Weekly Short Stories Contest and Company! discussion

Hello. I have been hoping to post something like this in long time! I will have on here many postings on many genres that will be in the obsessive style that is mine. (:P)

I hope that you will forgive the very first entries as they were the very first stories and articles I have put on here and some especially the short story is kind of strangely presented. But criticism is appreciated very much!

Plus of note: Not all of the stories are like this but I hope you don't mind a bit of preachy content as they are here and there but not everywhere.

Hope you enjoy!

First stories/etc written to be posted on GR:

The Glasses The China Perfect

Non-fiction but encouragement on writing:

To Write is to Expose the Soul (gone permanently)

A tough story (unfinished even after Creative Writing shut down):

A House is a House is a house

Another encouragement piece:

I Pass the 'Torch' of Inspiration (gone permanently)

Update: All of these are either gone permanently or are elsewhere since Goodreads shut down the Creative Writing section on this site. If you are wondering about seeing them again (or want to read them for the first time) let me know! There may be some exceptions to that though.

These ones might have been seen before but were posted on WSS in the past. They still exist on those threads but I think finding them on here in Creative Writing is slightly easier (and comment all you want on the section!)

The Cadaver:

The Cadaver. Can be found here on WSS.


This one will be "Familiar" to some: (:P)

Something Familiar. (Can now only be found here on the WSS.


A Summer Type of Story. Theme was "Summer Festival:"

The One Chance (look for "Summer Festival" here on WSS).


Warning a lot of unintentional "melodrama" in this one if I say so myself! haha.
~~',~<@ <3

The Rose of her Life (Can now only be found on WSS)

A thriller to vary it a little. Warning PG-13 for many things.

Arrived Without a Sound (Might be on the "Stork" week here on WSS).

Update Note: Unfortunately, a lot of work on here is either gone permanently or I will have to rustle it up on this group since Creative Writing has been shut down. I am happy for the latter but am still happy that if people want to see any other things I don't have the note of "permanently gone" on it I can tap into my memory and write just about the gist of the story if they want to know what those stories were about.

-----------------------------------
Posted originally 4/27/13

Title: What Undone Him

Over 500 words.

Nothing could escape from Jared. No person of the law would ever find anything about what he did.

He was so good at this "hobby" this side job, Jared sometimes wondered if he should quit his real job and do this thing "full-time."

Jared was an expert at scheming people. They were people and innocent people that he dealt with by simply despising. They were nothing to him and hating them would keep his drive on using the ones who were faceless to him. He liked being clever. He always found that he was a pro, if he said so himself.

Jared was sitting down on the couch in the living room looking through his book about mythology. He liked the gods somewhat but his favorite was more or less Hermes. The only thing he had trouble understanding was his tricking people out of good (he would rather do it to gain for himself). He discarded the book to the floor, its pages splayed and open somehow to Jared seeming like a gutted fish.

He got up to go into the kitchen for a drink when he forgot to tell his friend Frances he was safe.

He moved into the living room instead. He looked into the wood drawer for writing paper and a pen.

She knew about his schemes. As a matter of fact she had sometimes congratulated him for his deeds, the times he was able to accomplish something big like when he stole a swing-set, disassembled it and took certain parts of it to eventually give to the scrap yard on top of many other items that he "owned." And he somehow got a pretty penny for it (up to seventy-nine dollars for the whole lot! For scrap that was very hefty).

He did many other deeds that he would tell her about but the current one was a biggie. It was one he slyly never told a soul.

The cops were recently investigating the town of Media over this one but he, living all the way in Harrisburg, would never become a connection to it.

He went to the house deliberately having driven in a car that was different than the one he owned (he used Frances') and spoke to the owner of the house at the front door. The guy he had known lived alone and his two relatives, his sons would come by to take care of him. All this Jared knew reading simple pieces online on a social website. He hadn't even needed to friend them because it had all been defaulted to public information.

The man apparently had an eyesight problem and could not notice him clearly (the old man was developing cataracts, he had heard).

He told the guy he had to cut the man's bushes in the back and would willingly remove the branches that were sinking just above his lawn for a good deal.

The poor old man assumed it was her sons who had the guy come by because sometimes they would call people over his house to help him and they would pay for it.

"Did Ian and Everett call you here?"

"Yes they did, good sir. I believe they called it for the good deal that I offered them. It would be 20 percent off if they chose this week."

"That is wonderful. Take your time outside. Don't get caught by any brambles."

Jared thought it was the man who stood before him that was caught in a bramble but didn't want to say anything.

After less than an hour of pretending to cut foliage in the backyard but making the large hedge trimmers slice the air loud enough for the old man to hear, he came to the back door and knocked.

"I would like to have the payment now if your sons don't mind."

"Oh. Well they don't live here and they usually pay by their credit cards and such."

"Yes. They know that I use cash up front. Do you know if they are stopping by later? Perhaps they wanted to see you."

Jared knew the sons were not going to be near or visiting the house for the entire week.

"Well I could maybe pay for it myself since it got cheaper you said, right?"

He feigned a kind smile. "Yes."

"How much?"

Jared had quickly done the math. Made sure a percentage was taken from the fake, normal price.

"An easy four-hundred!"

The scheme was done. Though the plan had been done in plain broad daylight and there were some witnesses it was an area Jared was not familiar with and the thought that the deed was over gave him ill-gotten "joy" (well what he thought the feeling was anyway).

It was at the present that Jared felt he would tell the news to Frances.

He got out an envelope and filled it out.

His mind thought of how Frances used to share in the wealth of his schemes but was now becoming antsy. He wondered if she was simply finding it all strange as the time passed or becoming a word Jared was barely familiar with: guilty.

Jared would only know by this letter and had to tell her through it that the car would get to her in a couple days and famously said that he always kept his word (which was actually true).

He normally never gave away the place he did the deed but felt since it was her car she should at least know where her "old girl" had headed.

He sealed it and just as he saw it was 7:30 was off down the street to put the letter away in the mailbox.

The mail-person would come soon and he would have no way of getting the letter to quickly get to her as he liked to do.

He was back at his house when he thought again of something he normally thought of while writing to her but this time had somewhat skipped his mind.

Her similarity in her address to another one of that resident's police officer.

Frances was 4608 Garber Lane. The man was 7608 the same street.

Right when his behind landed on the couch he found a reason to spring back up again. He remembered that he mislabeled the address. He was off by one detail (anyone would guess which one...) and his jaw dropped.

He was pacing the room realizing he was helpless in it all. He had lost in the game. He had do something he hadn't done ever in his so called professional life. Lose.

His words but mostly his deeds had undone him. It was not just the letter that caused his downfall.

He realized he had to take the flack for all he had done to these people he once hated. It had all come back on him.

He was going to possibly go away for a long time. He knew there was no way to run as police always have their way of tracking people down even without evidence like this.

He finally sat down defeated and imagined that the sword of Damocles swung above his head. He slumped over in his chair and sighed, awaiting his fate.

*
--

Here is a section of poems just to note:

---
You may recognize this poem. ;)

The Power of a waking day

The power of a waking day
sets love and awakens the emotions
The darkness gives way
the twinkling across the horizon
gives an aura of hope and stay
that whispers into my heart
I cry. A beautiful way of knowing
Another day given- joy (!) forsaking gray
Alive. God has made it!

(5/31/13)
--

A personal one about a person I grieved over.

Are You Going to Be There? (might be permanently gone)


And now the macabre. Posted in October (could you guess?)

Death and the Alley (Found on WSS)

This section I want to devote to the sci-fi or fantasy genre. Please feel free to criticize for story, quality, whatever but be specific so that I know how to adjust it.

(Curr. Unfinished) Non-existent. Was on Creative Writing. Fantasy:

The Magic Only Few Know


Exists on WSS now since Creative Writing is gone. Sci-Fi:

Make the World a Better Place

-------


And NOW finally I want to place in this section stuff I hope to be fun for people to read. This is like the fantasy fiction section.

This is an all-out fun section where it is mostly fan-fiction but there may be a few other things hopefully in the future. Hope you enjoy. Comment if you want to give any criticisms in any of these sections!


People will hopefully like that you might have to be into a certain movie to really "get" it (like the Tremors movies) but it is all for good fun! It is like a direct sequel following events of the Tremors movies 1-3:

Tremors: Back in Traction (Only on WSS now)

(Note: An extra chapter in this piece will be devoted to how I wanted the story to originally end up leading toward but for time reasons I couldn't chance it!)

A special Note: Just to say this was written way before there was a release of a new sequel to Tremors so I have no idea if any ideas ended up similar to this one, lol!
---

