Friday, September 24, 2010

Red Writing Hood Meme: Where I'm From

Wow- this week's meme was interesting for me. It's sort of like a Mad Lib, but not quite as funny. I got a chance to really sit and think about growing up and some of the things I've experienced, and the people I've met- it was rather eye-opening. It was also nice to write after stepping away from the pen for a bit to focus on some knitting projects I've had lined up for people. So. Here's this week's writing assignment...


Where I'm From


I am from a giant picnic table suited to seat many from Dad’s own handiwork and hours in the workshop, building and planning, to ensure we were all able to have a nice sit-down meal together.


I am from the scary-looking yet comforting 175-year old farmhouse that was restored by my parents on the weekends when there was time between school functions and appointments.


I am from the rose bushes Mom wanted along the property line that she tended to daily, the small orchard that bore fruit, the garden from which we got our vegetables (and punishment of weeding when we misbehaved).


I am from advent calendars and candles on Christmas, homemade birthday cakes and presents, and learning to look past disabilities, both physical and mental, from siblings Becky, Carly, Peter, Kevin, John, Esmeralda, Jenny, Susie, Timmy, Matt, Dennis, Mark, Bart and David, to the numerous cousins, aunts and uncles we spent holidays with.


I am from the family of love, sharing, and tolerance, no matter the differences.


From being selfless and helping others before helping yourself, because their smile and word of thanks is reward enough.


I am from a spiritual family, but as an adult choose to worship in nature.


I'm from blended families, both birth and chosen.


From the drive to Chicago to greet my new brother in from South Korea, from waiting anxiously to hear the news that our new sister was born to another mother and father, to grieving together as our eldest brother succumbed to MD.


I am from two loving and selfless people who welcomed two boys into the world, then opened their doors to 13 other children who were not considered “adoptable” because of physical ailments, mental slowness, or emotional issues. Two people who brought these children together under one roof and taught us that we are indeed worthy of love, and of acceptance, and of understanding. Two people who reminded us that there are others in the world who need our help much more than we do.


Friday, August 27, 2010

Red Writing Hood Meme: Dramatic Entrance

This week's meme was a doozy for me. The prompt: "An art opening at a lavish downtown gallery. A car crashes through the plate glass window. The driver's door opens, and an eight-year-old girl steps out." I think I must have started this a thousand times before almost decided to just forget it and wait until next week. I didn't feel like I was thinking very coherently, and it may be due to the fact that I am on my 7-day rotation for work, and the phones have been rather hectic all week. It's hard to put together a decent thought when you have back to back to back calls. This idea hit me as I was driving home last night, and I wrote it when I came in this morning, and all it took was looking at the scene from a different perspective. And nothing saucy this time. Sorry. Maybe the next meme I do can be Skinamax suitable? ;)

“Mom? Mommy, are you okay?” She was lying on her chair, the brown one that Grandma had given her when Dad left. She didn’t look right, and it scared me. She barely looked at me when I shook her, and her skin felt weird, like she was sweating, but she wasn’t hot. She actually felt kind of cold. I covered her with a blanket, but she started shivering. I wanted to cry because I was so scared, but if I am crying, I couldn’t help her. I tried to remember what my teachers taught us when we were learning about how to help someone, but it was hard to think. Oh, that’s it! I have to call 9-1-1 and let them know I need help!

“Mommy, I’m going to call for help, okay? I’ll be right back.” She didn’t respond, but I could tell she was trying to look at me. At least her eyes moved towards me. She was drooling a little bit, like my friend Abby’s baby sister Maggie Mae. Abby says that Maggie Mae is drooling because she’s getting in new teeth. But I don’t think Mommy was getting in new teeth. I ran into the kitchen and picked up the telephone that is on the wall next to the back door, but when I listened, there was no sound. Now I was even more scared. The phone is supposed to work when you need help, but ours must have been broken. My heart was beating so fast in my chest I thought it was going to fall out. I have to get her to the hospital so the doctors can help her. I ran back into the living room.

“The phone is broken, so I can’t call for help. There has to be another way.” Then I saw her keys on the coffee table. Mom had told me before how everything worked in the car. She also told me that I had to have a special card that says I’m allowed to use the car that I’d get when I was old enough, but I think because it’s an emergency it’d be okay. I grabbed the keys and ran outside to unlock and open the doors, then went back inside. It was hard, but I got Mommy to her feet. I helped her outside and got her in the car. I even put her seat belt on her, just like she taught me.

Now it was my turn. I got behind the steering wheel and closed the door. It was bigger than I thought. But I put the key in and turned it, just like I saw Mom do, and it spooked me a little when the car started. Okay, brake on the left, which makes it stop, and the go on the right to make it move. The stick that makes it go forward or backward, she said put it in “D”. I couldn’t remember what the “D” stood for, but I put the orange arrow on it, and the car started to move forward. I stepped on the brake and it stopped. I think I can do this. Seeing Mom as sick as she was, I had to do it. I stepped on the go softly, and we rolled forward. Yeah, I can do this.

