tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43072394335089836572024-03-12T19:36:42.644-05:00One BlockMatt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-82589337828701184172012-04-13T00:52:00.000-05:002012-04-14T01:36:47.276-05:00Mushrooms<b id="internal-source-marker_0.02819217904470861"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I hate mushrooms,” Francis said, and dropped his fork on the table. “Why’d you put mushrooms in it?”</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He pushed his chair back from the table, walked across the kitchen, and scraped the omelette into the garbage. He reached for a box of Raisin Bran.</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“They were going bad, and I wanted to use them up,” Janine said. “I’m sorry.”</span><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Just warn me next time.” Francis sat back down at the table. He had just brought the first bite of cereal to his lips when he jumped and spilled the spoonful down the front of his sweatshirt.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What the ...”</span><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A tornado siren slowly but forcefully rolled 120 decibels of panic high and then low through the morning air.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Francis looked out the window. It was cloudless. The morning sun threw long shadows from the suburban trees. Some children drawing with chalk on the sidewalk across the street stopped and looked up at the sky. They ran into the house.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What the hell?”</span><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Janine went to the living room and turned on the TV. “Honey! Come here. Oh my God! Can you hear what they’re saying?”</span><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Francis turned just as the sky lit up in a bright, brief blast of white. Then another, dimmer, but still brilliant.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He looked back out the window, just above the horizon.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Mushrooms,” he whispered. “I hate mushrooms.”</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This was a writing assignment for a workshop I took recently. Write 200 words or more about the end of the world. The first and last line must be the same.</span></span>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-58972896699771314372012-03-30T01:01:00.001-05:002012-04-14T01:53:29.699-05:00Secret Rebellion<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jason laid his outfit on the bed: a tan two-button Hugo Boss suit, a sky-blue Brooks Brothers dress shirt, a navy tie and brown Florsheim Welles Oxford shoes. He tossed a pair of brown socks and a tank undershirt next to them.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jason was not a man of means, but he knew how to dress a notch above his station in life. It had been ingrained in him. His mother demanded order, tucking and primping and tying up the freedom and chaos of his childhood into a neat, presentable package each day.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now well into his 30’s, he still looked sharp. It was certainly his mother’s look … almost.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jason opened his underwear drawer. It was brimming with color, wild designs, fire and ice. It looked like a clown had stumbled into his bedroom and vomited in his dresser after a night of drowning happiness in mango mojitos.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He selected a fuzzy beige banana-hammock with lolling blue eyeballs on each side and floppy ears sewn into the side straps. Jason shivered and smiled as he pulled it up over his thighs.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He put on his suit, tied his shoes and straightened his tie. And as he walked out the door, Jason wished what he always wished to start his day:<i> Please let me get hit by a bus and have to go to the hospital.</i></span></span>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-64058373724903946192011-11-11T16:50:00.001-06:002012-04-14T01:50:02.034-05:00Fatherly Advice<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.5247512706555426" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Autumn covered the pink blemish on her cheek with concealer. She put on eyeliner and lipstick, then tilted her head and kissed at the mirror.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Hi,” she whispered in a smokey voice.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sophie laughed. “I’ll meet you down there,” she said.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jim, her boyfriend, had been waiting 20 minutes.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Just long enough</span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. She took one last glance at the mirror and saw the blemish still peeking through. Her teeth clenched; she always had a clear complexion, and now she was getting a zit on prom night, of all nights.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was a special night, worthy of something special, Sophie had said earlier as they got ready. “Clarity,” she called it, in a pill shaped like Snoopy the dog.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It felt incredible; popularity through chemistry. She had been excited for prom before the drug, but now, oh my, she couldn’t wait to see her classmates. They were all so wonderful, and she was wonderful, and everything was going to just be … </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">wonderful</span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She applied more concealer, but it didn’t seem to make a difference. The zit seemed to have grown. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe the concealer is making it worse.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As she wiped the spot clean with alcohol, she noticed another pink spot on her forehead and one on her chin. She grunted in frustration.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The zit on her cheek formed a whitehead, and Autumn placed her fingers on each side of it. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before she could squeeze it burst on its own, splattering the mirror and deflating with a trailing whine.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She squealed and watched in horror as more pimples emerged. Little fizzes burst and sizzled and pocked her face.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her stomach cramped, and she doubled over in front of the mirror, letting out a deep fart. She wiped her face with a towel. It was damp with puss and left her face streaked in oily white. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another bellowing fart. Then she heard a deep voice from the doorway. “Autumn, what’s … Oh my God!” Jim rushed back down the stairs and out the door. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Wait!” she wailed, then doubled over again in pain. She lay on the ground with her knees to her chest, weeping. A crumpled corsage lay in the doorway. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another zit popped and sighed.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">---</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“That's a bad story, Daddy," the little girl said, covers up to her nose.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Well, don’t do drugs,” the father told his 10-year-old daughter, “Sleep tight.” He bent and kissed her forehead.</span></div>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-85314213661457373812011-05-26T00:58:00.006-05:002012-04-14T01:53:01.327-05:00Five-Hour Charisma<div style="background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.6987857264466584" style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Phil knelt in the dust on the black and white checkered tile. Tiny bottles lay scattered around his knees. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He took another from the shelf, checked the label. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Five-Hour Energy</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. He dropped it and grabbed another. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Five-Hour Energy.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Another. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Five-Hour Energy.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dammit!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The clerk fidgeted with his green vest and watched with concern from half around the corner. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Are you sure, sir, I can’t help you find something?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“No. No. It’s fine. … I’m sorry. I’ll put them all back when I’m finished.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Phil felt him hovering.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Five-Hour Energy. Five-Hour Energy.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Five-Hour Energy.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few minutes later, he had cleared the entire row. He sat in the jumble of vials and leaned back against the shelves, his head in his hands. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He looked up at the boy, then down again. His face flushed.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It was here last week, but I guess you’re all out,” Phil mumbled. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He traced a crack in the tile.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What are you looking for? We might have some in the back.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It’s … Five-Hour Charisma. It was here last week.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The clerk, grinned.“Oh! Yes sir. We do have that in stock. I wish you would have asked me right away. We had to move it behind the counter.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Phil lit up.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Just leave that mess. Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it. I can help you at the front.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They walked through the empty drug store to the register. The clerk knelt behind the counter and unlocked a cabinet.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“How many would you like, then?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’ll take 10, please.” Phil took a $20 bill out of his wallet and set it on the counter while the clerk scanned 10 small blue bottles. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“That’ll be $1,059.89 please.” </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Phil started. “Wait. I think you made a mistake. Those were $1.50 apiece.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“They raised the price. They’re $99.99 a bottle now. Plus tax. That’s why we have them behind the counter. They’re really popular, I guess.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This was bullshit.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“How can they do that? How can they just raise the price like that? That’s not fair! I need it!”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I guess it was just a trial offer or something. Sorry.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He emptied his wallet on the counter. $68.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The clerk looked at the money, then back up at Phil.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I … I just have that,” he said. “Can you help me out here?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m sorry.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His fingers trembled as they fumbled at the strap of his watch.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Here. This and $68. It’s a good watch.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The clerk grimaced.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m really sorry, sir. I can’t do that.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“But, but it’s NOT FAIR! How can they DO that?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Phil cried as he drove home. There was no way he could meet her in this condition, not as … just Phil. Six months, and he hadn’t found the courage to even say “Hi,” let alone hold up his end of a conversation over the coffee date they had planned for tonight.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Five-Hour Charisma had saved him.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“And then they SCREWED ME!” he slammed his fist into the steering wheel. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He pulled over, got out of the car, and sat on the curb. He couldn’t see her like this. He’d be naked, exposed for the mundane, uninteresting, ashamed man that he is.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Someone tapped his shoulder.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Honey, are you OK?” an elderly woman looked at him with concern. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m fine. Just go away.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Phil stared at his shoes as he composed himself. He stood and walked down the sidewalk. He began to jog as he approached the old woman from behind. He grabbed her purse. She held on.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“STOP THAT! HELP! SOMEBODY!”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He kicked her hard in the hip, and she sprawled onto the lawn. He shot back to the car with the purse swinging wildly beside him. He got in, pulled a U turn and sped back to the drug store.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Phil emptied the contents onto the passenger seat. He sat with the engine off in the parking lot for a long while before picking out two $20 bills. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What’s done is done.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He slowly got out of the car and entered the drug store.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Oh you’re back!”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Phil carefully counted out the money on the counter. “One bottle, please.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The clerk handed him a blue vial. He unscrewed the lid, put it to his lips, and threw back his head. A warm sensation radiated from his belly out through his limbs to his fingertips and toes. Everything was brighter; the store flashed in blue and red light.