tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59823304853291907582024-03-12T22:32:12.165-07:00Sorry I was ZoningAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-897887010119845722017-05-04T19:56:00.003-07:002017-05-04T19:56:41.459-07:00Word-Count Wednesday 014 <u>Currently Working On</u><br />
This freakin Drama Scene!!!!!!!!<br />
I just don't want it to suck<br />
<br />
<u>Process?</u><br />
I just want to write everything down. From EXACTLY how the character is speaking and what EXACTLY they are doing while they are speaking. I guess that's the hard part about Drama writing, you have to give up A LOT of control when it comes to your characters.<br />
<br />
I don't like that.<br />
<br />
<u>Currently Reading</u><br />
Still reading The Thousandth Floor. I read a good chunk the other day. :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-13250357429547034302017-05-02T00:15:00.002-07:002017-05-02T00:15:59.991-07:00High School Nostalgia (who would have thought)<div style="color: #454545; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 17pt;">I wish I still had that corsage from prom</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 17pt;">The one tied with the blue satin ribbon</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 17pt;">The same ribbon you tied around my heart</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 17pt;">Even with you miles away</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 17pt;">And no longer there</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 17pt;">I still feel you tug on it</span></div>
<br />
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 17pt;">Every so often. </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 17pt;">R.E Savini</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-73418447219822046862017-04-26T15:59:00.001-07:002017-04-26T15:59:15.150-07:00Word-Count Wednesday 013<b>Currently Working on</b><br />
Nothing at the moment. I am going to be working on <i>Match Day</i> some more and I am also going to start working on the Drama scene. I have a few ideas, I just need to pick a direction.<br />
<br />
<b>The Process</b><br />
I'm nervous about writing the drama scene. My comfort zone definitely lies in short stories, so this is new territory for me. I don't know if my ideas will work or how they will turn out.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Currently Reading</b><br />
Still reading <i>The Thousandth Floor</i>. Haven't really been able to make too much of a dent in it. With the end of the semester coming up, I am finding myself getting swamped with all of the homework and studying that needs to be done.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-69853692872477043652017-04-25T17:07:00.000-07:002017-04-25T17:07:03.548-07:00A Letter to Myself (10 years later)Dear Me,<br />
<br />
Do people still call you a bitch? Good. Keeps you humble. I hope you are successful in whatever way that means for you. I hope you're not working retail anymore (if you are, then you are most definitely a bitch by now).<br />
<br />
I hope you have moved on from that one boy. God I hope you moved on.<br />
<br />
Have you written those books yet? If not, I'm disappointed in you. If you have, FINALLY.<br />
<br />
I hope you have met someone who makes you happy. I hope he adores you. I hope you adore him too.<br />
<br />
And if you end up alone, then you end up alone. Adopt a bunch of cats, you'll survive.<br />
<br />
People always leave anyways.<br />
<br />
Are you still afraid of things? Stop that. You can't live like that anymore.<br />
<br />
I hope you get up earlier than 10am. I'm still having trouble with that. If you still are, then stop it. You're wasting a whole lot of your days, and you only get so many.<br />
<br />
Don't be so hard on yourself. A lot of this outside shit doesn't matter, and I hope you have figured that out by now.<br />
<br />
Is your hair still short? If not, then I know you want to cut it by now. Just do it bro.<br />
<br />
Not much to say except that I hope you are out of the town and moving on. As you know, feeling stuck is an absolutely terrible and hopeless feeling. I hope you are not stuck anymore. I hope you are free.<br />
<br />
Kick ass and take names. Life's too short not to.<br />
<br />
Mom says Hi.<br />
<br />
-Rachel (Yourself) (You know that) (Bye)<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-1071052185663513632017-04-24T18:38:00.001-07:002017-04-24T18:38:36.062-07:00Match Day<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">20
days until Match Day<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">///<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“This
thing itches.” Kay scratched her arm where the disc had been administered with
chewed finger nails. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> “Don’t!” Dom reached over to smack his sister’s hand away
from the incision. “You’ll make it worse.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Kay
reeled out of her twin’s reach, tucking her right arm into her side, fingers
still grazing the skin, lighter this time. She flicked her long bangs out of her
eyes as she continued her strides across the darkened park and through the tree
line. Dom’s long legs made it easier for him to keep up with her hurried steps.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Kay
almost didn’t hear her brother’s nervous questions as she batted tree branches
out of their path, crunching on crisp fallen leaves as she went.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Are
they even here?” Dom’s voice had a slight quiver to it, despite the fact that
they meet their friends here on a regular basis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Her
eyes grazed over Dom’s tall, skinny frame. Noting the way his brown eyes darted
every which way and the slight tremor that haunted his fingers. Getting their
discs in made them officially eligible for Match Day; a concept that had become
a starling reality for the pair. Kay had put on a brave face for her brother as
the nurse had shoved the needle carrying the deadly device into her arm, but
deep down she was terrified of the fact that it could drop her dead in as soon
as a month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Yeah,
they’re here,” Kay said, pointing ahead to the soft glow of the bonfire and
noting the figures gathered around it. “It’s just a quiet night.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Out
of their entire group, Kay and Dom were the first ones to get their discs for
Match Day. Wanda was the next one up, but she wouldn’t be sixteen for a few
more months. Sage and Mason still had a good eight months or so before their
turn as well. Corey, being the youngest of all of them, had a full year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Kay
couldn’t help but be jealous of the newly fifteen year old. What she wouldn’t
give for just one more day disc free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It
was completely silent as the twins came up to the fire pit. Their friends had
looks of worry and fear written across their faces. Even the fire knew not to
crackle too loud. Sage and Mason, who were usually throwing anything and
everything into the fire while giggling wildly, were sitting on the ground, legs
crossed, expressions blank. Kay had never seen the two boys so still in her entire
life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It
was unsettling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Wanda
sat on one of their usual logs, her skinny elbow rested on her equally skinny knees,
her head was hung low, her blonde curls falling in a cloud around her face. Her
shoulders shuttered ever so slightly. After already losing both of her parents
to Match day, Wanda had taken the news of the twin’s injections the hardest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">This
was the beginning of the end for them, but Kay pushed that out of her head and
asked the last thing that was on everyone’s minds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Where’s
Corey?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Kay’s
voice seemed to make everyone jump out of whatever trance they had been in.
Sage and Mason scurried from their spots and wrapped their arms around Dom’s
waste. Wanda zipped past the three boys to engulf Kay in a fierce hug. Kay
hugged her back, startled at the group’s sudden reaction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Relax
guys!” Kay pried Wanda’s arms from her neck, as Dom tried to do the same with
the boys. Kay was about to say something smart about the fact that the
injections weren’t a death sentence, but one look at Wanda’s face had her
stomach tied in knots.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Her
curly hair was tangled in a nest-like state, like she had tossed and turned all
night. Her eyes were puffy and red; probably from crying. She wore an over sized
sweatshirt that probably belonged to Dom at one point. She was drowning in the
fabric.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Kay
instead put a hand on her friends shoulder; squeezing slightly and giving her a
meaningful look. <i>There’s nothing we can
do. </i>She tried to say silently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Wanda
nodded back to her, laying Kay’s hand over hers and intertwining their fingers.
