Christmas time!

My writing has been going slowly, sadly. My mind hasn't been very creatively focused lately. It's been more stress relieving oriented. I don't know where I am right now, because writing used to be a stress relief. I think this is just one of those unfortunate periods where the fog in my head has surrounded the tales and taken them captive. I'm hoping that the happy feeling of Christmas and seeing my parents in the beginning of January help kick-start the new year with some fantastic words that flow out of me and onto paper (and Microsoft word).

Hopefully I'll update before then, but if not, Merry Christmas everyone!!

Take two!

So, it's been awhile since I've updated this, and unfortunately since I've written. I've been acclimating to the new city, new job, and new/old friends. It's actually draining when I haven't written.

SO good news!!

National Novel Writing November is here again, and I'm going to attempt to write a 50,000 word novel in a month again. 30 days to get one book done...but what I learned from last year I just need to write and focus on editing later. I'm curious, is it cheating if I start brainstorming story ideas now? I'll try not to actively brainstorm, but I won't blow off a good thing.

Independence Revised

So at the end of July I posted two old high school song lyrics that I was going to edit and see if I could make them something better. Well, here is my attempt at that. I think it's much better, but it might go through a bit more editing.

Independence
by: Jennifer Nelson
written: May 20, 2004
revised: September 17, 2010

I hear
in the distance
the laughing.
Even
humming.
What it wants
can't be heard
but it softly
whistles
while a life
flashes
in my mind.
Dreams come true
on this foggy
road. Inhibitions
leave
and make you whole
again. But you'll really never
know just what I am.
I see it there,
I can almost touch it.
I see it there,
so close I can feel it.
I see it there,
in front of me,
calling out for someone.
Your life is flashing
in front of you.
Your inhibitions
leave
and make you feel
again. But still
you don't have
me. I want to break
free and embrace
this life. To chase
wild stallions.
To find
what life is.
Laughing,
humming,
seeing,
freedom.
Life keeps flashing
in your face. Dreams
and inhibitions leave.
And you're so close to me!
Break out
and leave home
to find the new
world. The next phase
of life is shining
through. It's right
there. Can you see
it? Go embrace
it. Go and take
what is yours!

No end in sight....

Unfortunately, I had a day of distraction through trying to write today. I've got an interesting, fun story line that I can't seem to figure out a good beginning or end to. I keep writing parts in the middle, but I'm to the point where this one needs at least a vague thought of at least what I'm hoping for the end to have. This is normally the point where I'll put it down for a long period of time and pick up working on something else. I'm not going to do it this time. I'm going to work on this a little bit every day and find a way to resolve the problems I see in this story line.

Description excerpt

This is a description in the beginning of "Finally," the working title for the current manuscript. I liked it, so I figured I'd share. Enjoy!


Everything seemed to be perfect in my mind. I had a job, I had a great apartment. I didn't have friends yet so I knew that would have to be the first thing to fix. I thought there might be potential with Sarah, but she just handed me my badge at lunch and then quickly left to meet her husband for a quick bite.
When I got home that first night after work I unlocked the blue door and walked into my box infested living room. The boxes were in the appropriate rooms, but nothing had been unpacked yet. The clothing hanging in my closet were new work clothes that my mother bought me while my dad and brothers moved my stuff into my apartment.
My condo was really nice, a two-bedroom place on a long street of similar buildings. When I first arrived I was actually surprised that it was so nice. I didn't expect it to be a hole in the wall, but my dad always joked that my first place out of school would be small, dark and would have a smell that would remind him of his dorm days. This place had a smell, but it was more like flowers and baked goods than molding dishes and unclean athletes.

Revamp of one of my manuscripts

One of my current manuscript attempts has a great story, but I wasn't getting anywhere with the writing because there was just too much verbiage and not enough character development. I had 16 pages at the beginning that didn't do anything for the actual story. So, I've decided to save those 16 pages somewhere else and start the story from the middle.

Guess what! It is working!! The story flows so much better, and I'm able to pull from the other pages as background info or flashbacks. The story is about ten times better already. The only problem is it was a set back for the length so far, but that just means I have something even better to be working on in my down time, and I do have down time right now.