Warning: Not for kiddies!
A sequel to The Faculty (and unfinished. How can I keep a consistent plot with this guys? I need advice!) I'd rate it borderline R for themes.
The Faculty 2 (Currently gone).

~~~


Check out this part. This is "Resident Evil: Apocalypse" but a partial re-imagining!
Resident Evil Apocalypse Redux (currently gone!)

Do you like the games or have seen the movies? Check this out 'cuz there's a ton following it in quite a while!

Just to note: The Glasses The China Perfect has the character Alison, a person I debuted on the thread, "Get to Know Your Character(Popcorn Served)."

Back on Message ... what, it's been that long!?... number 315. It was around 703 but there was a strange incident as a mod was hacked and her comments were all deleted. So just to show how active Al was (she's still a person I look up to with this group!) look at the difference between where my comment was and where it is now that her messages have vanished.

(It might be fun to read if you read my story beforehand).

Me: Hello, Alison.
Alison: Can't talk now I'm busy.
Me: Why what are you doing?
Alison: I can't talk. I have so many people coming tonight I have to think.
Me: Did you get plenty of good stuff?
Alison: Stop it!!! Quit it, you, I can't concentrate!! I must get this all done.
Me: Man. . . just shoot me down like a turkey!
Alison: The turkey?!!!!
Me; What?
Alison: You reminded me. . . @#$%. The turkey.
Me: What about it.
Alison: Please. . . about fifty or so people are coming.
Me: Okay. I'll just use this for a second. . . want some?
Alison: You're making something NOW?
Me: Uhhhh. . .
Alison: While I am in the kitchen I have stuff to do. . . you want to do that now? What is this some strange tradition.
Me:(Pause) Kind of. It happens in my family all the time.
Alison: Quiet.
Me: It's a phenomenon that happens to people in my family and not that are over my house. :P
Alison: Are you done?
Me: Not for three more minutes I'm not.
Alison: Just sit in the corner. . .
(I sit in the corner. She is probably hungry).
Microwave goes off. I run to it.
Alison: What now????
Me: Want some popcorn. . .?
Alison: (Pause) Is it all-natural. . .?
:D


Feel free to critique on here or wherever. I hope to edit it but haven't really gotten the chance so I don't mind all the help I can get.

Det. Mallard: Why haven't you told my story yet?
Me: Really? You want to tell your first tale?
Det. Mallard: Back when I was in my heyday. My second- to-first case.
Me: Yeah I know. It's been in development but it hasn't all been written down. Part of it's in the creative writing section "The Malevolent Spirit" but you gotta tell me all the info you know. Like a little piece of your biography! It has been started but, well... soon I guess.
Det. Mallard smiles.
Me: (Playful tone) You seem a little thrilled about that, don't you..?

--

==

~@>Here's another one pulled off the WSS. It's from the past so not everyone has seen it.

Title: Let Her Fall to Danger

Length: 2,733 words.<@~

==

To say she left a lot behind when they moved was an understatement. She felt when they went to a different state she left an entire life behind. To have to make a trekking journey from Pennsylvania all the way to Montana because her dad's lumber job was moved there was a huge strain on Josie. She at times felt like she was taken from gentle arms and almost literally put into a box and shipped away by UPS.

She did like the views in the Montana region however. She liked to look at the mountain ranges as her dad bumbled across the roads in his brown truck. The only chances she could get to glimpse the huge hills were the precious moments she stared out of the windows as they were driving.

Josie wished she could have seen more though. She knew how her dad felt about letting her get into "shenanigans" that were just beyond his eyesight. He was a loving father; she knew that quite well. Josie just felt that at nearly sixteen years old she should at least be trusted to go off on a fun adventure some time soon.

Josie dreamed of reaching those mountains. She could imagine the breezes on her skin and touching the bark on the trees that pointed straight to the sky. She wished she could head to places like Glacier National Park where Saint Mary Lake resided. She thought about this as she and her friend Darlene were just leaving school.

Josie was glad to have her friend Darlene. She helped her try to adjust going to her new school for three months and though she was still not used to it, Darlene was there to remind her to have a reason to keep coming there. While Josie was often afraid to talk to new people Darlene was always there to chat with her about the annoying classes, the dream of going to Glacier National Park (this was Darlene's idea that was put into Josie's mind fyi), and they could talk about boys.

"Do you think I should put my hair back when I come to school tomorrow?" Darlene said.
"Maybe. But I like your hair that way." said Josie.

Josie liked Darlene's appearance. She liked her blonde-ish hair and though she had a slightly pointed nose and a small overbite, Josie always thought she was really pretty. She sometimes even wished she had her blonde hair versus her brunette kind.

"Hey. Do you know Casey? He's the guy in Language Arts class. I think he likes you, Josie." Darlene said with a big smile on her face.
"Oh really?"
"I think you should hang out with him some time. I've caught him glancing at you, He did again today too!"
"Uh huh."
"You should bring him over your house."
"With my dad? He wouldn't even let him come four feet from our front door. My dad would not let that. Not one bit."
"Oh well. I tried."

Her dad was as tough on her as she could remember. He probably started being that way when she was about five, which was around the time her mom died. She didn't remember her mom very well but she had vague memories of her. Josie only guessed that when she passed away from cancer that was when her dad tightened the reigns. She felt she barely even had the chance to breathe let alone do anything that was not to her dad's approval.

They started heading off down a street.

"Hey. I have an idea that I've had for a while." said Darlene.
"Yeah?"
"I think that this weekend we should get together and go off in this area that I have always wanted to get to."
"Where is that?"
"I could show you Friday after school."
"Why not now?"
"Really?"
"Yeah. Why not?"
"Cool maybe we can just roast marshmallows and stuff."
"Yeah and I could bring my guitar and we could sing jolly tunes." Josie said with sarcasm.
Darlene laughed. "Well I could not bring the marshmallows. I do have a few bags of candy and stuff at my house. We can go off there and grab it."
"Sure. We could do that."

After they headed to Darlene's house for a quick stop they were off and started heading further down the street. Josie was thinking about the comment she made earlier. She knew her dad used to play guitar. One of her earliest memories she had was when she was probably a toddler and her dad would sit in the living room with her and strum the guitar. The nice soothing lilting song was cozy to her. She felt so relaxed and almost had a feeling of warmth. She felt like she was just in a kind world of safety, a womb where nothing could go wrong.

Josie had a later memory when she was probably ten or so. Her dad was playing the guitar and was playing a faster song. She watched his hands skillfully travel up and down the guitar neck, never missing a chord. That song had made her imagine someone running. Just running somewhere, anywhere just to feel the new rush of the day.

They were soon walking down a passageway that at an area where the road turned. Josie noticed that Darlene was walking to the guardrail before the road changed direction.

"It is beyond here." She said stepping over it.

Josie very carefully slipped a leg over the guardrail and then soon she was on the other side. They immediately started moving down a steep hill where their feet traveled faster than their minds could keep up. Josie almost slipped and plastered onto her face but she kept herself steady.

"We gotta keep going." said Darlene. She was lugging with her a backpack that was emptied of her books and homework and filled with gummy treats, apples, and a large flashlight that she had collected before she began this journey. Darlene was thinking of doing this for a week. It was fresh in her mind that she had to do this. She must do it.

They soon sloped up a small hill where they would then cross a field and then they saw the huge forest and the trees.

Josie for a moment thought of using her cell phone and calling her dad. Her hand went to her backpack behind her. Then she decided against it.

They were at the mouth of the forest when Josie felt regret she had brought her backpack along. She sighed.

"Ah, why did I bring my school stuff? I feel so stupid."
Darlene laughed. "Just take it off then."

The heavy backpack made a small thud in the grass.
"Oof. Wow that's heavy."

As they stared into the green abyss it looked like a wonder to them. They saw the verdant forest was lush with the greenest life Josie had ever seen. This small trip was worth it to her. She almost neglected Darlene who was heading further into the foliage.
"Wait for me Darlene!"

They headed over grassy knolls, witnessed young trees growing small but strong below the giant ones, and nearly missed the chance to witness a rabbit hole nearly invisible in the midst of all the plant life.
"Wow. This is great."
"Yeah." said Darlene.
"Do you think there are bears around here?"
"Probably. Don't know."

They saw in a small mound of dirt little tracks that just had to be deer.

"I don't think I want to leave this place." said Josie.

Before she realized it, Josie glanced at her watch and saw that they had been there for almost an hour.

"Wow. We have been spending a lot of time here."
"Yeah. Do you think your dad is worrying?"


Meanwhile at the house, the father of Josie was pacing back and forth.
"Where is she? She should have been here a while back. Come on."
He looked just outside the door. Should she ask the neighbors? Where would she be? It took her about fifteen minutes to get home but this was ridiculous!

After some hesitation he started heading down the street. He had no idea where he was going besides that he was going to go down the long narrow road that headed away from his house. Soon he was going towards a different street. He decided then to stop and call her cell phone. Nothing. Long rings but no answer. Could be ignoring the call or was something else afoot? He wasn't sure. He decided to start asking strangers if they saw his daughter. He got a lot of people who said they didn't see her. After a while he went down a new street. Soon he was chatting up a kid playing just outside of his driveway. He said he saw two girls heading down "that way." He had no idea where they were going. The info sounded usable. He started the trek towards the direction he said they were heading.


Darlene and Josie stopped at a small area that was open in the forest. Their feet rustled in the thick grass as they walked. Darlene put down her backpack near the place that they wanted to settle. Seeing Darlene's pack made Josie panic.

"I forgot my pack! I left it somewhere back there."
"Oh. Well, it'll turn up somewhere."
"My cell was in my pack."
"You probably can't call in this area anyway. I don't think there are any towers out here, as far as I know."
"Hmm. Well that's comforting."

Let Her Fall to Danger , cont...

After a while she forgot about the whole crisis and they started eating the gummy bears and gummy worms."
"Did you have to get gummy worms? It makes me think I'm gonna eat the real ones that are out here." said Josie.
Darlene laughed.

Josie looked up at the open sky. She could see the clouds had gathered together, building up and looking as if they would rain at any moment. Josie felt that they would never rain. She was used to this kind of weather in this town where it was cloudy all day and never wet.

The large flashlight settled upright and shot a glow upwards, disappearing just around the trees that were nearby.

They got up and started to move on.

"Ooh. I hope that we get to see something awesome soon." said Josie.
"Pretty soon probably. Let's keep heading this way."

They would soon head toward grounded branches. They had to carefully walk across them as a small tree had recently fallen and it stayed strong even as they treaded across it. It took more than another half hour before they spotted something that took their breath away. Darlene was ahead of Josie by a few feet. She saw Darlene stop and utter a "whoa." Josie pushed past her and they saw it.

The forest that they were just passing through was on top of a huge mountain and Josie saw that it was above even more beautiful greenery. Endless trees peppered the landscape and went below them and they saw thousands upon thousands of more trees. It was like a utopia of trees. They all just stood proudly in their enormous numbers. Josie stepped forward to take more in.

She didn't realize until it was too late that she had just stepped beyond a medium cliff. She tripped down it about eight feet and then tumbled into bare dirt. The shock of it all took Josie to adjust for a few minutes. Then she stood up. Aside a few small bruises Josie felt alright.
"Hey Josie! You okay?" called Darlene.
She stood up after she wobbled to her feet.
"Yeah. I guess."
"You just walked off a cliff!" she said and then laughed.
It made Josie feel injured though she was only a tad bruised.
"What are you laughing about? That's not funny. Like at all."
"I just-- I don't know. I didn't mean to laugh, I guess."
"Why did you let me fall?"
"I didn't mean to!"
"This is not cool. How can I get out of here?"
"I don't know I'll find something. I'll get you up here and we'll spend still have fun."
"I don't think this is fun at all..."
"Hey. Don't rain on my parade!" Darlene joked.
But the word rain sent Josie into a panic. She freaked out knowing that if it rained she would just slip around in mud and would never be able to get out.
"Help me get out of here!"
"I would if I could see you!" said Darlene. She leaned over and only saw brush maybe part of Josie's foot.
"Well I wouldn't be in this situation if you didn't take me here!"
"Hey don't start the blaming now."
"I never should have come."
"Well I never should have invited you."
"Fine."
Josie with more determination coupled with fear tried clawing up the cliff. The cliff went down in a slant. It was as climbable as it was full of loose rocks and roots. She cut her finger on one of them. The pain was as surprising as it was new to Josie. She had a clear straight cut down the length of her index finger. She went back to climbing.
"Why did you get me into this?!"
"Hey. You wanted to come here. Going here today was your idea."
"Oh. So now you are blaming me!" said Josie.
Just behind an area of forest near Darlene she could hear rustling. Something bigger than a rabbit was moving through an area just behind her. Darlene turned and felt hairs stand on her head.

She turned nearly screaming at her friend.
"Josie. Get up here! You can do it!"
After the third try, Darlene saw Josie scamper up the cliff and soon she was able to lean over and put out her arms. It was a million-to-one chance. Darlene leaned out into nothingness, Josie was able to grasp her hands, and Darlene pulled her up with sudden strength and soon leaned back as Josie found her footing at her level.
The rustling continued and soon the tall grass where the sound was coming from started to move.
"Josie. I am sorry for getting you out here. And I am sorry for getting mad at you."
"Sorry for yelling at you. Really though. You have no reason to apologize."
They rested for what seemed like more than a half hour. Just chatting and feeling so calm Darlene forgot about the sound from earlier.

A crunch of grass sent Darlene upward in a start and she turned, the forest then revealed Josie's dad who had a concerned look on his face.
After a moment her dad sighed then he gained composure to speak.
"Josie. What are you doing out here?"
"I just wanted to hang out here. I wanted to check out this place. Nothing more."
Then his voice had a panicked tone as he eyed his daughter's body.
"Why did you go here? What? Just look at you. You're all dirty. Did you hurt yourself?"
"A little."
He grabbed at her hand.
"Come with me. You never should have come out here."
Josie threw his hand aside. She suddenly fumed.
"I wanted to go out here, Dad. I wanted to breathe! You can't keep me in the house all the time you know."