She cast a sad look to Dom, who refused to meet her eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
moment was somber and heavy, everything Kay wanted to avoid. Just as she was
about to choke on black clouds above them, Corey came bursting through the
bushes, throwing tree branches and leaves as he did so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Guys!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Everyone
jumped at his high pitched shriek, at fifteen puberty still hadn’t caught up to
him. His short body folded in half, hands resting on his knees as he tried to
catch his breath. Long frizzy red hair getting caught in his mouth every time
he heaved in. His eyes were screwed shut, face as red as a tomato. Kay was
surprised with how out of breath he was. This kid didn’t weigh one hundred
pounds soaking wet, so when he ran he was light as a feather. She very rarely
saw him huffing and puffing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Jesus
Corey!” Wanda snapped. Sage and Mason quickly removed themselves from Dom’s
waist and raced over to Corey. Sage grabbed him by the shoulders, both boys
whispering furiously to him. Corey quickly pushed them away, his breath now
regained, he drew himself up to his full height of five foot nothing and took a
deep breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“I
found a way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Kay
and Dom both gave him a sideways look.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“A
way to what?” Dom asked cautiously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Corey
took another deep breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“A
way out of Match Day.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Fear
and anger rose up in Kay’s throat. Anyone who talked of getting out of Match
Day was always found and hauled away. That’s how the twin’s mother went. One
day she was cursing the discs at coffee, the next day she was being dragged out
of the house by two large policemen kicking and screaming. Kay remembers her
mother’s disdain for Match Day very clearly. <i>Population control my ass </i>she would say, <i>It’s another way for them to control us. </i>But Kay knew the truth. It
was population control. The country was out of resources, and had been for some
time. Match Day was a way to fix that and maybe delay the starvation and hunger
that would soon set in. If she had to die so someone’s kid could eat, then that
was that. But one thing was for certain, she was not going to be hauled off
like her mother was. She wasn’t going to put Dom or any of her friends through
that again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Say
that any louder and they’ll flay you, Corey.” Kay spat at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Corey
balled up his fists and pursed his lips. This was a conversation they had over
and over again, Corey was terrified of getting his disc. He had a million and
one conspiracy theories and plans to get out of Match Day, which he got curtesy
of the Mulholland siblings and their groupies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Callie
has a way this time, she-“ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Callie
had a way last time too didn’t she? Last I checked it got a guy killed and almost
got <i>you</i> hauled off.” Kay stomped her
way over to the fire pit, trying to gain some distance between her and the red
head. She could hear Sage murmuring to Corey as they all followed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Just
drop it man. She got her disc today.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Corey
ignored him, continuing after Kay with more anger than ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Don’t
you get it?!” He was yelling at her now. “You are going to die, Kay.” He whipped
his skinny arm around his body, pointing a finger at her brother. “Dom is going
to die. The discs <i>will </i>kill him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">All
color drained from Dom’s face. His eyes went wide with fear. He stretched out a
trembling hand, which Wanda took eagerly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Don’t
drag him into this Corey,” Kay stood up, her five foot six frame towering over
the red head. “You’re beef is with me. Keep it that way.” She bumped his
shoulder as she past him, making her way back to her brother’s side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Don’t
listen to him Dominic.” Wanda soothed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Kay
laid a hand on his shoulder. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Yeah,
don’t listen to him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">First Match Day<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">///<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> No one died on their first Match Day. This was the mantra
that Kay had been repeating to Dom and herself for the past month. Match day
landed on the day corresponding with the month. It was currently October, which
meant that Match Day landed on the 10<sup>th</sup>. It was a week day, so
luckily Dom was distracted with school work, but that didn’t mean that anyone
forgot what day it was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> As they walked into school, it was impossible not to
notice the silence. Kay scanned the area, looking for kids with tears in their
eyes or any sign that the match had already been chosen and it wasn’t Dom or
Kay. But there were no tears, no screams of anguish; only silent kids waiting
anxiously for a phone call to the office.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> “See Dom,” Wanda said as they walked towards their first
classes, “the matches almost always happen in the morning.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Dom
did not look comforted by her words. There was only so much school work that
could be done in order to avoid thinking about the possibility of your death,
so Dom had spent most of the night switching off between tossing in bed and
researching for a history project. His hair was tangled beyond belief, usual
silky curls frazzled into a mess on his head. His eyes were bloodshot and puffy
from a combination of crying and sleep deprivation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Having spent the better half of the night bringing her
brother down from anxiety attacks, Kay was sure she didn’t look much better.
Her long hair was frizzy beyond belief when she had looked in the mirror this
morning, chucking it up in a bun was probably no help, but she did it anyways.
Her skin had paled some throughout the night, maybe from the constant feeling
of nausea in the pit of her stomach. She could barely keep her eyes open as Dom
talked her ear off about his project, and when he finally fell asleep, she was too
occupied with the possibility of him dropping dead the next day to get some
sleep herself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Even
in her sleep deprived state, she knew she just needed to keep her brother calm
for as long as possible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“It
was probably some old man that dropped at the crack of dawn.” She said, earning
a grimace from Wanda.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Dom
shrugged his shoulders, looking like he really wasn’t hearing what either one
of them were saying to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">They
kept walking down the hall, their old shoes squeaking on the linoleum floors,
and into their first class of the day. They took their usual seats; Dom in the
third row, Kay right behind, and Wanda one row over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">As
students filed in, each one of their looks lingered on the twins. They were of the
first to get the discs in the class, so they were all curious. At least that’s
what Wanda had said to keep Kay calm, but right now it wasn’t working.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Nothing
to see chumps.” Kay spat at the new wave of classmates that walked in. They
quickly averted their gazes to the floor and settled in their seats. No need
for them to suffer under the eyes of judgmental teenagers. She reached forward,
placing a hand on her brothers’ shoulder, giving him an encouraging squeeze. He
turned his head, eyes finding hers beneath his shaggy hair, letting her know
that he heard her loud and clear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Their
teacher came in and they started their lesson for the day. She started by telling
everyone the proper Match Day procedure if she or any of their teachers,
faculty, or classmates were to be “lucky matches”, and then continued to tell
everyone to put it out of their minds for now and focus on their work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Kay
kept her head down for the first thirty minutes. Math being one of her favorite
subjects, she found it easy to lose herself in the numbers. She constantly
caught Wanda turning her head over to Dom out of the corner of her eye,
checking him over to make sure he was okay. Kay knew he was fine, but she snuck
a few looks his way anyways. She didn’t notice anything but the slight tremor
in his hands, but unfortunately, that was normal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A
little later into class and Kay knew there was something wrong. Call it ESP or
a freaky twin thing, something was not right. Kay looked up and reached out to
tap Dom’s shoulder with her pencil. Even the slightest touch made him jump
slightly. He refused to turn her way. Kay noticed a slight tremble in his
shoulders, and immediately was concerned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">She
hopped out of her seat, kneeling down next to Dom, and saw what she never hoped
to see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">He
was sweating buckets. Small droplets falling from his nose and onto his
schoolwork below. His hair was stuck to his face, obscuring his vision. His
skin was paler than she had ever seen it before, making him look ghostly. His
entire body was beginning to tremble. Kay placed her hand on his arm, panicking
at how hot he felt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">She
pivoted around to look at Wanda beside her. She looked exactly how Kay felt.
