Velvet Verbosity's 100 Word Challenge is proud to announce that it does not recieve one dime of Federal funding and will not be a victim of government cutbacks. This week's word is "Forward", and my story is "Protect This House".
James looked down, breathing hard. James knew his role from the first time he strapped on skates. He showed his worth in the corners, doing the dirty work, checking and being checked, letting the glamour boys soak up the goals. Being a fourth line forward, you hit who they say to hit, fight when they say to fight. He was as gentle as a March breeze with his twin girls, but in order to keep the paychecks that fed his daughters coming in, he had to make his living, and to do that, he had to dole out the misery.
Thursday, July 07, 2011
Sunday, July 03, 2011
Indie Ink Writing Challenge: Moving On
The Indie Ink Writing Challenge comes at me this week from Steffani, who asks me about moving unexpectedly. I am challenging Kat.
As luck would have it, the novel (a sequel to my first book, conveniently available for sale on the sidebar) I have just begun involves someone who moves suddenly for reasons somewhat beyond his control. Here is an excerpt, called "Moving On". It might make a little more sense if you read the entry previous to this one, a response to Chuck Wendig's Terrible Minds Challenge. It might make even more sense than that if you read the novel.
But it might not, too.
Emmeline came down from the deck and walked back across the grass towards me. She stepped delicately, like the ground was studded with land mines, her shoes making perfect, tiny U shaped impressions in the lush grass under the hot sun. She wore heels a lot, because years of dance made flat shoes impossible for her. But today's shoes were modest, gentle sloping curves of a very light, dusty pink.
"Are you sure you don't want a beer?" she asked.
"Nope," I said, and drained the bottled water I had been working on. I didn't drink, but that was more out of fear than anything. I was afraid I'd like it. I was afraid I'd love it, honestly.
I watched several women sliding out of coverups and into the pool, as the gaggle of 3 and 4 year olds clambered in. There were more than enough adults nearby, but I kept my eye peeled until I saw Angela slide into the water, hovering around Kate protectively. She had been through a lot, but their bond was strong, as irritating as a little one could sometimes be.
Emmeline was standing with me again, her body angled to mine. The gentle, hot breeze ruffled the hem of her dress. It was one of those moments, when whatever I said was probably going to be wrong. I didn't say anything. She looked vaguely intimidating behind dark sunglasses in John Lennon frames. I watched Kate splash and grin in the pool with Angela.
Em was the first person I met up here. After Kate's sudden, tragedy tinged emergence into our world, we had barely reached equilibrium again when Mom Mom's sudden transfer into the Pacific Northwest resulted in a second crisis. She, Angela and the baby had to go- the opportunity was too great, and the upside too large, to turn down. But the question was me- having no ties, really, to any of them, could I tear up what few ties, references and connections I had left?
With a baby in your life, reflection is a virtue you seldom have, and in the end, it wasn't any decision at all. Whether I was loving a ghost or not, Kate became part of my life. I began to expect the sleepless nights, the constant cries for food and water and diapers and other forms of distress. I couldn't not continue to be in her life. Moving was simpler than I thought- I closed up shop at the university, giving my students to others to watch over their work, handing in my research for someone else to continue. I had no close friends, although my ex Nicole gamely insisted I would be back because I couldn't resist her. My guitar students, other than the one who was coming with me, found other homes, and my boss, while he would miss watching Kate for me, was understanding of what I needed to do. So I sold what I couldn't carry, and we were gone, trooping to the northwest together. It was either a sign that I had few strings attached any more, or a sign I had trouble letting go. It was a sign, certainly.
Em was working behind the counter at a stationery store. I had unpacked my few possessions into graduate student housing, and I went out in search of some writing paper and notebooks. Em was seated, working with some sort of program on a PC. From what I could gather, she was laying out some sort of fancy invitation, for a wedding perhaps. Once I had made my purchases, she stood up, elegant and cool in a pretty, though not fancy dress, and made the sale.
"I don't see many men in here," she offered.
"Well, I'm kind of a pen geek," I said. "I love pens. Can't get enough of them."
"Oh, me too. Fountain?"
"No,no," I said. "I'm too chicken. But I'll write with Cross forever."