She held up her hands. Part of her was wondering where all this power and anger was coming from but she had to make her point.
"You see these scratches...? Well these are my mistakes but I am glad that I made them! I am not five anymore, I'm sixteen! Why do you have to treat me like this?"
He paused. Then he looked at her: her hair was disheveled, the scratches on her hands one appeared to be actively bleeding, but he noted a look of something on her face. It looked like confidence. A small part of him was proud. There looked like there wasn't a hint of fear on her face. Her daughter had been growing.
He tried to speak up but his lip quivered. Then he started again. "I'm only concerned because I love you."
"Well I love you too, dad but you know I have to grow up."

Darlene was kicking a pretend rock on the ground and looking down at the grass. She then finally felt to confess.
"I am sorry Mr. Akers. It was my idea to go here."
After a moment, he looked at Darlene and nodded. It was okay.
"How did you find us, Dad?"
The father showed he was grasping Josie's backpack in his hand.
"I saw this here and figured you were in here. Then I heard a lot of yelling."
Darlene and Josie looked at each other and almost giggled.
The father eyed them both and then waved his hand.
"Let's all go home."
Josie chatted up her dad as they went.
"You know I fell down a cliff?"
"Really?"
"Yeah. I'm alright though."
"We saw some cool stuff. There was some huge trees back there. Just don't fall down the cliff there before you see it."
"Okay. Maybe I'll see that sometime."
Josie giggled. Then she thought of something else.
"You know this guy at school named Casey?"
"Who is that?"
"A guy at school. Can he hang out at our house sometime?"
The dad paused.
"Maybe. But only if I'm there. And he can't stay over."
Their feet rustled through the grass as they headed home, each an arm around another.

<@~End

Title: So Close, So Far Away

Length: Approx. 2,000 or so words

Jewel knew that the news she was going to break was all at once good and bad for them. When she stepped at her door and whipped out her keys she felt a hanging tension before she slipped it into her front door. The knob turned and she was home. Well, it was going to be her old home until the news anyway. She got a new apartment and was going to move out.

Living at the rowhouse was definitely an experience for her and her family. While Jewel had a more positive outlook on it all, she couldn't help but notice a growing disease spreading throughout the town (but especially on her block). A disease called bitterness and hatred.

The rowhouses meant that the neighbors lived so close yet so far away. No one ever directly talked to each other except if they had some juicy gossip that was going to make the subject they were speaking of look like trash.

The sad part was a good dose of the word that was spread came from Jewel's own mother. She didn't like to admit that her mother was that way but it was something that made Jewel ashamed of her family. Worse off it changed her brother who was once a sweet kid to everyone and she loved him for it. As she thought about him he started coming down the stairs.

"Hey big sis. You were gone for about two days. What's up?"

"Umm. Is mom home?"

"She won't be for about a few hours. Come on, you've always known that! You okay?"

"I must've just plain forgot." She did. She had slept over her friend's house while signing her papers from the landlord and making things final. Her friend lived not too far down the block from her precious new place. The wonderful place to finally call her own!

She wondered something. "Say... Rob. Do you ever think it's wrong the way Mom treats everyone around here?"

He laughed. "What do you mean?"

"The way she just... talks about everyone."

A scoff escaped his lips. "Are you serious?"

"Well yeah."

"Do you think you're better than mom?"

"No."

"Well I have noticed you have been getting all high and mighty lately."

And you have been bitter and hateful lately she thought but dare not speak it out loud.

"Mom just likes to talk to people and she is just I don't know, observant I guess." He went into the kitchen to heat up some leftover pizza.

"You know I wanted to eat down here but I think it would be too uncomfortable to eat around you. Just stay down here alone, Jenny."

Jewel knew when she hit a nerve with her brother Rob. He usually called her by her real name. It never really hurt her too much only this time it did because she realized she couldn't tell him her big news.

Maybe she could later that night.


It was nearing 9:30. Jewel had all the time in the world to tell her family. Well she felt she did anyway since she would officially move into the apartment about four months from the moment she was sitting at the small dining room table watching the small television. She couldn't help but feel that four weeks wasn't fast enough.

She was alone with her thoughts which wasn't good considering she kept thinking about all she was going to leave behind. She was leaving behind her family, as crazy as they seemed, and even walk off the very block her half-brother lived who was sired by her father's secret girlfriend which her mother liked to imagine none of them existed. But Jewel liked to at the very least say hi to her half-bro usually they were interrupted by shouting matches by her mother and he, which always drew a crowd.

She sighed. It seemed only the worst things supposedly brought her neighborhood together as a community. Black-outs, car accidents across the street, and arguments, all seemingly bringing with them some horrible gain that the people on the street wanted. She turned the television off.

She heard the jingling of keys at the front door. It was her Mom!

She jumped up and ran to the front door. Instead of a "hi" her mother freaked out and was startled.

"What in the world?! You scared me. Don't do that again."

"Uh. Nice to see you too."

"If you are waiting for me to give you allowance I can't give it for the next two weeks. Gotta build up some money for the rent."

"That's not why I am here. Can't I just be by the door to greet you?"

Her mother always used dark humor. "No." followed by a laugh.

"You know I don't take allowance. I'm twenty-two if you remember. I also have something to tell you."

"I knew there was something." she put down all of her belongings. The mere placing of them gave her mother a huge relief as if they were the biggest burdens of all, released from her fragile hands.

"It's not anything I want from you. And do you mind if Rob comes down. I want to tell him too."

"Okay?" She seemed to have little interest in what the subject actually was. Or at least Jewel's mother was good at hiding it. Her mother simply stood by the stairway and shouted up it.

"Rob. Get your behind down here!!"

They both could hear Rob throw his remote across his room as it almost cracked against the wall.

He thudded down the steps. "What Mom? I thought it wasn't the day to get groceries. Did you need help carrying them in or something? Oh."

"I wanted to tell you something and I want you both to know first that I love both of you and I did not make this decision to separate myself from you." At least I don't think so. " I made this decision because I needed to grow up and move on in my life."

"You moving out?" asked Rob.

"Yes."

"How?" asked her mom.

"I got a great job that is going to start this Wednesday. They guaranteed I will have it for at least a year and through that I can afford to have my own place and support myself. I will have to take the train to get to it from here but when I move out I will not be too far from it so heading there will be an easy trip after that."

Jewel's mother nodded and she could sense something was off. Jewel could sense that only her mother would find something awful in just about anything in life.

She could have praised her daughter for finding an affordable place and get a great job to help support it on her own but--

"So you've got a nice place all on your own, huh?" Jewel could hint a bit of jealousy in her voice. "You don't think this house is nice enough I guess."

"Are you serious, Mom? I have been living here for forever. It is time I finally grew up!"

"She probably doesn't want to be on this hellhole block. The people that live on here I mean." her brother chimed in.

"Now, Rob you of all people know that is not true. I actually liked being here."

"Why did you like the jerks that lived here?"

"Well I want to ask you both a question. What made them jerks?"

Rob immediately started counting on his fingers as he spoke. "First off, the place right next to us had dirty neighbors. They didn't even know how to put out their trash let alone clean even the front of their house. The people on our other side pretty much treated us like crap until we prayed they moved out."

"Question." Jewel interrupted. "What made them dislike us?"

"Because I called their son dirty, I know. So what?" said Rob.

"Don't you think you made them uncomfortable to be around us? Did you ever think that was why they treated us like that?"

Rob didn't know what to say. Crossing his arms in a huff he probably felt defeated.

Part II of So Close, So Far Away

"Well." Jewel's mother started. "They aren't as bad as that harlot down the street."

"You mean the mother of Sean your son?"

"Don't you ever say that, Jewel! I don't want his name ever uttered in this house!"

"I think out of all of the neighbors you treat him the worst! I don't get why you act like he is worse than an animal when he is innocent in all of this. Do you think he wanted to be in the situation he is in? You judge him so often as if you he wanted to be part of Dad's other family. Do you want us all to treat him as if he doesn't exist? I think that is cruel."

Soon the night was over. And the awkwardness that dinner was not.


The next day, Jewel woke up in her soon-to-not-be bedroom. She looked around at her pink painted walls and wondered why she had never put anything significant on the walls. No posters, no drawings, nothing that meant that she belonged there, that she mattered. She knew that she was going to soon. She headed downstairs, knowing that her bro had gone off to school just a couple of hours ago. She kind of felt like it was a little too tense to be around him again. She would feel comfortable soon she hoped.

Her mother had already headed off to work and Jewel couldn't help but notice a big paper haphazardly taped to the chair in the living room.

Jewel got close enough to read it and wished that she hadn't: In her mother's distinctive handwriting she saw scrawled IN CASE YOU LEAVE SOON I THINK YOU SHOULD KEEP YOUR BELONGINGS HERE. YOU WON'T NEED THEM AT YOUR FANCY APARTMENT ANYWAY.

Jewel couldn't help but feel she just received a slap across the face. She could somehow feel the heat.

Before her mother came back, Jewel headed out to see Sean down the street. Before she got to his door, Sean's blonde head popped out of the doorway and he was surprised she was standing near her. "Hey, Jewel. What's up? Anything new?"

She updated with him what was happening with her. "Darn. I can't believe you are leaving. You are the only one who I feel is making this place livable."

"That's not true, Sean. While my mom is not quite a ray of sunshine I am sure the other neighbors around here are not so bad."

"How can you tell? If a tourist came down this street they would think this place was a ghost town. No one ever steps out of their house around here unless they have to put out the mail or want to get hit by a car."

Jewel laughed. "That's not nice. No really you would be surprised what the people on this street do as hobbies. Everyone here is pretty awesome and I hope you will at least make an effort to get to know them."

"Well I will try, Jewel. Who knows maybe that will be the legacy you leave here. You will make people on this street make neighbors act like, well neighbors for once."

Jewel out of habit took off quickly to get back home. She knew that her mother somehow had radar and would track down the fact that Jewel had talked to the "b*stard son."


After that evening was filled with arguments with her mother and brother at the house, Jewel gave up. "You know what? I am glad that I am leaving in a month. All I need now is to have your bitterness and hatred rub off on me!"

"Oh really? Well let me tell you something, honey the world ain't such a world filled with only smiles and flowers."

"Yeah because you want it to be a world of horror!"

"Well did you know that Larson down the street is dating a young chick? Yeah didn't think that would happen huh? The guy is forty-nine and I woudn't be surprised if the girl was barely eighteen. How does that make you feel about the world? Doesn't feel so great doesn't it. Well in my opinion you should act like he doesn't exist. Give me that!"

Jewel tried to hide the fact that the thought of Larson upset her. She shook her head in a desperate swinging back and forth. "Stop it, stop it! I am going to bed!"

There was silence and Jewel noticed Rob was shocked at how upset Jewel was getting. He just stood there looking traumatized.

Right before Jewel went into her room for the last time, she turned around and shouted down the stairs: "Now I know the real reason Dad left you, you unbearable hag!" and slammed the door. Her voice sounded hoarse like she was destroying her vocal chords. She didn't care. In fact at the moment she didn't feel like she cared for anything.


The next day Jewel had bought a few duffel bags and whatever she was "allowed" to take with her as she headed downstairs to get the bus. It was nowhere close to the time for her new place to open up but she had it being at the house. She was going to live temporarily at her friend's house who lived nearby her new apartment. When she went down the stairs she was shocked to be given a squeezing hug by her seventeen year old brother. In tears he said, "Please Jewel. Don't leave!"

Jewel didn't know what to say. "I am going to get the bus and get out of here. I am sorry bro but she has gotten on my last nerve."

"But I don't know what to do."

"Move in with me."

"You know I can't do that. I am barely out of high school. I am still a junior."

"I know."

"Come on. I will do anything!"

"Anything huh? I've got an idea. Why don't you turn back into the old Rob I used to know. The one that was sweet and thought about others just because he felt like it. Why don't you talk to Sean also anytime you get the chance."

Rob gave a good thought about it. "Hmm. I guess I could. I never thought about that before."

She gave him a wink. "That's a good bro."

"Well I will miss you."

"Hey I will too. You can visit me all you want."

When she got outside her mother saw her on the sidewalk. She walked over to her and only spoke in small-talk like it was the only thing she could even do with family.

"You really leaving now?"

"Mm hmm."

"Okay." She gave her what she had apparently just bought from what looked like the Hallmark store.

"It's a going away gift. You can open it whenever you feel like it."

"Oh. Thanks mom."

"Yeah." she went inside. She was never a fan of hugs or affection.

The hardest thing Jewel would now face was not heading to her friends house rejecting her homeland, it was not the fact that she had uncertain days that she felt were fate at her new place, it was the new fear and anxiety felt as she heard a door open nearby her and a person she knew without turning around named Larson was getting out of his house. She used to always find the man kind of handsome. She sort of had a crush on him sometimes. But hearing his new dating habits changed her feelings toward him. To her, he had no longer been a good-looking guy who was a friendly kind of guy. He was what she never liked to call a "pig."

The feeling tore at her heart and started to break it. He spoke from behind her. "Hey. You're that girl Jewel right?"

She felt like not speaking to him. Her heart and the wave of anxiety that hung about her became too much and she just uttered a small squeak. "Yeah." It sounded not like her voice. It was too strange as if she had become another person. A weak person. A starting to get bitter person.

The bus came and stopped in front of her. She got on and as the bus passed her house, she somehow felt a piece of her had stayed behind with it. She still felt she could have belonged at that house. The neighborhood that lived so close to each other and at the same time so far away.