Eyes wide with fear, eyebrows disappearing into her hairline, mouth stuck rounded
in a small “o”. Kay stuck her arm out to smack her friend, silently telling her
to get it together and help her. She wrapped her arms around her brother,
guiding him up and out of his seat. Then she passed him over to Wanda, who had
now gained the sense to stand up and help out. Each girl had one of his long
arms draped over their shoulders and their own wrapped around his waist,
quickly making their way out of the classroom and into the hallway. They
carefully placed his long body on the floor, propping him up against the wall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> “He’s matched! He’s matched!” Wanda was frantic. Pulling
at her hair and digging her fingernails into her skin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> “No way.” Kay said to her. “There’s no way! It’s our
first day! They never match on their first day!” She was shouting now, and
painfully aware of the fact that she was letting her brother see her freak out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> “You don’t get it Kay.” Wanda grabbed her shoulders,
holding them tight. “This is how it happens. One minute you’re fine, the next
you’re on the floor.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Kay’s eyes went wide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Her heart dropping into her stomach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> This was actually happening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> She dove to her brother, laying him down, cradling his
head in her lap. She smoothed his hair off his face, running her fingers
through his curls. She could only stare down at him in shock and wait for it to
be over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> The sound of crying caught her ears. Her head snapped up,
extremely confused as to who else would be crying. The twins didn’t really have
many friends, and there was only one of them present to be upset at Dom getting
matched. She peered past Wanda and down the hall. There was a group of people,
part of the Mulholland group by the look of them, crowded in the hallway. Kay
couldn’t pin point exactly who was there, but she wasn’t really worried about
that. Her eyes were glued to the bottoms of two more pairs of shoes. Both laid
out just like Dom was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Wanda let out a cry, tearing Kay away from the scene down
the hall and back to her brother in her arms. She was now frantically running
her hands through his hair as Wanda clutched his hand in her own. His eye
cracked open a fraction of an inch. He gasped for air, coughing up blood as he
did so. Kay tried to soothe him as best a she knew how. No matter how hard she
tried, she couldn’t stop the tears from pooling in her eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> “I love you.” She whispered it softly, wiping sweat from
his brow with the sleeve of her jacket. Wanda was whimpering next to her. She
couldn’t spare a look at her friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> “I love you too.” His voice was softer than she had ever
heard before. Dry and crackled from the lack of air. He squeezed his eyes
tight, grimacing in some type of pain that Kay would give and arm and a leg to
remove from his body. He opened his mouth and said it again and again until he
gave one last shutter and the breath left his body.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Kay went rigid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Her
worst nightmare has come true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Her
best friend<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Her
brother<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Her
entire world<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Was
now dead in her arms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Her
chest grew tight. She couldn’t breathe as hot tears streaked down her face and
into his hair. She was only slightly aware of Wanda crying beside her. She
wanted so badly to reach up and close his eyes for good, but she couldn’t bring
herself to let go of him for one second. So instead she lowered her head to his
until their foreheads were touching; just as she had done the night before to
calm him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">She
let out a low moan, allowing the sorrow to fill up her lungs and escape past her
lips, and tried her best not to acknowledge that it was the last time she would
hold him close.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Her
best wasn’t good enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-79901972862206898862017-04-24T11:51:00.002-07:002017-04-24T11:51:38.225-07:00Word-Count Wednesday 012<b>Currently Working On</b><br />
Currently working on the narrative project for class. I just finished it yesterday and I am happy with how it turned out. I definitely want to continue this story.<br />
<br />
<b>The Process</b><br />
The process was good, it was just hard to find time to write.<br />
Also, I had a part in the story where a character died and I found it a little difficult to write. I wanted it to be a good death scene, but I haven't really written people dying before. I didn't want it to be super cliche and I hope it didn't turn out that way. When I do revisions I am going to do some research on how to write a death scene well and maybe tweak that part a little bit.<br />
<br />
<b>Currently Reading</b><br />
Still reading The Thousandth Floor by Katherine McGee. I haven't made much progress on it, but I'm still reading it!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-87447338078667334312017-04-13T18:32:00.000-07:002017-04-13T18:32:03.998-07:00Word-Count Wednesday 011<b>What am I working on?</b><br />I have been working on the narrative piece for class. The due date is coming up quick! I haven't made too much progress, but I've started it so that counts for something.<br />
<br />
<b>How do I feel about the process?</b><br />
School and work have been getting in the way (lame excuse I know). Everything is just a little overwhelming and I'm trying not to die.<br />
<br />
<b>Currently Reading?</b><br />
I am currently reading another YA novel called The Thousandth Floor.<br />
<br />
Over the weekend (last week) I read TWO books! WOOOOOO!!!!!<br />
<br />
Review up on my blog ;)<br />
<br />
www.savvireads.wordpress.comAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-56239895582460130392017-04-02T13:20:00.001-07:002017-04-02T13:20:06.221-07:00Word-count Wednesday 009<b>What am I working on?</b><br />
I'm dong a whole lot of brainstorming and not a lot of writing. Whoops.<br />
<br />
<b>How do I feel about the process?</b><br />
Terrible. I feel stumped.<br />
<br />
<b>Currently Reading?</b><br />
I am currently reading the second book in the Illuminae Files by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufmann. Things are happening, plots are twisting!!!<br />
<br />
Sorry this one is a lame one, my heads in the clouds.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-16911347094402102192017-03-22T18:14:00.002-07:002017-03-22T18:14:50.514-07:00Word-Count Wednesday 008<b>What am I working on?</b><br />
I am going to be working on my Exp. 7 piece that a shared about in class on Monday. I really want to see this one through. I am also starting to brainstorm ideas for the Drama Scene assignment... it's a little intimidating, but I'm excited to try it.<br />I am also working on a few things for my book blog as well!<br /><br /><b>How do I feel about the process?</b><br />
I am super happy about the work I got done on Exp. 7. I am pumped to continue working on it.<br />
<br />
<b>Currently Reading?</b><br />
I finished The Diabolic by S.J Kincaid right at the start of Spring Break (I'm working on the review for it) and now I have picked up Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amy Kaufman. :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-34285539078328573262017-03-18T21:35:00.001-07:002017-03-20T00:15:03.934-07:00Experiment #7// MetamorphosisSo this is the first half(ish) of the story I am writing for the plot I was assigned in the "20 Master Plots" book.<br />
I have more to add, but I wanted to share what I had so far before class on Monday.<br />
I didn't get as much time to work on it over break as I wanted, but I'm pretty proud of how much I came up with.<br />
<br />
Word Count: 2,964<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> “This is the third time this week we’ve been to your
house, one more call and you’re spending the night in the cell.” Officer Hanson
pushed a thick finger to Raph’s chest to hammer away the point. “Are we clear?”
The dim lights from the porch betrayed the Officer’s calm demeanor, showing the
sheen of sweat breaking out on the older man’s forehead, despite it being 40
degrees outside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Crystal.”