It wasn't my intention, but phone calls became letters which became more phone calls. A relationship bloomed almost without my knowing it, and Em's roots in the art crowd, became my entree into a world of cool people. Before long, she was another worshipper at the Temple of Kate, loving her as we all did, and our weird foursome became a fivesome. As the old song goes, I became accustomed to her face.
I was watching her watching the chaotic scene. Finally, I couldn't stand the silence.
"Are you OK?"
"No," she said firmly. "We have to talk. Not here, not now. But we have to talk."
"OK," I said warily. "Is this about Kate?"
"Everything is," she said, her voice getting soft. "You know I'm nuts about her. You're nuts about her. That's not the problem. I love you, and I'm pretty sure you love me. That's not the problem either."
"Well, at least we know what the problem isn't."
"Shut up. I said not now. But since you won't stop giving me the puppy dog eyes, the problem, in short, is when do I get you. All of you, not just the parts Kate doesn't want. And when you're going to stop mourning a girl you barely knew. And don't answer any of that, because you can't, and I don't want to talk about it right now."
Kate had emerged, trailed by Angela, who bent low to wrap the little one in a towel with Tinkerbell on it. Kate padded quickly over to us.
"Em! Em!"
Emmeline bent down, crouching like a catcher. "Yes, darling?"
"I swimmed, Em, I swimmed!"
"Yes you did, baby girl. Yes, you did." Emmeline scooped up the wriggling parcel, holding her close. Mom mom came up, still in her elegant, casual dress, to stand with us. Her eyes shone.
"We all ready?"
"Yup," the girls chorused, and we said our goodbyes, packed up our things, and got into the car. After Kate was settled, I reached back, being the designated driver, to hand back a storybook.
"Give it to Em," Kate said firmly. "Em reads better."
"She certainly does," I agreed, and started the car to bring us home.
As luck would have it, the novel (a sequel to my first book, conveniently available for sale on the sidebar) I have just begun involves someone who moves suddenly for reasons somewhat beyond his control. Here is an excerpt, called "Moving On". It might make a little more sense if you read the entry previous to this one, a response to Chuck Wendig's Terrible Minds Challenge. It might make even more sense than that if you read the novel.
But it might not, too.
Emmeline came down from the deck and walked back across the grass towards me. She stepped delicately, like the ground was studded with land mines, her shoes making perfect, tiny U shaped impressions in the lush grass under the hot sun. She wore heels a lot, because years of dance made flat shoes impossible for her. But today's shoes were modest, gentle sloping curves of a very light, dusty pink.
"Are you sure you don't want a beer?" she asked.
"Nope," I said, and drained the bottled water I had been working on. I didn't drink, but that was more out of fear than anything. I was afraid I'd like it. I was afraid I'd love it, honestly.
I watched several women sliding out of coverups and into the pool, as the gaggle of 3 and 4 year olds clambered in. There were more than enough adults nearby, but I kept my eye peeled until I saw Angela slide into the water, hovering around Kate protectively. She had been through a lot, but their bond was strong, as irritating as a little one could sometimes be.
Emmeline was standing with me again, her body angled to mine. The gentle, hot breeze ruffled the hem of her dress. It was one of those moments, when whatever I said was probably going to be wrong. I didn't say anything. She looked vaguely intimidating behind dark sunglasses in John Lennon frames. I watched Kate splash and grin in the pool with Angela.
Em was the first person I met up here. After Kate's sudden, tragedy tinged emergence into our world, we had barely reached equilibrium again when Mom Mom's sudden transfer into the Pacific Northwest resulted in a second crisis. She, Angela and the baby had to go- the opportunity was too great, and the upside too large, to turn down. But the question was me- having no ties, really, to any of them, could I tear up what few ties, references and connections I had left?
With a baby in your life, reflection is a virtue you seldom have, and in the end, it wasn't any decision at all. Whether I was loving a ghost or not, Kate became part of my life. I began to expect the sleepless nights, the constant cries for food and water and diapers and other forms of distress. I couldn't not continue to be in her life. Moving was simpler than I thought- I closed up shop at the university, giving my students to others to watch over their work, handing in my research for someone else to continue. I had no close friends, although my ex Nicole gamely insisted I would be back because I couldn't resist her. My guitar students, other than the one who was coming with me, found other homes, and my boss, while he would miss watching Kate for me, was understanding of what I needed to do. So I sold what I couldn't carry, and we were gone, trooping to the northwest together. It was either a sign that I had few strings attached any more, or a sign I had trouble letting go. It was a sign, certainly.
