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Story Builder (for the novelist in you)
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Story Builder (for the novelist in you)
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Yes, me again; and just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water. LOL This is the last one, I promise (she said with fingers crossed). In the next frame, you'll find the first
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Cat:a8a2f11e-9648-4e84-80dd-46ee37ced053Forum:e8bbac91-f95f-4acf-abc1-0df3f3e6c5eeDiscussion:8467f849-1de1-4366-865b-1ec5c036bb65
Forums » Entertainment » Books » Story Builder (for the novelist in you)
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Re: Story Builder (for the novelist in you) Story 2
posted at March 17, 2012 3:47 PM EDT
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Posts: 601
First: December 16, 2009 Last: May 17, 2013 |
Please add to this story and we will see where it takes us. ............................................................................................ I awoke at 1AM to the sound of a dog barking. It was a strange, high pitched yip, yip that grated on the ears. My mind, now awaken, began to stew about the previous day and my argument with the postman. What is wrong with people these days? I merely asked him why he was constantly leaving other people's mail in my box. Isn't it reasonable to expect someone to do their job? And earlier there was the man at the grocery store. He arrived at the newly opened checkout line a few seconds after I moved from a longer line and demanded that I let him go ahead because he "saw it first". How did he know that? I was asked to move into that new line by a store manager. Later I looked up and saw him mouthing "B***ch" at me. Why do people get so angry at minor things. Sleep was obviously not on my schedule for the rest of the night so I reluctantly got out of bed and turned on the light only to find that my cat, Miles, was sitting looking at me with a twitching mouse in his mouth. "Damn it" Miles I screeched, get out of here with that thing. Unfortunately my screech caused him to scamper out of sight under the bed with the mouse still in his mouth. Getting down on my hands and knees I peered under the bed. Peering back at me was Miles still holding the mouse. Suddenly the doorbell rang. It so startled me that I bumped my head on the edge of the bed frame. It startled Miles into releasing the mouse who ran across my bare foot and into my closet. Hobbling to the window I peeped out and saw |
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Re: Story Builder (for the novelist in you)
posted at March 17, 2012 4:29 PM EDT
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Posts: 70
First: February 6, 2012 Last: March 29, 2012 |
"The End" indeed; hallelujah, child! (And the audience applauds as listeners rise to their feet, begging for another reading. The sound of her name crescendoes from whisper to roar as lights and author fade to black . . . ) D |
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Re: Story Builder (for the novelist in you)
posted at March 17, 2012 4:46 PM EDT
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Posts: 70
First: February 6, 2012 Last: March 29, 2012 |
Hobbling to the window I peeped out and saw a delivery van and someone at my door with a package. Hmm, what could it be? Immediately, my mind starts thumbing through my mental index searching for clues as I don my robe amd proceed, still hobbling, to the door. Birthday or other personal holiday? No. Recent purchases? No, not that either. Wrong address, maybe? Oh well . . . With one hand on the dead-bolt chain and the other on doorknob, I know better than to let some stranger with a package in my door. Hmmphh, I watch too much CNN for that! Instead, I look through the peephole and ask who, what and why, to which he or she (I can't tell!) replies |
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Re: Story Builder (for the novelist in you)
posted at March 17, 2012 8:34 PM EDT
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Posts: 601
First: December 16, 2009 Last: May 17, 2013 |
"................Great avatar image (your work I presume)................." With one hand on the dead-bolt chain and the other on doorknob, I know better than to let some stranger with a package in my door. Hmmphh, I watch too much CNN for that! Instead, I look through the peephole and ask who, what and why, to which he or she (I can't tell!) replies ........................ I have a package for Edwina K. Wynn, signature required. The voice has a strange quality to it, neither male nor female but rather cloaked as if something is being hidden. Fortunately I was not Edwina and felt under no obligation to open the door. "She lives across the street" I say. "Yes, mam" he drawls "but she's not home and the note says to deliver this package to your house". Well....now I have a dilemma. As I am considering what to do, I see the mouse scamper across the floor and under my mother' s antique desk. "Okay, tomorrow I buy a mouse trap, and get that little critter". But can I bear to kill it. Maybe I will trap it and turn it loose outside. Then I remember that I have a more pressing problem ...the man at the door. I peered out once more and to my surprise |
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Re: Story Builder (for the novelist in you)
posted at March 20, 2012 12:49 AM EDT
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Posts: 70
First: February 6, 2012 Last: March 29, 2012 |
I peered out once more and to my surprise, he seemed to be rooted to that spot as if determined not to leave with that package in hand. An odd, uneasy feeling came over me, did Edwina really instruct him to leave it with me? If so, why didn't she mention it to me? That uneasiness was slowly creeping me out. Is it paranoia, or is he trying to trap me into opening the door? Through the corner of my eye, I saw the mouse again; darting under the sofa this time. How uncanny that he would reappear at the precise moment the word "trap" crossed my mind! "Ma'am, are you still there? I don't wish to be rude, but I'm filling in for the person who usually delivers on this route, and I'm falling behind schedule. If you wouldn't mind,
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Re: Story Builder (for the novelist in you)
posted at March 22, 2012 8:20 AM EDT
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Posts: 601
First: December 16, 2009 Last: May 17, 2013 |
"Ma'am, are you still there? I don't wish to be rude, but I'm filling in for the person who usually delivers on this route, and I'm falling behind schedule. If you wouldn't mind, please you have to sign for this. Slowing I began to ease open the door when with a shock I awaken to the sound of a barking dog. His high pitched "Yip Yip" settled uneasily on my foggy brain. Didn't I dream something about a dog. Wait, wasn't there a cat....and a scampering mouse. I shake my head to get rid of the cobwebs. Putting on my slippers I start for the kitchen and the coffee I smell brewing there. Thank god I had set it up last night. As I passed my mother's antique desk a small mouse ran out from underneath and into the kitchen. Suddenly I remembered the dream about the cat who came into my house carrying a mouse in his mouth. It was so vivid that I could still feel the sharp pain on my forehead where I had hit it on the bed. Was that a dream? It seemed so real. But I didn't have a cat so it couldn't have actually happened. Was there something about a delivery man? Suddenly I saw the clock. 9 o'clock! How could it be that late.The deadline for my column was today and I had not begun. Granted I knew what I wanted to say but none of the details that make my writing so enjoyable had been worked out. I would be lucky to finish by three. But what was that about a delivery man who sounded like...who??? Someone in my past. What did this dream mean? The mouse could symbolize ...what ? I opened the front door to get the morning paper and what I saw there so startled me that I slammed the door shut and stood with my back pressed against it shaking. |
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Re: Story Builder (for the novelist in you)
posted at March 29, 2012 2:46 PM EDT
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Posts: 601
First: December 16, 2009 Last: May 17, 2013 |
"This is a ridiculous" I said out loud, my voice sounding strange in the empty house. Regaining my composure I slowly reopened the door. The small package looked so innocent sitting there, Plain tan box with no visible label or other identifying logos. Nervously I carried it into the house placing it on the old desk. I could see that the top lifted off easily. There was no tape holding it closed. It was as if someone wanted to make sure I looked inside. Should I? What if it was a bomb. But surely it was too small a package for a bomb. I started to throw it in the trash, but paused, curiosity nagging at me like an itch. Suddenly I grabbed the top and lifted it. Inside was a beautiful red feather about three inches long. It's color so red that it seemed to glow. Picking up the feather I examined it but could think of no reason it should have been left on my doorstep. Then I noticed the note. It was wedged inside the box top. Written in a spidery hand, with lots of loops and swirls were the words: There is in your life A deep need for adventure Seek the red feather |
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