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Halt! Stop right there! Don’t move!” A woman shouted. Two officers stood in the doorway.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Hi! Is there a problem?” Phil said.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Mugging an old lady, I’d say that’s a problem. Put your hands on the counter.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The clerk backed up as Phil placed his hands down in front of him. The woman grabbed his left wrist and cranked it behind his back. His face flattened on the countertop. She grabbed his other wrist and locked the cuffs.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He looked up at her, his face still pressed against the counter.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Damn, honey, I think you broke my arm.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m real sorry.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Well, I’m gonna need you name and phone number. For insurance reasons, of course.” He winked.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She looked at her partner. “Jesus. ANOTHER one.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">---</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Three Word Wednesday prompt: grin, jumble, naked</i></span></div>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-16391317982814457482011-05-19T00:50:00.015-05:002012-04-14T01:54:29.825-05:00Her Neighborhood<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.25949946604669094" style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Evelyn stirred the lemon wedge in her iced tea and watched through the window from her wheelchair. The dewy glass left her fingers damp. She wiped them on her dress.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was hard to superimpose her childhood memories over the neighborhood today. She closed her eyes and pictured Betty skipping rope on the sidewalk across the street.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span id="internal-source-marker_0.25949946604669094" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I went downtown</span> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To see Ms. Brown,</span> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She gave me a nickel</span> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To buy a pickle,</span> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The pickle was sour,</span> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So I bought a flower. ...</span></i></span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Evelyn opened her eyes, and three teens sat on the steps where Betty had lived. They passed around an amber bottle and catcalled at passerbys. One bent to pick up a chunk of asphalt. He hurled it - hard - at a group huddled on the curb below her window.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His aim was poor: It sailed wide and slammed into the apartment next door.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Janice had lived there once. Every Saturday she’d baked pies. Strawberry, rhubarb, banana, peach, blueberry … In a year of baking she’d never repeat herself. Boys riding by would skid to a halt, overwhelmed by the smell. Kids would huddle around the windowsill where the week’s fare cooled, until she shooed them away.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The boys and girls from the curb had scattered after the near miss, revealing a mangled rat, bloody, pawing a foot at the air. One by one the group reformed. They poked it with sticks.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Muffled shouts came from inside Janice’s apartment. A large woman in sweatpants and a stained bathrobe threw open the door, incensed. “Git out of here you sons of bitches!” she kicked at the kids, who scattered again like pigeons. Across the street, the teens rolled, tears in their eyes. One almost dropped the bottle. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Police used to walk the blocks on foot patrol. She’d shared lemonade here with Officer Clyde. Parents and grandparents pulled chairs onto the walk to escape the heat. They’d talk over beers. Kids played in the street.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These kids don’t play. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The change wasn't sudden; there was no defining moment. One by one families moved away and new ones came. If you could call them families; Evelyn rarely saw parents. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She closed her eyes again. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It used to be her neighborhood, where the boys shot marbles on a sandy patch beside the building kitty-corner.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where did it go?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She opened her eyes. The sandy patch was still there, ringed by weeds. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A girl, maybe 10, walked by it with her sister. She plucked a dandelion from the bunch and twirled it a moment. Then she bent over and weaved it through her sister’s hair, just behind the ear.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Evelyn blinked.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Oh,” she whispered. “There it is.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.25949946604669094" style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">---</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>This week's words for Three Word Wednesday: damp, incensed, skid</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></div>
</div>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-81304577520511325582011-05-13T15:11:00.003-05:002012-04-14T01:54:16.852-05:00First Kill<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.40478291641920805" style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joe had visited the pawn shop every day that summer to make sure it was still there. He had done extra chores at home, odd jobs for the neighbors, mowed every lawn in a one-mile radius of his house.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now it was his. He sat on his bed and ran his hand along the polished blue metal barrel. Finally. The Remington 1187 Upland Special. He fingered the swirling leaves engraved on the stock.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Freaking awesome.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His mother had forbid him from doing anything but look at it within the town limits, but she promised they would visit Uncle Steve’s farm that weekend. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday and Friday crept by heartbeat by agonizing heartbeat. At 6:30 a.m. Saturday he was dressed and ready, two hours before the rest of his family finished breakfast.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As they pulled into Steve’s driveway, Joe bolted from the car, brandishing his shotgun above his head. He met Steve at the porch.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Hey! Whoa! What you got there? Lemmie take a look at that.” Steve grinned and turned the weapon over in his hands. He looked down the barrel. “Pow!” He shot an imaginary bird out of the sky.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“This is something else, Joe. Really nice. What’d it run you?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“$350.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“$350? Wow. That’s a deal. This is a fine piece of work here.” He handed the gun back to Joe. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Mom said I couldn’t shoot until we got here.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Well let me say hello to my sister and then we’ll take it out back.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I brought some clays.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“All right. Go get a Coke and give me a minute.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joe bolted inside, grabbed a pop, and ran back to the car for the clay pigeons and shells.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the pleasantries were done, they went out behind the barn.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Steve flung the first blaze orange clay.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BLAM! Joe pulverized it before it had gotten 6 feet from Steve’s hand.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“JESUS!” Steve shouted as fragments blew back at him. “For crying out loud, let it get out there! You’re gonna blow my hand off.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joe shot under the next few; they fell and broke on the ground.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Slow down, boy. You’re antsy,” Steve said. “Breathe. Count to two and aim before you shoot.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The next clay flew high against a cloud. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One-two</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> BLAM!! Dead center.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For the next half hour it rained orange clay. It was the scenario Joe had played out every night, popping his outstretched arm against birds soaring across the ceiling.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joe bragged to his mom over mouthfuls of ham sandwich at lunch.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The boy shoots like a man,” Steve said.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Hey, I tell you what,” he turned to Joe. “Why don’t you put that thing to use?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sure! How?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“That mutt your aunt ditched me with last month has been harassing the cows. I was meaning to take care of him today, but why don’t you take him out to the pasture and do it for me?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You mean shoot him?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You ain’t gonna strangle him. Yeah, shoot him. You can do that, right?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sure.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After lunch, Steve handed Joe a leash.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You might have to chase him down. Bugger won’t come when he’s called.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He found him around back of the house, raggedy grey fur and bright eyes. He was nosing a dead rabbit. The dog perked up when he saw Joe and jumped on him, swiping mud and blood on his jeans.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Get down, you idiot,” Joe snapped. He fastened the leash on the leather collar. “Come on.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The pasture was about a mile away, and they walked it sporadically, Joe jerking on the leash every minute or so when the dog found something interesting to sniff. They walked back and forth along the fence for 10 minutes before stopping.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He bent down and unfastened the leash. The mutt looked up at him and wagged his tail expectantly.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Quit lookin’ at me.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He wagged harder.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joe loaded the gun slowly, took two steps back, and aimed. The dog got up and took two steps forward. Joe stepped back again. The dog stepped forward.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Dammit stay!”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This time he aimed first. The gun barrel trembled. The dog at the other end looked blurry.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He took two quick steps back and fired, just as the dog rose.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BLAM! The dog yelped and leaped sideways. Joe had skinned its back. It took off running.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Shit.” BLAM! BLAM! It’s ass popped up as Joe hit it in the hindquarters.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BLAM! Another ass shot. It stumbled, got up and kept running, now with a hitch.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Shit shit.” Joe was shaking and dropped the first couple shells he pulled out of his pocket. Somehow, he managed to reload on the run.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He stopped. Aimed. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One-two</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> BLAM! The dog crumpled and rolled.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He walked slowly to the body. Its chest was bloody and heaving. It’s head lay weak on the ground. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It rolled an eye toward him and whined.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sobbing, he aimed at its head. BLAM! A chunk of skull tore loose. The dog lay still.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joe turned and ran back to the farm, threw his gun, and vomited chunks of ham into the weeds. He slumped to the ground with his head between his knees.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After about 20 minutes, “Joe! Joe! Where are you!”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m back here!” Joe wiped his eyes and mouth.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Steve came around the corner. “What are you doing back here? Did you take care of that dog?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yeah, I got him. He’s out in the field there.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Fine. Crows’ll take care of him. Could I have that collar?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What? Oh. No, it’s still on him.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You didn’t get the collar? Goddammit Joe. Where’s he at?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joe pointed vaguely at the field, turned, and walked back toward the house.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Hey, wait! You wanna shoot some more clays?” Steve called after him.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“No that’s alright. I’m going inside.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That night, Joe stowed the gun under his bed and stared at the ceiling. On Tuesday, he sold the Remington 1187 Upland Special to a friend for $250.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: white;">Three Word Wednesday (yes I know it's Friday): brandish, manage, forbid</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: white;">This one's stretching the rules of flash fiction a little, since the plot's basically true. I made up some details (clay pigeons, throwing up, dialogue, etc.). It happened to a family member, and he never did shoot that gun again.</span></i></div>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-53892917958215658042011-03-23T23:35:00.020-05:002012-04-14T01:54:55.581-05:00Not a Succubus<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.24202151619829237" style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Chet, listen to me.”</span><br />