~~~~

A string of haiku's that are separate on the thread:

Dream catcher shines gold
Sun from the lowing dusk- she
sleeps by the window.

Day makes its good-bye
As the sky pierces crimson
swirls come to violet.

House darkened to night;
walls floors brought to sweet slumber
while watched by the moon

The night wrought only
crackling chirps of crickets and
intermittent "hoo"'s.

Originally Posted in 2012

Title: Rest In Chaos

Length: Approx. 1,800 words.

Norman thought he was heading to work for the old "same old, same old." He had served as a nurse for nearly a year at this psychiatric hospital and had seen many of the same kind of patients.

There were the patients that did not speak, the ones who would not stop, there were patients he saw that were kindly, gentle, and friendly. . . and then some others.

There were ones that he called "others" that Norman wondered why he should go to work some days, sometimes at all.

There were patients that Norman experienced like Jason.
He knew Jason was a patient at this hospital, he'd been there for a week and a half and Norman saw no improvement.

Jason would be seen lumbering about the halls at night, sometimes sitting on the floor if people did not pay attention to him. At times, he even scared and angered the other patients.

Jason was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He did not talk to the workers what was going on with him but the staff saw his many symptoms just by observing.

Norman was glad that there were other people dealing the patience to deal with this man since he probably would not have given him the day.

To Norman, Jason was an annoyance and he wanted the man to leave the place soon or, as secretly told some of the nurse staff "now, while it's appropriate."

Norman had seen many things growing up as he was nearing fifty-eight and seen cruel treatments like shock therapy and procedures done to their brains that some would wonder if the patients were thought of as human at all.

Norman was not that type of person. He would not treat another human in such a way (and it had been a long time that people were given such treatments). He was just one who could not take patients that tested his during his time at the shift.

Norman headed to the elevator with his coffee firmly grasped in hand. The receptionist spotted him.

"Good ol' Norman. Anything new getting to you these days?"
"I take them as I see them." Norman laughed. The doors closed.

When they opened, Norman opened his eyes to what they might dread to see. What they saw wasn't too bad. A few patients treading by him and some of the people at the desk who didn't seem too stressed out.

He went down to the Nurse Office.

He saw Latisha. She gave him a big smile.

"The patients got up early this morning. What is it, 6:30?" said Norman.
"Yeah. You gotta love them for that though." she gave a little giggle.
"That is your opinion." he smiled. He always found her attitude interesting.

Then the other nurses on the shift saw him.

"We gotta check their vitals soon." said Rob.
"Yeah. I guess you can do Jason, Norman." joked Samuel.

Samuel always felt like ribbing Norman about the patient. It was that and the fact that he liked to also give patients to others, taking any responsibility from his own job. Samuel was young.

Eventually Norman got Jason to come out of his room. He walked in cautious steps. Latisha was nearby, at the chair to console Jason and possibly Norman in case the patient got out of hand.

Jason sat at his chair and Norman did the normal routine that he did to all of his patients. He checked his blood pressure, his pulse, all while keeping the patient's mouth away from his face, just in case of keeping any incidental saliva, vomit, or anything else that would happen to fly his way.

Norman decided to chat with him.

"You okay there?"
"Sometimes."
"You know you can say that you feel good. It won't hurt you to have a positive outlook on life."
Jason was silent after Norman's comment.
"Look who's talking?!" said Latisha.

Norman smiled. He felt only she could get away with that in this building.

The patients were watching television when Rob decided to tell Norman of the news.

"Did you know that there are going to be a string of storms this week?"
"No. I don't keep track of that."
"They said that they were going to come in a pattern. It's kinda strange. One after the other."
"Lightning? That won't bother me much."
"Oh I have a strange feeling it will. Don't ask me how."

He walked away. Then Norman just shrugged, continued to lean on the wall and watch the movies with the patients.

It headed into the evening. Everyone seemed worn out including the ones who weren't being paid to be in the hospital.

Jason turned to Latisha.

"Could you get my notebook in my room for me?"
"You can get it yourself!"

Jason got up and went into the other hall to his room.

"Sheesh." said Latisha then she laughed.
"How can you handle that?" asked Norman.
"What. That? He is just a guy here. He needs treatment just like everyone else."
"But I just don't get what his problems are. Is he ever going to find his marbles or what?"
"Shh." she smiled a huge smile that meant, 'are you serious?' and then she whispered. "Why are you saying that? This guy needs to get better here. And he needs help just like anyone of us. And he needs the love of God."

"Uh huh." said Norman.

A couple of days later when the first lightning storm came, Rob talked to Norman.

"Where is Jason? He isn't with the others." said Norman.
"He is in his room."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah. He is in his boots, laying on the bed. Just looking straight at the ceiling."
"What? Why isn't anyone going in there?"
"He's okay, Norman. He is just resting in there. He isn't hurting anybody."
"But what in the world is he doing?"
Rob shrugged.
"Just leave him be."
That was that. Norman didn't know what to do but stay in the hallway until his shift was up.

It was a couple of days later. Norman was in the staff room holding a cookie. He wasn't really hungry. "I got the vitals done and took Jason's blood for a test. I don't know why but I have been feeling antsy lately."
"You've got to not be so riled up. I saw that you have been getting a little irritable lately. Are you okay?"
"I don't know. I guess I just feel I have lost the reason to do what I do here."
"Well I believe that you still have a reason to do what you do. I think there is still something left in you that is keeping you here."
"I guess so."

It was later that night that Samuel approached Norman.
"You okay, buddy?"
"Yeah. Just thinking."
"Oh. Well I hope you buck up whatever it is."

They then watched as Jason went by them and went to his room. He had his boots on. He tied them in the hallway and soon was plopped on his bed. Norman heard a cautious creak and then silence.
"Never before have I met such a character."
"Yeah you have, Norman. I am sure you have. You just have to understand that there is more to life than just trying to figure everything out. There are still life's mysteries."

Norman grunted.

"What makes me admire you though." said Samuel. "Is how much you work at something you don't understand. You seem to like a challenge whether you admit it or not. It makes me try harder at my job."
"Thanks Samuel. I appreciate that."

After about four more days, another storm came. But that wasn't before Jason's lab work came back concerning his blood test.

The doctor was telling Norman the results.

"He is doing better. He just needs to get out of this place soon and go on with his life. Get active. The nurses say that he is not as in his head as he was a week before. We will be able to release him soon."
"Well that is good." Norman said. It was good that he finally heard something good come about Jason. And at least Norman didn't have to see him again.

He told Latisha the news in confidence.

"You say you are glad he is leaving? What exactly do you mean by that?"
"I mean that I am. . . proud of him." Norman tried to say. He knew that it wasn't the truth though.
"Don't you treat people with that kind of attitude Norman. You know better than that. Why don't you talk to him before he has to leave. Encourage him."
Norman shrugged figuring it would hurt no one.

That night, a half hour of a storm came rolling over the sky. The outside flashed, sending the earth into a shudder until the rumbling died away from ear shot only to return as Norman knew it.

---

He slumbered into Jason's room. He almost felt a little afraid. But he saw Jason with his eyes straight up to the ceiling, staring into the storm as if he was resting in the midst of the chaos just outside. He noticed how far his shoes sunk into the bed he was in, barely tied.

Norman noticed he had his hand slightly to the side. He was grasping air.

"Jason. You okay?"
"More than ever."
"Hmm."
He just stood in the room with him, the awkwardness only broken up periodically by the "angels bowling."
"I heard you are making progress."
"Uh huh."
After a while Norman just jumped to what he was wondering.
"Why are you sitting there like that, eh, Jason?"
"I am just taking it all in. I used to be afraid of the storm. I used to be scared of the craziness going on all over. I know that my heart is at peace because of the one who calms me. I just feel like I am in the midst of chaos."

Norman continued to listen.

"And I feel like I am holding God's hand, riding out the storm."

Norman never heard more profound words come from a patient like that one night. He felt like he had a kinship with him, there was now a special thing that gave Norman a piece of understanding what kind of person Jason was, what anyone was.

