'O' is for...?

Thanks for all the weekend visits!  The 'N' word on Saturday was 'Naivety.'  I enjoyed your guesses!


Today Jessica Bell and I are showcasing excerpts we wrote for a prompt word that starts with 'O.'  After reading the passage below, can you determine which emotion/feeling/state of mind I've depicted?  After you guess in the comments, please follow the link to Jessica's blog and read her offering!

Here's my 'O' entry:

Reverend James loomed over his daughter, his shadow falling across her slender form.  “Where do you think you’re off to at this hour, Andrea?”  His voice was dangerously quiet.

“It's only four o'clock, Daddy.  I’m going jeans shopping with Karen.  Mama said I could.”  She added the last part in a rush.

Reverend chewed on his inner cheek, shifting his lower jaw which heightened the look of disgust on his face.  Slowly, he shook his head.  “I forbid you to go to that shopping mall without an adult chaperone.  You’re too young to handle yourself with the crowd of people that hang out there like it’s a tavern, or something.

“Daddy, I’m almost seventeen years old!”

“My point exactly,” he roared.  When she’d lowered her eyes, he went on.  “I want you to go upstairs.  Wash that silly make-up off your face.  Then, you’ll retire to your bedroom for the rest of the evening.  Spend time on your knees, girl, asking God for guidance.  When you have thought long and hard about the mischievous yearnings in your heart, then – and only then – will you come to my office and ask my forgiveness.  Understood?”

A car honked on the street.  Reverend James narrowed his eyes at his daughter, then nodded his head.  Andrea reached for the door handle and swung open the door.  Karen leaned across the front seat of her beat-up Chevy, a gift from her parents when she turned sixteen, and waved from the driver’s side.  Andrea smiled as a tear ran down her cheek, and she waved Karen on. 


Any guesses?  And here's the path that will lead you to Jessica's blog!  See you there!

                                    

'N' is for...??

Hard to believe we've reached the half-way mark of this crazy A-Z ride!  I've been having a blast working off the same list of prompt words as Jessica Bell.  My partner-in-prose and I create short excerpts 'showing' the emotion/feeling/state of mind that is our letter-word of the day.  We've  been asking our readers to try and guess the word we've depicted.  I've been having a blast, and I hope you've been enjoying the game, too!

Yesterday's word was 'Madness.'

Without further ado, I give you my 'N' entry:


"Wal-mart, Customer Service.  This is Brenda speaking."  Bored monotone.


"Good morning!  My name is Mary Manning, and yesterday I was in your store because I wanted to print some pictures with the self-serve machines.  Well, I got my camera out but then I realized the 'Prints-in-minutes' machines were out-of-order and only the 'Prints-in-an-hour' machine was available.  See, I didn't have an hour, 'cause I -- well, I won't bore you with my life story."  Giggles.


Silence.


"So anyways, I've turned my house upside-down this morning searching for my camera, and I can't find it.  It's not in my purse, or in my car.  I've looked everywhere!  I have a very bad feeling I set it down next to the photo machines when I was in Wal-mart trying to figure out what to do, and left it behind by accident.  Did anyone turned in a digital camera?"


"No, miss."


"Huh.  Are you sure?  I mean, I can hold if you want to look around.  I really need my camera back."


"No one turned in a camera.  I'm sure."


"Well, okay.  Darn it."  Pause.  "I tell you what, let me give you my name and phone number, in case someone found it and just didn't have time to turn it in."


Snort.  "If you insist, miss.  Go ahead."






There you go!  Any idea what emotion/feeling/state of mind I've depicted here?  Go ahead and guess in the comments, and then I hope you visit Jessica's blog and see what creative entry she's come up with today.

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend!!

                                    

'M' is for...?

This week is crazy and I have been writing like a fiend.  Fun!  Thanks for those of you who chanced guesses at yesterday's word.  It was 'Lust.' 