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.24202151619829237" style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I am listening to you.” Chet jackhammered his index finger on the “B” button. The Gatling </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stake </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gun roared.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“No, Chet. Put down the controller and listen to me.” Jason picked up the TV remote.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Turn that off and I will END you.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Goddammit Chet, this is important.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m listening to you. Talk.” He tilted the controller to the right and hit a rapid combination of buttons. “Shit.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Fine. Whatever." </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">He ran his hand through his hair.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> "Listen, Janine is a succubus, Chet. She’s a damned succubus.” </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I know. She’s a real bitch.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“No, she’s not a bitch … I mean, yes she’s a bitch, but she’s also a succubus. An honest-to-God succubus. I went over to Chris’s apartment, and I saw them on the couch through the window, and I thought they were making out. She looked like she was kissing him. But then I saw his face, and he just had this glazed look in his eyes. She wasn’t kissing him, man, she was literally sucking … something … out of him. She pulled away a little, and there was like a mist, a blue mist or something, coming out of him, and she was sucking it out.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chet jackhammered the “B” button again.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Aren’t you going to say something?” Jason paced behind the couch.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“That’s not a succubus.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“That is not a succubus.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“No, she IS a succubus. I saw her sucking his goddamned SOUL out!”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“That’s not a succubus, dude.” Chet pushed hard right on the controller and leaned with it. “Succubi just have sex with you and use you up; they don’t suck your soul. Just ‘cause their name starts with ‘suc’ doesn’t mean they suck things out of you.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What the hell are you talking about?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sounds like a strigoaica.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“A what?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“A strigoaica. They’re like vampire witches, but they don’t suck blood. They steal life force, usually from just cows and stuff.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jason blinked.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“OK, fine. She’s a strigica, but that doesn’t …”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“StrigOAICA .”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Whatever! Fine! So what do we do about it?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You should have killed her.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“How do we do that?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Gotta do it when they’re feeding. Get ‘em in their hearts. Probably done feeding now.” He pulled back on the controller and brought it into his gut, then shoved it forward. The hunter blasted a light ray through three ragged vampires. "Yeah, beeeeeatches!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Would you just PUT DOWN THE CONTROLLER AND COME HELP ME!”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“No.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Goddamn you suck, Chet. You really suck. You’re the friggin’ succubus.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chet paused the game and set the controller down. He stood and faced Jason.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Succubi are girls. I’m a guy. I’d be an INcubus. But of course that’s ignoring the one, the primary stinking fact that I’ve already established, and that is that SUCCUBI DON’T SUCK <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>PEOPLE!”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jason stormed into the kitchen. He grabbed a carving knife from the block and marched out the front door, slamming it behind him.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chet picked up his controller. “TWO knives, brah,” he mumbled. “They got TWO hearts.”</span></div>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-43199051006274211062010-12-31T01:41:00.007-06:002012-04-14T01:51:12.501-05:00The Grove<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The poplars looked cold. The trunks and narrow limbs seemed more than winter bare. They were stark. They were stripped and bleached.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Abe broke off a twig. It snapped dry.<br />
<br />
On the tree, silver sap dripped from the new wound. The drops became a stream leaking onto the frozen ground. A thick puddle grew.<br />
<br />
The stream became a spray, and Abe put his hand out to block it. Thick drops turned to rivulets down his wrist and hardened. He flexed his hand, and they cracked and flowed again in new directions down his arm.<br />
<br />
Abe, frantic, wiped his heavy arm on his shirt. It stuck to the cloth and tore it as he pulled away. He could no longer flex his wrist or elbow. His shoulder stiffened.<br />
<br />
He ran back down the road, but his legs became clumsy, and within seconds they stuck fast.<br />
<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tendrils climbed his neck, wormed into his nose, mouth and ears until his cry choked off. He stood a silver statue.<br />
<br />
A low grating echoed quietly from his open mouth. A branch emerged, bone white. His fingertips, knees, shoulders and toes crackled as shoots pushed through, branching up and out.<br />
<br />
The wind blew, and Abe swayed, stark and bare.</span>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-60935230486037901652010-12-16T23:51:00.006-06:002012-04-14T01:51:25.594-05:00Bee grounded<div style="background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.5864104134961963" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tommy coughed, and Bee, hovering just above his nose, wilted a little. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He hadn’t brushed his teeth.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She zipped to the ceiling and sat on the fan, legs dangling, looking down at the sleeping boys. She giggled then tumbled backwards and rolled off the blade, catching herself inches from the carpet and twirling out the door.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Down the stairs and around the living room, trailing subtle specks of fairy dust, she alighted on top of the Christmas tree, jealously nudging aside the angel and, with one hand shading her eyes, surveyed the landscape.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She bounced off a high branch and dove to the floor. Presents spilled beneath the tree as she plopped into the pile in a shower of tinsel.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Achoo!” a puff of tinsel and fairy dust sneezed from the tree.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And out shot Bee, bouncing into the kitchen.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Past the sink, and Oh my! Look at that reflection in the window! Bee primped above the sink and straightened her yellow skirt. In a midair walk down the runway, she winked and spun, then corkscrewed down in a giggle-fit.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Too low! She never saw the water in the sink, and *Splash!* went Bee.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One arm, then two reached over the rim as she pulled herself out. She dabbled her brown toes in the soapy water while she dried.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She stood slowly, shook her black hair and wings. Then she leaped off the counter-top and tumbled to the ground. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her wings were dry, yes, but clean as well, scrubbed of fairy dust. Without fairy dust Bee couldn’t fly.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She couldn’t climb the stairs of course, and she certainly couldn’t get back into Tommy’s sock drawer to take a nap. So she cried and curled up under the pink recliner to rest. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the morning, she peeked and watched the boys awake now. Tommy sucked on a candy cane from the tree and drank hot chocolate. He watched Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer talk to the misfit toys.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After Rudolf ended, Tommy stretched out on the floor and drew green angels for Christmas.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Dad, I need glitter,” he said, then after a pause “Please.”</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His dad brought the glitter. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“And I need glue, but not the glue stick. I need the white glue,” Tommy said.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Please.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tommy spread glue on angel wings. He sprinkled glitter on the glue. He leaned low, blew slow, and glitter swirled through the air. It drifted beneath the recliner and stuck to Bee’s face, hair and wings. “Achoo!” she sneezed.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bee flexed her wings and felt magic again! It turns out that glitter puffed with a gust of chocolate and peppermint breath is exactly the recipe for fairy dust.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bee uttered a "Whoop!" and flew from under the recliner. She hovered before Tommy’s face, much to his surprise. She winked and zoomed upstairs.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tommy looked everywhere for Bee, but he could not find her. She was tucked away in his sock drawer, which Tommy never opened because those socks were too small and no one ever folded his socks to fill the drawer.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And he can’t look now because it’s time to go to sleep.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>This one's a bedtime story I told my 4-yr-old the other day. It's also my 3 Word Wednesday ("utter," "lean" and "dabble").</i></span></div>
</div>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-76038266322560779642010-08-20T01:05:00.005-05:002012-04-14T01:51:47.853-05:00The Rise and Fall (and Rise and Fall) of @dunleavy27<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday, May 11</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">0 followers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Hey, just trying this out now. Anyone listening?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Dominoes for supper! Pepperoni rocks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday, May 12</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12 followers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Hey @bristol2! How you feeling this morning?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Thanks for the RT @dominoes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Leftover dominoes 2nite! Better than fresh!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friday, May 17</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">15 followers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Watching GI Jane. More dominoes. Demi Moore is SUPERHOT!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday, May 18</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">124,532 followers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Whoa! Wtf?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Thanks for the RT @aplusk!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Nice bacon and toast for supper, tweeps! Who likes toast?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Tweeting from my toilet right now! LOL!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Eating nachos.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Still watching TV. Nachos gone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Going to bed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: NOT! LOL! Still awake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Going to bed now for real! No more jokes!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday, May 19</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">110,354 followers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Lots of assholes on Twitter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monday, May 20</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">93, 493 followers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: I’m not whining, lots of people were being mean.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: f$%# off @diggitydoo @gminny35 @parthenon @lovergirl34 @giester @plunkett355</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: f$%# off @erniewells @teaserman @plouser @ginnyo</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Nevermind @gminny35. Sorry, I thought you were being sarcastic!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: f$%# off @gminny35</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tuesday, May 21</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">64,403 followers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: @festercat Maybe I’ll do that to your mom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: @overcharge @greeny Seriously, you wanna go at it? Anytime, boys. I do Tai Kwon Do. How about you?