Raph growled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Officer Hanson nodded to him before waddling off to his
squad car. Raph squinted against the red and blue lights as the car drove back
down the dirt road it had come. He let out a puff of air as he leaned back
against the stucco wall of his house, letting the words he had overheard
another officer speak to his Mother on the front porch roll around in his mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> “…third time this week…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> “…anger management counseling…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> “…scaring the other children…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Raph had been in such a rage that he hadn’t heard the
entire conversation, but he had heard enough. He knew that his own mother was
letting these strangers tell her what he was all about, telling her that they
knew him better than she did, if she even knew him at all. How dare they think
that Raph would hurt one of his younger siblings! He hadn’t done it before and
he wasn’t about to start now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Raph huffed, sending his shaggy hair out of his eyes for
a moment, and pushed himself off the wall of his house. Maybe a walk would do
him some good. When he was younger, his Father would always tell him to “take a
walk” when he got angry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">That
was when his Father was around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
cold air bit at the back of his neck and his ears as he shuffled his feet
through the dirt roads, kicking up dust and rocks all along the way. With each
step he could feel more anger creep up his limbs and settle in his chest. He
clenched his fist and tried for a few seconds to brush it aside, but like
always, it never worked. Raph let the anger take over, it bubbled in his
stomach and spilled out between his lips in a harsh growl. He opened his mouth slightly
and let a little more of the sound out with each breath, and suddenly he was
running. Down the dirt road and up into the hills he had been warned against
wandering in as a child. He let the tall grass thrash at his jean clad legs and
catch around his ankles. He kicked up dirt and rocks, disturbing a few animals
as he went along. He didn’t even notice the wood fence as he hopped over it in
one swoop. His screams and yelps getting louder and louder with each pounding
footstep he took, the anger almost running on empty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">And
then he noticed the house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
anger fizzled out of him suddenly, faster than it ever had before, as he let
his eyes wander over the old building. In all the times he had come out here,
he had never once seen the old structure before. It was so slanted, the small
chimney practically clinging to the roof, that is was almost comical. The
boards were splintered as could be, and the porch looked as if it would give
way any second. In the darkness, Raph could barely make out a figure sitting on
a rocking chair on the porch of the house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“You’re
an angry young man Raphael.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> A light burst upon the figure, as if Raph himself had a
flashlight pointed right at it. It was an old woman, her face wrinkled beyond
belief. The skin on her pasty forehead sagged so much he wondered if it
impaired her vision. Her hair looked as dry as hay and was slung over the back
of the rocking chair she sat on, making its way down to what looked like her
waist. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">She
stood suddenly, leaving the old rocking chair frantically swaying without her
weight. She put her hands on her large hips as she spoke to Raph once more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Why
do you let it control you Raphael?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Raph
shook his head vigorously, trying to clear his vision, his hair flipping wildly
as he did so. He brought his hands up to his face, pressing his knuckles into
his eyes, and prayed to God he wasn’t having another episode. When he had done
all of these things and taken a few breaths, he dared to look up once more. The
woman was still standing there, the wreck of a house still behind her, her hand
still on her hips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“It’s
not nice to ignore people.” Her voice cracked as she spoke, as if it had not
been used in quite some time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Raph
felt the anger begin to boil again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Who
the Hell are you?” He bit out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
woman gave him a steady look, taking in his hunched shoulders and his lowered
head, possibly noting how animalistic he looked at the moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“I’m
someone who wants to help you Raphael.” She said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“How
do you know my name?!” He almost yelled. His jaw was clenched, his fists balled
up, the anger was getting stronger like it always did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“You
let the anger control you. You let it consume you and you never fight back.”
She was scolding him now. “You are using it as a shield you don’t need, and
everyone in your wake is left damaged.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“You
don’t know anything!” He screamed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
woman lifted her chin to look down at him, sweeping some of her long hair out
of her face as she did so. “I know that these are the choices you are making
Raphael, and I know they are selfish ones.” She reached her hands out, and Raph felt his
feet begin to carry him toward her on their own accord. He felt his anger burn
hotter as he neared her. He could feel it flowing through his veins, cracking
at his bones, pools of hot liquid swirling in his head. It burned, it burned so
terribly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“What
are you doing to me?!” Raph screamed at her. He was shaking all over, sweat
began to drip from his face, and the pain was so overwhelming he thought he
would surely die. He willed his body to shut down, but it would no longer
listen to him, only to the anger and heat flowing throughout him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Anger
fuels it Raphael. Anger makes the fire burn hotter,” Raph struggled against the
invisible hold placed upon him. “This fire you create will burn everything and
everyone, and it will cause you great pain.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Tears
streaked down Raph’s face. His eyes were closed tight, his lips moved in silent
prayer that the terrible pain would recede.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">She
extended her hands towards him, placing a cool palm on each cheek. “Become a
selfless man, and you will know the way to smother out the fire.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Something
happened when she spoke, shaking Raph to his very core. He felt it race up his
spine, and shoot through each limb. He felt it in his chest, white hot with
each breath. It clouded his vision, and escaped his body in the form of a
shriek. Once it moved past his lips, his knees gave out and the last he
remembered was the grass tickling his cheek, and the Woman’s words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Become a selfless man, and you will
know the way to smother out the fire.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">///<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Raph
woke up to the smell of clean sheets. His hands searched for the dirt and grass
of the trail that he had been running on the night before, but they only found
the grey sheets of his bed. He sat up carefully, checking for the fiery pain
that had ripped through him the night before. There were no traces left as he
flexed his muscles and took a few careful breaths. He began to reconstruct what
had happened to him in his brain. He assured himself that it couldn’t have been
a nightmare, the pain had been too real.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A
soft knock interrupted his thoughts. He gripped his sheets, expecting his
Mother to open his door, he steeled himself for her pained expression. When the
door opened a crack, it wasn’t his mother there, but his youngest sibling
Johnny. Raph searched his small face for any signs of fear. Johnny’s face was
half hidden by the door, his shaggy hair curling over his ears and into his
brown eyes. Johnny was basically identical to Raph in appearance, but nothing
else. Where Raph had always been explosive, Johnny had kept himself contained
and quite. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Sometimes
Raph envied the eight year old for that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“You’re
gonna be late for school.” Johnny stated quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Raph
whipped his head around to the clock on his nightstand, where the block red
number showed that if he didn’t get moving, he would in fact be late for
school. He jumped up and quickly changed his shirt, which was covered in dirt
and sweat from the night before. He tossed his books and papers in his bag,
grabbed his phone, and headed out of his bedroom. He ruffled Johnny’s hair as
he passed, murmuring a small thank you to the youngest member of the family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">He
hoped to slip out of the house without being noticed, but of course, Raph was
never that lucky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Running
late again Raphie!” His sister Marcella quipped from behind the kitchen counter.
She was twelve going on thirty, thinking that being in middle school and being
allowed to wear a little makeup made her an adult.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Don’t
start with me Marcy.” He half growled as he reached past her to grab a bagel
for his breakfast on the go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“I
just worry about your education big brother.” She crossed her arms over her
skinny body and flicked her long curls over her shoulder awkwardly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“The
only thing you need to worry about is getting the knuckleheads to school.