Today, guess which 'M' emotion/feeling/state of mind I've depicted in the short fictional passage below.  Jessica Bell is using the same prompt word for a passage of her own.  After guessing in the comments here, won't you follow the link and read Jess's entry?


Here is my 'M' entry:

Stacy Johnson’s mouth dropped open as she exited the car.  From her vantage point on the make-shift parking lot, it looked like total mayhem had broken out on the sweeping front lawn of the middle school.  Children ran after each other in every direction, some in packs of four or five.  Many looked wet.  Their shrill laughter rose and fell like waves in the heavy breeze.

Stacy headed for the groups of parent onlookers.  As she drew closer, she noticed the there was some order to the craziness.  On the ground at the center of the lawn was a large fifteen-foot-across circle of neon pink plastic tubing.  The children inside the circle chased each other with shaving cream, managing to always stay within the perimeter.  Mr. Mathis, the gym teacher, supervised the antics, and offered water balloons to kids without cans of shaving cream.  Everyone was a sopping mess!

Outside the pink circle, the rest of the kids raced around, jumping rope, running sack races, playing catch, turning cartwheels.  I caught glimpses of teachers joining in the fun while guiding the activities best they could.  When a whistle blew, the inner circle kids raced out and a fresh, dry batch of children took their places.

A parent noticed Stacy’s look of confused awe.  “Haven’t you been to Field Day before?” she asked.  When Stacy shook her head, she went on.  “The teachers call it ‘controlled chaos.’  The kids just call it ‘fun’!”

“I call it ‘m--’” Stacy was stunned into silence.  A stray water balloon had exploded on her shoulder.     

Any guesses?  Hope you all have a wonderful Friday!  And here's a link to Jessica's 'M' entry, based on the same word as this one.  Happy guessing!

                                    

'L' is for...?

Yesterday's post described 'Kindness.' Almost everyone guessed that, or 'karma,' which I think fits too!


Today, my passage involves a lot of emotions. To successfully guess the 'L' emotion/feeling/state of mind, you have to look past the POV (it's not her!) and pay special attention to Jennifer and Jonathon.  Ready?  Here goes:

“Your table is ready.”


I followed my sister and the hostess. I watched Jennifer command attention as she sauntered; her slim hips swayed exaggeratedly with each step, tracing slow, deliberate figure-eight patterns. Infinity. The hostess handed us oversized, leather-bound menus as we took our seats.

“Bring us a bottle of Chateau Margaux 1982, if you have it,” Jennifer commanded.

I looked at my watch. 11:50 a.m. What the hell, I thought. A drink is probably a good idea...

The hostess said she’d ask our waitress to bring a bottle, but Jennifer had already dismissed her. “So,” Jenn addressed me. “Can you believe we’re planning Mom’s retirement party?”

It was never easy for me to talk with Jennifer about our mother. Although I was barely one year older than her, we hadn’t been reared in the same way. Maybe it was because Mom identified more with Jennifer’s easy laugh or spontaneous personality, or because she just assumed my independent streak needed little nurturing.  Whatever it was, Mom’s affections had always been aimed foremost at Jenn. As an adult, I’d rationalized it and made peace with it; but when I was face to face with either of them, I still struggled to ward off the painful memories of being the invisible child.

“Yeah,” I began, “I was thinking of renting out that little Victorian restaurant she loves--” I was interrupted by a man who had stopped at our table.

“Excuse me,” he said to Jenn. “Aren’t you Mandy Goliath?”

My sister smiled salaciously at him. “Why, yes. How sweet of you to recognize me,” she added coyly.

“I’m a big fan of your work.” They hadn’t broken eye contact.

“I’ll bet you are big,” she breathed. I looked at my watch again. He seemed to notice me for the first time.

“Jonathon Shill.” He extended his hand to me.

“Dr. Nadia Beaulieu,” I said, shaking his hand.

“Doctor?” He sounded impressed.

“Oh! She’s not really a doctor,” laughed my sister. “She just teaches at the University of Albany!”

