Procrastination is the mother of possibly good blog ideas
Both of my guys are asleep and I wish I was in that family bed with them but instead I’m up working on a freelance editing job. Or, I SHOULD be working on an editing job (and will get back to it shortly) but as you’ve probably noticed, I’m blogging instead.
Maybe I’m just tired, but I just had what seems like a great idea: Let’s write a story together!
I’ll get us started with an opening paragraph. Then you add anything from one line to a paragraph in the comments, and we’ll build the story like that in the order the comments come in. Feel free to add more comments to shape the story as it builds. I’ll probably pop up in the comments and do the same… Don’t think too hard on it, now. I’m just pulling the first paragraph unedited from a freewrite, so no need to be precious here. It’ll be fun.
Okay?
Okay.
Here’s our beginning:
“He stands, hipshot and hair in his eyes, sunlight slanting an angry slash across his shoulders. Arrow of light angling down, following the tilt of his shoulders, cracked sidewalk at his feet and the light disappears there. The ground eats the light and thereÂ’s just the rubble and the dirt and the cigarette butts playing around the toes of his boots. He stands like that, all hipshot and shaggy haired in that violent swatch of sun and he knows exactly what kind of picture heÂ’s making. “
Tag, folks. You’re it.
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Hell, he ought to know. He was a photographer, before.
Posted by: Amy
Hell, he ought to know. He was a photographer, before.
Posted by: Amy
But now, instead of taking the picture, he’s making it. He knows she’s watching so he’s posing for all he’s worth, the tension in his body belying his projected nonchalance. He lights another cigarette to keep his hands busy, flicking a quick glance at her from under the fringe of his unruly hair.
Posted by: stephanie
He felt very Casablanca; he was Humphrey Bogart narrating his story. She was Ingrid Bergman, a dame, a broad that walked into his gin joint. The smoke from his cigarette stung his eyes.
Posted by: KatieLiz
“Is this your pie?” he asked her.
Posted by: Nina
She icily flicked her eyes over to where he was standing – silently laughing – watching her clumsily replace the batteries in the light meter.
“I told you, you have to do that jiggling thing with the battery cover to keep it closed,” he said in that lazy voice he reserved for her when she was frustrated. “And that question about the pie isn’t a euphemism. I’ll eat my own shoe pretty soon if we don’t get moving.”
Posted by: heatherfeather
Oh, how she hated it when he was right. Grudgingly, she jiggled the battery cover. “Happy now?”
“As long as it works.”
She lifted the camera to her eye and squinted, focused. Damn, she hoped the camera caught the way the sun streaked the lock of hair that just brushed his eyebrow. Slowly, she pressed the shutter button, waiting for that fluttering click.
Posted by: Lissa
kerklick.
She loved the sound her old Roliflex made when the button was pressed. Her fingers gripped the sides of the camera, holding forever his pose within her palms, seeping his being into the grains and indents of her life lines, and taking his soul into hers.
Posted by: Alison
But now, instead of taking the picture, he’s making it. He knows she’s watching so he’s posing for all he’s worth, the tension in his body belying his projected nonchalance. He lights another cigarette to keep his hands busy, flicking a quick glance at her from under the fringe of his unruly hair.
Posted by: stephanie
He felt very Casablanca; he was Humphrey Bogart narrating his story. She was Ingrid Bergman, a dame, a broad that walked into his gin joint. The smoke from his cigarette stung his eyes.
Posted by: KatieLiz
“Is this your pie?” he asked her.
Posted by: Nina
She icily flicked her eyes over to where he was standing – silently laughing – watching her clumsily replace the batteries in the light meter.
“I told you, you have to do that jiggling thing with the battery cover to keep it closed,” he said in that lazy voice he reserved for her when she was frustrated. “And that question about the pie isn’t a euphemism. I’ll eat my own shoe pretty soon if we don’t get moving.”
Posted by: heatherfeather
Oh, how she hated it when he was right. Grudgingly, she jiggled the battery cover. “Happy now?”
“As long as it works.”
She lifted the camera to her eye and squinted, focused. Damn, she hoped the camera caught the way the sun streaked the lock of hair that just brushed his eyebrow. Slowly, she pressed the shutter button, waiting for that fluttering click.
Posted by: Lissa
kerklick.
She loved the sound her old Roliflex made when the button was pressed. Her fingers gripped the sides of the camera, holding forever his pose within her palms, seeping his being into the grains and indents of her life lines, and taking his soul into hers.
Posted by: Alison
“Alright now. Let’s get going.” he said, flipping his butt into the sidewalk. He strode over to the motorcycle to retrieved his helmet.
“Just let me get the camera packed up, Shane.” she answered.
He jingled the straps of the helmet impatiently.
Posted by: LaurieM
No addition to the story but I’m thoroughly enjoying it! Can’t wait to see where Shane and the photographer go next on that motorcycle;-)
Posted by: Mary
All around them, the dreary streaks of wet November made dark spills down the trunks of trees, the colors of autumn a blur as they took off, the intense and somehow frantic light raking out into long shadows on the pavement. The surroundings made her desparate. A thin tear streaked down her face. She had no answers.