Norman left that room and soon he would see Jason leave.

Norman wished he would one day find that peace.
Norman would love to one day be in the midst of that chaos of the day to day. But ride out the storm.

What I mainly like to write about are us as humanity and its flawed condition. We ALL go through so much in life don't always have the words or the know-how to carry on and so sometimes we depend on others or a greater power to survive.

I'm slowly learning about "Harvest Day" and trying to shed off October's normal festivities (if you can call it that, haha!!) but...

Here is a link to a story for fun to mark the scary events of this occasion:


A fan-fiction I hope you risk to check out!


Unless you are too scared....? Mwahahahaha!


Find out what it's called:

It was just an opening scene idea to Scream 5. (almost non-existent).

Hint! (view spoiler)[Do you like scary movies...? (hide spoiler)]
---

Press above.

Speaking of crazy, here is another thriller:

Check this out, a tale that was originally going to be a Mallard case (and his debut) with unfortunate already-occurred happenings but since they were all based on real people I felt guilty having the turnout that way.

Re-working it I then posted it at first aiming for the "Twisted Infatuation" thread I then found inspiration for a surprise beginning with a veiled twist since the following thread was "Amnesia."

Hope you enjoy...

//-----~~~~~~-----\\

Vanish

When I came to I was in a small pool of drool with my face stuck to the rough, carpet floor. Picking my dry tongue off of it I panicked for a moment in wondering where on earth I was. It dawned on me that I was in queer perspective, wanting to know really who I myself was, who anyone there was. All I knew was that I was in someone's bedroom and must have tripped and struck the floor. I put a hand to my face and winced. Ahh. Definitely felt a bruise.

I scanned around and after a the haze faded, images came and the bout of amnesia had ceased. Knowing then who I was quickly dragging my feet quietly in the place of the bedroom. I was Josephine Hyacinthe Allen, 36 years old, dating and living with Rhett Borshevitz who was barely 19.

I knew what many people felt about that. They didn't even have to care about it or have known; I didn't care about the huge age difference as love seemed all that mattered.

I was desperate to find the time as his digital clock was almost always somewhere on the floor and never in one place two days in a row. I pulled it up by the cord.

7:38 PM

His mother was not going to be home for a while and a sigh of relief made a squeak as it poured from my lungs.

Still hadn't quite understood why I had fallen though. 'Twas a good thing it had happened there and not where his mom would have found out. Also I hoped she would not know I had been living there for almost a year!

Rhett's father didn't seem to mind. And Sam (his real name is Xander or Xer but he preferred Sam) his brother seemed less or more indifferent about the matter.

Though I knew I was an hour away from running into Rhett's mother I still was unsure whether I could go downstairs or not. I heard some very animated banter downstairs and I couldn't understand if it was Rhett being either angry or frustrated. It seemed the father was the other one speaking.

Then I heard someone say, "Just don't do it again. Do what I say next time." I could have pondered the statement but was alarmed by the rushing open of the door in front of me.

It was Rhett. He looked like he was caught in headlights. Then he smiled. "Hey. You alright?"

"Yeah. I don't know what happened."

He immediately sat me on the bed. "I hope you don't have some kind of concussion."

"No. I'm okay."

"Well I could bring you up some ice if you want."

I wondered for a horrid moment if I had my lights knocked out. I gasped! I couldn't help it.

"Did I fall down earlier or--?"

"I will tell you but if you want let's get out of the house for a little while. You and me. Go to that nice diner. I saved up enough money from my allowance."

"That--- sounds nice."

The father appeared at the door. I felt very unnerved by him. He seemed to be becoming more hostile, especially these past few weeks for some reason.

"You going out?"

"Yeah. With Josie."

The father huffed a noise that almost sounded of disappointment.

"Well try to get back around 8 or so. Your mother will be back and I don't want Josie running around out in the cold by her lonesome."

"I know, Dad."

"I know that she has her own responsibilities and such but I know she doesn't like waiting outside in the cold and have to get back in the house around 5:00 in the morning."

"Okay."

He walked out of the room. I couldn't help but notice that Rhett was almost as relieved as I was that he left the room.


We went out to the nice diner far down the road. We each had a chocolate milkshake and shared a small plate of cheese fries. I had a few of the potato wedges in my mouth when Rhett asked a question.

"What did you want to talk about?"

I tried to speak shielding my mouth but not many words came out. It made us both giggle.

I gulped.

"Did I bump into something earlier tonight?"

"Yeah. I should try to be more careful."

"Uh huh. What your many brick-a-bracks that you leave lying around finally caught me? It's so crazy how little your room is. Nothing can fit in there."

I would have known this space. The "bed" was a mattress on the floor. And the only other luxury it had was a clothing drawer he kept since he was a young child. That and the portable CD player that quit working. And if the lamp he had in there was any larger the room would have exploded!

I changed the chat to something I was wondering about for a little while. His dad.

"Is your dad okay? I know that he in the process of retiring but he has been uppity lately."

"Yeah he has been doing okay."

"Has he gotten stresses that are bothering him?"

"Yeah. Just a few. You know he has trouble getting along with Mom and all."

"Oh yeah. The Fuhrer."

I would never say nice things about his mother but she started it. When I was just visiting Rhett she would stare daggers at me, trying to yearn me to leave.

It had worked. Just now it wasn't anymore ever since I had been living with Rhett under her nose.

It seemed like she would make orders about everything. Then when those demands were met she would still bark more things at everyone about things that needed to be done around the house. It would not end for Rhett or anyone else there.

Yet living with Rhett and the family has been mostly a wonderful blessing. The days of being there gave me a place to stay when I was basically homeless. When I met Rhett I felt that I had stumbled upon a wonderful chance to be with someone even sometimes secretly made the relationship even more intimate.
"I was just wondering. Don't you want to go to college? Have a future?"

"I did."

"What happened to that?"

"Well college is probably really hard."

"You didn't say that about a year ago."

"Well I don't know what to do with my life."

"Uh huh."

"And besides that you would always try to talk me out of having jobs because you didn't want to be alone in the house when my mom was around."

"Well I--"

I didn't know what to say. I guess I could let him have a job and one day have some kind of future.

The fries started to taste like they had somehow become soggy.

---

When we got home we timed it like crazy. It was slightly late (after 8:00) but after I got some of my clothes from the back of the house, I managed to rush getting clean clothes, a minute shower, and was off to bed. As soon as the door to Rhett's room closed the front door opened in the floor below us.

The mother was home. And she sounded like she was bringing hell with her. Rhett's dad was mostly silent and was quickly accused of never listening to her. I decided to break out a U2 CD and listen to it on the portable CD player. I forgot it didn't work though. I was sort of glad I didn't listen to that particular disc since a track on that album went "You got stuck in a moment and now you can't get out of it."

I wanted to sleep while there was yelling throughout the house that night.

It became the next day. Drowsy with a headache I couldn't help but find no reason to focus on the light sun glimmering into the window.
Though the night before was a little rough I had a reason to be glad this time. I heard for a little while news that the mother would possibly have jury duty and that she might have time away from the house. She could take an extended time away from the house. If the trial would have to go on she would have to take a few days off from work. This was music to my ears.

I got up and looked at Rhett while he was sleeping. I loved him but I felt he was a sad common thing with the generation of males these days. The uncommitted young man. The men that would graduate from high school and prefer staying at home with their parents and living off of them with undecided fates, the many the growing amount of people with no future, no jobs, and happy with it all anyway.
I couldn't help but wonder if there was something hindering him from actually living a good life. It couldn't be that he needed a huge bit of encouragement.

Me, I sometimes wondered what I was doing with some guy that I was living that had no bills, taking temporary working part-time jobs, with just not having even a glimmer of light of a future. I felt I was set on just living life. It did kind of matter who I spent it with. I knew that living here was kind of a last situation type of deal but I was mostly happy about it. Happy since I could spend it with my dreamy boyfriend. We were like there was no one else, not even his dad.

But for that moment I wondered if both my and Rhett's dreams had flown out the window. Just gone away and vanished while we both thought, "that is okay. I could still live with this."

Was this a wonderful way to live? Could we just simply "live" with this?

Vanish- Part- II

I was soon downstairs making our meals in the microwave. Ready-to-heat meals were my "specialty" (haha). I knew I was never a cook but had no reason to as Rhett felt food was food. He wouldn't mind eating anything and sometimes he would half-heartedly throw some food on the grill. And he was a fair cook. Not very notable but passable.

Rhett's mother was off earlier headed to the courts, her time of leaving was much earlier than when she went out the door for work. This brought such seeming joy to me and I am sure Rhett as well.

"Do you want to watch a DVD today, or maybe tonight on the t.v. down here?"
"Uhh. Sure I guess. I was kind of hoping that we could spend some time going outside and going places."
"Why do you want to keep going out? Your mother won't be at home this time and start her usual ruckus."

Rhett sighed. I couldn't tell if he was thinking about his mother or that he wanted me to not talk that way about her. He would never tell me. Was he guilty about something? Or not but since she was the possible case I felt there was no reason to stop telling it like she was.

"I don't know. I feel that maybe we could go to McDonalds or something."
"But you don't have your allowance till the end of the week! You know I think we could just have some nice movie time. Watch a thriller and just get cozy. Then we can go out later and take off somewhere."
"I thought you don't like being here at home all the time."
"That is when your mother is here. I don't like spending so much time out there. I lived out there for too long. Come on your dad won't mind."
"Yeah he won't. It's just he-- I think it is better if we could maybe give this house some breathing room." I shrugged at the statement.

And while I got just a tiny hint that he was not telling the whole truth but I knew if I questioned him on it he wouldn't answer like he always seemed to do.
In the afternoon, 'Sam,' Rhett's brother got home. We were watching television as he appeared at the front door, covered in crusted-over cement and dirt.

"Hey Sam." I said.
"Uh, hi." He looked more down than ever. He knew that working odd jobs doing concrete for some measly pay was work but not the kind of work he wanted. He seemed more drawn out not being able to do much around the house. I could tell really often he hated having little to no job and looked like he didn't get much rest.

"Could I go on the computer? I want to look for some jobs I could pick up on Craigslist."
"Yeah sure." said his younger bro Rhett.
I jumped up. "Oh wait. I left it on the website I went on earlier and I have to get off of that so you can do that."
"Oh." said Sam. "Well I could just heat up the meal that I kept in the fridge from yesterday." He went over to the microwave. "Uhh. Josie."
I forgot I left my half-eaten meal in the oven! "Whoops. You can just take that out. I don't want it anyway. I will probably throw it in the trash later."
Sam gave a big laugh. I couldn't tell if it was a sincere one or just a "I can't believe all of this" kind of one.
"Sorry." I said.

I moved it out of the way.
"Do you want to watch any movies with us later?"

Sam gave a grateful smile. "Well maybe. I just don't know if I could do it today. Maybe tomorrow or something I guess. You know my dad's food ain't free just to warn you."
Rhett threw his say into the matter. "Uh Josie. The 'us' movie night I did not guarantee. I might not watch a movie tonight. I want to head out tonight. You and Sam could watch something tonight."
"Yeah Rhett but I'm beat." hearing Sam's passive tone made me wonder if he liked me if not a friend an occupant of the house.