Where’s Miguel?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Marcella
turned her back to Raph, shoving sandwiches into paper bags for their siblings.
“Probably hiding from you.” She tossed it out as if it was normal that his
sibling would be afraid of him. Raph stopped in his tracks, he could feel his
anger start to bubble inside of him. Heat quickly rose to his face, and he felt
nauseous all of a sudden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Whatever,”
he huffed, “just make sure you get there on time.” His heart started to race at
the thought of ten year old Miguel cowering from him in the bathroom. He felt
so hot all of a sudden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Raph
threw open the screen door of their house and hurried down the steps, ignoring
whatever is was Marcella was yelling at him from the kitchen. He jogged down
the small dirt road until he was met with the black city asphalt and racing
cars of Birch Street. He quickly walked the simple path to school, letting the
breeze form the passing cars cool him as he went.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
bell had just rung as he pushed open the door to his first class of the day;
English. It was a good thing Mr. Jay was always late to their class, or Raph
would have gotten detention on more than one occasion. He took his seat just as
Mr. Jay shuffled into the classroom muttering something to himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Mr.
Jay dropped his stack of papers down on his desk with a thump, before standing
straight and greeting the class for the morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Good
morning class and happy Monday.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A
few students groaned at the reminder that it was in fact, the worst day of the
week. Mr. Jay continued talking about the past assignments, the grades his
students had received, and maybe another project. Raph rested his chin on his
hand, not listening to a word the man at the front of the room was saying. Mr.
Jay went on for a good few minutes before his cell phone began to ring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Son
of a…” He checked the screen before regarding the class once more. “I’ll have
to take this outside. Sit tight for a minute.” Raph watched as Mr. Jay left the
room, then picked up his pen and started to doodle absent mindedly in his
notebook. He was so entranced with his poor doodles that he didn’t notice when three
boys from the front of the classroom made their way to his desk in the back of
the room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Raph
jumped up as the three of them sat down around him, jostling his desk and
bumping into his shoulders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Heard
the cops going down the street last night.” Sean Mcannery had that stupid smirk
on his face. “Where do you think they went Duke?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Duke,
who was sitting to the left of Raph, leaned back in his chair, straightening
his varsity jacket with pasty white hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“I
think they went to take out the trash.” He smiled wide, revealing his perfectly
white teeth. Raph couldn’t help but imaging how good it would feel to knock a
few of them loose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
uncomfortable heat Raph had been feeling earlier that morning began to pool in
his belly. He clenched his jaw tight, determined not to give the three jerks
the reaction they wanted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“I
don’t think they got it all.” Adam, who was sitting to the right of Raph
sneered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Raph
hated them. He hated their stupid smiles and their stupid lettermen jackets. He
hated the stupid class rings that clung to their stupid meaty fingers. He
sucked in a breath as his entire body began to heat up. The pain he had felt
from the night before began to return, white hot and raging through his limbs.
He felt it most in his hands and the tips of his fingers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Duke
got up from his seat and made his way behind Raph. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Well
maybe we should finish the job for them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Raph
was shaking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
heat was so intense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Was
that smoke coming from his fingers?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Duke
brought his hands down on Raph’s shoulders with the intention of throwing him
out of his chair as he had done plenty of times before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">As
soon as his palms hit their target, Duke let out a yelp and quickly drew away.
Raph stood and whirled around to face him, knocking his chair over in the
process. Through his scowl he could see that Duke’s hands were bright red and
beginning to blister.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Duke
looked from his hands to Raph is disbelief. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“What
the Hell…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Raph’s
eyes were wide, not believing what he was seeing in front of him. He had burned
him… but how? Did it have something to do with what happened last night? He
began to panic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">What
was happening to him?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Who
did this to him?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Despite
his hands being burned, Duke unfortunately remembered how to speak.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“I
don’t know what you just did, but you’re gonna pay for it freak.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Raph’s
insides set ablaze at the word. He was not only a loser, but now a freak. He
moved to lash out at the Neanderthal, but only doubled over in pain instead.
With every angry thought, a white hot shock went through his body. He could
feel all of his classmates staring at him. This would do wonders for his
already trashed reputation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Raph
heard the door to the classroom open, but was not quick enough to make it back
to his seat in time before Mr. Jay reentered the room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Sorry
about that everyone, I had to…. Is there a problem, Raph?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Heat
rose to his face, this time from embarrassment. The urge to pound on everyone
in the room was overcome by the flash of pain. He had to leave. It was the only
way he could try and stop it, something told him that it wouldn’t just go away.
So Raph ducked out of the room, mumbling something about the nurse and started
running down the halls of the school. He needed to be alone. Making it to the
end of the hallway, he shoved himself through the double doors and out into the
yard. He made his way to the bleachers of the football field, finding solace in
the shade of the metal seats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
run to his destination had made him feel slightly better, the pangs of pain
being dulled ever so slightly, but he was still unbelievably hot. Feverish
almost. Anger boiled inside of him once again, why was this happening? He balled
his hands into fists, only to unfurl them with a hiss of pain from the heat
radiating off of his fingertips. He held his hands up to his face to inspect
his palms, and found four circular blister beginning to form right where his
fingertips had rested on his skin. He turned his hands over, inspecting his
knuckles and fingers as if he had never seen them before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">He
had definitely never seen this before. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">As
Raph tried to wrap his brain around the fact that he now burned whatever he
touched, he noticed that he had stopped sweating. He felt immensely cooler than
he had in the classroom. He stood in the shade of the bleachers for what felt
like hours; he focused on breathing and relished the cool breeze that swept
over this body. When the pain no longer pulsed with the beat of his heart, he
cautiously touched his fingers to his arm. They were warm, but when he retracted
them, they left no burns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">How
the Hell did this happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It
had to have been from the night before. The woman did something to him!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">And
then Raph remembered her words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Anger makes the fire burn hotter.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">///<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-51765769130776346072017-03-08T15:19:00.000-08:002017-03-08T22:17:25.851-08:00Word-Count Wednesday 007<b>What am I working on?</b><br />
I just got a jump start on Experiment #7 from the 20 Master Plots book. I have a solid idea and have gotten close to 200 words down! WOO! I am planning to for sure work on it over spring break, as well as some other projects.<br />
<br />
I really enjoyed our conversation in class today about the world of writing and editing and all that jazz. It was encouraging to hear how much others write or want to write in a day, and it definitely made me want to step up my game.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>How do I feel about the process?</b><br />
When I first got the prompt for Experiment #7 I was struggling to come up with an idea as I read the chapter, but I did get a spark of an idea and I latched onto it quickly. I am excited to see where it will take me. :)<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Currently Reading?</b><br />
I am still reading "The Diabolic" by S.J Kincaid. It's honestly kind of boring. I am going to try to read more over spring break, but I'm debating whether to DNF the book and just move on.... I haven't decided yet...<br />
I'll keep y'all posted.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-51374192913595580352017-03-08T12:53:00.002-08:002017-03-08T12:53:18.116-08:00To be a Writer<div class="MsoNormal">
I have stories inside of me<br />
words floating in my blood<br />
letters tucked between my joints.<br />
I can feel iambic pentameter pulsing in my ears<br />
sentences twisting their way around my ribs<br />
crushing my chest until I set them free on the page.<br />
When the weather turns cold<br />
those letters go stiff in my knees<br />
until I can hardly walk.<br />
Meter and rhyme beat with my heart<br />
and quicken with every breath.<br />
When I finally sit down<br />
and rid myself of these stories<br />
and these people,<br />