Posted by: Ah Xia
Where would they go from here? Was she making the biggest mistake of her life, to stay, to live, to breathe with him?
Posted by: Elizabeth
She just knew that, while his waist was a hard, steady hold on the back of the speeding bike, she’d rather be feeling the vibrations of the pavement rising up through the handlebars. Rather be tensing her forearms from the effort of controlling the bike than tensing from the effort of controlling her emotions.
Besides she was a better driver, and her Honda Nighthawk — while smaller — was faster and more maneuvurable.
She needed all her agility around him. To keep from getting hurt again.
Posted by: Ginny
But its all a compromise, the Nighthawk or the man. Driving or riding, control or company. No easy decisions to make when the feel of him in front of her was worth giving up control. And she still had the camera, she still had control of the image, if not of reality.
Posted by: Linda
“Alright now. Let’s get going.” he said, flipping his butt into the sidewalk. He strode over to the motorcycle to retrieved his helmet.
“Just let me get the camera packed up, Shane.” she answered.
He jingled the straps of the helmet impatiently.
Posted by: LaurieM
No addition to the story but I’m thoroughly enjoying it! Can’t wait to see where Shane and the photographer go next on that motorcycle;-)
Posted by: Mary
All around them, the dreary streaks of wet November made dark spills down the trunks of trees, the colors of autumn a blur as they took off, the intense and somehow frantic light raking out into long shadows on the pavement. The surroundings made her desparate. A thin tear streaked down her face. She had no answers.
Posted by: Ah Xia
Where would they go from here? Was she making the biggest mistake of her life, to stay, to live, to breathe with him?
Posted by: Elizabeth
She just knew that, while his waist was a hard, steady hold on the back of the speeding bike, she’d rather be feeling the vibrations of the pavement rising up through the handlebars. Rather be tensing her forearms from the effort of controlling the bike than tensing from the effort of controlling her emotions.
Besides she was a better driver, and her Honda Nighthawk — while smaller — was faster and more maneuvurable.
She needed all her agility around him. To keep from getting hurt again.
Posted by: Ginny
But its all a compromise, the Nighthawk or the man. Driving or riding, control or company. No easy decisions to make when the feel of him in front of her was worth giving up control. And she still had the camera, she still had control of the image, if not of reality.
Posted by: Linda
“Shane……”, she said, her breath catching on the sob that was suddenly welling up inside her.
“Shane, I’m scared…will I ever see my children again?”
Posted by: Clare
But her question was swept away with the cold,wet wind that pushed against her like something alive. Just as well. He wasn’t a man who cared much for children. And she loved him for it.
Posted by: Lee
The photos were supposed to be way to clear the slate.
A fresh start for this new adventure that they had embarked upon. Together they were blindly jumping off a cliff into dark depths below.
She wasn’t sure who was going to hit the bottom first.
Posted by: Mary Beth
But now, the road streaming under their tires, she decided she didn’t care. Her children were old enough to take care of themselves, weren’t they? It’s not like they needed her any more. No, they had made that quite clear when they’d rebelled and run off, leaving her alone with her bike and her camera. Well, they’d get the real surprise, when they came back to find her gone. Gone after some adventure. Gone after some beauty. Gone after some love.
Posted by: –Deb
They’d told the man they’d meet him by the docks at three, and now they were running late. What would that mean, to be late to meet such a man? She allowed herself one more moment to wonder what the hell she’d gotten herself into, and then stuffed it down. Packed it away. No point in second-guessing now. They were on their way.
Posted by: cari
The man was there connection to this new life. He would take them and the bike to a new world one that she only dreamed of visiting. No one would know them there. They could start over…with a clean slate. She only hoped that her family would understand.
Posted by: Darci
*their…(in the first line)
Posted by: Darci
“Shane……”, she said, her breath catching on the sob that was suddenly welling up inside her.
“Shane, I’m scared…will I ever see my children again?”
Posted by: Clare
But her question was swept away with the cold,wet wind that pushed against her like something alive. Just as well. He wasn’t a man who cared much for children. And she loved him for it.
Posted by: Lee
The photos were supposed to be way to clear the slate.
A fresh start for this new adventure that they had embarked upon. Together they were blindly jumping off a cliff into dark depths below.
She wasn’t sure who was going to hit the bottom first.
Posted by: Mary Beth
But now, the road streaming under their tires, she decided she didn’t care. Her children were old enough to take care of themselves, weren’t they? It’s not like they needed her any more. No, they had made that quite clear when they’d rebelled and run off, leaving her alone with her bike and her camera. Well, they’d get the real surprise, when they came back to find her gone. Gone after some adventure. Gone after some beauty. Gone after some love.