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: @festercat I’m sorry. I didn’t know that about your mom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: @festercat I didn’t know your mom was following me! How many moms do Twitter, for crying out loud!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: @glimmy You’re a prick.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Apparently I’m not doing Twitter right. Any advice, tweeps?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: President Obama is doing a pretty good job for a black guy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wednesday, May 22</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">156 followers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: That was bad advice @politicsjunky</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: I’m not an ignorant racist. I just think he’s doing a good job, OK? Just leave it at that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thursday, May 23</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">146 followers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Blog post: How to improve your tweets: <a href="http://merrittmatt.blogspot.com/2010/08/advice-from-jerks.html">http://bit.ly/9GIAnQ</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friday, May 24</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">349 followers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Apparently #hashtags are the #coolthingtodo. I’m in! #awesome</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: #Chinesefood 2night! #generaltsaorocks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday, May 25</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">321 followers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Holy #humid. #Mowing with my #shirt off! #HotSweatyGay</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday, May 26</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10,364 followers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: I meant #HotSweatyGuy. That was a typo. I’m not #gay, and I’m definitely not that kind of #gay.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: @sweatypecs please stop RTing me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Listen, I don’t like #guys. #notgay</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Sick @leatherchaps. Just sick.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monday, May 27</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2,153 followers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Spent all night blocking people. #goingtobedatdawn #nogayfollowers</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tuesday, May 28</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">123 followers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: I’m not #antigay! Did you guys see what they were saying?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: @leavening yes I know a gay person, and I like him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: @leavening Like a friend, I mean.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Twitter sucks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wednesday, May 29</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@dunleavy27: Screw everybody.</span></div>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-74934249591232102782010-07-23T13:03:00.005-05:002012-04-14T01:52:05.558-05:00Live Bait<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Have you ever eaten anything that’s still alive?” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Yes.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His eyes narrowed as he studied Easton’s face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I don’t believe you.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I ate a mosquito once when I was riding my bike down the hill by my house. My mouth was open, and it flew right in and down my throat.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Aww, that don’t count,” Jake said. He flicked a flat stone across the pond. It bounced one, two, three, four than a staccato fivesixseveneight “Nine!” he said triumphantly and jumped to his feet. “C’mon, I’ll show you what I mean.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They bounced up the path, each holding a twig. The air whirred as they sliced at the tops of the tall grass on either side, scattering the seeds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The campground supply shack had an ice machine and a stack of dry wood on one side of the screen door. On the other side sat a vending machine. <i>Live Bait</i>, it read, with a trout snapping at a lure below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Gimmie a quarter,” Jake said. He put it into the slot and pressed the button labeled "Crickets." A small box plopped out of the machine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He opened the box gently, pulled one small insect from the dozen or so, and snapped the lid shut. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It writhed and stretched its legs as he held it high above his head. He glanced at Easton and slowly brought it down toward his open mouth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a sick crunch as Jake chewed and swallowed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Like that,” Jake said. “Here, you try.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Easton opened the box slowly and inspected the contents. He didn’t want to touch them, but teen pride proved stronger than fear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He selected his victim: the smallest. He cupped it in his hands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Just put it in your mouth and chew it fast,” Jake said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Easton could feel it wriggling between his fingers as he brought it toward his face. He peeked through a gap in his palms.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“This is gross,” he said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Just do it! Don’t be a girl,” Jake said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He brought his cupped hands to his lips, opened his mouth, and shoved the cricket in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The legs strummed against his tongue. It was terrifying and disgusting. Paralyzed, he couldn’t chew.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The screen door banged open, and a woman emerged holding hot dogs and a bag of buns.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Easton! What are you doing? Are you having fun?” his mother smiled.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He bit down once, hard. The cricket crunched and oozed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Honey, are you OK? You look really pale.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thick vomit streamed out of his mouth and onto his mother’s jeans. It dripped and pooled between her feet, yellow with chunks of trail mix. A badly mangled insect soaked in the stew.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Oh honey, let’s go back to the tent and clean up,” she said, putting her arm around him. “I’m so sorry. Maybe we can get a motel room tonight.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He peeked back as they walked away. Jake grinned from the porch and shook the box.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My submission for #FridayFlash and <a href="http://www.threewordwednesday.com/">Three Word Wednesday</a>. This week’s words are: bait, jump and victim.</span></div>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-73724816547863384582010-07-02T17:21:00.034-05:002011-05-10T11:59:17.082-05:00Zombie Luv Flash Fic Contest: Something Not Hunger<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The Hungry</i> had clawed for weeks at the walls of St. Martin’s Cathedral. Their fingertips and nails were stripped away, and exposed bone grated against the rough stones. </span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was a fortress for the faithful and had, so far, repelled all others. Each morning and evening they held Mass. Fervent entreaties to God mingled with the low groans from outside the walls.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Judica me, Deus, et discerne causam meam de gente non sancta. <i>Judge me, O God, and distinguish my cause from the nation that is not holy.</i> Ab mortuis iniquo et doloso erue me. <i>Deliver me from the unjust and deceitful dead.</i>”</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He marked the time by these communal prayers, leaning against a crumbled wall across the square.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">H</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e was the oldest among them. Boots, hard black leather, and a motorcycle helmet – as luck would have it – were sound armor for an animated corpse. With armor came longevity, and with longevity came experience. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He had learned a few tricks and, in turn, followers who trailed him for scraps.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">During the prolonged siege of the Cathedral, all but one had left him.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Her hair was the color of food: bright red, frizzed in the fetid humidity. She survived on the fringes, snatching scraps as the others fought bloody tug-of-wars. Her lower lip was split to the chin, and the slack caused the corners of her mouth to curl in a smile.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She crouched beside a bench; her slender fingers grasped the armrest. She watched him watch the onslaught in the dawn.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Piles</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> of accumulated undead pulsed. Doors were blocked by bodies after the first days of the campaign. T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">hey</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> continued to advance, treading on each other, raising mountains on the shoulders of flailing brethren.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He had kept his eye on one pile in particular. It blocked the main doors, and it had grown high. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was time.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He joined the fray, and so did she, an arm’s reach away. She followed him up the stair of bodies.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Near the choir loft window he pressed close against the surge. A shotgun barrel poked through a gap in the stained glass, and he was splattered with scalp and rot. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He held up the limp body and continued his advance while more shots shook the corpse. He grabbed the gun barrel and pulled. Glass shattered as the defender followed the shotgun out the window and into the claws of the swarm.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He stepped aside then, pressing himself against a gargoyle. She pressed herself against him. They watched as shots felled one after another from the crowd in front them.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Minutes later, the gunfire ceased, and<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> the undead </span></i>steadily filed through the window. She held on to the tail of his jacket as they entered the church.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the loft, scrums of five or more scrapped for flesh. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The horde crowded down side stairs or tumbled over the balcony. The young and elderly huddled in pews crying and praying.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Clergy knelt before the altar at the front of the church, hands folded, eyes raised to the crucifix. “Conserva me ab inferno,”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> the bishop cried.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He tore out the bishop's throat.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He wrenched the arms from their sockets and shuffled behind the altar as the swarm reached the carcass. He set the right arm down and began feeding on the left.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She sat apart from the frenzy and stared. He ripped a bicep free from its tether; her tongue flicked out, vicariously tasting warm muscle.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He felt her eyes on him. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Something that was not hunger stirred in his distended belly.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He grasped one finger, snapped it off, and tossed it into her lap.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If his generosity was odd, her reaction was more so. She didn’t eat the finger; s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">he turned it over in her hand, inspecting it.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A ring still circled the stump. It was thick gold, stamped with a cross and centered with a dark ruby.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She stood slowly and walked into the light. The morning sun blazed through the red and yellow stained glass. The jewel sparkled. The colored light played a kaleidoscope in her hair.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He took her hand, took the finger, and removed the ring. He slid it over her thumb. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then he picked up the second arm and handed it to her. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Together, they fed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">---</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">Guidelines:</span></strong><br />
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<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Word count: maximum 1.000</span></li>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
<li>The story must be a romance between two zombies. Make it as horrific as you like. ;)</li>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkE4uWyJuwXe9rZJP47S1kqsBOaOEdRdMWYB_jm2xMLYDjdLKduBo1mb4HW7OlUDT38kVIFkcCeZxOKiz2JydgAynb35qQ1id0SLUNomgdU7zBzbf-TSoFylNpBlcedSnw9lwaxD7qIioR/s1600/zombiebride3.png" style="color: #99aadd; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487630591243411842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkE4uWyJuwXe9rZJP47S1kqsBOaOEdRdMWYB_jm2xMLYDjdLKduBo1mb4HW7OlUDT38kVIFkcCeZxOKiz2JydgAynb35qQ1id0SLUNomgdU7zBzbf-TSoFylNpBlcedSnw9lwaxD7qIioR/s320/zombiebride3.png" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; height: 178px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; width: 200px;" /></a>