it is then that I know what it is<br />
to be a writer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-R.E Savini<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-62671721492959218842017-03-06T18:49:00.002-08:002017-03-06T18:51:00.289-08:00Turning<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">France 1848<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">~<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> The
gunshots were louder than I could have imagined.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> The
screaming was like nothing I had ever heard before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Even
though I knew the cause was lost, and that everyone who participated was sure
to die, I couldn’t help but want to join in the chaos. It was almost magnetic,
the sounds of gunfire and the desperation in the men’s voices. We were all
yearning for a freedom we could not possess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> But
I knew better than to join the fight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> The
building I sat in rattled with every blast of a cannon. I could feel the bodies dropping; thumping
painfully on the cobblestone streets they had grown up on, as if they were
raindrops from the sky, falling and shattering once they hit the ground.</span><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> I never
once covered my ears though. I felt a debt to those who were fighting. I knew
this was a crucial part of our history, and I wasn’t going to miss a thing. I
knew that when this was all over, no one would remember their names or their
faces, so one by one I listened to them fight and ultimately die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> I
owed them that much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> I
was hungrier than I had ever been before by the time it was all over. Maybe
that meant hours, maybe it meant days. I could never be sure. It had been quiet
for a while. The silence was unsettling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> This
is what happens after.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The smell hit
me first as I stepped out of my hiding spot and into the street. Traces of gunpowder
still hung in the air. It stung my insides when I breathed; I tried not to. The
barricade was a sad pile of what I had seen before. Pieces of furniture from
the backgrounds of happier memories thrown across the streets in desperation as
a last effort to slow down the oncoming enemy. Tables, chairs, cupboards; you
name it they used it to shut themselves in. All of the windows in every
building nearby were broken. Powerful panes now shattered by violence and death,
just like the rest of Paris.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Bodies
littered the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Soaked in
the liquids that once occupied their limbs so eager for change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The most
profound part being that no matter which side they were on, once wounded, they
bled the same red.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Mostly
women and children were milling about as I was, unable to rip our eyes from the
carnage in front of us. I glanced at the children, noting the fear and horror
in their faces. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">These are
things they will never un-see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Mademoiselle.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A soldier
stood next to me, his uniform wrinkled and stained, his hand extended to me. A
rag was clutched between his fingers, knowing the horror he was about to ask of
me. I ripped my eyes from the rag to see other women being silently told the
same task. Their faces went stony as they collected what was needed for the
job.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">If we knew
anything, it was how to put our heads down and work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The pit in
my stomach that I had forgotten about up until that point began to tighten as
the soldier sighed and dropped the rag at my feet. The thought of having to
sift through the wreckage and clear it away made my insides burn with shame. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The men behind
the barricades would not receive a proper burial.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Instead,
they would tossed away. Erased, as if they never existed in the first place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Their
memories wiped clean with each swipe of a rag.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A woman
came to stand next to me, stooping down to pick up the discarded rag, before
pushing it into my hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Just don’t
think about it.” Her voice was soft and stern, eyes glossy, face calm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">As I
kneeled down on the bloodstained streets, her words echoed in my head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">How could I
not think about it? How could I not think about the blood that stained the ends
of my dress and the soles of my shoes? How could I just wipe it away knowing
that it came from the bodies of boys who wanted something better? Boys who
thought they were men meant to go off to war at ages as young as sixteen. Boys
who took the troubles of the people around them and made them their own responsibility.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">My rag
sloshes in time with the lullabies they were sang as children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I can
almost hear their cries of laughter and sadness, I can almost feel the hunger
and pain they experienced throughout their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I see a
severed hand discarded in the gutter of the street and wonder how many times it
gave a gentle touch, or how many times it was held by a loved one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I see a
body strewn out on top of a pile of splinters and wonder how many times he
might have scraped his knee as a child, tripping over the furniture he now lays
dead on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I look at
the few children around me and wonder if any of them lost fathers or brother in
this fight. Where they thinking that they would one day grow up and share this
same fate? Fighting for a world so reluctant to change?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The blood
stains our hands red as we work. Our rags soaked to their limits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">We take
these thoughts and push them out of our heads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Our tears
silently fall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The world
keeps turning.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-79494559220447060602017-03-01T15:19:00.001-08:002017-03-01T15:19:09.245-08:00Word-Count Wednesday 006<b>What am I working on?</b><br />
I just turned in my narrative assignment! It felt really great to share it with the class and get feedback. :)<br />
I am currently working on a blog post for my book review blog <a href="http://www.savvireads.wordpress.com/">www.savvireads.wordpress.com</a><br />
<br />
I will be reviewing a poetry book called "The Princess Saves Herself in This One" by Amanda Lovelace.<br />
<br />
<b>How do I feel about the process?</b><br />
School is getting crazy again so there is not a lot of time for me to sit down and write with the intensity that I would like. But I am feeling very inspired after today.<br />
<br />
<b>Currently Reading?</b><br />
I am currently reading a YA novel called "The Diabolic" by S.J Kincaid. I am about 100 pages in. Look for the review on my blog!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-18967834065105930522017-02-27T23:20:00.003-08:002017-02-28T17:52:06.428-08:00Little Lightning Girl<div style="text-align: center;">
Storm clouds tucked between my bones</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lightning running through my veins</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Humming in my ears</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My power within my reach</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just where it needs to be</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Careful now</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am a hurricane of a girl.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Inspired by The Red Queen//Victoria Aveyard</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-5509815890822422562017-02-23T19:47:00.002-08:002017-02-23T19:47:45.919-08:00Word-Count Wednesday 005<b>What am I currently working on?</b><div>
I am still chugging away at this narrative assignment. I have made some good progress, but I know that the piece is still missing something.</div>
<div>
I got the entire weekend off from work (Score!) so I will be working on this assignment all weekend long.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>How do I feel about the process?</b></div>
<div>
I am feeling great about the process. I have shared the work with my friend Taylor, who is also a very talented writer, and he let me know his thoughts and helped to point me in the right direction.</div>
<div>
It feels great to have someone let you know that what you are working on doesn't suck. :)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Word Count?</b></div>
<div>
I got almost half a page the other day, which is really good considering this piece is going to be a little on the short side.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Currently Reading...</b></div>
<div>
I'm on the last 100 pages of King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard. I came home from school the other day and read for like 3 hours straight! I just got sucked in! I love when that happens. I will most likely finish it this weekend. WOO!!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-21788141806396228782017-02-16T23:28:00.001-08:002017-02-16T23:28:10.362-08:00Take What You Can Carry<div style="text-align: center;">
Take what you can carry</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The good and the bad</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Strap them to your back</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And continue on</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And know that when you have traveled all that you can</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
These things will have made you stronger still.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-R.E. Savini</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-23656012229920116582017-02-15T16:18:00.000-08:002017-02-15T16:18:06.467-08:00Word-Count Wednesday 004<b>What am I working on?</b><br />
