She wanted to know why I was against going, and I told her it was because it's expensive and I have no way to help pay. She said that she understands that I'm not a person who expects others to pay for me, she knows I'm a good person and wants me to be involved in the family vacation. I felt so loved. This is a woman I've spent one week with at the lake trip last year and have seen not many times other than that, and she is willing to pay my way on the trip because she values my company. It makes me happy to know that my personality is so valued and that, even though she barely knows me, she realizes it's hard for me to allow others to pay such an amount of money on me. I truly love Stuart's family and I am happy I get to go on this year's trip, despite still wanting to figure out a way to help financially. I will most definitely be helping with clean up and everything like that, but of course I would have done that anyway even if I paid for myself, as I did last year.
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