<li>Stories containing animal cruelty, torture, graphic sex or violence, any form of exaltation of violence, racism or other forms of prejudice will be immediately disqualified.</li>
<li>Post your entry on your own blog, with a title resembling this:<br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">Zombie Luv Flash Fic Contest: Story Title</span></strong></li>
<li>Leave your story title and a link to the story entry post as a comment at <a href="http://marisrandomities.blogspot.com/2010/06/zombie-luv-flash-fic-contest-is-here.html#comments" style="color: #99aadd; text-decoration: none;">Mari's Randomities</a>.</li>
<li>Copy and paste the contest logo and the guidelines at the end of your entry post.</li>
</span></ul></div></div>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-41678287925258233622010-07-01T17:12:00.005-05:002010-07-02T08:09:39.887-05:00Canada FAQ<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKY7rKXFh5NMrwaw8u4fgmgkTKI8HY85Von51apGEHBXoXxtRIZTs6UfwCpBvP8_PITET08L2c_gX9RLVdCRJegJ591YmON8AkKmNcmYBM9TZUpoIZzgjefonlVzj-SxgX7-tj7mW3Z6tz/s1600/Maple+Leaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKY7rKXFh5NMrwaw8u4fgmgkTKI8HY85Von51apGEHBXoXxtRIZTs6UfwCpBvP8_PITET08L2c_gX9RLVdCRJegJ591YmON8AkKmNcmYBM9TZUpoIZzgjefonlVzj-SxgX7-tj7mW3Z6tz/s320/Maple+Leaf.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy Canada Day everyone! That’s right, today is the 6th Annual Canada Day, a day to celebrate (hassle) Canadians and that country’s wealth of history and culture. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For your enjoyment and, more importantly, your education, I will now inject a little bit of Canadian spirit (Labatt’s) into your day by answering some frequently asked questions about Canada.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Q: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Where is Canada?</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: Canada, or North North Dakota, is a long, 160-kilometer (mile) wide strip of land sandwiched between the United States to the south and someplace else to the north. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Q: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Who lives in Canada?</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: Beavers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Q: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Does Canada have a government?</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: Canada has (borrows from England) a queen who dictates everything from the food they eat (bacon) to the clothes they wear (flannel).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Q: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Does Canada have an economy?</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: Yes! Canada’s economy is focused on beer. More specifically, it’s focused on serving beer to American college freshmen who hop the border on weekends. Many Canadians claim that they brew some of the best beer in the world. Of course, they also claim that they burned down the White House once, so take it for what it’s worth.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Canada’s main trading partner is the United States, and their main export is cold fronts. I can personally attest to the high quality of their cold fronts.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a name='more'></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Q: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Are Canadians good at sports?</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: Yes, they are! A number (two) of famous athletes come from Canada. Wayne Gretzky, the former hockey player, and Steve Nash, the current basketball player both left Canada as soon as they got good at sports!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Also, this past year was very exciting for Canada as they hosted the Winter Olympics and almost got a whole Olympic cauldron to come out of the floor!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Q: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Has Canada contributed anything significant in the field of science?</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: Indeed they have. Canadian inventor Guglielmo Marconi in 1900 successfully received the first message by wireless telegraph (C-A-N-A-D-A--S-U-C-K-S--R-O-F-L-M-A-O!).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Q: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How about the arts?</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: Many famous actors today hail from Canada including Brendan Fraser (<i>Encino Man</i>), Keanu Reeves (<i>Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure</i>), Chandler Bing (<i>The Whole 9 Yards</i>), Alanis Morissette (<i>You Can't Do That On Television</i>) and William Shatner (<i>PriceLine.com</i>). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Q: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How many Canadians does it take to screw in a lightbulb?</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: Seven.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Q: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do Canadians have a sense of humor?</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: I hope so.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Q: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You’re from South Dakota. Should you really make fun of anyone else’s state or nation?</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: I don’t see how that’s relevant.</span></div>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-11871033185704036032010-06-26T02:25:00.014-05:002010-06-26T12:24:34.909-05:00Phantom, P.I.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div class="MsoNormal">“Is this case out of your league or what?” she said, slouching on the stained beige sofa, hands behind her head.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">She wore a black leather miniskirt, a pink tube top, and a lazy, brainless stare framed by six coats of eye shadow. She kept her hair across half her face, thought it was coy, I suppose, to leave something to the imagination. <br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I knew she wasn’t leaving until I figured this one out. It was powerful motivation.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Max Packer, private eye, stumped by the case of the missing nylon,” she said. “Seriously, what are you good for if this is too much?”<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“I play a mean harmonica.”<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">She rolled her eyes and crossed her nyloned leg over the bare one.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Of all the places to die, it had to be here. I had let her down fast and hard that morning, almost a year ago. “You liked me well enough last night!” she had shouted as I walked to the door.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Jimmy Beam liked you well enough last night,” I replied and turned the knob. That's when it hit. It couldn't have waited two more seconds. Pain seared my chest and I dropped in darkness.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My spirit was chained to a scorned woman’s studio apartment. My talents were tested with mind benders like finding car keys or ratting out the cat.<br />
<a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
“I mean, you’re clearly not much of a ghost,” she said to me now. “Go ahead, scare me. What do you got?”<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“You look fat in that skirt.”<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Is that some kind of joke?”<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“I wish it were.”<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I sorely needed a night off from this personal hell. There just was nothing to go on with this case. It had happened in a matter of minutes. Two nylons out of the dryer, I had seen her do it. She dropped them on the bed, put on her makeup, got dressed and … it was gone. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
I couldn’t pin this one on the cat. It was hiding under the couch the whole time.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Those were the facts. Those and the one constant in every case: that this was possibly the stupidest woman on earth. <br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">She reminded me of Alan Pulaski from back in the neighborhood, the kid who spent an hour at the pool looking for his goggles because no one would tell him they were on top of his head.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Suddenly, lightening struck.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Take off your nylon,” I said.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“I’m not going out bare,” she said.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Just take it off.”<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was halfway down her leg before she figured it out. One was on top of the other.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Oh. Well … good then. Took you long enough,” she muttered. She hurriedly rolled it over her bare leg, put on her heels and wobbled out the door.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The deadbolt latched, and the cat snuck out from under the couch. <br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It sauntered to the middle of the room and peed on the carpet.</div></span>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-70014894233998827842010-06-19T01:34:00.012-05:002010-06-26T03:04:06.633-05:00Twelve Items or Less<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">We don’t ask much of customers, only one thing, in fact. One sign atop one lane out of 100 square yards of store.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">That gentle request: 12 items or less.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">It’s simple, it’s easy, and human decency can usually be counted on to enforce it for us. Usually.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">My checkout banter had run its course after two items with this guy – bald, big and dressed to the ones in a slashed and sleeveless black hoodie. Piles of household goods jerked forward on the conveyer belt as I filled another bag in the silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">Customers in line are usually quiet, but now it was different, thicker, bloated. Their eyes and postures hinted at rage. But Midwest sensibility corked it, bottled it up to fester and swell.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">I lowered my eyes as I punched the code for bananas, scanned a six-pack of Gatorade. The list grew on the display above the register: Nutri-Grain bars, $5.45; Dove, $2.99; Dawn, $6.99 … The whole time the line kept growing, snaking now around the tabloids. The man stood tall with his head high, tapping the counter with his wallet as he waited.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">Finally, “$312.42,” I muttered, embarrassed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">“Yeah, I’m in line right now,” a woman at the back was on a cell phone. “I’d be home already if this meathead in front could count to 12.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">I froze. Everyone froze. Our eyes got a bit wider.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">“You got a problem, lady?” Meathead growled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">A basket hung on her elbow and the cell phone was still at her ear. A toddler fussed on her hip.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">“Sorry hon, I gotta go,” she ended the call. “Yeah, I do. It’s the express lane for Christ sake. If you’re gonna stock your nuke shelter, take it to another line.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">Such eloquence! This woman was our poet, our collective voice! We were all suddenly ashamed. We were cowards before her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">But now that it was out, everyone stood a bit taller. Midwest sensibilities dissipated. And when Meathead replied “You need to shut your mouth,” the others came to this righteous Mother’s side.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">“Man, she’s right. That’s just rude,” said the frat boy holding a six pack of Bud Light and a Hot Pocket.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">“Yeah, this isn’t your personal checkout line,” added the business man with a melon under each arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">“I’ll knock you’re goddamned heads off!” Meathead roared.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">It was every checker’s dream. This was the scenario that played through my head every time some asshole decided to press his selfish boot on the head of the civilized world.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">Meathead wore that role like form-fitting spandex. Most people would be humiliated at being called out. He should have grabbed his bags and slunk out of the store. But he wouldn’t back down, maybe he couldn’t back down. He’d probably never had to back down from any affront in his life.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">“Why don’t you get out of here!” the elderly woman with her grandkids in tow shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">“What a dick,” the sullen teen muttered loudly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">The manager had finally noticed the commotion. “Is there a problem here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">“I got this. Get out of here,” Meathead pushed him back, probably harder than he intended.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">That did it. A tomato flew from the middle of the line and struck him in the shoulder. He stepped forward and met the grin of a spoiled 6-year-old, whose father promptly dragged him back.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">“You gonna hit a kid?” Mother shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">“If I have to!