Job hunt is still going, but I had a phone interview with a company this morning. I didn't get a positive or a negative feel from her. She seemed distracted. She said I'd find out Wed if I'm being called in for another interview. I hope so because I'm really excited about that position.

I haven't forgotten about the song lyrics I'm supposed to be fixing up, I just got distracted with the manuscript. I'm sure no one can blame me much for that. I'll get on that soon for a fun, carefree project!

Okay, enough break from my story. I'll update again once I've got a good chunk of it done. :-)

Job Hunt

So, I've been living off of my savings while looking for a job in Dallas. I'm close to having one now. I've got two companies interested, and I'd be okay with either. I'll hear back from Starbucks tomorrow on a yes, no or she needs more time to decide. It's for a full time supervisor position. The other is a customer service job with Bank of America in their call center. A bit more money and benefits, but not quite as fun as the Starbucks position. It's going to come down to which one offers me first, and that's assuming they both want me.

I've got tons of other applications out there right now, and I'm just waiting to hear back from them. I follow up on the ones I can but most now have you fill out applications online and get back to you when they are ready. That's okay. I know that I will most likely be offered the position with Bank of America, it's just a matter of when.

God has something in store for me though. He always provides. :-) I'm in a masters program online now, which has definitely been some work so far and it's only been a week. I think I'm really going to enjoy this. At least it's something to do to fill the time while I'm not working. I'm also looking for volunteer work and a church to attend regularly here. I'm closer to finding the volunteer work than the church, but I'm going to continue looking.

I've been keeping myself busy with writing, that's for sure. I've got two manuscripts that keep growing and filling with fantastic information. At some point I'll have three full manuscripts. It's exciting. I just need to start making contacts in the publishing world. Keep getting my short stories and poems submitted into competitions and literary magazine entries. I'm enjoying following my dreams, and I'm glad I have so many people that support me in that. I'm a lucky girl, and I hope that I can do as much for other people as I've had people do for me!

Wedding Poems

So I wrote a poem for each of my sisters and their respective fiances for their weddings. I was really excited about them, so I wanted to share.

The first one here is for Beth and Jake.

Enchanting Flame
by: Jennifer Nelson

It all started with an exchange
of looks while she worked
the front desk. Surrounded
by people all the time,
he wanted to know
this girl. Facebook
allowed him to find
more about her. Then
late night talks
in the lobby
and cafe visits
over spring break.
The pink glass flower
and day date to Tupelo
sealed the deal.
They were hooked
and wanted to know more.
The more time
spent the more the hearts
drew to one another. Family
meetings, holidays
together and the beautiful
pup who became a playful
part of their world.
Everything fit
like the ring
now on her finger.
This beloved
pair will say their vows
and promise eternity
to each other, while family
and friends admire
the affection they lavish
on one another.
They watch his gasp
as she floats
into the chapel
and her grin
as she walks to the man
who will love and adore
her evermore.

The second is for Christina and Bryan.

A Remarkable Love
by: Jennifer Nelson

My baby sister
is being given
away today. So full
of beautiful dreams
of a marriage and life
with the boy, no the man,
who captured her heart.
With a relationship
beginning as friends
and growing into a love
more beautiful
than I could have imagined
for her. He showers
her with heartening hugs,
kisses on the beach,
and flower bouquets
full of life just like her.
So young, yet so sure of love
which is amazing
to watch.
I love the joy in her voice,
the smile on her face,
and the way he looks
at her that tells the world
no matter what, I'll take
care of my girl.
So he stands
in front of the guests
waiting for the doors
to open. Both hearts
beating so quickly
ready to see each
other and take the step
onto forever.
Onto happily
ever after
plus so much more.

I'm so happy for my sisters. They are fantastic and marrying the men that they love. I wish them all the happiness in the world.

Found a treasure!

So, I found two "song lyrics" that I wrote at the end of my junior year of high school. I'm going to post both of them. Then I'm going to use them to test my editing skills. Yes, I'm going to see if I can take these priceless high school writing attempts and turn them into poetry that I don't laugh at when I read them.