Em was working behind the counter at a stationery store. I had unpacked my few possessions into graduate student housing, and I went out in search of some writing paper and notebooks. Em was seated, working with some sort of program on a PC. From what I could gather, she was laying out some sort of fancy invitation, for a wedding perhaps. Once I had made my purchases, she stood up, elegant and cool in a pretty, though not fancy dress, and made the sale.
"I don't see many men in here," she offered.
"Well, I'm kind of a pen geek," I said. "I love pens. Can't get enough of them."
"Oh, me too. Fountain?"
"No,no," I said. "I'm too chicken. But I'll write with Cross forever."
It wasn't my intention, but phone calls became letters which became more phone calls. A relationship bloomed almost without my knowing it, and Em's roots in the art crowd, became my entree into a world of cool people. Before long, she was another worshipper at the Temple of Kate, loving her as we all did, and our weird foursome became a fivesome. As the old song goes, I became accustomed to her face.
I was watching her watching the chaotic scene. Finally, I couldn't stand the silence.
"Are you OK?"
"No," she said firmly. "We have to talk. Not here, not now. But we have to talk."
"OK," I said warily. "Is this about Kate?"
"Everything is," she said, her voice getting soft. "You know I'm nuts about her. You're nuts about her. That's not the problem. I love you, and I'm pretty sure you love me. That's not the problem either."
"Well, at least we know what the problem isn't."
"Shut up. I said not now. But since you won't stop giving me the puppy dog eyes, the problem, in short, is when do I get you. All of you, not just the parts Kate doesn't want. And when you're going to stop mourning a girl you barely knew. And don't answer any of that, because you can't, and I don't want to talk about it right now."
Kate had emerged, trailed by Angela, who bent low to wrap the little one in a towel with Tinkerbell on it. Kate padded quickly over to us.
"Em! Em!"
Emmeline bent down, crouching like a catcher. "Yes, darling?"
"I swimmed, Em, I swimmed!"
"Yes you did, baby girl. Yes, you did." Emmeline scooped up the wriggling parcel, holding her close. Mom mom came up, still in her elegant, casual dress, to stand with us. Her eyes shone.
"We all ready?"
"Yup," the girls chorused, and we said our goodbyes, packed up our things, and got into the car. After Kate was settled, I reached back, being the designated driver, to hand back a storybook.
"Give it to Em," Kate said firmly. "Em reads better."
"She certainly does," I agreed, and started the car to bring us home.
Saturday, July 02, 2011
Terrible Minds Challenge: "Hello Goodbye"
Herr Chuck Wendig, the new Dad and Head Penmonkey over at the Terrible Minds Website/Zombie Army Recruitment Center, has issued a 1000 Word Flash Fiction challenge involving that most imminent of all holidays, Independence Day.
This is actually a sequel/continuation/postscript to my novel, which I haven't talked much about since its publication lo these many months ago. You don't need to have read it to get the story, although if you have read it, the characters and their relationships will be a lot clearer. (And should you want to, purchasing information is conveniently located on the sidebar.) But there's enough exposition here that you'll get the important parts, even if you haven't read it. (Which puts you in good company- 99.99% of the other life forms on planet Earth haven't read it, either.) (And, in the unlikely event you have read it, don't fret- there is a character in here who isn't in the novel. So you're not losing your memory.)
The story is called "Hello Goodbye"
It was a weird situation, but we liked it. I watched Kate run, thundering after a group of other wet, squirming preschoolers, following her with one eye while trying to stay focused on the conversation around me. It was just like they taught you in basketball- when you guard someone who doesn't have the ball, you follow the ball with one eye while following your opponent with the other. You get holistic- you try to take in the whole scene, trusting your instincts to tell you when it's time to focus.
I wasn't anything to Kate- not her father, though I was with her so often people assumed that. I didn't really mind- the truth was very hard to explain. Angela, her aunt, all legs and teenage awkwardness, was no relation to me whatsoever. Angela's mother, and Wendy's, who we all took to calling "Mom-Mom" because of her antipathy for "Grandmother", was also not my relative. But we were a family, a 20th century amalgam of those who loved this sweaty, bathing suited blond who was now involved in trying to catch the family dog, a friendly greyhound who put up with the little grabbing hands with equanimity.