Posted by: –Deb
They’d told the man they’d meet him by the docks at three, and now they were running late. What would that mean, to be late to meet such a man? She allowed herself one more moment to wonder what the hell she’d gotten herself into, and then stuffed it down. Packed it away. No point in second-guessing now. They were on their way.
Posted by: cari
The man was there connection to this new life. He would take them and the bike to a new world one that she only dreamed of visiting. No one would know them there. They could start over…with a clean slate. She only hoped that her family would understand.
Posted by: Darci
*their…(in the first line)
Posted by: Darci
They pulled into the lot at 3:15 to find Jack Manchenso tapping his black booted foot angrily, snarling around a thick, expensive cigar. He spat on the ground near Shane’s foot, and grunted, “What the hell took ya so long?”
Posted by: Marlena
Shane’s shoulders tensed as he looked Jack square in the eye. The air stood still as the two men sized each other up. The moment seemed to last forever only the thick cigar smoke moved floating carelessly away.
Posted by: Ilona
Evie fingers nervously toyed with the camera strap on her shoulder.
Jack’s eye swived towards her, and suddenly reached his yello stained fingers towards the Roliflex.
“No cameras!” he grunted harshly, yanking it away from her.
Posted by: Ah Xia
“Not my camera!” she cried. “Please, I won’t take any pictures. I understand, no pictures, just please, please, give me back my camera!”
It’s the only picture I have ever managed to take of Shane, she thought to herself, I can’t bear to lose it. It would be like losing him.
“No pictures!” Jack growled again, as he reluctantly handed the camera with its precious contents back to her.
“You got it, cowboy,” she said, as she tucked the Roliflex into her backpack.
Posted by: kmkat
The boat that Jack had waiting for them didn’t look like it could get out of the harbour, never mind tackle a long journey. Evie looked it over, the dirty hull, the rusty metalwork and the mildewed ropes and she had a sudden vision of them sinking to the bottom of the sea, smashed down by a terrific wave. She set her foot on the deck and it creaked. Evie looked at Shane, wondering if he was ever afraid of anything, but he was busy getting ready to load their secret cargo.
Posted by: Stephanie
Evie’s heart plummeted into her gut, leaving her heavy, scared, and questioning every decision that brought her to this moment.
Posted by: k
They pulled into the lot at 3:15 to find Jack Manchenso tapping his black booted foot angrily, snarling around a thick, expensive cigar. He spat on the ground near Shane’s foot, and grunted, “What the hell took ya so long?”
Posted by: Marlena
Shane’s shoulders tensed as he looked Jack square in the eye. The air stood still as the two men sized each other up. The moment seemed to last forever only the thick cigar smoke moved floating carelessly away.
Posted by: Ilona
Evie fingers nervously toyed with the camera strap on her shoulder.
Jack’s eye swived towards her, and suddenly reached his yello stained fingers towards the Roliflex.
“No cameras!” he grunted harshly, yanking it away from her.
Posted by: Ah Xia
“Not my camera!” she cried. “Please, I won’t take any pictures. I understand, no pictures, just please, please, give me back my camera!”
It’s the only picture I have ever managed to take of Shane, she thought to herself, I can’t bear to lose it. It would be like losing him.
“No pictures!” Jack growled again, as he reluctantly handed the camera with its precious contents back to her.
“You got it, cowboy,” she said, as she tucked the Roliflex into her backpack.
Posted by: kmkat
The boat that Jack had waiting for them didn’t look like it could get out of the harbour, never mind tackle a long journey. Evie looked it over, the dirty hull, the rusty metalwork and the mildewed ropes and she had a sudden vision of them sinking to the bottom of the sea, smashed down by a terrific wave. She set her foot on the deck and it creaked. Evie looked at Shane, wondering if he was ever afraid of anything, but he was busy getting ready to load their secret cargo.
Posted by: Stephanie
Evie’s heart plummeted into her gut, leaving her heavy, scared, and questioning every decision that brought her to this moment.
Posted by: k
She turned to inspect the boat more closely. It smelled funny, and not just from age and sea and mold. It had an acrid, mean smell, and it seemed to be seeping out of the hold.
Posted by: Sneaksleep
A weatherbeaten cat with one eye crawled up from below deck and perched on the rail. It growled at them, a low small bit of thunder.
Posted by: Lizbon
She turned around and Jack and Shane were having a conversation in low tones. Jack pushed two fingers towards Shane menacingly and he didn’t flinch away from their angry jab. When they felt her attentiveness, they both looked up and became silent.
So Shane has secrets, she told herself. I have secrets, too. In the pit of her stomach, she was not certain she could go on with this. But she felt herself swinging a leg over the side of the boat.
Posted by: Ah Xia
It reminded her of the cat she loved as an adolescent, at home in Indiana. For a brief moment, she was standing back in that barn where she first met Jack. The smell of the hay pierced her nostrils and she remembered Jack, as she had first laid eyes upon him, all sweaty as he worked.