<br />
Still working on the narrative project for class! I had a migraine all day yesterday and the day before, so that set me back a bit. But I worked on it today and I am feeling really good about it.<br />
<br />
<b>How do I feel about the process?</b><br />
<br />
Process is slow. Like I said, those damn migraines really set you back. There is also construction going on at my house, so it has been hard to really work on the project.<br />
<br />
<b>Word Count</b><br />
<br />
Maybe like 50-100 words? Not very good.<br />
<br />
<b>Currently Reading</b><br />
<br />
Still reading King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard. I'm able to sneak in a few chapters here and there. 😎Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-52490565340274867162017-02-11T21:11:00.002-08:002017-02-11T21:11:14.413-08:00Information over Italian Dinner<div class="MsoNormal">
We never talk about it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So when my Dad starts spilling information about his side of
the family <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
left and right over dinner<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s only natural that you drop everything and listen up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know everything about my Mom’s side.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can tell you where her parents we born and raised,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And where their parents were born and raised,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But with my Dad,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s a little different.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I try not to let the lack of information bother me,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it does.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And when he starts talking about my grandfather and how he
grew up<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s another reminder that I’m not whole.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He talks like its common knowledge,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like we have always known that our grandfather was the youngest
of 10 siblings<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And was practically raised by his two older sisters.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My Dad lists off names left and right<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Expecting a spark of recognition to light up within us;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Uncle Tony<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Uncle Frank<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aunt Mary<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My brother and I can only sit there are drink it all in.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who knows when he’ll talk of it again<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And we’ll certainly never ask him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I’m sure a lot of people wouldn’t be bothered by the
fact<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
that they don’t know any
of these people who died <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
long before they were even a thought in their parents minds.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But as he talks<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My stomach drops<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I just want to cry.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I feel robbed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I feel like this information is a part of the puzzle <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
that is my very existence<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and I’ll never unlock it fully<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
because my Dad will never speak up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s a part of his past that is painful to remember<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And it’s a part of my history that is ever more painful<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not to know.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How can we be whole<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If we don’t know the entire story?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I grew up thinking my father was one of three<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When really he was the only one.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The woman my brother and I called Grandma<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Married into the family.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My Dad’s mother left him when he was young.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I hate knowing that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hate asking about that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is it really right for me to cause him pain<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just to ease my own?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And as he finishes the story<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I put my fork down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And wonder when the next one will come.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m scared it will come too soon.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m scared it never will.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-42950395402313628922017-02-09T17:55:00.002-08:002017-02-09T17:55:35.961-08:00Word-Count Wednesday 003<b>What am I working on?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I have started on two different stories for the narrative assignment. My group reacted positively to both ideas, so I am going to continue working on them.<br />
<br />
<b>Word Count</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Maybe 200 words each? I haven't looked at them in a hot minute.<br />
<br />
<b>How do I feel about the process?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Super excited. I really love both of the pieces I'm working on. Every once in a while I get a little stuck, but I have a lot of time to work on everything so I'm not worried.<br />
<br />
<b>What am I reading?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Nothing at the moment. King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard just came out on February 7th and my copy comes in the mail TOMORROW. I'm beyond excited so I will be reading that as soon as I get it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-9475914691332070442017-02-02T14:30:00.000-08:002017-02-02T14:30:03.819-08:00Word-Count Wednesday 002<b>What am I working on?</b><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have started brainstorming for my narrative project. I'm trying to do something different, with different characters than I normally do. The exercise we did in class the other day about our memories really had me thinking. I tend to write a lot of characters who have VERY close friends. I love exploring that close friendship between people, and going through some memories the other day made me realize why and how that translates into my writing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Crazy cool.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have also been going back to the book I started writing over the summer. I am excited to hopefully work on it this weekend.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>How do I feel about the process?</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The writing process is painfully slow. I am in a very demanding Anatomy and Physiology class right now, so I am trying to keep on top of all of that work. I have also been out of town the last few weekends, so I feel like the time to write slips right through my fingers.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>What am I reading now?</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I started really getting into the Stephen King book for class. He is just such an interesting person and I really love the view he takes on writing.</div>
<div>
I have also been exploring the blogs of my classmates. :)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-78261609711497974552017-01-31T22:04:00.000-08:002017-02-01T22:59:57.494-08:00Experiment #5// The Library/An iPhone that loves its owner<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“This
anatomy test is going to kill me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Jade said
as she took the steps two at a time up to the library.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“You’re so
dramatic.” Ally said, pushing Jade’s shoulder. “You have gotten an A on every
test so far and all you ever do is study!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Not true!”
Jade defended.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Ally
continued on, ignoring her friend. “And, Dr. G loves you, so he’ll grade easy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Whatever.”
Jade huffed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The Library
was quiet as usual. Students sat at tables and in cubicles, studying away for
their next exams. The librarians here were strict, keeping everyone quiet and
in line with only a glare at most. They had hawk-like senses and Jade could
only hope that Benny wouldn’t make a scene.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Jade and
Ally sat down at a table in the corner of the room, far enough from the door so
that they wouldn’t catch the draft. The tall shelves housing many books put
Jade slightly at ease that any sounds Benny made would be buffered by the
structures. The girls pulled out their notes and textbooks, laying them all out
on the table. Jade held her breath and reached her hand down into her bag. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The moment
her fingers touched Benny’s smooth screen, he was happy as a clam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The loudest
clam in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“OH JADE I
MISSED YOU SO MUCH!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Jade
quickly folded her hands around the small device and slammed it into her chest,
hoping that the fabric of her shirt would muffle Benny’s cries. Everyone had
their eyes on her and Ally as she gave the crowd an apologetic smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Turn him
down!” Ally whispered to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“I’m sorry,”
Jade whispered back, “his volume is still broken.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Benny’s
volume had been broken for the past week, and it was driving her crazy.