Here's number one. I called it: "Independence"

Independence
by: Jennifer Nelson
written: May 20, 2004

I see it there, laughing right in front of me.
I see it there, humming a tune of independence.
I see it there, in front of me, calling out for someone to hear.
Your life is flashing in front of you.
Your dreams are coming true.
Your inhibitions leave and make you alright again.
But you'll really never know just what I am.
I see it there, I can almost touch it.
I see it there, so close I can feel it.
I see it there, in front of me, calling out for someone to hear.
Your life is flashing in front of you.
Your inhibitions leave and make you alright again.
But you still don't have me!
I want to break free and embrace this life of mine.
I want to run with wild stallions.
I want to break free and find out what life is.
I see it there, laughing out loud.
I see it there, humming that tune.
I see it there, right in front of me, waiting for someone to see!
Your life is flashing in front of you.
Your dreams are coming true.
Your inhibitions leave and make you alright again.
And you're so close to me!
I'm breaking out!
I'm leaving home!
I've found my new world, it's so close.
The next phase of my life is shining through.
It's right there.
Can you see it?
Go embrace it.
Go and take it!

Here's number two:

Hi...
by: Jennifer Nelson
written: May 20, 2004

Young woman
what's the meaning?
Young woman
what's the use?
Young woman
Alright, here it comes again
What two words hurt a girl more
None that I know
First of all, they call you young
To help you keep your place.
This word they make sure rings in your ears.
Then they move to calling you woman
A term used to show responsibility
Used t show that you should know
the consequences of your actions
Young woman
oh yeah right!
Young woman
don't make me laugh!
Young woman
okay, here it goes again
They call you a woman and you try to use that
You tell them that you've grown,
and they should give you more freedom
But of course they bring up the young part of the two
You're too young to go out
Too young to have a life
Young woman
no more please!
Young Woman
Let me be!
Young woman
What's the point anymore?
Those two heart breaking words bring any girl down
When you hear them, just proceed with caution
I just want to run away from them
Young woman
okay I give in
Young woman
I said I finished
Young woman, we just wanted to say hi.

Well, there they are. Let the editing begin!

Keep the Ring

Okay, so here is my short story "Keep the Ring." This is what I'm planning to enter into the short, short story competition. If anyone has any comments, please let me know. I have to submit this in the next couple of days.