Posted by: Natalie
>
Posted by: Jaimi
…insert hot sex scene flashback here…
Posted by: Jaimi
She stumbled onto the deck, then caught her balance as the cat jumped down and pressed against her ankles, purring loudly and staring up at her as if welcoming the presence of another female on board. Evie’d had little use for girlfriends in her life but she welcomed any companionship for the journey in addition to Shane and Jack.
Posted by: robin
She turned to inspect the boat more closely. It smelled funny, and not just from age and sea and mold. It had an acrid, mean smell, and it seemed to be seeping out of the hold.
Posted by: Sneaksleep
A weatherbeaten cat with one eye crawled up from below deck and perched on the rail. It growled at them, a low small bit of thunder.
Posted by: Lizbon
She turned around and Jack and Shane were having a conversation in low tones. Jack pushed two fingers towards Shane menacingly and he didn’t flinch away from their angry jab. When they felt her attentiveness, they both looked up and became silent.
So Shane has secrets, she told herself. I have secrets, too. In the pit of her stomach, she was not certain she could go on with this. But she felt herself swinging a leg over the side of the boat.
Posted by: Ah Xia
It reminded her of the cat she loved as an adolescent, at home in Indiana. For a brief moment, she was standing back in that barn where she first met Jack. The smell of the hay pierced her nostrils and she remembered Jack, as she had first laid eyes upon him, all sweaty as he worked.
Posted by: Natalie
>
Posted by: Jaimi
…insert hot sex scene flashback here…
Posted by: Jaimi
She stumbled onto the deck, then caught her balance as the cat jumped down and pressed against her ankles, purring loudly and staring up at her as if welcoming the presence of another female on board. Evie’d had little use for girlfriends in her life but she welcomed any companionship for the journey in addition to Shane and Jack.
Posted by: robin
She bent low to pet the cat, but her ears strained to catch the low words the men were speaking.
“Did you bring it?” asked Jack, his voice an ugly rasp.
“It’s in my bag.”
“Let me see it.”
“It’s there. You’ll have to wait.” Shane’s chin jerked in Evie’s direction.
Jack glared, the tip of his cigar an angry glow.
She could guess what Shane was carrying. She pulled her backpack straps tighter. They didnÂ’t know what she had, though.
Posted by: Rachael
Evie did her best to keep from rolling her eyes as she returned her attention to the tortoiseshell cat winding around her ankles. She had been on her own before; and while she had no nostalgia for her years of single motherhood, she would be damned if she would go fainting in Shane’s arms at the slightest hint of trouble. The boat hadn’t even left the harbor yet and he was already playing out his action hero fantasies.
“Does she have a name?” she asked, without looking up.
Posted by: Lyssa
“The cat?” Jack sneered “or his wife?”
Posted by: Jan
After a pause, his expression softened slightly. “Mandy”, Jack said gruffly. Evie suppressed a smile. Amanda was her daughter’s name. She decided to take that as a good omen.
Posted by: Kristy
Jack turned his attention back to Shane. “You’ll need to get going soon,” he said. “It’s getting dark.”
“Fine,” Shane replied, looking over at Evie with an expression she couldn’t quite read. Was he nervous?
Jack spoke again. “Like I said before, I need to be sure that you have it. I’m not a man of faith. I have to see it.”
“Fine,” Shane said again. He seemed distracted, and was still looking at Evie. Was there something he wanted her to do?
He finally looked back at the other man, this gruff and seedy character who was clearly in charge, at least for the moment. Jack crouched down and began to unzip the bag he’d been carrying.
Posted by: alison
Evie was overcome with curiosity. She ducked her head and tried to look sidelong into the bag while pretending to examine the cat.
Posted by: Ellen
She bent low to pet the cat, but her ears strained to catch the low words the men were speaking.
“Did you bring it?” asked Jack, his voice an ugly rasp.
“It’s in my bag.”
“Let me see it.”
“It’s there. You’ll have to wait.” Shane’s chin jerked in Evie’s direction.
Jack glared, the tip of his cigar an angry glow.
She could guess what Shane was carrying. She pulled her backpack straps tighter. They didnÂ’t know what she had, though.
Posted by: Rachael
Evie did her best to keep from rolling her eyes as she returned her attention to the tortoiseshell cat winding around her ankles. She had been on her own before; and while she had no nostalgia for her years of single motherhood, she would be damned if she would go fainting in Shane’s arms at the slightest hint of trouble. The boat hadn’t even left the harbor yet and he was already playing out his action hero fantasies.
“Does she have a name?” she asked, without looking up.
Posted by: Lyssa
“The cat?” Jack sneered “or his wife?”
Posted by: Jan
After a pause, his expression softened slightly. “Mandy”, Jack said gruffly. Evie suppressed a smile. Amanda was her daughter’s name. She decided to take that as a good omen.
Posted by: Kristy
Jack turned his attention back to Shane. “You’ll need to get going soon,” he said. “It’s getting dark.”