He continued. "And I don't wanna just sit up and watch something if I might snore in the middle of the film."
"Okay." I said. "That's fine."

Such a weird day. I had all the time in the world to leisure and relax and I had nobody to do it with. Had I known it would get so much worse I would have just counted those as mere blessings.

---

The night was different than any usual other. First off, my boyfriend headed out saying he would be back. He looked a tad worried for me which I thought was very sweet. I watched Red-Eye with Cillian Murphy. And I loved to see Rachel McAdams. I bet though scant shots showed them her thighs were probably perfect. Though everyone said I was always skinny as a rail I felt the opposite. I felt my upper legs were not in anyway slim.

The front door opened. I couldn't help but bear a feeling of anxiety when Rhett's dad walked in. I tried not to show it.

"Hi Mr. Borshevitz." I mustered.

"Hello Josie."

He moved and stood right behind the recliner I was sunk into and he stared at the screen.

"What's this?"

"Just watching a movie. A thriller. I think Wes Craven directed it."

"Oh. I saw some of his stuff years ago. This looks like a Hitchcockian film."

"Yeah. That's true." I smiled. I didn't think that he knew the term 'Hitchcockian' but I bet he did. I didn't realize I had become more calm. I decided as he headed into the kitchen that I would pull the recliner out of the way and sit in the worn out couch against the wall of the living room. I plopped into the worn but somehow nice cushions.
I could smell after a while he was smoking sausages in the other room. Then he came out with a generous bowl of chilli and a few sausages cooked well and seared from the pan. He sat onto the couch next to me. He was about to chow down when he looked over at me.
"Oh. I'm sorry. Did you want any?"

"No. That's okay Mr. Borshevitz. I am fine."

We continued watching. "Where is Rhett?"

"He is out right now but he will be back in a few hours or so. Just wanted to get some air."

I wondered briefly if the father ever thought what I saw in Rhett. Our difference in ages was pretty big and I was sort of closer to his if I would admit it but I still liked men like Rhett. Something just made me crazy about him. If I was crazy I guess we all could be crazy a little.

Just then I felt a warm, large palm place itself onto my knee.

I looked over with shock. I immediately shot up and went over to the door. The crazy movie would have to wait tonight.

"Uhh. I think Rhett will come by sometime later I guess. I could wait for him outside."

"You don't want to stay for a little while?"

"No!" I cleared my throat. "Uh. No. That is fine. You could, uh, watch the movie if you want. Or whatever."
I charged out the door. I would rather wait outside in the cooling air than spend one more moment with that man. Where was Rhett? Was he just taking a big walk to collect his thoughts.

I never would tell him. But yet I would never forget.

---

The next day I begged Rhett never to go out of the house ever again. When he answered why I went around giving a real answer.
"I don't know. I just have a feeling. Just hug me."

Rhett gave the most generous hug I was ever offered. I felt warm and safe in his arms. I realize the main reason I wanted him in my life. I wanted to be loved. Rhett knew I had a growing up that was great and that made it all the more painful that I lost my parents each by a different illness. It was painful that I would have no one to help me on in this life. I even turned to God but I was as easily adamant in getting able to really know Him.

I gave up and believed that the life I had was my own. Whether I would give my life to anything else would remain unsaid. I guessed the heart was stubborn when my soul knew much more was to this life. Believing in fate was more important than anything that would be changed outside of it.

"Okay. You feeling better?"

"Yeah. I think so."

Rhett nodded at the news. Then his eyes alighted with excitement.

"Want to watch Red-Eye tonight?"

"Eh. That's okay. Do you have any romantic comedies?"

That hope disappeared in his pupils quicker than it arrived. "Uhh. You know that the movies we have are mostly something you would find strictly in a 'guy's den,' right? All action, thriller, and deadly killers."
"Woah, haha." I felt movies were just out of the question now. "I guess we could go out if you want."

As we went out the door I chimed, "Does your mother own any 'chick flicks?' I know she would never want me to borrow them since she'd probably murder me over that. Dog."
As he shut the door behind us he said one statement he probably had for a while. "You know, you sometimes gotta give my mom some slack."

Whoa. Sore spot. Didn't think he actually felt that way.

---

Evening came like stealthy sneaking one. The day just vanished like there was no chance chance for it, orange gave way to violet, then the purple to a somehow dark crimson hue. The night was startling and made a throbbing pump through my veins as I would in a while leave the cool, welcoming air. Well I knew that the sky wasn't doing it. It was the idea that I was going to the house again with another night. I went through the door and "Sam" was watching the t. v.

"Hi Sam."

"Hey."

Rhett jumped in. "You get any new odd-jobs?"

"Nah. Not this week. I did have to cut a neighbor's lawn for free though. But that was okay. They are nice people."

I noticed Sam looked like he was staring into the t. v. trying to ignore a lot of what was at home.

"Mom is coming home at 11:00 tonight. The trial is continuing. Might be tomorrow or so but she has to duke it out."

The cruelest irony. I wished I hadn't hoped the mother out of their lives and would rather hear her in the house going about with things than to see the father again. Was I crazy?

Well I guess living in a house in secret away from a member of the household was kinda different. Maybe just a tad crazy that way. I was silly. And now I realized that the mother was more sane with what she thought about things made me wonder if I was going to the hospital soon.

"Let's go upstairs Rhett." Before we did that, the father came lumbering down the stairs. He was not himself. It seemed anything he was doing lately was not at all himself. The past few days he was a new person in the worst kind of way. Not having a job and waiting to retire seemed to not do a lot but there was something deeply bothering him. Something that made me wonder.

Lumbering by Sam who was still boring his eyes into the television and went straight from there into the kitchen. He muttered some stuff that made me realize he had something to drink. A lot to drink.

Maybe he felt some kind of guilt. "What is with everything? Why is it all so drab? No... I know. I could make things go away. Make it go away. My wife. She will not know."

Rhett and I went upstairs and into the room.

Sam called into the kitchen from where he sat. "Dad lay on the coach and sleep it off. Dad...?"

He either passed out or just laid down staring at the ceiling in a half-alive stupor. Probably felt bad at the poor old man.


---

A week went by. The mother who had finished with the jury duty ended it after three days. She was spending some time with Rhett's dad. Some days were actually more or less civilized (so I "heard" literally) and I wondered if things were going to be calm some time in the future.

That future was not coming as far as things went.

I became more careless about what I was doing with my clothes and the mother picked up on strange new things appearing in the house.

Rhett's mom found a couple of my blouses and when she asked him he said that I was just over for a little while and needed to change my clothes every once in a while.

The worst part of it was I decided to buy a cell phone and gave away the house's address in my name. That apparently made Rhett's father kind of... crazy.

He realized soon the secret would be told. Everything would blow up in my face. What would become of it all?

Never did I think this would happen.

---

Vanish- "Parte Tres..."

The mother started to believe that I was only there for temporary visits. She never went outside behind the house to see all my bags and the sleeping bag that I kept out there for emergencies in case I would not be able to get back in right away.


One night was a night I would never have wished on my worst enemy.

The father had completely lost it. "Lost it" was an understatement.

One night the mother had left the house to do something and I was called to the back of the house. The backyard the mother would never go to. One place I thought I was safe in. How I wish I had become friends with the mother somehow!

I arrived to what seemed to be a bonfire. As I came closer I saw Sam and Rhett. Rhett! They stood quite a few feet away from each other. Mostly from the dad.

"Mr. B-Borshevitz...?"

I realized quickly that my bags and stuff were what were caught up in smoke. I stood with my mouth agape.

"I know your mother doesn't want to find out someone was living here. She would feel we broke trust with her. We were good people and all. But if she feels we broke trust she might not ever trust her again."

Surely I know the mother struggled with manic depression but I knew for a fact that all of this was no way to solve the situation. Nothing like this!

"We have to get rid of ... everything."

That final word filled me with nothing but dread. It eased its way into my mind and down my spine. It mingled there. Made a home and dwelled for the time being.

I suddenly thought with horror if the father had struck me that time I had that memory lapse. I was on the floor. I couldn't have tripped.

I did not trip!

"Dad. I don't want to do this." said Brett.

"Why...? You have to. There is no other way."


"What does he want you to do, Rhett?" I stuttered and trembled.

The father's words came extremely easy and seemed calm. The fact he seemed calm unnerved me.

"I want you to knock her out."

Rhett moaned.

"Xander. Sam. Pour out the concrete over at the curb nearby and make sure when she is in there you make it look nice. Make it look just nice."

"I don't want to, Dad."

"You are doing it."


"Dad!"

The father suddenly went over to me and struck me with his hand. A small drop of blood came from my mouth. The deep sting made me realize I had lost a tooth.

"Didn't work. I know you can take her out. You did before!"

What?! That night? I thought the dad may have come in the door it could never be locked. Rhett did it?

"That is not completely true. You wanted me to put her somewhere. You wanted me to get rid of her when Mom was coming home. Doing that would only be for the time being. You wanted her to not be heard. But I also wanted to try to keep her away from the house. Away from any harm. Away from you! Not Mom!

"And I am sorry Josie for hitting you. I couldn't think of anything else and it will never happen again!"


"And I am not putting her into the ground, dad." said Sam.


"Well... looks like it's all up to me." The father charged towards me. Sam cried no and had the dad in a headlock. Rhett who was pulling at his dad's arm was doing little to the father's endurance.

He was still coming for me. He was a couple of feet away when I---

Mustered my strength and pulled my arm to its right, I gave him a backhand with my left. The ring I happened to have on that hand gave my slender hand extra spring.

"God help me!"

I don't know what exactly happened. All I knew was soon the father was on the ground. He was out of breath. I was still alive. The boys were collapsed on the ground with him.


I knew then that night was over. And I felt that night was over for me too.

---

Conclusion.

Standing at the bus stop waiting to get on I couldn't help feel excited, sad, and somehow other feelings all at once. I was moving on and I knew because I would not have my life at that house anymore I was going to begin a new life.

"You know I called the cops anonymously on Dad that night."

"Oh. Really."

"I didn't want him to get away with any of that!"


"Well. I thank you for that."

"I" he began but was too choked up. "I hope that you will have a nice life."

I smiled. Nodded. "You too. I know it was not such a great idea to live there and think I could be there the rest of my life. And keep you from doing things too."

He didn't know what to say. "I got to finally hear about what has been eating Xander for so long. He flipped out on me the other day saying that the daily life situations were too stressful on him. That was a huge change. Talking heart to heart ain't usually a Borshevitz thing!"

I laughed.

I had a fading, disturbing thought as I got the bus and Rhett and I parted ways and shed a few tears. If I had died that night I would have left no trace in that house that I had even existed. I would have come the closest anyone probably had come to nearly vanishing off the face of the earth.

But that would not happen now. I had life now. Rhett would seek going to school. We would each have life. We would live though apart.

And I would never vanish.