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">The line stepped forward in unison, Frat Boy at the front. “Go for it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">An apple flew from the back and hit Meathead in the forehead. He lashed out and punched Frat Boy in the stomach, crumpling him to the floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">Then, Grandmother whipped his shins with her cane. Business Man slammed a melon on top of his head. As he lay on the floor, Sullen Teen kicked him in the kidney and Business Man let loose another melon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">He staggered to one knee, snatched a bag off the counter, and sprinted toward the exit, knocking aside a young boy waiting for the quarter horse. He stopped and hopped, looking around frantically as he waited for the automatic door to open. He took off through the parking lot.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">The group let out a cheer. Society had standards, and those had been upheld in a rare moment of solidarity among strangers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">The manager took me off the line and pointed to the cart of bagged items. “Stock those,” he said angrily.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">I took my time, savoring the experience. I counted 68 as I put the last item from the cart, beef jerky, on the shelf. I was about to be the center of attention after the shift, and I wanted the exact number for the retelling.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">Later, as I punched the clock, another cashier ran up behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">“I thought you want a souvenir,” she said and handed me a three-foot long receipt.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">I ran my thumb down the list. The total came to 80 this time. I had forgotten that he stole a bag.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">One bag.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">Twelve items.<o:p></o:p></span></div></span>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-87901251481012471442010-06-10T01:21:00.013-05:002010-06-10T08:16:07.496-05:00A Noble Profession<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For </span><a href="http://www.threewordwednesday.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Three Word Wednesday</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. This week’s prompt: roam, noble, hidden.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“I chose this life,” he said.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was checking email on my Blackberry, waiting for the bus. The growing reek of sweat and smoke preceded him as he scooted closer.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“I don’t have to be a tramp. I want to be one. It’s a noble profession,” he said.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I cocked an eyebrow. Greasy wisps of hair spilled from a black stocking cap set high on his head. His face was pock-marked and gritty, as if scrubbed by the pavement. He wore a tattered USC sweatshirt and an unbuttoned trench coat. Despite his layers, he looked comfortable in the 80 degree heat.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Profession?” I said.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His eyes bulged.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Oh yes. We’re the sages of the 21st century. The tramp scorns the very tenet upon which modern society thrives, the notion that a prosperous life is built on the rubble of friends and co-workers sacrificed in the unholy pursuit of the corner office. I roam the streets, observing the shameful state of humanity and offering a chance at redemption. I give reprieve from greed, an opportunity to rediscover human kindness through the smallest token: the gift of a dollar, perhaps.”</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“So you want a dollar?” I said.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“But that’s not the point,” he said. “I want you to rediscover the joy of helping a fellow man. Mencius once said, ‘He who attends to his greater self becomes a great man, and he who attends to his smaller self becomes a small man.’ I want to make you a great man.”</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I pulled out my wallet. “I can spare a buck.”</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He smiled as I held out the dollar.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Or you could just give me all of it,” he said.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“All of it? I don’t think –” He had a pistol hidden in the pocket of his trench coat; the barrel protruded from a hole in the lining.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“And the Blackberry,” he said.</span>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-38177895465685099392010-06-04T18:37:00.016-05:002010-06-10T01:34:59.212-05:00A Lucky Hunt<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My late submission for </span><a href="http://www.threewordwednesday.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Three Words Wednesday</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and #</span><a href="http://www.jmstrother.com/tiki-view_tracker.php?trackerId=2&sort_mode=f_13_asc&status=o"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">fridayflash</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. This week’s words: budge, nimble, theory.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The dogs were off the truck before it stopped. The men piled out next, but Alex waited and then carefully handed the 20-gauge shotgun to his brother, Jake, before exiting. He could still see that bloody, careless teen in the hunter’s safety video from last week.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alex’s new blaze orange vest was creased along the back, and every pocket was stocked with shells, 40 of them. He wore his lawn-mowing jeans, his mother’s red flannel and new boots. He bent and pulled a burr out of the laces.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jake handed him the gun.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“You look good, but you need a hat,” Jake said. “Take mine, it’s lucky.” He placed the orange and grey cap on Alex’s head. It had a camouflage pattern formed from silhouettes of naked ladies.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Thanks!” Alex pulled the brim low.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jake was back from college for opening weekend of pheasant season. He had been recounting hunting stories to Alex while their dad had driven to their uncle’s farm. Once, Jake had flushed a bird at the end of a field and it ran into a power line and dropped dead at his feet. Another time, he shot a pheasant from the back of the truck as they were driving.</span><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A headwind whipped dust at their faces from the empty creek bed as they lined up for the hunt. The switchgrass on each bank looked greased as it bowed toward them.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They had 10 hunters and two dogs, half the crew on each side of the creek. Jake was on the edge next to Alex.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They marched in a neat line, and Alex gripped his shotgun. His trigger finger circled the safety.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Hup bird, hup! C’mon bird! Hup!”</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was hard going; he had to yank his foot through a weave of grass at each step. They traced a bend in the creek, and he got stuck fighting a 6-foot snarl of bushes with his gun above his head.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Suddenly, wings brushed the grass. Bouncing cackles chopped the air. Alex pulled the gun to his shoulder and put a bead above tail feathers now clearing the grass.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Cock!”</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He pulled the trigger hard.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It stuck.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He pulled again, hard.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stuck.</span><br />
<i> </i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bang</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">! The shot rang from his left and the bird crumpled in a puff of feathers.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Nice shot!” someone hollered from across the creek.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Sorry buddy, I was waiting for you to take that one,” Jake said as they watched a lab nose through the brush to retrieve the bird.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alex looked at his gun. The safety was still on.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“My gun jammed,” he said and adjusted his cap.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They got four more birds out of the field over the next 100 yards, all of them on the other side of the creek. Finally, they came to a dirt road that marked the end of the field. Everyone relaxed.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then, “He’s on to one!” The black lab was on point; her haunches quivered, but her nose didn’t budge, aimed steady at a small patch of grass.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“This one’s yours, Alex,” Jake said. “Get ready.”</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alex clicked off the safety and carefully walked up beside the dog. He peered into the weeds, looking for the red, green, and gold pattern. He kicked to flush the bird.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Movement, a quick shake of grey, and a nimble rabbit darted between two hunters and across the road. The dog tore after it.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alex staggered; his foot twisted in a hole; he pitched forward and fell on his gun.</span><br />
<i> </i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bang</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">! As the ringing faded, he heard screaming.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“He shot him! He shot Jake! Call an ambulance!”</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alex stumbled to his feet and then to his brother. Jake was on his back with his hand on his side. The grass was tinged red.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Oh God,” Alex said. “Oh God. Are you OK? Jake, are you OK?”</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jake groaned. Their dad shoved Alex aside.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I tripped. It was a rabbit. It wasn’t a pheasant. It was a rabbit. I’m sorry. I’m really really sorry.”</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was 20 minutes before the ambulance arrived. Jake lost consciousness. Alex sat outside the ring of adults and cried.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He rode in front of the ambulance on the way to the hospital. He handed his cap to the driver after the medical crew had rushed Jake into emergency. “Can you get this to him?”</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Sure.”</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His father hugged him tight in the waiting room as they waited for the news. After about an hour, the doctor entered.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“It’s good news,” he said. “The shot didn’t hit any organs as far as we can tell.”</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alex’s whimpers became sobs of joy.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“He might keep a pellet or two in his side, though,” the doctor said. “We’ll need to keep him here awhile.”</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He followed his father into the hospital room. He saw Jake lying in the bed with oxygen tubes in his nose. He ran to the bedside and draped himself over the low rail.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“I’m so sorry, Jake. It was a rabbit.”</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Don’t sweat it, buddy. I’m OK. Come here.”</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alex gave his brother a careful hug.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“My theory,” his father said from behind them, “is that sometimes God fires a warning shot.”</span><br />
<i> </i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bull</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, Alex thought as he looked at the naked ladies camouflage cap beside the bed. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It’s the lucky hat.</span></i></div>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-3073842758063909422010-06-01T00:21:00.009-05:002010-06-10T01:34:15.083-05:00Fruit of Thy Womb<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The </span><a href="http://sundayscribblings.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sunday Scribblings</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> prompt for the week: mantra.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She rolled the cool bead across her thumb to the beat of her mantra.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. </span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Ma’am, we’ve seen some strange activity on your card, and we just wanted to call to make sure you’re aware,” the caller said. There had been three cash advances of $1,5oo over the last three days. She closed down the card.</span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. </span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She hadn’t been able to find him in the few places she knew to look. He wasn’t home or at the bar. His friends claimed they hadn’t seen him. She wandered the park with no real hope of running into him there.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Finally, she called the number tacked to the bulletin board in his room: his bookie.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“If you see him, tell him he’d best be stopping by here soon,” the man said.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a name='more'></a></span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It didn’t really matter. She suffered no delusions that she’d get back her money; she’d never gotten back any of her stuff he had pawned over the years.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She went back to the apartment and cleared out his few belongings. Clothes, a recliner (with help from the boy downstairs), toiletries, a box of books and DVDs all lay in a pile on the curbside. She paused briefly before throwing in a baby book and photo album.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There was nothing anyone would want to take. It would still be there if he cared to come for it.