“Fine,” Shane replied, looking over at Evie with an expression she couldn’t quite read. Was he nervous?
Jack spoke again. “Like I said before, I need to be sure that you have it. I’m not a man of faith. I have to see it.”
“Fine,” Shane said again. He seemed distracted, and was still looking at Evie. Was there something he wanted her to do?
He finally looked back at the other man, this gruff and seedy character who was clearly in charge, at least for the moment. Jack crouched down and began to unzip the bag he’d been carrying.
Posted by: alison
Evie was overcome with curiosity. She ducked her head and tried to look sidelong into the bag while pretending to examine the cat.
Posted by: Ellen
But the two men were wise to her action, with one fluid motion the bag was open and shut; the contents unseen by Evie. She couldn’t imagine that Jack had been able to see much himself. But he liked what he saw, if the way he rocked back on his heels and smiled slyly meant anything.
Posted by: Ashley
Suddenly, Evie had another and not too distant memory, the night she first met Shane. That cold blustery night when they almost literally bumped into each other. He was carrying his camera equipment in a black leather satchel. He seemed to be in a hurry as he was exiting the Federal building after hours.
Posted by: Carol
He’d been alone then, too, wearing a long, black trenchcoat with the collar turned up around his neck.
“Excuse me,” he’d said, gruffly, after he’d nearly sent her sprawling to the sidewalk. He gripped her arm above her elbow, and she could feel the heat of his hand through her thin canvas jacket.
Posted by: Annie
My God, the electricity of that moment! Even now, months later, she could still recall it! No one had ever touched her so casually, but with such dynamic energy!
“‘scuse me, ma’am! Let me just help you up,” he drawled, the vestiges of a southern accent buried beneath non-descript urban tones.
Evie was shaking, by the time she regained her footing, as much from the contact as from the fall.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, as she straightened herself, a little primly. “I guess I was a little preoccupied. I didn’t see you coming!” What an understatement THAT was!
Posted by: Jo
“Maybe you won’t notice THIS, then!” he said, and with one hand he stuck something small and cold in her back pocket, while the other hand went behind her head. His lips lowered onto hers, his mouth hot and demanding.
She answered him. Oh, lord, did she answer him. In seconds, they were in the alley just around the corner, her mouth as hungry as his, their hands reaching, pulling. She couldn’t hear anything but sound of her blood rushing and his quickened breath. She wanted it. This wasn’t her. But she’d be this person, just for now.
It wasn’t until much later, when she was alone in her apartment, touching her swollen lips with fingers that still shook a little, that she remembered that he’d given her something else, along with the time of her life.
She hoped it was a phone number, a contact method of some sort. She checked her back pocket and
Posted by: Rachael
groaned in frustration. Whatever it was it was gone, dammit. As mamma used to say, curiosity always killed a cat and she’d never been one to let things lie. Grabbing her coat and winding on the handknitted scarf Cari had made for her birthday she took the stairs two at a time. Flinging open the front door the chill night air momentarily took her breath. Buttoning her coat she clattered down the path and,looking up, struggling to process what she saw, stopped dead at the pavement. What the hell was going on now?
Posted by: Eve
But the two men were wise to her action, with one fluid motion the bag was open and shut; the contents unseen by Evie. She couldn’t imagine that Jack had been able to see much himself. But he liked what he saw, if the way he rocked back on his heels and smiled slyly meant anything.
Posted by: Ashley
Suddenly, Evie had another and not too distant memory, the night she first met Shane. That cold blustery night when they almost literally bumped into each other. He was carrying his camera equipment in a black leather satchel. He seemed to be in a hurry as he was exiting the Federal building after hours.
Posted by: Carol
He’d been alone then, too, wearing a long, black trenchcoat with the collar turned up around his neck.
“Excuse me,” he’d said, gruffly, after he’d nearly sent her sprawling to the sidewalk. He gripped her arm above her elbow, and she could feel the heat of his hand through her thin canvas jacket.
Posted by: Annie
My God, the electricity of that moment! Even now, months later, she could still recall it! No one had ever touched her so casually, but with such dynamic energy!
“‘scuse me, ma’am! Let me just help you up,” he drawled, the vestiges of a southern accent buried beneath non-descript urban tones.
Evie was shaking, by the time she regained her footing, as much from the contact as from the fall.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, as she straightened herself, a little primly. “I guess I was a little preoccupied. I didn’t see you coming!” What an understatement THAT was!
Posted by: Jo
“Maybe you won’t notice THIS, then!” he said, and with one hand he stuck something small and cold in her back pocket, while the other hand went behind her head. His lips lowered onto hers, his mouth hot and demanding.
She answered him. Oh, lord, did she answer him. In seconds, they were in the alley just around the corner, her mouth as hungry as his, their hands reaching, pulling. She couldn’t hear anything but sound of her blood rushing and his quickened breath. She wanted it. This wasn’t her. But she’d be this person, just for now.