One of Kate's "friends" (at 3, do you really have friends?) was born on July 4, which, I reflected, had to be a miserable time of year to be 9 months pregnant. So the girl, a pig tailed wonder named Grace, wound up losing her birthday amid the traditional pomp and circumstance. Grace's mom, a super competent, frighteningly pretty dark haired mom of 5, has begun what she promises will be an annual ritual, a barbeque/pool party/Independence Day party/birthday party. Her plan worked, their frankly gorgeous house now thronged with friends of all her kids, their relatives, and seemingly anyone who drove by.
We weren't mixers by nature, this family that wasn't. Kate was, of course- at her age, all you cared about was what fresh adventure the next 15 minutes would bring. You loved hard, and lost hard, and whatever you wanted, whether it was lunch or the toy truck that little boy was holding, you wanted it NOW. She was exhausting, but a refreshing reminder that every moment was important.
I heard Kate's wail instantly, a mix of pain and surprise and fear. Mom Mom told me I would get like this: before you're a parent, which I wasn't biologically but was in every other sense, every kid cry sounds alike. But when it's yours, you can hear it from a hundred yards. Kate had misjudged a wet, muddy corner, her sandaled feet sliding out from under her. She landed on one hip, sliding as if she were stealing second for a yard or so.
I resisted the urge to go to her, as I had been taught. Mom Mom's wisdom from raising two daughters was to wait and see if they could sort it out on their own. Sometimes the joy of play overcame the discomfort and they would pick up and move on as if nothing had happened. Kate saw me look, and that brought her to her feet and over towards me. She probably sees the chance for some free sympathy. I was willing to give it. Mom Mom had heard the cry, drinking white wine with the other parents on the deck. She caught my eye, seeing that I had it controlled, and returned to her conversation.
One sandal unbuckled, Kate made her way over to me, full cheeks red with sun and anger. I crouched onto one knee, like I was in an on deck circle, fingers reaching for her tiny shoe. Since her birth, I had more experience with buckles, bows, and straps than I ever had before.
"Unca Ray," she began. I was Uncle until she was old enough to understand the truth. "I falled."
"Yes, you did fall," I told her, fastening her shoe in place. "Are you okay?"
She climbed eagerly onto my knee, wrapping both arms around my neck. She sniffled once.
"Yeah. I think I OK." She untangled herself and dashed off to rejoin the fray. I stood up. My T shirt, a silkscreen of a photo with the longhaired, bearded, about to break up Beatles, had a stain of grass, water, and mud across George Harrison's face. I had long since given up the expectation that any clothes of mine would remain unmarked.
Angela had wandered off in search of teen company, leaving Emmeline standing there to look at me bemusedly.
"You're so good with her," she said softly. She always spoke softly, almost like she was trying to make sure you cared enough to listen. She had on a pretty patterned dress, light and airy in the July heat. She looked lovely, perfectly able to fit in with the other moms at the party. But she was my age and childless.
The other parents are your age, too, I told myself.
"Thanks," I said, not knowing how else to respond.
"It's nice that she has you. I don't understand it, but it's good for her. She loves you."
"I'm not sure I understand it either. But it's there." I couldn't say it any clearer.
"I can't help but envy her."
"Em, she's three."
"I know, but she owns you. You're always there for her." Her words were curling at the edges now. She was biting them off.
"I'm there for you, too."
"I just know where I rank, is what I'm saying." Emmeline walked towards the porch, her wineglass empty. I watched her walk.
I thought about the Beatles. "You say goodbye, and I say hello."
This is actually a sequel/continuation/postscript to my novel, which I haven't talked much about since its publication lo these many months ago. You don't need to have read it to get the story, although if you have read it, the characters and their relationships will be a lot clearer. (And should you want to, purchasing information is conveniently located on the sidebar.) But there's enough exposition here that you'll get the important parts, even if you haven't read it. (Which puts you in good company- 99.99% of the other life forms on planet Earth haven't read it, either.) (And, in the unlikely event you have read it, don't fret- there is a character in here who isn't in the novel. So you're not losing your memory.)