</span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It stayed there for a week. She passed it as she walked to and from her daily commitments.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She watched from the window on Friday as the garbage crew loaded it on the truck.</span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Monday, she took the bus to the morgue to identify his body. It had been found by a kid retrieving a home run ball during a sandlot game. One shot through the back of the head.</span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A mourner from the neighborhood walked up the aisle. He placed his hand on her shoulder as he passed.</span>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-33731374599045103872010-05-27T12:40:00.023-05:002010-06-26T02:43:49.783-05:00Home Security<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">He was through the window to his waist when his elbow clipped the plate, causing a clank from the kitchen sink. He stopped with his legs dangling in open air, his face near a dish that reeked of asparagus.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> It was quiet.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">He slid the rest of the way through at an angle onto the counter and then stepped lightly to the floor. He tilted his head, waiting as his vision gradually adjusted to the dark.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Still quiet.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">This wasn’t a bad part of town; it was on the fringe of a district with character, in fact. But three blocks down and you’d start thinking about iron grates on the windows. He supposed his presence tonight made a good case for iron grates here too.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> The lawn had gone to seed, and the house needed some paint, but it was otherwise maintained. A man and a woman lived here. No kids. No dog. He’d monitored the house for a week.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">The husband had a physique fit for a desk job. He dressed neatly and worked 8-5, and he drove a 15-year-old Accord with rust eating the bottom couple inches off the doors.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a name='more'></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> She stayed home and, judging by the condition of the kitchen his dim view afforded, didn’t do much housework. He had her pegged as a snack-food junkie. Their garbage had included half a dozen empty Cheetos bags and other wrappers. It also included an empty Dell laptop box.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">That was precisely what he was looking for. The laptop alone would make the effort worthwhile, and it indicated they probably had other electronics in the house.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">He tiptoed through the dining room and kept his eyes firmly locked in front of him. He didn’t want to be tempted by anything until he had secured his exit. He got to the front door, unlocked it, and left it open about an inch, in case he had to abandon the job in a hurry.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">He turned now and retraced his steps. He scanned the dining room and saw a tiny white glow. Bingo. He walked over and picked the laptop off the table where it was recharging.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Next, he’d check the living room for the entertainment center. If it wasn’t there, he’d look in the basement.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">He crossed the hall and peered around the corner of the stairwell.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thwack</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">! He was on the floor and rolled into the fetal position as the husband swung down again. <i>Thwack</i>! He felt ribs crack. The bat came down a third time. <i>Thwack</i>! He didn’t feel that one. It dented the back of his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">The husband, in yellow boxers and a V-neck T, grunted as he swung a fourth time, then a fifth, and on. The thuds turned to squelches.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">He slipped on the wet hardwood as he stepped over the burglar. He set down the bat, picked up the phone, and dialed 9-1-1.<br />
_________________________________________________<br />
For <a href="http://www.threewordwednesday.com/">Three Word Wednesday</a>. This week’s words were: abandon, gradual, precise.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></span></div>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-82659397480109658312010-05-26T12:30:00.011-05:002010-06-10T08:40:12.874-05:00First Kiss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCU_D4Y8VaNKNJKUUJhnKudnWBrrVNmYfapvXmtZSaIfcbLZ99upUYSeZRRkSn4_BsaBH935ghGJ1n7bArqDAoPDv1b3vSCVu8MMkcOze3sewR9Un8x-pNHxSybejFhFp8bAzeBaZJ8Yb/s1600/iliketowrite5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></a></div>NOTE: The folks over at <a href="http://writewithpictures.blogspot.com/2010/05/tuesdays-tale_25.html">Write With Pictures</a> gave me the Featured Post winner for this one! Thanks to all who took the time to read it.<br />
---<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The air twirled with Maple seeds.<br />
<br />
They sat quietly near the bank together. Her fingertips danced on the back of his hand. Her palm was damp and warm, and the heat climbed her wrist, up her arm to her elbow, which was nestled in his. Everything else was numb.<br />
<br />
She took in his smell of dirt, sweat, peanut butter, and honey. It was so uniquely boy.<br />
<br />
She studied his knee, a smear of dry blood on dark green, and the threadbare hem of his khaki shorts. She studied every blemish on the back of her hand as it lay on his. </span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
Then he turned toward her. She was spinning or everything else was. She closed her eyes and saw white.<br />
<br />
They kissed.<br />
<br />
Sunlight burst from her. It bounced back off the water, leaves and grass. The pair glittered.<br />
<br />
He squeezed her shoulders hard and pressed against her, upsetting her tenuous balance. She caught herself and put her arms around his neck without breaking contact.<br />
<br />
It was absolutely everything she had dreamed and obsessed over. Perfect.<br />
<br />
“Ryan! Time to go!” They jumped apart as his mother called for him.<br />
<br />
She blushed fiercely, and he scrambled up the slope. “Bye,” he said and raced across the grass to where his mother was rounding up picnic supplies.<br />
<br />
She fell back against the knotted trunk, replaying each moment, rewinding the memory, and playing it again. She subconsciously added a breath of wind, sunbeams, and bird chirps at just the right moments.<br />
<br />
Ten minutes later she rejoined her parents.<br />
<br />
“Hey, honey. Did you have fun?” her father said as they loaded the minivan.<br />
<br />
--<br />
<br />
Barely 24 hours later now, she sagged against the Maple tree and stared through the bare earth between her knees.<br />
<br />
The world was dull grey, gone cold and soulless. The tree wept with her, seeds that clung to the tousled curtain of hair encircling her down-turned face.<br />
<br />
Clenched in her hand was a note, crimpled and smudged but legible.<br />
</span> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I hope we can still be friends.</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
_________________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Written as the "Tuesday Tale" for </span> <a href="http://writewithpictures.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Write with Pictures</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and based on the photo above. Romance and teen girls? I blushed the whole time I was writing. It was a great challenge.</span>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-49012699543731666622010-05-22T23:12:00.010-05:002010-06-10T08:40:46.570-05:00Let the characters describe themselves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeztUBYJd1glPxN2PG5TzgkKxUDVmtd0aFqcvtPUb9XYn1QQq4jXUp3w5z3G6by15ZMf98TUjw1pwc7m4X1ccBHSaL2pCgnqp4nkkOJf2uLBqWN4md3NLfyPOnR01ZVdeKZMSfsWYfHXu/s1600/Flannery+O%27Connor+A+Good+Man2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeztUBYJd1glPxN2PG5TzgkKxUDVmtd0aFqcvtPUb9XYn1QQq4jXUp3w5z3G6by15ZMf98TUjw1pwc7m4X1ccBHSaL2pCgnqp4nkkOJf2uLBqWN4md3NLfyPOnR01ZVdeKZMSfsWYfHXu/s320/Flannery+O%27Connor+A+Good+Man2.jpg" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While reading Flannery O’Connor’s "</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Good-Hard-Find-Other-Stories/dp/0156364654"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A Good Man is Hard to Find</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">" recently, I tried to pay attention to how she described her characters. She was so good at describing characteristics and mannerisms without slowing the pace of her stories.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For example, this description of the rich old farmer, Mr. Cheatam in the short story “A Temple of the Holy Ghost”:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“He was bald-headed except for a little fringe of rust-colored hair and his face was nearly the same color as the unpaved roads and washed like them with ruts and gullys. He wore a pale green shirt with a thin black stripe in it and blue galluses and his trousers cut across a protruding stomach that he pressed tenderly from time to time with his big flat thumb. All his teeth were backed with gold and he would roll his eyes at Miss Kirby in an impish way and say ‘Haw haw,’ sitting in their porch swing with his legs spread apart and his hightopped shoes pointing in opposite directions on the floor.”</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mr. Cheatam was courting Miss Kirby, and that was the extent of his role in the story. I was struck by how O’Connor kept this description anchored securely to the plot. I would have been tempted to give a sentence or two of back-story. Was Mr. Cheatam a widower? Did he inherit his money or build up his fortune? He was not a central character; he never even appeared in the story outside of others talking about him. To include that information would have painted a fuller picture, but it was unnecessary to the plot, so she never let the description get off the front porch.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">O’Connor also found comparisons that were pertinent to the lifestyle of the character. His face was “nearly the same color as the unpaved roads and washed like them with ruts and gullys.” It wasn’t “creased like a poorly folded map in the glovebox” or “rutted like the bark on an old Maple.” Although their faces might be similar, my first description would better suit a trucker or traveling salesman, perhaps. The second, a woodsman, maybe, or a botanist. O’Connor’s description fit his environment perfectly (and “washed” was an awesome verb there).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I write, I usually describe my characters from the perspective of Matt rather than letting the setting, tone, circumstances and characters themselves dictate the language.</span>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-87566150292517183092010-05-20T12:22:00.007-05:002010-06-10T08:41:14.282-05:00The Bigger Man<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For </span><a href="http://www.threewordwednesday.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Three Word Wednesday</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. The words are: Grasp, dread, pacify.</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Baumgartner girls climbed onto the bus at 42</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">nd</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and Spencer, the two eldest chattering while the littlest, Ellie, pressed against them and laughed loudly, trying to be in the conversation.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mark swung the lever to close the door and pulled back onto the road.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That morning, their ride was full of spring: Nothing blossoms brighter in April than elementary children. The old Bluebird bus bounced over fresh potholes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The mirror caught a child jumping seats across the aisle. “K-keep your butts in the chairs, please!” Mark called back.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Sorry!” the boy dropped immediately, and the seat springs sent him smack into a window.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mark downshifted and ground the gears as he turned the corner onto Lake. They topped the hill on the way to the next stop.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Suddenly, to Mark, the bright jabbering and sunshine faded.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">49</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and Lake. He dreaded this stop.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At the corner, he pulled over, set the brake, extended the stop sign, and opened the door.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Watch out;” Jake Palmer bulled through a second-grader and cleared the stairs with a leap.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The left seat all the way to the back was sacred, open each day for Jake. “Hey Mr. Mark,” he said as he strode by.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Jake,” Mark nodded.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jake was lean, well-dressed and universally worshipped. His “friends” were more like attendants: They laughed on cue and waited for approval.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jake was on top of the heap thanks to a wicked, bloody tongue. The boy could peel you down to your deepest weakness: the mole on Elizabeth Pewter’s chin, Michael Robby’s only pair of pants, Chase Menkin’s mother. But you didn’t have to probe to find Mark’s weakness. Even the densest bullies in his life had figured that out pretty quick.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“F-feet on floor!” Mark suddenly snapped at some kids draped over the backrests.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Yeah! F-f-f-f-f-feet on the f-f-f-f-floor you f-f-f-f-fools!” Jake slouched low in his seat, out of sight.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Everyone giggled.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was the same every day. It had been the same every day for his whole life: different aggressors, but the same joke. The authority of adulthood had given him no reprieve.