It wasn’t until much later, when she was alone in her apartment, touching her swollen lips with fingers that still shook a little, that she remembered that he’d given her something else, along with the time of her life.
She hoped it was a phone number, a contact method of some sort. She checked her back pocket and
Posted by: Rachael
groaned in frustration. Whatever it was it was gone, dammit. As mamma used to say, curiosity always killed a cat and she’d never been one to let things lie. Grabbing her coat and winding on the handknitted scarf Cari had made for her birthday she took the stairs two at a time. Flinging open the front door the chill night air momentarily took her breath. Buttoning her coat she clattered down the path and,looking up, struggling to process what she saw, stopped dead at the pavement. What the hell was going on now?
Posted by: Eve
The sad little strip of lawn that fronted her apartment building was entirely filled with reporters and photographers; some had even set up little tents, and an enterprising man was selling hot coffee and danishes from a little cart. As she descended the steps, flashbulbs popped and microphones were shoved in her face.
Voices shouted “How are you connected to Shane MaCallan?” “Where is he now?” “Are you on intimate terms with Mr. MaCallan?”
Evie tried to keep her head down and push her way through the crowd to her bike, but the questions brought a small-town blush up through her polished, urban front. She thought it best to say nothing; it wasn’t like she knew the answers to those questions anyway.
Posted by: Lyssa
She had fair warning, really. She’d known since that first day what kind of man she was getting involved with. So it doesn’t surprise her all that much now when he says, “Evie, you and Jack are gonna take a little boat ride.”
And then he winks at her and dives overboard.
Posted by: cari
What does surprise Evie, is that Shane took the bag and the mysterious contents that Jack and he had been so interested in before.
Posted by: Teresa
Evie looked over at Jack and tried not to let her apprehension show. He walked toward the boat, Evie noted a slight limp, and gingerly stepped over the side. Evie had been expecting him to stomp down the dock and leap into the boat, his sudden shyness made her uneasy. She didn’t like when she misjudged people and didn’t know what to expect.
“So,” Evie began, “We’re going to Dunstock Island, right?”
Jack nodded his head, shaking some greasy black hair over his eyes.
“Well then, let’s get started.”
Dunstock Island was about a half hour away. From Jack’s silence and the sudden disappearance of the cat, Evie had a feeling it would be a long ride. And make that a wet one; Evie felt a rain drop on her hand.
Posted by: Marlena
It was fitting that she was going to be out in the middle of this storm on a tiny boat. It was the most ironic metaphor for the way her life felt.
She turned her attention to Shane. “What did he mean when he said your wife,” she asked him.
Posted by: Kara
But Shane, swimming up the bank in sure strokes, either didn’t hear her or pretended not to.
Oh well. There are other fish in the sea, Evie thought to herself, though most of them don’t look quite that good leaving a room.
Jack’s gruff voice broke through her reverie.
“He doesn’t know about us. Shane thinks he arranged the whole thing.”
Posted by: lyssa
Evie thought about the expression Shane’s face would wear when he saw what waited him on the island. He might forgive her for having slept with Jack – after all, it happened a long time ago – but perhaps not for conspiring with his brother to trick him. She felt a queasy kind of nervous and focused on the watermarks splattering her boots to avoid throwing up.
Her cell phone vibrated a text announcement against her leg and she cursed as she read it.
“Jack ….
Posted by: Juno
The sad little strip of lawn that fronted her apartment building was entirely filled with reporters and photographers; some had even set up little tents, and an enterprising man was selling hot coffee and danishes from a little cart. As she descended the steps, flashbulbs popped and microphones were shoved in her face.
Voices shouted “How are you connected to Shane MaCallan?” “Where is he now?” “Are you on intimate terms with Mr. MaCallan?”
Evie tried to keep her head down and push her way through the crowd to her bike, but the questions brought a small-town blush up through her polished, urban front. She thought it best to say nothing; it wasn’t like she knew the answers to those questions anyway.
Posted by: Lyssa
She had fair warning, really. She’d known since that first day what kind of man she was getting involved with. So it doesn’t surprise her all that much now when he says, “Evie, you and Jack are gonna take a little boat ride.”
And then he winks at her and dives overboard.
Posted by: cari
What does surprise Evie, is that Shane took the bag and the mysterious contents that Jack and he had been so interested in before.
Posted by: Teresa
Evie looked over at Jack and tried not to let her apprehension show. He walked toward the boat, Evie noted a slight limp, and gingerly stepped over the side. Evie had been expecting him to stomp down the dock and leap into the boat, his sudden shyness made her uneasy. She didn’t like when she misjudged people and didn’t know what to expect.
“So,” Evie began, “We’re going to Dunstock Island, right?”
Jack nodded his head, shaking some greasy black hair over his eyes.
“Well then, let’s get started.”
Dunstock Island was about a half hour away. From Jack’s silence and the sudden disappearance of the cat, Evie had a feeling it would be a long ride. And make that a wet one; Evie felt a rain drop on her hand.