The man had lost interest in me the moment my sister spoke. They conversed a couple more minutes, and then he told her it was a pleasure to meet her. As he was taking his leave, my sister offered him a kiss. He leaned down and she kissed him long on the mouth. Shocked, I glimpsed their groping tongues before looking away. 

The waitress arrived, thankfully, with the bottle of wine.

Any guesses what 'L' emotion/etc. Jenn and Jon have exhibited?  I love reading your comments each day.  Keep them coming!  And please visit by writing partner-in-A-Z-crime, Jessica Bell to read what she's come up with for today's 'L' word!

Have a fab day!

                                    

'K' is for...?

Yesterday's 'J' word was 'Jealousy.'  Thanks for all your wonderful comments and guesses!

Today, guess which 'K' emotion/feeling/state of mind I've depicted today in the short fictional passage below.  Jessica Bell is using the same prompt word for a passage of her own.  After guessing in the comments here, won't you follow the link and read Jess's entry?


Here's my 'K' offering:

Bradley chased the soccer ball, bouncing toward the far corner of the playground.  As he neared, a soft whimper carried on the noontime breeze.  He slowed, then peeked around the trunk of the huge oak at the fence.  Lydia Vance sat, her back against the rough bark and her hands in her face.

Lydia was the fairest child in Jackson Elementary.  If her eyes had been pink, she’d have been a full-fledged albino.  She stuck out, and kids can be cruel.

“Dude!  Hurry up!” his friends shouted.

Bradley picked up the ball and turned towards them, then looked back at Lydia.  He’d never actually talked to her before.

Lydia’s shoulders heaved.  She looked small, vulnerable, like a scared little bunny rabbit.  The boys yelled again, something about needing the ball before graduation.  Bradley hurled it in their direction, then shoved his hands in his pockets. 

Taking a small step forward, he said, “Um, hey.  Er, are you all right?  I mean, anything I can do?”

*~*~*~*

Any guesses to today's 'K' emotion/feeling/state of mind?  And please pay Jessica a visit HERE.  Thanks!! 

                                    

'J' is for...?

I'm so happy Jessica Bell had the insanely creative idea to use the A-Z Blogfest as an experimental canvas for 'showing' emotions/feelings/states of mind.  And I'm thrilled she asked me to partner up with her!  We're working with the same list of prompt words and using them to inspire our fiction or poetry.

Today, our prompt word begins with 'J'. Based on the poem below, can you guess what emotion/etc. I've depicted?  Looking forward to your guesses in the comments!  Here goes:

A wicked temptress stalks her prey tonight,
With graceful gait, hips sway to generate
Heart’s sweet desires; mine slowly swells with hate,
The fires of lust sparked in the dark ignite.
Across the room the albatross takes flight,
As if on feathered feet she floats; too late
To stop her stealth approach toward my date,
I sense at once she has him in her sight.

A brush of lips, he whispers in my ear,
I turn; my face is mirrored in his eyes,
Words uttered so no one will overhear,
His hands direct me, to the door they steer,
Last glance I see her glare and realize,
Her jealousy's not veiled by silent jeer.



Any idea what emotion inspired this poem? (Hint: I wrote this a couple years ago prompted by the same word, and it appears in this poem :D)


BTW, this is a Petrarchan, or Italian Sonnet.  A Petrarchan Sonnet is a fourteen line poem distinguished by its strict iambic pentameter and rigid rhyme scheme: abba abba cdc cdc (Sicilian sestet). The first eight line stanza, the octave, establishes the theme and developes the poem in a certain direction. The ninth line is the turn which heralds a distinct change in tone from the octave. The second stanza, or the sestet, introduces a new development in a different direction, with the first tercet carrying this new direction to a definite point; and the final tercet bringing the theme to a conclusion.


Be sure to visit Jessica's Blog and read her 'J' entry!  See you over there :))

                                    

'I' is For....?

Saturday's 'H' word was 'Hope.'  Thanks for all your wonderful comments and guesses!