“Hang on, Mom,” I said, still trying not to cry. “I’m going to get you to get some help.” I started to drive really slow because it was hard to see over the wheel, but once I got onto the road by our house I was able to go a little faster. Every once in a while Mom would moan, or whisper something, but I couldn’t understand her very well. The radio was on, so I sang along with the songs I knew, hoping the music would make her feel better since it always made me happy when I was feeling sad.

It took a while, but I found my way to the city. The hospital had to be close by since we always saw the buildings when we were going to school on the school bus. But the streets were more confusing than I remembered. The buildings were too tall for me to see anything, and the traffic lights made me have to stop a lot. I was having a hard time stopping the tears, but I kept reminding myself that I had to stay strong for Mom, because I was all she had left.

I didn’t notice how fast I was going. I was crying and telling Mom to hold on, we’re almost to the hospital, when a dog walked out into the street. I screamed and turned the wheel, a little harder than maybe I should have. The tires squealed and the car lurched, and I almost threw up. The car bounced up onto the sidewalk and we were heading right towards a building. The front was all glass, like one of those fancy restaurants we saw on TV, and there were people inside dressed really nice. I tried to hit the brake to stop, but I didn’t hit it in time. With a crash, the car went through the window and into the building.

I don’t remember the car coming to a stop, or me getting out of the car. It was almost as if I had fallen asleep and was sleepwalking, but drove a car instead. When I opened my eyes I was inside the building filled with the nicely-dressed people who looked really surprised. There was broken glass all around on the floor, and it looked like some paintings as well. They were broken and some were ripped. I felt bad about that, because I know I did it. But I was so worried about Mommy.

“Please, someone help my mommy.” I cried. “She’s sick and I don’t know what’s wrong with her.” A lady stepped towards us and looked into the car.

“Oh my god, Nathan! Help me!” She pulled the door open and a man helped her pull Mommy out of the car. Another lady who looked old like Grandma was talking on a small telephone and another came up to me.

“C'mon let’s get you taken care of,” she said, her voice very soft. I couldn’t fight my tears anymore and I started sobbing. My vision blurred really bad and it was hard to see, but she took my hand and took me to sit on a chair nearby. I could see the lady and the man with Mommy, and soon the ambulance arrived with the police. She asked my name and how old I was, and I told her my name was Crystal Marie Humgardner and I was almost 8 years old. She told this to a policeman while I had some fruit punch that was given to me by someone, but I couldn’t see who it was. It was good, and it was cold. I was also given a cookie. I like cookies, especially chocolate chip. Those are my favourites.

The policeman came over to me and asked me questions, and I told him about how Mommy got sick, and the phone wasn’t working so I couldn’t call 9-1-1 like I was taught by Mrs Arntz in school, so I got in the car and drove it as best as I could as Mommy had explained to me. He was so nice, and gave me a tissue to wipe my eyes because I was crying again. The ambulance people had Mommy on a stretcher and were putting her in the back of the ambulance, and he said I could go with him and we’d go to the hospital. He said I was a very brave girl, and that he thinks Mommy will be alright. He even gave me another cookie.

As we were driving away, I looked back at the building. The policeman said it was an art gallery and the lady who helped Mom out of the car was the one whose paintings I had broken. “Was she mad? I didn’t mean to do it.” He shook his head and said she was just glad that my mom was getting help. That made me happy. So happy that I started to hum a song that I knew Mommy liked alot. That would make her better. I just knew it.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Dialogue Exercise

This week's TRDC meme was an exercise in writing dialogue. I'll be the first to admit that this is surely not my strong suit when it comes to writing. I have, however, found an exercise that really seems to help (a little), and thought I'd share it with anyone who is taking the opportunity to read this humble little blog. I just wish I could remember where I had initially seen the information. The idea is to write out the dialogue as if it were a play or something similar. JUST the dialogue. And then build your story around the words spoken by the characters. Here's one of the drafts I did for the TRDC meme.

Now, mind you, I'm kind of a nerd. I like my Star Wars, and behind Han Solo (simply a love for Harrison Ford) my favourite character is the badass bounty hunter Boba Fett. I tried to imagine what it would be like if Boba was hired simply as a body guard, and that it was for a spoiled rich teenage girl who wasn't the brightest crayon in the box.

B: Boba
H: Girl


H: So how long are we going to have to wait?

B: As long as it takes.

H: That's not much of an answer.

B: Doesn't have to be.

H: You don't say much, do you?

B: Nope.

H: I'm bored.

B: Okay.

H: My dad's rich, you know.

B: Of course I know. Why else would I be here on this god-forsaken planet babysitting you?

H: Babysitting? I don't need a babysitter!

B: I'm sure you don't. But you dada disagrees.

H: Can't we go out? I hate being cooped up.

B: No.

H: But it's awful in here, and it smells.

B: Go to sleep.

H: I'm not tired.

B: Then just lay there.

H: Can I have a glass of water?

B: No. Go to sleep.