The story is called "Hello Goodbye"
It was a weird situation, but we liked it. I watched Kate run, thundering after a group of other wet, squirming preschoolers, following her with one eye while trying to stay focused on the conversation around me. It was just like they taught you in basketball- when you guard someone who doesn't have the ball, you follow the ball with one eye while following your opponent with the other. You get holistic- you try to take in the whole scene, trusting your instincts to tell you when it's time to focus.
I wasn't anything to Kate- not her father, though I was with her so often people assumed that. I didn't really mind- the truth was very hard to explain. Angela, her aunt, all legs and teenage awkwardness, was no relation to me whatsoever. Angela's mother, and Wendy's, who we all took to calling "Mom-Mom" because of her antipathy for "Grandmother", was also not my relative. But we were a family, a 20th century amalgam of those who loved this sweaty, bathing suited blond who was now involved in trying to catch the family dog, a friendly greyhound who put up with the little grabbing hands with equanimity.
One of Kate's "friends" (at 3, do you really have friends?) was born on July 4, which, I reflected, had to be a miserable time of year to be 9 months pregnant. So the girl, a pig tailed wonder named Grace, wound up losing her birthday amid the traditional pomp and circumstance. Grace's mom, a super competent, frighteningly pretty dark haired mom of 5, has begun what she promises will be an annual ritual, a barbeque/pool party/Independence Day party/birthday party. Her plan worked, their frankly gorgeous house now thronged with friends of all her kids, their relatives, and seemingly anyone who drove by.
We weren't mixers by nature, this family that wasn't. Kate was, of course- at her age, all you cared about was what fresh adventure the next 15 minutes would bring. You loved hard, and lost hard, and whatever you wanted, whether it was lunch or the toy truck that little boy was holding, you wanted it NOW. She was exhausting, but a refreshing reminder that every moment was important.
I heard Kate's wail instantly, a mix of pain and surprise and fear. Mom Mom told me I would get like this: before you're a parent, which I wasn't biologically but was in every other sense, every kid cry sounds alike. But when it's yours, you can hear it from a hundred yards. Kate had misjudged a wet, muddy corner, her sandaled feet sliding out from under her. She landed on one hip, sliding as if she were stealing second for a yard or so.
I resisted the urge to go to her, as I had been taught. Mom Mom's wisdom from raising two daughters was to wait and see if they could sort it out on their own. Sometimes the joy of play overcame the discomfort and they would pick up and move on as if nothing had happened. Kate saw me look, and that brought her to her feet and over towards me. She probably sees the chance for some free sympathy. I was willing to give it. Mom Mom had heard the cry, drinking white wine with the other parents on the deck. She caught my eye, seeing that I had it controlled, and returned to her conversation.
One sandal unbuckled, Kate made her way over to me, full cheeks red with sun and anger. I crouched onto one knee, like I was in an on deck circle, fingers reaching for her tiny shoe. Since her birth, I had more experience with buckles, bows, and straps than I ever had before.
"Unca Ray," she began. I was Uncle until she was old enough to understand the truth. "I falled."
"Yes, you did fall," I told her, fastening her shoe in place. "Are you okay?"
She climbed eagerly onto my knee, wrapping both arms around my neck. She sniffled once.
"Yeah. I think I OK." She untangled herself and dashed off to rejoin the fray. I stood up. My T shirt, a silkscreen of a photo with the longhaired, bearded, about to break up Beatles, had a stain of grass, water, and mud across George Harrison's face. I had long since given up the expectation that any clothes of mine would remain unmarked.
Angela had wandered off in search of teen company, leaving Emmeline standing there to look at me bemusedly.
"You're so good with her," she said softly. She always spoke softly, almost like she was trying to make sure you cared enough to listen. She had on a pretty patterned dress, light and airy in the July heat. She looked lovely, perfectly able to fit in with the other moms at the party. But she was my age and childless.
The other parents are your age, too, I told myself.
"Thanks," I said, not knowing how else to respond.
"It's nice that she has you. I don't understand it, but it's good for her. She loves you."
"I'm not sure I understand it either. But it's there." I couldn't say it any clearer.
"I can't help but envy her."
"Em, she's three."
"I know, but she owns you. You're always there for her." Her words were curling at the edges now. She was biting them off.
"I'm there for you, too."
"I just know where I rank, is what I'm saying." Emmeline walked towards the porch, her wineglass empty. I watched her walk.
I thought about the Beatles. "You say goodbye, and I say hello."
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