Today, guess which 'I' emotion/feeling/state of mind I've depicted today in the short fictional passage below.  Jessica Bell is using the same prompt word for a passage of her own.  After guessing in the comments here, won't you follow the link and read Jess's entry?




Here's mine:

The writer stared at her computer screen.  The cursor blinked, accusingly, next to the one character she’d managed to type.  ‘I’.  She sighed, her mind wandering to her to-do list, which was short today.  She forced her attention back.  ‘I’.  What a silly prompt.  It’s a letter yet a word all by itself.  Big deal.  She lifted her fingers off the keyboard, examined a bit of polish chipped off one nail, then lay them back into the grooves of ‘a’, ‘s’, ‘d’, ‘f’, ‘j’, ‘k’, ‘l’, and semi-colon.  ‘I’.  What could she say about ‘I’.  She had no opinion, one way or another.  The only thing she cared about what getting something, anything, written down.

Any guesses?  See you over at Jessica's blog!

                                    

'H' is for...?

Yesterday's 'G' word was tough, but a couple people guessed right.  It was 'giddiness'!


Guess which 'H' emotion/feeling/state of mind I've depicted today in the short fictional passage below.  Jessica Bell is using the same prompt word for a passage of her own.  After guessing in the comments here, won't you follow the link and read Jess's entry?


Here goes:

3:00
Marnie pushed the start button on the microwave timer.
2:59…58…57…
She kept her gaze on the changing numbers, forcing her eyes not to drift towards the stick, lying on the table on a single sheet of paper towels.  She’d been waiting fourteen months.  It was a long time to wait.  But nothing felt longer than these last three minutes. 
2:28…27…26…
She and Chad had begun trying on their wedding night.  They kept it no secret, confiding in anyone who would listen.  Friends and family asked every time they saw them.  And it had gotten more and more painful to keep saying, ‘No, nothing yet.’
2:02…2:00…1:58…
Marnie wrung her hands until they nested all by themselves into a prayful clasp.  Please, God…I know it’s wrong to ask.  I know I must accept your will.  But if you let it be, if you just let it be…please let it be…
1:40…39…38…
The morning of their first wedding anniversary, her temperature had peaked and then dropped off.  Conditions were perfect, and they took full advantage.  But being it was their anniversary, they’d forgotten about the thermometer and the ovulation charts on the bedside table and had gotten blissfully lost in their love.  Three weeks later, Marnie got her period.
:57…56…55…
Look, if it isn’t meant to be, it isn’t meant to be.  Think of all the unwanted children born into the world every day.  There is more than one path that leads to parenthood. You’re young.  You have your whole life…
:23…22…21…
The glowing numbers swam, ran together, and Marnie blinked rapidly.  Oh, to feel a baby move inside her, to waddle beneath the weight of a gloriously swollen belly, to face the fear and pain of delivery, all to see born a perfect product of her and Chad’s love.  It was the last chance to see their genes mixed, their blood mingled, for Chad’s legacy to live on.
:11…10…09…
Marnie closed her eyes tight.  She wished Chad were here.  He would have been so supportive.  Tears leaked from squeezed lids, spilled down her cheeks.  “Please,” she whispered.

Beep...Beep...Beep...

So, what emotion/etc. have I depicted here?  I look forward to your comments!  And please shoot over to my writing partner, Jessica's blog, and see what her creative mind came up for our 'H' word!

                                    

'G' is for...?

Welcome to 'G' Day at my blog! Those who have visited during the A-Z Blogfest know that Jessica Bell and I are writing partners.  Before the fest began, we generated a list of 26 words -- nouns the are emotions/feelings/states of mind.  Each day we work from the same prompt word, and write fictional paragraphs with characters who 'show' the emotion/etc.  My 'G' entry is below.  After you read it, guess in the comments what emotion/etc. I've depicted.  Then follow the link to Jessica's blog and read her entry!