Posted by: Marlena
It was fitting that she was going to be out in the middle of this storm on a tiny boat. It was the most ironic metaphor for the way her life felt.
She turned her attention to Shane. “What did he mean when he said your wife,” she asked him.
Posted by: Kara
But Shane, swimming up the bank in sure strokes, either didn’t hear her or pretended not to.
Oh well. There are other fish in the sea, Evie thought to herself, though most of them don’t look quite that good leaving a room.
Jack’s gruff voice broke through her reverie.
“He doesn’t know about us. Shane thinks he arranged the whole thing.”
Posted by: lyssa
Evie thought about the expression Shane’s face would wear when he saw what waited him on the island. He might forgive her for having slept with Jack – after all, it happened a long time ago – but perhaps not for conspiring with his brother to trick him. She felt a queasy kind of nervous and focused on the watermarks splattering her boots to avoid throwing up.
Her cell phone vibrated a text announcement against her leg and she cursed as she read it.
“Jack ….
Posted by: Juno
The pulled up to the island. Evie’d been scanning the water so intently for signs of Shane that she hadn’t even noticed that Jack had steamed past the pier and pulled into a deserted-looking cove on the other side of the island.
“What are we doing here?” she said.
Jack grunted “You’ll see in a minute,” looking at the tiller, and the shore, and not at her.
When they pulled up to the beach, the first thing Evie saw was a skeleton, leaning up against a skinny palm, as if it had just sat down to have a pina colada.
Posted by: Lizbon
And wouldn’t a pina colada taste wonderful right now, she mused. She had a sudden urge to laugh, to touch the skeleton, to see if it was all real. She plunged her hands into the sand. The sharp grains and pebbles scratched her skin. She stared at the sky, swarming with sea-birds and the remnants of rain clouds.
She was tired of others dictating her life, her story.
She reached into her backpack and pulled out the gun. It shone sleekly in the salt-drenched air.
Posted by: Ah Xia
“Jack…I think it’s time that we have that talk now.”
She takes the gun out and points it at her partner. They’re going to re-negotiate things a little. Things need to be change for her and this is as good a way to get it done as any. She’s been fighting the battle with herself and this is the only way to ensure a future with Shane and keep her children safe. What had she gotten herself into all those many years ago?
She musses her hair, tears her blouse and reaches into the sand for the sharp piece of seashell she spotted when they came ashore to cut holes and into the knees of her slacks. She scratches her arms and chest.
“What the hell are you doing?” Jack exclaims in shock. “Are you crazy?”
She looks him square in the eye and steels her resolve. “Shane will never forgive me for killing his brother, unless I had no choice. I have to make it look like self defence.”
He tries to reason with her but she’s gone beyond reason.
“You tried to attack me when we got ashore, so I had to pull a gun on you. I only wanted to scare you, but you went wild and we faught over the gun, and it just went off. Or at least that’s what I’m going to say happened.” she said as she got him locked in her cross-hairs.
Posted by: Cambria W
The loudness of the blast surprised her. From the shocked look on Jack’s face it surprised him, too. He sank to his knees, slowly, and fell to the sand.
Blood made a sticky dark pool underneath him as it slid down to mingle with the foam at the water’s edge.
Evie threw the gun into the sea. She didn’t need it anymore. She didn’t need anyone anymore.
Gulls cried in the distance.
Posted by: Ah Xia
The tide was quickly coming in. Sickly pink Cosmopolitan mix colored water began to pool at her feet. All she needed now was the vodka to mix in it, she only half mused to herself. Thick clouds ominously formed in the foreboding sky. It was a new beginning; it was the end of an era.
Evie could tell it was going to be a dark and stormy night.
Posted by: patrice
Evie laughed. Manic high pitched cackles.
All this – for what? A marshmallow recipe? The boy’s mother would be spitting at them from her grave if she had ever conceived the family fortune would be sold off to Cadbury’s for nothing.
And here was Evie – playing the dead matriarch’s wish out precisely, and calmly, ensuring Jack never signed the papers.
Posted by: Alison
The pulled up to the island. Evie’d been scanning the water so intently for signs of Shane that she hadn’t even noticed that Jack had steamed past the pier and pulled into a deserted-looking cove on the other side of the island.
“What are we doing here?” she said.
Jack grunted “You’ll see in a minute,” looking at the tiller, and the shore, and not at her.
When they pulled up to the beach, the first thing Evie saw was a skeleton, leaning up against a skinny palm, as if it had just sat down to have a pina colada.
Posted by: Lizbon
And wouldn’t a pina colada taste wonderful right now, she mused. She had a sudden urge to laugh, to touch the skeleton, to see if it was all real. She plunged her hands into the sand. The sharp grains and pebbles scratched her skin. She stared at the sky, swarming with sea-birds and the remnants of rain clouds.
She was tired of others dictating her life, her story.
She reached into her backpack and pulled out the gun. It shone sleekly in the salt-drenched air.