Red Writing Hood Meme: Dialogue

It's that time again, everyone- time for the Red Writing Hood meme! This week's meme, for some reason, was way harder than I thought it would be. The idea is to create a short piece of fiction featuring the dialogue between two people arguing, focusing more more on the spoken than the setting details. I tossed around 4 or 5 different scraps of dialogue for different stories before settling on one, and even then I'm not sure if I'm happy with it. But it's done, and it's here, although I almost feel as if it is sub par. Who knows- maybe the others are destined to become a different story? Maybe they will open that door that will get a book published?

North By Northman

"I've got a new job, Mom," Jolie said. She took a sip of her lemonade.

"You did? That's fantastic! Where at?"

"Shreveport. I'm going to be an executive assistant for a club owner." Tabitha looked at her daughter skeptically.

"That's a long way from home, Jolie, and working in a club? Are you sure it's safe?"

"Of course it is. Mr Eric has top-notch security in the building day and night." Another sip of lemonade. "He said it's actually kind of boring there sometimes."

"I don't know," Tabby replied, still not fully sold on her eldest child going all the way to Louisiana. "Don't you think you could find something closer?" Jolie shook her head slowly.

"I've sent out my resume to so many places, Mom, and haven't gotten even the slightest nibble here. So I think I need to start fresh elsewhere, and this is exactly the change I need."

"What are you guys talking about?" Jolie's younger sister Dawn came into the kitchen and flopped on to the bar stool beside her.

"Jolie's found a job. In Shreveport, of all places," their mother answered. "At a club working as an assistant." Dawn's eyes got big.

Please tell me it's not the place I'm thinking of." Jolie didn't answer. "Are you serious? Jolie, that place is crawling with vamps! Everyone knows that!" Dawn shook her head. "Surely you aren't stupid enough to take this job, especially knowing their 'turnover rate'". This was complete with Dawn's self-patented air-quotes.

"Oh please," Jolie scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Like no other bar has ever gone through several bartenders in a short period of time."

"THEY WERE KILLED!" Dawn shrieked. Tabitha grabbed the end of the counter to steady herself as the news her girls were battling over suddenly sunk in.

"Vampires? Is that what she means?" Both girls looked at their mother and Jolie nodded meekly.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Haiku-A-Day 8.11.10

Brave men and women
in foreign lands; Duty calls,
sacrificing all.

A Photo A Day

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Haiku-A-Day 8.10.10

It's been a while since I've done a haiku. Beginning of this year, actually. I used A Photo A Day for inspiration. Just click on the corresponding date on the calendar to the left of the day's picture. :)


Blood seeping from wounds,

Eyes glazed, jaw slack, hair mussy,
Bare-knuckled brawler.

.:*:.

I think I want to work on a story to go along with this, as it is a great picture and has so much potential. Gotta work on my Friday Theme Meme for TRDC first though :)



Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Red Writing Hood Meme: Poetry

It's that time of the week again! It's time for the Red Writing Hood meme over at The Red Dress Club. This week is a bit different and takes me back to my Bad Hair Emo Smee days, and is asking me to write some poetry. Don't worry- there's no scribbling manically in the dark, and no fear of cutting myself to "let the words bleed out", but here goes. The subject of the meme is a narrative poem about the workings of a family.

VACATION

Beep... beep... beep...
Good lord, it's already 5am?
Get the hubster up, good,
now I can sleep two more hours.
"Hey kiddo, time to get up," the kid is up and moving.
Let the dogs out, pet the cat,
grab the keys.
Short drive, drop her off at her sitting job,
time to go run.
Korn, Pantera, Steel Panther,
my concrete companions-
with a little Justin Timberlake SHHH!
Pick the kid up, get her fed,
"Mom, can I go play outside?"
Go, go, there's cleaning to be done.
Scrub here, wipe there,
how the hell did this get so badly stained?
Five minute break,
looks like it's gonna be Buffy on Netflix.
More scrub, more wipe, add some shine-
Perfect!
"I'm hungry."
Lunchtime already? *sigh*
Make some sandwiches,
here's the chips- enjoy.
Dogs want out again.
Straighten up the living room,
UGH this floor needs to see a mop!
Dog hair in the hallway, dust on everything,
cat toys underfoot.
Should I do laundry, too?
Oh, almost forgot! Have to defrost dinner!
Okay, chicken's thawing,
laundry's washing,
is that Buffy mugging down with Spike?
"Daddy's home!"
How was your day? "I'm hungry!"
Supper's cooking, only a few more minutes,
Vampire slaying replaced by ESPN.
Food's eaten, dishes cleaned,
pet-sitting job time!
Drop the kid off- again-
and go home to chat with friends
while folding laundry
and arranging Girl Scout activities.
Pick the girl up, chat and fold,
it's 11pm so soon?
Put away the clean clothes,
make sure the animals are cared for,
the family is happy,
and I'm gonna shower and go to bed.
5am seems to come awfully quick.
Only four more days
until I go back to work.

4 August 2010