(Btw, yesterday's word was 'Frustration.' J)

Without further ado, here is my offering of the day:

Franklin pressed his stubbled cheek against the upstairs front bedroom windowpane, like he used to do when he was a kid and wanted to see farther up the street than normal view allowed.  The sun was right overhead but the mailman was still out of sight.  He skipped to the computer desk where the package routing screen confirmed delivery was today at noon.  He refreshed the page, but the info didn’t change.  A grin cracked his face and his stomach did another airy flip.

He wandered to the mirror.  First, he struck a regal pose; one Mr. Albert Einstein might have struck for a photographer.  Then he hunched his shoulders, bringing his hands in front and curling his fingers like claws.  He snickered like a mad scientist, and the crazed look in his eyes was so convincing he broke out into his normal, jovial laughter.

Down on the street, the shrill sound of brakes sounded.  Franklin brought his watch to his face.  Twelve-oh-two!  He ran out the bedroom door with the vigor of a child, grinning from ear to ear.  If he’d have dared, he’d have ridden the banister to the foyer.  Down the steps he raced, excitement tickling him from the inside out, heart pounding.  He reached for the knob just as the doorbell sounded.

Any guesses?  Looking forward to your comments!  And here's a link to Jessica's 'G' post!

Thanks for reading!!

                                    

'F' is for...??

Yesterday's word was 'Embarrassment' -- thanks for all your guesses and comments!!  Today, Jessica Bell and I have chosen a word that starts with 'F', and we want you to try and guess what it is.  The word is a noun and either an emotion, a feeling, or a state of mind.  We've each written a short, fictional scene where our characters 'show' this emotion/feeling/state of mind.  Here's my passage:

This is ridiculous, she thinks as she hobbles around on one black sling back pump.  Her first professional job interview is in forty minutes, which means she should be in the car right now.  She shoves aside a pile of dirty laundry in the corner near the closet, shoves it back to check behind the other side.  No shoe.   Los Angeles traffic is unpredictable at any hour of the day, and the offices of Chiat/Day/Mojo are two beach cities up the Pacific Coast Highway from her sister’s apartment in Hermosa Beach.  She needs this job so she can afford a place of her own. 

Stomping across discarded magazines and art supplies that litter the floor, she yanks aside the curtains flanking the window.  The shoe isn’t hiding there, but the little, pink teddy bear her ex-boyfriend gave her is.  She punts it with her pump-armored toe.  

Where the hell IS it?  She turns, fingers digging into the waistline of her pencil skirt.  And there, on the second shelf of the bookcase, peeking out from under a fallen over copy of Jane Eyre, is the elusive pump.  She snatches it up and wiggles her foot into it.  A glance at her watch tells her traffic has to be light and she has to hit all green lights in order to (maybe) make it on time.  Then a devastating thought hits her:  Where the hell are my keys?

~*~*~*~

Figured out the emotion/feeling/state of mind?  Leave your guess in the comments!  And please follow this link to Jessica's post and read her take on the 'F' word of the day!

                                    

'E' is For...?

Thanks to everyone for commenting yesterday -- our prompt word of the day was 'Disgust'.  For those who are new to my blog today, Jessica Bell and I are A-Z Blogfest writing partners!  We've chosen a list of words, all nouns, that refer to particular emotions / feelings / states of mind.  Today, based on my fictional paragraph(s) below, try to guess in the comments what 'E' emotion/etc. I've depicted.  Then, follow the link at the bottom to Jessica's post and read her take on our prompt word! 


Here's my 'E' entry:

The upscale store teemed with Saturday afternoon shoppers, business-women in search of the perfect suit and ladies in need of a special occasion outfit.  Amanda had been assisting customers for hours and her feet were beginning to feel snug in her peek-a-boo pumps.  A stout woman approached her.  As she asked where she’d find the blouse dressed on the mannequin in the window, Amanda noted she wore no make-up to mask her motherly glow.

Leading the woman toward the rear of the shop, Amanda asked over her shoulder, “So, when is your baby due?”