Posted by: Ah Xia
“Jack…I think it’s time that we have that talk now.”
She takes the gun out and points it at her partner. They’re going to re-negotiate things a little. Things need to be change for her and this is as good a way to get it done as any. She’s been fighting the battle with herself and this is the only way to ensure a future with Shane and keep her children safe. What had she gotten herself into all those many years ago?
She musses her hair, tears her blouse and reaches into the sand for the sharp piece of seashell she spotted when they came ashore to cut holes and into the knees of her slacks. She scratches her arms and chest.
“What the hell are you doing?” Jack exclaims in shock. “Are you crazy?”
She looks him square in the eye and steels her resolve. “Shane will never forgive me for killing his brother, unless I had no choice. I have to make it look like self defence.”
He tries to reason with her but she’s gone beyond reason.
“You tried to attack me when we got ashore, so I had to pull a gun on you. I only wanted to scare you, but you went wild and we faught over the gun, and it just went off. Or at least that’s what I’m going to say happened.” she said as she got him locked in her cross-hairs.
Posted by: Cambria W
The loudness of the blast surprised her. From the shocked look on Jack’s face it surprised him, too. He sank to his knees, slowly, and fell to the sand.
Blood made a sticky dark pool underneath him as it slid down to mingle with the foam at the water’s edge.
Evie threw the gun into the sea. She didn’t need it anymore. She didn’t need anyone anymore.
Gulls cried in the distance.
Posted by: Ah Xia
The tide was quickly coming in. Sickly pink Cosmopolitan mix colored water began to pool at her feet. All she needed now was the vodka to mix in it, she only half mused to herself. Thick clouds ominously formed in the foreboding sky. It was a new beginning; it was the end of an era.
Evie could tell it was going to be a dark and stormy night.
Posted by: patrice
Evie laughed. Manic high pitched cackles.
All this – for what? A marshmallow recipe? The boy’s mother would be spitting at them from her grave if she had ever conceived the family fortune would be sold off to Cadbury’s for nothing.
And here was Evie – playing the dead matriarch’s wish out precisely, and calmly, ensuring Jack never signed the papers.
Posted by: Alison
Her hands shook as she scanned the frail sheets of paper torn from the exercise book the old woman had treasured.The writing was soft, brown, faded, so hard to decipher
When the hit came, it was like a clap of thunder. The soft beach sand had muffled the approach, and her own desperate efforts to make out the final two lines of ingredients made her deaf to anything outside that moment. The suddenly, she was hit amidships and sent sprawling, grasping, diving as the recipe flew out of her hand and into the stormy, wind thrashed air.
And behind her, an angry alpaca pawed the ground and began another furious charge
Posted by: lindsay
“Oh, for pity sake, Dexter,” she said, “cut it out this second! I don’t have any treats for you today.”
The alpaca halted in mid-charge, gaving her a quizzical look, and said, “But you promised…”
“Never mind,” she said, “Next time, okay? A whole carton of Cadbury eggs, all for you.”
“Well… all right,” the spoiled alpaca whined. “Remember I like the cherry ones best.”
This heartwarming exchange was suddenly interrupted by
Posted by: kmkat
Shane, who was drudging up the beach like a drowned rat.
“So, are you done shooting my brother yet?” he asked in a deadpan voice.
“I um, he um, attacked me…I had to do it!” Evie tried to keep her voice level.
“Whatever. I never really liked him anyhow, and it was awkward being with you, knowing that he was the father of your children. Now we can really start over, just the two of us.”
Dexter snorted rudely.
Posted by: lyssa
Her hands shook as she scanned the frail sheets of paper torn from the exercise book the old woman had treasured.The writing was soft, brown, faded, so hard to decipher
When the hit came, it was like a clap of thunder. The soft beach sand had muffled the approach, and her own desperate efforts to make out the final two lines of ingredients made her deaf to anything outside that moment. The suddenly, she was hit amidships and sent sprawling, grasping, diving as the recipe flew out of her hand and into the stormy, wind thrashed air.
And behind her, an angry alpaca pawed the ground and began another furious charge
Posted by: lindsay
“Oh, for pity sake, Dexter,” she said, “cut it out this second! I don’t have any treats for you today.”
The alpaca halted in mid-charge, gaving her a quizzical look, and said, “But you promised…”
“Never mind,” she said, “Next time, okay? A whole carton of Cadbury eggs, all for you.”
“Well… all right,” the spoiled alpaca whined. “Remember I like the cherry ones best.”
This heartwarming exchange was suddenly interrupted by
Posted by: kmkat
Shane, who was drudging up the beach like a drowned rat.
“So, are you done shooting my brother yet?” he asked in a deadpan voice.
“I um, he um, attacked me…I had to do it!” Evie tried to keep her voice level.
“Whatever. I never really liked him anyhow, and it was awkward being with you, knowing that he was the father of your children. Now we can really start over, just the two of us.”
Dexter snorted rudely.
Posted by: lyssa