Everyone’s iPhone was prone to missing their owner’s touch after a few hours,
but Benny was a very sensitive device. After a few minutes of putting him down
in class, he would be buzzing himself to tears in her backpack. Jade often had
to keep him on her lap just to keep him mildly calm. Things were easier when
she could just put him on vibrate and let him cry himself down to 5%, but with
his volume broken, it was much harder to console him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Jade tilted
her head down until her chin was touching her chest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Benny, you
know I love you lots, but this is a library. People are trying to study and get
work done, so you have to be really quiet. Do you think you could do that for
me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Two short
vibrations tickled her chest, letting her know that Benny had gotten the
message. She slowly took Benny form her chest, and gently set him on the table
in front of her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">All of four
seconds went by before the entire room knew of Benny’s feelings once more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“OH JADE
PLEASE DON’T PUT ME DOWN I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Once again
Jade snatched Benny form the table, shushing him as she tried to ignore all of
the eyes on her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Jade…”
Ally whined.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“I know, I’m
sorry.” She apologized again to her friend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Jade
carefully placed Benny on her lap, hoping the warmth of her skin would be enough
to soothe him and keep any other outbursts at bay. It worked for a few minutes,
but after that Benny was back to vibrating away. Jade continued to ignore him,
knowing that he was just being clingy, and focused on her work. Just as she
started to get lost in the world of blood cells and bone structure, Benny’s
shrill ringing tossed her right out of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">She flipped
the device over and clicked his home button, revealing two bright blue orbs
that represented his eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Benny…”
she growled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“I’M SORRY
JADE I JUST REALLY REALLY MISSED YOU TODAY AND I FEEL LIKE WE ARE DRIFTING
APART! I DON’T WANT TO DRIFT APART BECAUSE I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Many people
got up to leave as Benny’s shrill cries filled the air. Jade desperately tried
to calm Benny down so they wouldn’t get thrown out of the library.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Benny, listen
to me, I’m just trying to-“<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“YOU ARE
ALWAYS STUDYING AND YOU DON’T HAVE TIME FOR ME ANYMORE!” Benny cried cutting
her off. His ring tone jumped up a few more octaves as vibrations wracked his
little body. There was no consoling him now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Excuse me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Jade and
Ally looked up to see one of the librarians at their table. Her eyes were
narrowed and focused in on Benny so harshly, Jade feared he might break from
her glare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Your
device is disrupting the other students, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Jade and
Ally silently packed up their things as Benny continued to wail hysterically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Sorry our
study session was ruined.” Jade apologized as she and Ally left the library.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Ally
shrugged it off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Technology;
can’t live with it, can’t live without it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Agreed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-23307091458034306212017-01-25T19:10:00.001-08:002017-01-25T19:10:27.891-08:00Word-Count Wednesday 001<b>What am I working on?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I am going to do experiment #4 for class based off of the book I am working on. I have had so much writers block when it comes to this particular story, so I'm excited to finally get working on it again. I have also been writing poetry here and there.<br />
<br />
<b>How do I feel about the process?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Taking this class and being among other creative people has really inspired me. I am beyond excited to get back in that head-space of writing again. I have missed it a lot.<br />
<br />
<b>What am I reading now?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I am experiencing "book hangover" right now. I finished Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard a little while ago and the ending was brutal. I get very invested into stories and characters, so when bad things happen to them I can't help but get upset. The next book in the series comes out next month, so I am trying to find something lighthearted to read in the meantime.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-28033615729220159502017-01-24T21:25:00.001-08:002017-01-25T19:03:07.442-08:00Experiment #3 Maps- Havenport<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xOsuTYLFWmPZL7wCjneYHQINjxpyVu5vIkP1m9m3DWRr2Rl5PYu0D5cq2qn_LsZB8uKJ3TXlIBhLkz60ETSE9ZM1tU527COZmaMuG4iH9cfxwjeqLQZ6xx7MUsMYV37v3mraMnu0L3s/s1600/IMG_2365+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xOsuTYLFWmPZL7wCjneYHQINjxpyVu5vIkP1m9m3DWRr2Rl5PYu0D5cq2qn_LsZB8uKJ3TXlIBhLkz60ETSE9ZM1tU527COZmaMuG4iH9cfxwjeqLQZ6xx7MUsMYV37v3mraMnu0L3s/s400/IMG_2365+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Hello! My name is Kaleb.<br />
Now before I tell you the story of how my friends and I had to save the town from an evil and scary magical force with my brother and his friends (who also have magical powers) it's important for you to know the lay of the land.<br />
So welcome to Havenport! A warm and fuzzy little town in the middle of nowhere. The population isn't really important, but other people live here, I promise.<br />
I live at 324 Dear St. with my brother Jim and our Mom Maggie (don't call Mom Maggie, she says it's disrespectful). Our house is probably the smallest in the entire town, maybe not, but it sure feels that way sometimes. Our front yard is filled with dead grass and the remnants of the flowers Mom tried to grow last spring. The white paint is pealing, and the shutter on the left side of the house is crooked. Mrs. Jacobs, Sadie's Mom, once told the PTA at our school that is was an "eyesore", whatever that means. My brother Jim has friends on the lower side of town, but I'm not allowed over there, so it's not on the map.<br />
My best friend Sadie lives a few blocks up the street from me. If she and I stand in the middle of the street in front of our houses at the same time and wave our arms around really fast, we can see each other! I know this because we did it one time. All I could make out was the blur of her favorite pink sweater, but it was still her. Her mom yelled at her for standing in the road, but it was still really cool.<br />
My other best friend Carlos lives a few streets over. His house is the closest to the field, but we'll get to that later. Carlos is the best biker out of all of us, mainly because he lives right across the street from the bike runs.<br />
This is hands down the BEST part of the entire town. The dirt is just dry enough to get all over your spokes, but sturdy enough that it won't swallow you whole when you break hard after a few laps. The jumps there are the only place in the entire town where you can get any air time.<br />
Carlos gets so much air time that Sadie and I secretly think his bike has wings.<br />
Across the street from Sadie's house is Al's Ice Cream Shop! We go there every afternoon in the Summer. Al is a very nice old man, and on Sundays his give us FREE sundaes! \<br />
Al is the best.<br />
Across the way from Al's and a few streets down from Jim's High School is the park. Now I have only set my eyes on that park a few times, and the only thing I know about it is that it's where Jim has baseball practice. Jim also hangs out with his friends there every Wednesday night, but I'm not supposed to know that.<br />
Between Jim's school and my school is the Grocery store. Sometimes Mom takes us there on "family shopping trips" but that usually only happens when we are in trouble or after she has worked a few very long shifts at the hospital.<br />
No matter which way we get there, it's not the most enjoyable thing.<br />
Jim's friend Benny works at the grocery store. He's important to remember later in the story.<br />
Then there is my school, Havenport Middle School. Sadie and Carlos go to school there too. When I was in fifth grade and afraid to go to middle school, Jim decided to scare me and my friends by telling us that the school was built on an Indian burial ground and was haunted.<br />
Jim is kind of a jerk.<br />
Behind the school is the Forbidden Field. Don't call me stupid or over dramatic for calling it that, it really is forbidden. The Field has been fenced off for as long as anyone in the town can remember. Even old Al said its been fenced off since he was a kid! (and that was like a billion years ago). The Field is a long long stretch of grass that never dies, no matter what the weather. The grass stretches into a thick patch of Oak trees, and after that no one knows. No one ever goes back there, or, no one ever <i>did </i>go back there. The day after Sadie, Carlos, and I snuck out to follow Jim and his friends, we noticed that the fence has a hole in it! The hole is just big enough to let a person through. But my friends and I don't think <i>someone</i> came from the Field, we think <i>something </i>came from the Field.<br />
Now the you know the lay of the land, the story might be easier to follow. Here, take the map, just remember to give it back to after you've read the story.<br />
And yes, everything is completely true.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982330485329190758.post-49667520775961169432017-01-16T22:46:00.003-08:002017-01-16T22:46:18.973-08:00I waste my time crying over you.<br />
I cry so hard my stomach churns,<br />
making me sick<br />
and I can't tell you why.<br />
And I know you're lounging on a beach<br />
somewhere not caring.<br />
I know that.<br />
But here I am,<br />
3am<br />
and my tears still fall,<br />
and my hands still shake,<br />
and despite my best efforts<br />
I still miss you.<br />
<br />
<i>-R.E Savini</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755573828600230845noreply@blogger.com1