Thursday, April 21, 2011

'R' is for...?

Yesterday's "Quirky" post was a blast to write.  Thanks for all your lovely comments and guesses!

Today's 'R' prompt word is depicted by a character in the excerpt below.  See if you can guess what emotion  I've described that begins with 'R'.  Can't wait to read your comments!  And remember,Jessica Bell is working with the same prompt words as I am this A-Z Blogfest.  There's a link to her blog below.

Here goes:


From his sprawled position on the ground, Hamilton grinned as the referee raise the yellow card in the air.  But when he pointed down at Hamilton, his face contorted.  “You’re calling foul on me?” he roared at the ref.  “Number Four tripped ME!”

He sprang to his feet, his cleats leaving scars in the grassy turf.  He strode to the referee who faced the scorekeeping table on the sideline.  Into the ref’s right ear, he shouted, “What kind of call is this, hey?  I think you need glasses, chief.  You can’t see right!”  Spittle landed on the referee’s sideburn.

The ref looked him in the face, warned him to settle down.  Hamilton fired one more insult.

“Their shit team put you on their goddamn payroll before the match?”  He turned to walk back to his position, but the ref was right on his heels.  Over his shoulder, Hamilton saw the flash of the red card.  Lava churned in his gut and he stamped his foot, releasing a tirade too foul to reprint here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~


What emotion do you think I've described here?  And please visit Jessica's blog when you're through leaving me a comment.  I love hearing from you!

                                    

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

'Q' is for...??

Yesterday's 'P' word was 'Patronization.'  That was a tough one for me to write about.  Thanks for your guesses!

Today's 'Q' prompt word is depicted by a character in the excerpt below.  See if you can guess what personal attribute  I've described that begins with 'Q'.  Can't wait to read your comments!  And remember, Jessica Bell is working with the same prompt words as I am this A-Z Blogfest.  There's a link to her blog below.

Here goes:


“I’m so glad you’re here, Sara!” Libby squealed, yanking her friend into the apartment.  “I simply can’t decide who to wear to the party.”  She led Sara down the narrow corridor and into the tight confines of her bedroom.

“Well,” Sara said, perched on the edge of the bed, “It’s casual…”

“Right.”  Libby rubbed her chin and looked thoughtfully into her closet.  She pulled out a pink mohair sweater with a second hanger hooked behind it, so that a pink and black plaid skirt dangled below the sweater’s hem.  “What about Charlotte?”

“Charlotte?”

Libby held the outfit up a little higher.  “Yes, right here.  Hello?”

Sara stared at the clothes with a look of confusion on her face.

“You’re right,” sighed Libby.  “Charlotte went to the Robert twins’ party three weeks ago. She’d be recognized, n’est-ce pas?  Ooh!  I know.”  She reached back into the closet.  “What about Zandra?  She’s a hoot at parties!”

Sara’s eyes traveled from the sleeveless, zebra-striped mini-dress to Libby’s animated face, and simply shook her head.  “You are the kookiest friend I have,” she said with a giggle.

“Aw!  Thanks, Sara!"  She held the dress up to herself.  "So…Zandra comes to the party with us?”



Any ideas what 'Q' word prompted this scene?  And after guessing in the comments, please shoot over to Jessica's blog to see what creative excerpt she's come up with based on our word-of-the-day!  See you over there!

                                    

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

'P' is for...??

I want to thank Alex Cavanaugh for highlighting my blog yesterday and sending new friends my way!  Thanks, Alex!  And, thanks for everyone's guesses yesterday.  The 'O' word was 'Oppression.'  Kudos to those of you that got it!! (a tough one!)


Today Jessica Bell and I are showcasing excerpts we wrote for a prompt word that starts with 'P.'  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!


Though Jonathon and Bobby were fraternal twins, their lives were one long string of competitions.  Bobby was a minute y0unger, a quarter of an inch shorter, and a half a grade point average behind his brother.  And Jonathon enjoyed reminding him.

They’d trained together for months for the half-marathon, and for the first time ever Bobby was the stronger.  On the track or in the gym, he out-sprinted and out-lifted Jonathon.  This time, he was going to be victorious.

But as they flew across the finish line the day of the race, Jonathon’s chest broke the plane a half second before Bobby’s.

Bobby bent over with his hands on his thighs and hung his head, gasping for breath.  Panting, Jonathon clapped a hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t take it too hard, bro,” he gloated.  “Even I thought you were going to beat me, for a minute there.”


So, what 'P' emotion/feeling/state of mind does this excerpt make you think of?  Thanks for reading and here's a link to Jessica's blog.  See you over there!



                                    

Monday, April 18, 2011

'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!

                                    

Saturday, April 16, 2011

'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!!

                                    

Friday, April 15, 2011

'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!
                                    

Thursday, April 14, 2011

'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!