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mark was hot, but he knew if he responded, the stuttering would only be worse.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He pulled over at Lake and 57</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Five kids boarded.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“G-g-g-good morning, Tommy!” Jake shouted.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Laughter shook the bus. Mark’s fingernails bit his palms around the steering wheel as he pulled out.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Keep your f-f-f-f-feet on the f-f-f-floor, Tommy!” Jake said. He was on a roll.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tommy laughed and raised both feet in the air.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jake feigned shock. “Tommy! I’m the f-f-f-freakin’ bus driver! You better listen!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Quiet!” Mark screamed. The bus fell silent.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then, “OK. I’m done. … B’dee b’dee b’dee That’s all folks!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The kids couldn’t hold it in; their laughter spit from between clenched lips, their heads between their knees. It was out of control, and Mark was powerless.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He pulled up to the last stop and set the brake. The kids boarded.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Watch your f-f-f-f-feet!” Tommy had decided to get in on the act now.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mark’s pulse pounded. He seethed. A lifetime of “ignoring” taunts had done nothing to pacify his anger and insecurity. He decided to act, damn the consequences.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“This is your s-stop, Jake.” He stood and faced the children.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">No one laughed. No one moved. Jake acted like he hadn’t heard.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Jake! This is your stop! Get off the bus!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“What? But I didn’t say it; Tommy said it!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Get off the bus Jake.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“No.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mark walked to the back, and Jake slid against the window. Mark grabbed his arm and pulled him into a bear hug that pinned his arms against his side. He backed down the aisle while Jake kicked. “Let go of me! Stop it! I’m going to tell!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His foot connected with a backpack and dragged it into the aisle. He kicked someone’s lunchbox, then a leg.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He grasped the pole as they passed the front seats. Mark braced his feet, then yanked hard. Jake lost his grip, and they both tumbled out the door onto the curb.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“You can’t do this,” Jake said as Mark got back in his seat and closed the door.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He pulled away from the curb with Jake running alongside the bus, pounding its sides.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The kids heard “STOP! STOP!” until they were out of earshot.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But Mark never looked in the rearview mirror. He just rolled down the last joyful mile to school. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div></div>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-61313762191479761682010-05-16T23:40:00.005-05:002010-06-10T08:41:43.450-05:00Eye of Newt<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For </span><a href="http://sundayscribblings.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sunday Scribblings</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. The prompt is: recipe.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“A pinch of red pepper flakes. Where are … Ah ha. OK. One pinch then.”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Will sprinkled it into the cauldron. Steam puffed in his face. He coughed.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Don’t go too heavy on the pepper!” his master shouted from across the room.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“I just put in a pinch!”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Pinch it a little tighter next time, then!”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alfred Lowenden was generally regarded as the greatest alchemist in the area. Will being accepted as his apprentice had less to do with skill and more to do with luck. Luck of birth, to be precise: Alfred was his uncle.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Will knew expectations were low, and he was anxious to prove his worth. Today, in his second week at the shop, Will was making his first potion for sale. It was to be a strength potion, nothing too complicated. He had a special recipe, the finest ingredients, and about 20 minutes before the customer arrived.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Wormwood bark, check. Salt, check. Grubs, check. Red pepper, check. And … eye of newt. Uncle, er, Master! Where’s the eye of newt?”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Newts are in the tank at the back!”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Right, not newts! I need eye of newt!”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“The eyes of newts are in the heads of newts on the newts in the tank at the back!”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Right then, thanks!”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Will grasped the counter edge and took a deep breath. There were reasons he wanted to be an alchemist, and none of them had anything to do with blinding newts. He had killed an animal before: a deer the one time his father had taken him hunting. He had vomited on the carcass, and his father field dressed it for him.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He approached the tank of lounging newts and saw one watching him. He gently picked it up. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Hey buddy. Sorry about this.”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He walked back to his station, leaned against the counter to steady himself and raised the trembling blade of his pocketknife.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Wait!” his master cried, waving.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oh thank God. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Use the newt spoon, over there,” he said, pointing to the tool bench. “Otherwise you’ll puncture the eye.”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Great, thanks,” Will said. He retrieved the tiny scoop.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He held the newt over the cauldron. It blinked. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“I know you don’t want this,” he whispered angrily. “I don’t want to do this. Some clown wants to pick up a horse to impress his girlfriend, so here we are.”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The newt blinked. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Will started crying, stifling sobs to hide his weakness.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“This sucks. I’m sorry.”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He slid the spoon into its socket and tightened his grip as it squirmed. With a soft squelch, the eye was plucked from the newt and fell into the bubbling brew.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Looks good. Nice work,” his master said from over Will’s shoulder as he looked at the now amber liquid. “And just in time. Let’s bottle it up and get this out front.”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The man at the counter was about half as high as Will and 75 percent nose. He rocked back and forth with his hands in his pockets and glanced around at the bottles, vials, and beakers that filled the shelves.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“This will last you a week,” Lowenden said, handing the potion over.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Thank you.” </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The man took a long swig and set the bottle on the counter. He paused, then suddenly pitched back, screaming, holding his hands to his head.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He knocked over a chair as he fell to the floor and rolled. Beneath his hands his temples bulged until small knobs, like wood, burst free. They grew quickly, branching and rebranching in all directions.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He staggered to his feet. “What have you done?” he shouted as he tore a portrait from the wall with what were now clearly antlers.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lowenden grabbed the bottle, closed his eyes and sniffed.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Red pepper, yes. Grubs, yes. Eye of newt. … what?”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He turned to Will.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Fool! You added tears of a virgin!”</span>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307239433508983657.post-84946460920147132762010-05-12T23:27:00.007-05:002010-06-10T08:42:09.274-05:00Get Them Laughing<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My submission for </span><a href="http://www.threewordwednesday.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Three Word Wednesday</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. This week's words: fear, ignore, weightless.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A card fluttered to the stage floor as he rifled through his notes again. He bent to pick it up and saw through a space in the curtains the crowd chattering as they waited. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was a small school, and really, the room was sparsely filled: small clumps of students sprinkled throughout the auditorium. But it was crowd enough for him.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A drop of sweat trickled from his forehead off the tip of his nose, splattering on the renegade card. He wiped his face.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Three weeks later, he still hadn’t gotten used to the idea. He was president of the National Honor Society. You can’t nominate yourself for an office, and the small group of hyper-competitive honor students couldn’t stand to see an adversary get an advantage on his or her resume. The advisor had pleaded for a name until someone lazily said, “Jeremy Melcher.”</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After years of anonymity, he now faced his greatest fear: being noticed.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He stared at the card he had picked up. It was his entrance. It set the tone for the entire speech. The ink had smudged, but he didn’t need the card anyway. This part, he had down cold.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Start with a joke,” his dad had told him. “If you get them laughing, they don’t care what you say after that.” So he spent a week working on it: in the shower, in bed, during supper, during calculus.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He’d take out a word, add a word, flip an expression. He emphasized different phrases. He said it slowly; he sped it up. It never sounded perfect, but after all that tinkering, he had decided it was good enough. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, moments before taking the stage, he was certain it would bomb.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The principal was at the podium. His time had arrived.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“And now, I’d like to introduce for you the president of the Taft High School National Honor Society: Jeremy Melcher!”</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jeremy walked onstage to a smattering of claps. It seemed every student he looked at was smirking or quietly ripping on him to a neighbor.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Ignore it. Ignore it,” he muttered as he fixed his eyes on the podium.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He adjusted the microphone and breathed deep.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Thank you very much. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“I was very surprised when I found out that I was elected president of the National Honor Society. ‘They must be crazy!’ I thought.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“So I spent some time looking into the history of the organization, and I realized that my first reaction was right. They are crazy!”</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He paused, just as he’d rehearsed. He heard some giggles.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“It turns out, the only reason they created the National Honor Society was because it was too expensive to institutionalize us all!”</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From a far corner came one loud laugh. It set off a chain reaction, rolling from the back of the auditorium forward, teachers and students alike.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was chaos. A girl in the front row actually had tears running down her face. People were doubled over. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It took a full five minutes to restore order, and Jeremy, beaming, bathed in the glory.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Emboldened, he tore through the rest of his speech. He was honored to be part of an organization that reflected the high ideals of Taft High. He saw these values and principles each day in the halls and classrooms. He appreciated the teachers and people who helped him so much along the way. And thank you God!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was total B.S., and it was exhilarating.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jeremy strode offstage, almost weightless. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For the first time in his life, Jeremy Melcher had confidence. He had strength. He had power. He had … a black smudge of ink running down the bridge of his nose to the very tip.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He stared at the mirror on the dressing room wall just offstage.</span>Matt Merritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02731741347561501172noreply@blogger.com11