\\~~~~~------~~~~~//

In "Real Happenings Behind our Stories" Writing and publishing section about being a writer:

-----

And though while sometimes the subject matter gets tough to revisit in our minds we might still feel it is our duty to put it out on the pages.

-----


This is what I mean I hope you get to read this people of the WSS!

And good day. Nonfiction.

A Little Piece to Give (was on Creative Writing. permanently gone!)

Bud

I've been thinking of you "bud"
though many years had passed
I hope you have gone on
and forgotten pain- love lasts

I'm sorry I didn't tell you
of the great love of my life
but at least I hope you've seen that
I hadn't laughed at your worst strife

You saw I heard your deepest
pains that sent you to that place.
And you saw I didn't laugh at you
When you joked 'bout your harsh days

I kept my face not broken
when you joked about the tough
because I saw there was real pain
it was masked by goofy stuff

I still pray for you "bud" now
because your tale broke hearts
I look back and I fight back tears
because of things you'd part

I hope you left behind those
things beliefs that wronged
and distracted you from the truth
those gods were not your song.

So I hope you didn't kill yourself
cuz we all are here for
the best things that we have in life
love, joy, peace and more!

That last one was kind of a "splurge" writing.

Here is another one....

Piece of History

--

Darkened bricks seem cold against the rain.
The factory pours out soot and a cruelly sweet smell.
What hell hath ravaged the people that have entered?
The times they toiled, worked.
A woman holds a withered child in her arms
Is it hers? Who cares?
The mud she sits in she caresses the poor one.
Its eyes, she forces them to close.
At least it seems asleep then.

The day had only begun...

CJ, I have read your poem, "Bud". Very, very nice! The only think that I might change would be to capitalize the "B" in the word Bud.

Piece of History was very nice as well. Although sad, I get an image of the woman and child in my mind. You really bring forth a picture there.

You should write more poetry!

I need to take the time to read all your other writings. When I do, I will be sure to comment!

Happy Writing to you!

Thank you so much for the encouragement! :)

I get serious here kind of like in "A little Piece to give" but this is an ever-growing examination on my life. Memoir. As raw as can be with no editor to help me. Hope anyone will read it.

Little Snippets of Me (was on creative writing. Permanently gone).

Social Media Comments:


- I don't want to merely "read" books; I want to absorb them!


- One fun thing about following God is that we can prove Him with our lives! We are amazed by evidence we had nothing to deserve or could make.


- Are you passionate about film-making? You want to fulfill that wish to make movies? Start here: pick up a camera and film. Easy as that...

More Comments online:


- Maybe if movies have the internal unseen qualities match the visual, we will see a new generation of amazing film-makers; from Hitchcock to Depalma to, now!


- Directors are not unlike children; they desire to get their "picture" exact and right so when they show it, they can proudly say, "Look!! See?"

- When seeing a harsh or slanderous comment do not be angry, believers.
In fact, take pity on people who think they are alone in this world and claim almost fully that no God is available to them. In effect be love to them and pray. Guide them with His words from the gospel and then the Lord does the rest. He comforts all who need Him... and pray that they'll one day see the "light" against the world.

Mallard types ceaselessly on the typewriter. He stops to crack his knuckles.

Det. Mallard: Ugh. (to self) Not as strong as I once was... sigh.
(I walk in)
Me: Hi, coppie!
Det. Mallard: (Turns to glance at me) Sometimes I hate work. Why are people so adamant about seeing me?
Me: What do you mean?
Det. Mallard: I've been slowing down, not sure if I can make it some days.
Me: I think that's all in your head...
Det. Mallard: Wouldn't be surprised if I ended up in the old folks farm and need registering 'inside a week' as the Britons say.
Me: What are you talking about? You still look young to me...
Det. Mallard: You must be deceived by the friendship paired with the ravage of time...
Me: Okay you are starting to scare me, Eddy.
Det. Mallard: Wouldn't be surprised if it may be worse.
Me: Hey, I want to be a secretary to you so let me type up whatever you have planned...
Det. Mallard: I wouldn't be scared if I knew my death was coming soon.
Me: Hey. Buck up!!! Stop it.
This is scaring me.
Quit it!

Hell hath no fury like a sister's spite! Just kidding.

More than a Meal "Thing"

It was more than some unspoken ritual. Heck it wasn't even dinner to Rachel. Every Saturday for a s long as she knew, the Boydchiks stopped whatever they were doing and had a humble supper every evening.

To her and at least to her mother, it seemed in observance some kind of invisible magic; seeing unity and love all at one table was one amazing moment a week. It was grieving to Rachel though she would have to leave it all behind herself.

She did not figure whether she would be accepted into the University of Ohio until the response letter rushed in like a sudden wave. It dawned on her later that in just a few short months she'd have a ride that would take her away all from her familiar state of Pennsylvania to the road for a brand-new life.

It was a road she'd leave her friends and her school already closed to her at early June, but she would say good-bye most importantly to her family.

Not being able to stay to have that glimpse of gathered love and hope with each other made Rachel sad though she was at the moment still at her house. No one she had to say good-bye to yet, her probable easiest person to give a rushed adieos though would be her sister Sarah.

Before Rachel even was able to send out the letter to earn a possible career, Sarah had already picked out the new paint color to her room which they shared still at the moment. Without Rachel's approval, Sarah also tore all her music posters down and tossed into the trash, replacing them with popular musicians Rachel herself gladly did without. Though Rachel coldly remarked about that to her parents, at her heart she knew she still loved her sis. She was sometimes a burden to bear but also same time a lovely human to share.

As if mindreading a sudden flurry of steps wrought the arrival of Sarah. Her wide frame came in view and a smile spread across her face.

"Hi, dumbie." she said as if on perfect cue.
"Ugh. Hey."
"You leavin' yet...?"
"Haha, very funny."
"My room is going through the most frustrating changes. But the big one is that it's still got you in it and that's a problem."
"Are you finished?"
"Finished what?"
Rachel just let the thoughts pass; it was just good old-fashioned teasing as far as she was concerned.

She figured it was nothing more.

"I'm not going to be here for very long, you know? I think you are going to miss me once I am gone."
"Uh huh. My new stereo and CD shelf say something different. You are just a waste of space."
"Hey! Come on. I bought you that stuff for your birthday!"
"I consider it all a going away present. Only it's you that still hasn't yet 'gone away.'"
"You'll regret saying this..."
Rachel braved her sis's hostility. She started to wonder was it resentment? What for?

Rachel suddenly remembered the day. "Dern. It's Friday."
"Okay, big shot."
"You seriously have got to stop it, Sarah."

Sarah gave a gleeful giggle. It seemed unlike her as if pleasure paired with being some kind of popular school girl. All the "niceness" veiled over icy cold demeanor.

Rachel hoped her mother would help resolve the situation.

As Sarah loomed by the stairway elbows on the railing, Rachel called for her.

"Mom?"

Her father came up from the basement and then turned into the family room. Though he was only fifty, nonstop years of work tore into his face. Gray hair and big eyes shielded by glasses that neeeded to be stronger seemingly every year, his toiling did a number on him. With a light voice he spoke.

"Your mom is not home right now."
"Duh." Sarah's voice echoed by the steps deliberately it seemed giving her voice an echo.

"Dad can I talk to you a moment?"
"Sure."
As soon as they travelled into the dining room, Sarah pinned herself between them.

"If you really want to talk Rachel, talk about how much you thought rock stars were so hot, you said you dreamed about them nightly."
"Sarah!"
"Just tellin' your truth is all..."
Father jumped in. "Sarah. Your sister and I are trying to have a mature conversation. Please give us some privacy."
With a rude scoff that was near a scream she stomped off into the family room and then hit her feet upon each and every stair until she reached the territory she vainly called "her" room. She slammed the door.

"Dad, what's up with Sarah?"
"What do you mean?"
"She has been acting differently this past week all of a sudden. She have a brain tumor?"
The father gave a surprised look. "Now Rachel. You know that isn't funny..."
"Something has happened though. She's been attacking me all day today."
"Well maybe she's teasing you because she likes you."
"I know Sarah, Dad, and that is not adornment."
He chuckled. "Well what is it do you think?"
"She sounds jealous or something. Or anger? What has gotten her so ticked off at me?"
"You might have to find that out yourself. Maybe she is just mixed up that you're leaving and this is her dealing with it."
"Probably. But I don't know."
"Yeah, well... I've got some stuff to do."
"Okay. Thanks." but she added mentally 'for nothing.'


It was a couple of weeks later by the time Rachel got to have proper talk with her mother. She was in the parent's room and Sarah had laid her lately usual comments on her.
"It's Saturday, Mom, but why does Sarah claim she is going out instead of having the mac and cheese?"
"She must be busy, dear."
"She has never missed a Saturday as long as I've known her!"
"Well she has a complicated life it seems. At fourteen who knows what is going on with her?"
"Mom, I don't like this..."
"Well I am proud of you, dear. Did you hear that?"
"Huh?"
"For going to college. I hope that you are careful with yourself and we talked about personal stuff, remember?"
"Yeah... I guess so. Mom?"
"Hmm?"
"What is going on with Sarah?"
"It is not my business dear."
"Yes it is. You're a mom."
She gave a gentle giggle. "I know that I am a mother."
"But she has been acting wild and I don't get what is up."
"I do not know either."
"Could it be something simple?"
After a pause, the mother said what she felt. "I have some laundry to do soon. Do you mind if we cut this short?"
"Sure Mom sure." Then Rachel scoffed as she left the room to go downstairs.

Watching television became a struggle because she was wracked of frustration and distracted. But as if her thoughts materialized near her she could hear Sarah.
"Miss her? Yeah, I'd only miss my own foot! What do you mean I can't come by. Dern... another supper at the Boydchiks."
Sarah started to fear her sis. She wondered what horror transformed her. Was it just plain hostility? Was she just mad at her just because there was no plausible reason?
"I still have my room color picked out. It's gonna look gorgeous." She came in holding her cell phone. She eyed Rachel as she said the next comment. "Yeah it's a robin's egg blue not some stupid pinkish color. Vomit-inducing."
Her words began to pierce Rachel. She looked away.
The television went on ceaslessly with no one to care about it.


"Supper is ready, guys." called out the mother.
It was a miracle the television in the cramped dining room was taken down every Saturday. It was tucked away into a closet all for this wonder of a moment. A time where time didn't matter just talk and sometimes that talk would end up nearing midnight and somebody had to pick up and wash all the dishes while it was worth it anyway.

Rachel sat next to her father while in a deliberate grudge Sarah sat as far away as possible from her.

The mother came in with a small bowl of steaming brocolli. Then came back out with the prize dish.

"Mmm. Macaroni and cheese." said Rachel warmly.
"It's shells and cheese, you idiot." Sarah said under her breath.
They all sat down and, relishing the moment, the mother looked around at everyone with quiet all. As far as the Boydchiks observed all was right with the world. There was an aura of pure love of family. And the mother spoke up to begin the chat.