Keep the Ring
by: Jennifer Nelson

I didn't know how to deal with school and my Mitchell. I loved him, but he wanted all the time I had. I figured that maybe if I made him understand just what I was dealing with in my classes, then he would get the hint that I needed some space.
He came over one afternoon while I was working on a big structural design project for an airport runway. It was a big project for one of my civil engineering classes, and it had my dinging room table covered with paper, books and coffee cups.
“Baby, I don't know what I'm going to do about this project,” I said as I threw my pencil down. “My group won't get together to finish it. I just want to scream.”
“It's going to be okay,” Mitchell assured me. “It can't be that bad.”
“It is that bad,” I insisted. “I've never had a group project with so many lazy people in my life.”
“Who's in your group?” he asked me.
“Bobby, Daniel, Melissa and Robert. Robert and I are the only two doing anything.”
I pushed some pages around and heard him shift positions on the couch. He leaned in closer and asked, “Robert? Your ex-boyfriend Robert?”
As I turned to look at him I felt all the questions he meant to ask me. I knew he was nervous about me being around my ex-boyfriends. Robert and I had a long history, starting back before high school. We went to every dance together, we spent all of our time together and he was my first kiss.
“Yes, but don't look at me like that, sweetie.” I took his hand. “You know that's over.”
“Does he still try to ask you out?”
His grip on my hand grew tighter. I tried to squeeze his hand back to show that I noticed, that I cared, but the hurt look was back on his face. I never knew how to make him feel that he was all I wanted.
“Every once in a while, but I tell him no. He's not a problem for you, don't worry.”
Even with those words, he pulled me a little closer to him, while keeping his grip on my hand. I didn't like this jealous side of him.
“Okay, I'll try,” he said.
“Good,” I said looking at him. “You know I love you.”
“I love you too.” Mitchell was staring at the ground.
He kept holding my hand without speaking. I turned back to my work but nothing could keep my mind focused on the perfect runway design. My eyes kept drifting to pictures of smiling faces, little angel figurines from my mother, and anything else in the room that pulled my attention away from my thoughts.
Everything in the apartment had a memory, some good and some bad. The pictures of my family, with my mom, my brother and my two sisters, I could not look at for long. It made me remember my father, and never wanted to remember him leaving us for his secretary.
The plaque from sophomore year that proved I was capable of doing my job shined amongst my books. I could have looked at that all evening because it made me feel the independence I longed for. The flowers that were wilted in the corner made my eyes start to water. Mitchell bought those for me a couple weeks ago.
“Have you thought anymore about it?” he asked suddenly.
I looked at him briefly and smiled. “About what?” I felt my eyes drifting back to the first edition section of books on the top of my bookshelf. I knew what he wanted me to say.
“My proposal.” He gently touched the place on my hand where he had tried to place a ring. I shivered and pulled my hand away. I felt like the flowers in the corner that were so full of life when he gave them to me that day. The excitement was best in that moment, but now weeks later it was dying.
I told him I needed to think. I made him take the ring back, even though he insisted I wear it. I wanted to focus on getting out of the semester passing with the stress of work and my dad trying to come back into our lives.
“Do we have to talk about this right now? I really want to finish this project and my sister wants to eat dinner with us tonight. Plus, I still have homework for two other classes.”
“It's been almost two weeks though,” he said. “You said you needed a little time.”
“So I need a little more. This is a big decision. I don't want to regret this.”
“Are you having regrets about us?”
I paused. In all honesty I was having regrets. I regretted becoming so stuck in a relationship. I wanted the independence my mother never had. I looked away and stared at a picture of the two of us at the park last year. It was just before we started dating, but we were so happy. The bench we were sitting on broke an hour later and we laughed about it for weeks. That laughter had been on vacation the past few months.
“Tracie?”
“No, that's not what I meant.” I turned back to him.
“What do you mean then?”
He had me on the spot again, just like that night at the park. Everything was perfect, the exact way a girl would expect her proposal to be and I told him I needed time. Now I had to add to my perfect proposal story saying that I made him wait weeks to hear my answer.
“I mean I don't want to talk about it right now. I need time. Twenty-four hours in a day isn't enough time to get everything done that I need accomplished.”
I pulled myself away from him and turned back to my work. I grabbed the pencil but had nothing to write down. He sat staring at me as I closed him off. I was hoping that he would just accept the answers I was giving him so I wouldn't have to think about it.
“I'm here to help you, Trace. Why won't you let me? Plus, Danni would probably help you with the wedding planning.”
“I know. By the way, what do you want for dinner? I need to call her.”
“Who?” he asked.
“Danni. She's eating dinner with us tonight, remember?”
“Oh, right,” he muttered. “I don't care. We can eat anywhere.”
“How about Tony's?”
“We just had that the other day.”
“You just said you don't care. Besides, I'm stressed and the cheesecake always cheers me up.”
“Fine. That's fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I said it's fine.”
He sat on the couch and turned the television on. I grabbed for my phone and dialed my sister's number. We hadn't always been there for each other, but I was counting on her to help me through this night. She didn't answer, so I left her a quick voice mail to let her know we'd be there soon to get her.
He continued to mope on the couch while I worked on the calculations for the appropriate distance of the runway. The tapping of my pencil was beginning to irritate me, so I set it down. I pushed the pages away and grabbed for another book.