The hesitation lasted one stride of Amanda’s pump, but it was enough to send her blood rushing to her cheeks.

“I am not pregnant.”

The urge to dive into a rack of dresses or lock herself in a dressing room had never been stronger.

~~~~

Any guesses?  And don't forget to visit Jessica's blog HERE.  See you there!

                                    

'D' is For...??

Jessica Bell and I are A-Z Blogfest writing partners!  Today, we've chosen a word, a noun, that refers to a particular emotion / feeling / state of mind that starts with 'D'.  Based on my fictional paragraph(s) below, try to guess in the comments what emotion/etc. I've depicted.  Then, follow the link at the bottom to Jessica's post and read her take on our prompt word! (BTW, yesterday's word was 'Confidence'!)


Here's my 'D' entry:

Every sound soothed my frazzled soul:  the gentle swells lapping against the row boat as it slipped along the lake’s surface; the hollow clunk of the oar when my inexperienced movements banged it against the craft’s aluminum side; the loon’s haunting song.  I’d been in desperate need of this little excursion, to a place of childhood memories where I’d spent carefree summers before… well, before.

Another couple pulls of the oars and I steered the boat into what we kids had dubbed Beaver Bay.  The inlet of water protected a cove where the reeds grew tall and beaver houses dotted the surface.  I lifted the oars out of the water and twisted around to view the bay.  The smell hit me, fetid and rank.  My jaw dropped open.

Trash littered the shoreline.  A mound of tires, black and baking in the afternoon sun, rose to the right.  As the boat drifted closer, I looked over the edge.  I could just make out my reflection, eyebrows knit and lips pursed, despite the rainbow sheen coating the water’s surface.

The boat’s bottom scraped along the sandy bottom of the shore.  I stood to get a better view, but I wouldn’t get out.  Flies swarmed around a torn white plastic trash bag next to the boat.  I lifted an oar out of its pinning, staggering a bit under its unbalanced weight, and poked the bag.  The flies lifted for a moment, but settled greedily on their meal.  A soggy egg container fell apart, revealing a mass of wriggling, rice-like maggots.  I covered my mouth, gagging, as the oar clattered to the bottom of the boat.




Any guesses?  Leave me a comment telling me the emotion/feeling/state of mind you think I was describing.  And please shoot over to Jessica's blog (LINK HERE) to my partner's paragraph.  See you over there!


Thanks for reading!!  

                                    

'C' is For...?

Jessica Bell and I are A-Z Blogfest writing partners.  Today, we've chosen a word, a noun, that refers to a particular emotion / feeling / state of mind that starts with 'C'.  Based on our fictional paragraph(s), try to guess in the comments what emotion we've depicted.  Here's a hint for mine:  It's NOT the POV character who is 'showing' the emotion(/etc.).  It IS through the characterizations of the other character that you should base your guess.

Here goes:


I expected Catherine Pouvoir to be loud, since everyone who had ever spoken of her to me seemed to use the word 'fabulous.'  So rather than watching the doorway for her to make her entrance, I had my ears tuned while I read over my agenda for the day.  I heard no resounding laughter or boisterous clamour from an entourage, but I knew instantly that she’d arrived.  Every head in the room had turned in the same direction.


She stood in the doorway, indubitably commanding time and space.   Beauty emanated from her like the dazzling flecks of early morning sunlight reflected off the gently lapping water at a lake’s edge, blinding everyone brave enough to stare directly at it.   We all waited for some sort of cue from her, collectively unable to proceed without it.


Glancing at her wristwatch, her angular facial features quickened in comical disbelief.  "Impressive!" she said.   "You all must be incredibly punctual, if I’m the last one here!”  


Appreciative applause, sprinkled with laughter erupted from the room.

What emotion / feeling / state of mind is Catherine Pouvoir emanating?  Any guesses?  Leave it in the comments!  Thanks for reading, and please shoot over to Jessica's blog to read her 'C'emotion-inspired paragraph.  See you over there!