"I love how smart you are Rachel. Graduated at seventeen."
Sarah scoffed.
"Uh mom. You know that I am only seventeen because my birthday is in August. I'm not smart. It's just timing."
"Well I still think you are. Don't be so modest."
Rachel eyed Sarah with nervousness. "Mom, I'm not."
"You are so smart. I'm so happy my baby is going to college!"
"You've been saying that at this table for a couple of months now."
"But I am so glad. And proud."
"Okay, Mom. I get it..."
"Don't talk like that to your Mom, Rachel." said her dad.
She nearly slunk into her spot. She noticed Sarah make a little smirk.
Rachel bit her lip then spoke. "Sarah... so how was your day?"
The smile vanished. She threw her spoon onto her plate which nearly broke. "I am sick of this dinner! You don't have to shove your pride into it, you dumb girl."
She ran around the table and rammed her shoulder into Rachel then ran out of the room. Rachel figured she was going to cry.
"Could I be excused?"
"Why?" said the father.
"Are you serious?"
"No one leaves the Boydchik table until the wondrous meal is finished." said the mother dreamily.
"I think you guys don't get what the table is all about."
"I know what it is about dear. You started the whole thing."
"What?"
"It was such a wonderful thing you did, deary. I love to spread that to all who are under this house."
"I think I just got what the problem is." Rachel threw off her napkin and then ran up the stairs to see her sis.

It seemed that moment had finally clicked. Why her sis was so upset. She was spiteful at the fact that Rachel started the whole dinner and that made her jealous. Something so small and simple and Rachel forgot that she was the one who had done it anyway.

She knocked on the door. She expected a "go away!" but there was silence. Rachel opened the door to find Sarah in the upper bunk staring at the ceiling as if peering at the stars.

"I feel dumb being so mad about it."
"Yeah. Mom is a little too proud about it. I forgot I even started it."
"Okay. That's nice."
"But you can continue the tradition. We don't even have to eat macaroni and cheese."
"'Shells.' Maybe. I guess you're right."
"Was there anything else on your mind."
"The youth group you go to every Wednesday evening. What's that about?"
"Oh it's fun. You learn a lot and you will be a good replacenment. Maybe better than me and they won't have to miss me so much."
"They better not say 'Oh you're Rachel's sister. She is so wonderful and amazing. What do you have to offer to the table?'"
They both giggled. "I am sure they will never say that."
After a pause, Sarah sighed. "I'm still not going to miss you."
"Now come on Sarah. This isn't like you..."
"What do you mean?"
Years of denial finally caught up with Rachel. "Okay fine. Please don't be like this all the time. It really hurts when you talk like this too much."
A silence probably answered Rachel's plea.
Sarah lifted her head up and Rachel gently kissed her forehead. "Hope you will do well when I'm gone."
As Rachel turned to leave she noticed Sarah sitting up as if deep in thought now.

Would she miss her? Rachel had an inkling about it.

It was four days that she would be in Ohio. Rachel's friend with her pickup truck waited and idled as she packed her things in the trunk. As she hauled her final bags in, she heard her sis mock her again. She was singing in perfect tune a song by Boston with her words traditionally like when she spoofed anything Rachel once loved.

"It's more than a meal thing. More than a meal thi-ing...!" she even provided her own back-up in wondrous pitch.

Last part

She wanted to rib her sis but she loved her too much for that. Rachel didn't like being mean even if it was humorous or just being silly. She knew that was all Sarah was made of though she would tell herself constantly her sis was not really like that. Must be part of her blood, what made Sarah part of who she was.

Her parents already said good-bye, they cried and gave her a group hug for what had seemed like an hour. She knew it wouldn't be that dramatic with Sarah. She at the least expected a wise-crack or a "that'll do pig. That'll do." Anything!

Then her hopes were not discredited as Sarah spoke. "I kept the room color the same." That was it.

Smaller or more powerful words were never spoken. Then Rachel swept her up for a hug and they embraced for a while. When they unlocked she saw for the first time a tear rolling down Sarah's face. Yep. This really was going to be a huge event for Rachel.

With growing grief and leaving the dinner table finally, Rachel got into the car. She looked at the side mirror and saw Sarah wave. For some reason it made Rachel break into tears. But she rolled on. Hopeful and by hopes she went on to an unsure future.

Me: So... are you alright?
Det. Mallard: I'm fair.
Me: It's been more than a week. Do you need anything?
Det. Mallard: No... I just can't shake the sickness.
Me: Are you down? That happens to pretty much everyone in the winter months. But it is warmer today. How about you go outside?
Det. Mallard: No I've seen sunlight before.
Me: Come on Mr. Detective Mallard you've got to tell me what's on your mind!
Det. Mallard continues clacking on the keys, his pace slowing down. He sighs.

Me: I think it's the weather.
Det. Mallard: Probably. Today has been better than most of these days.
Me: Were you feeling sick?
Det. Mallard: Well it started a few months ago with having headaches and other issues.
Me: Allergies.
Det. Mallard: Yes. I guess so.
Me: You better now. How about yesterday.
Det. Mallard: I was having a good day yesterday. It seemed warmer.
Me: What a relief!

I'm going to do something unconventional here soon by posting some recipes. Why? Because sometimes I have created characters where they make an original dish that I would not have thought of before the conceiving of that work.

(Note: As of May '16 these will be called "Cooking with Character"! Just for fun lol)

Here's a simple one to start it off. Note: reference is from a work this group had the theme being "A Fly on the Wall". This is Nina's idea of a tasty cup of coffee (I have since tried it once but would prefer it be on special occasions like Christmas! It is simple but that would make this all the more special).

Cinnamon Coffee
1.Percolate your coffee and pour into your cup.
2. Put in a little sugar (1-2 teaspoons).
3. Pour in a small amount of milk (or to make it really special use a device to make it into foam for the top of the cup!).
4. Add about a teaspoon of cinnamon. It tends to stay on the top so stir while drinking it if need be.
5. Enjoy!

1/17/16 & 1/21/16

(Untitled)

The One sets sun to motion
tells it whence to come in day
I wonder why this strong being
should care to change my heart?

To be thought of as desires
Change in me day to day
The ever-glowing, ever present grace
makes me moved- how do you stay?

I'm humbled while Your greatness
Shudders an all-powerful way
Such love is not in all of earth
as great and small yet same

Tis special to know Jesus
Know that His love is real
As One care that can move mountains
Also brings bandage to heal.

Here is another recipe.

"Cooking with Character" Recipe 2 :P

This one is good for a quick thing to make if you've got the oven reserved for something else or you just don't feel like heating the house too much.

Update: I realize I only thought this was created originally for "The Glasses The China Perfect." This was inspired by a different reason and there is a similar but different casserole being made in the story. So this one was not it. Whoops!

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No Bake Chicken Casserole

Ingredients:
1 bag of egg noodles
1 small can of chicken (or cook chicken in a pan then slice up nicely)
1 large can of cream of chicken
1 of canned green beans (or use frozen, cook in oil and spices)
1 of canned carrots (or use frozen but cook on top while making the beans)
Garlic powder (for veggies in pan)
Salt and spices optional (needed only for chicken and foods not canned goods, etc.)

1.Get a large soup-like pot and fill with water.

2. Prepare a cooking pan or skillet.

3.Heat up pot until boiling, then add noodles. Drain the noodles. Keep in colander and set aside.

4.In pan, add prepared green beans and carrots. If using frozen anything you can preheat it in microwave or lightly boil them for about 20-30 minutes with salt and any spices cooking them on the side (just be wary of tender carrots though).

5. Season your veggies (if using processed food do not add ANY salt as everything has salt already in it) in the pan as they cook. Use only as much heat needed as long as they don't burn. (Skip this step altogether if you already did step 4 with fresh veggies).

6. Put in your noodles and cream of chicken into your big pot, low heat if needed.

7. Incorporate your veggies into the pot and mix well.

8. Pour all gently into a baking dish to serve.

Enjoy!

Just sharing here.

This happens to be in a way Mallard's full debut (which I wasn't expecting to happen to be honest as I was working on his first story for quite a while but it has so far been unfinished).

Comments and gentle criticism welcome after seeing the reference below!

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Dreams Can Die (A Mallard Story. Can be found on the WSS! the theme is "Dreamcatcher" and the one following is part 2).
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Title: Sheep's Clothing
New Possible Working Title: Original Sin

Synopsis/Premise: A young man is found murdered in the front of the auditorium of his church robed in his "Sunday's Best." The details of his end are grisly and the police tried as they did could not get a word out of the congregation. As they struggle with a lack of information, Mallard is called onto the case. As he investigates he finds everyone is hiding secrets- even the pastor! As he digs deeper him and the county police yearn to find out who is genuine in their faith... and who was the one believing that forgiveness can get one off scot-free?

Possible with Mallard Timeline: This happens after Dreams Can Die which takes place in the early 1990's.
Update: I might make it instead happen in the 70's a little earlier. Why? Well there are some set events. I want this to be maybe a story where he meets a woman that he later dates. Or maybe not. Could happen only because I feel him finding possible love could happen earlier than when he's close to middle age like he would be by the 90's. Just thinking aloud!

Gosh I've got to calm down! Feel like today's been kinda awful and need to release it through writing. Some venting below:

Friends

Friends can be the best and worst of people
Anytime it's brought to its edge
Ones like to dump and unload their troubles
Sometimes like bags of spikes to hurt ones at their side

Friends can be careless but considerate on good days
Times they've only seen ones help them
But friends should be unconditional not granting
Horrible ones should be cut from the tether

Friends shouldn't feel like fellow ones are there
For their entertainment like monkeys to laugh
It seems like when I have close ones they turn this way
Don't get why I find these again and again.

I hope things get better for you, CJ!

We're pulling for you, CJ. Hang in there, buddy.

Thanks guys! Things have worked out. Was just feeling like I was in a fog and needed to think some stuff out. :)

Recharging is definitely important after so much stress.

I have started (again) a story that I had begun writing quite a while back. I wanted this to be noticed at least in the "new" section of the creative writing so I changed the chapters around and reposted them here. I had this as an idea (yes, it's also based on a videogame) but the original story NEEDS to be made into movie someday it's just too good!

Deus Ex: Mindgate (unfortunately currently unavailable though I have been working on it still. Ask me!)

I also have a horror story that I have written just for fun (if THIS gets made into a movie it would probably be too crazy for legal reasons, lol).

I want to make three more chapters before I post it here. So just look out for it.

It's got no "tricks." Okay maybe one or two. Or a few more than that. It's all just campy fun!

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CAMP (Currently not available. Was on Creative Writing).

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Just two blog updates:


Blog One:

-I don't exactly know at the moment what to do in life but I see some neat stuff happening that could only be because of God.

Maybe I should go back and continue work on that Young Adult novel?

Blog Two:

I hope to work on more things with this group the Great WSS! Maybe there is a chance this group can be resurrected again. I know it's heading towards holidays and some are still busy at school but I think there is a chance to help create interest again. I hope.

In case you are wondering.

Yes this was just an excuse so I can repost my poem which I feel is a tad personal here. But them's the breaks, lol! I don't think I know what that means.
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