“When is Danni getting here?” he asked as he stood up.
“We're picking her up in about twenty minutes,” I said, not looking up.
He came and sat down across the table from me. He fumbled through some of my work to try and keep himself busy. I felt his disappointment in my indecision, but I could not make my heart feel that any of this was right.
“Does she know?”
“I don't want to talk about it, Mitchell.”
I pushed the paper I was working on away, got up and went to the living room. I found my purse and went back to the dining room table to face more questioning.
“I just don't understand why you won't talk about it. Maybe I can help you process your thoughts.”
“I don't need this right now. Let's just go pick up Danni, please, can we just go have dinner?”
“Will you talk to me soon.”
“If I promise to talk to you soon, can we go eat dinner in peace?”
“Maybe.”
“Baby, please,” I pleaded with him. I just had to find the way to tell him no, that I couldn't accept him right now.
“Fine. I'll leave you alone a little while longer, but we need to talk this out soon.”
“I promise, I just need time.”
He hugged me and I pressed the send button on the phone as we walked out. He tried to take my left hand, but I began to fumble with my keys to lock the front door. We walked down the stairs, he was silent and I barked orders at my sister. She told me she would be ready by the time we got to her dorm room.
Danni made my thoughts of dinner so much happier. She already knew about his proposal, but she wasn't pushing me to say yes. She kept asking if dad knew about him yet, which he didn't. I never introduced them because I was trying to ignore my father.
We got in his car and I immediately turned the radio on. A rock song ended and the station shifted to a slower melody.
“It's our song,” Mitchell said, turning the volume up. I sat, listening to him attempt to meet the tune for kiss from a rose. I used to giggle and hold his hand, but now I sat staring at the street signs as the passed, trying to ignore the fact that he was so off key. “You remain, my power, my pleasure, my pain,” he sang.
“Stop,” I said, turning the radio off. “Mitchell, I can't do this anymore. I'm sorry.”
He looked from me to the street several times. We were about a block from my sisters apartment. We sat silent until he finally asked, “Was it that bad?”
“Not the song. I'm not ready to be engaged. I'm not ready to think about planning a wedding. I'm not ready for any of this.”
“Okay, then we won't be engaged. We'll just go back to being us. You and me, the way it was. You should have just told me.”
“Mitchell, pull over.”
“We're almost there. Don't worry, we can talk about this later. Take your time on it and just let me know when it's right.”
“Please, pull over. We need to talk about this now.”
“Seriously. Your sister's complex is right there.”
“Pull over.”
He pulled into the gas station across the street from Danni's apartment. He parked the car then turned to look at me. He grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze, but it just sat limp in my lap. I was fighting back tears because I knew it wouldn't be fair to him.
“What's on your mind?” he asked.
“I'm not sure I can do any of this anymore,” I said. “Not just the engagement. The whole thing.”
“Okay.” He pulled his hand from mine and put it on the steering wheel. I looked over and saw a tear escape from his right eye.
“We've had fun, and I do love you. I know that's not the right thing to say. Mitch, I'm just not ready for marriage, commitment, saying that someone else's life is more important than mine. I know that's selfish, but I don't want my marriage to end up like my parents.”
“I'm not your dad,” he said.
“I know that. You've proven that time and again. But you're having to fight against my warped sense of all this. I believe they married too young. They fought all the time and hated each other for what they gave up.”
“You don't have to give up anything. I've never asked you to.”
“But I'm making you give things up.”
“No you haven't,” he said. “What have I given up?”
“You've given almost two years of your life to a girl you loved that didn't know what she wanted. A girl who has wanted to be alone.”
“You've wanted to be alone this entire time? How long have you known this?”
“I'm not sure. I was selfish, I'm so sorry. I wanted to keep you and have my own life.”
He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. “I don't want this to end. I love you.” He looked down at the piece of plastic that covered his floor board.
“Mitch, I'm really sorry. You'll find someone else. Someone that can love you enough. I know none of this helps. I've got to go.”
I grabbed my purse from the floor board and opened the car door. I walked toward the street, careful not to look back at the car. When I got to the road it was clear so I headed into Danni's apartment complex. I headed toward the back and ran up the steps to the third floor of building G.
At door 349 I knocked and heard her say, “Just a sec.” I heard some ruffling in the living room and then the door unlock and open. “Hey, oh no, what's wrong, Tracie.” I just shook my head at her, not able to get words out. She took my hand and guided me into the living room. Danni grabbed a box of tissues from the coffee table and took a few out for me.
We sat for a few moments, her holding me on the couch while I sobbed into tissue after tissue. She ran her hands through my hair and let me cry until my eyes ran out of condensation. When the storm subsided, she asked again, “What's wrong, honey?”
“I just broke up with Mitchell. And when I got out of the car, he didn't come after me. He let me go.”
She sat quietly for a moment, and handed me another tissue. “Well, didn't you want to end things with him?”
“Yes, but I thought he would try a little harder to keep us together. He always fought to keep us working.”
“Well, you did have the boy waiting three weeks or so for an answer to his proposal. Maybe he finally understands.” She pushed her hand through my hair again.
“I didn't expect this. Why does it hurt so much?”
“You were with him for a long time. If it didn't hurt this much I'd be scared for you. At least now you know that our parents haven't killed all the feelings in you.” I laughed. “See, that's right. It is a bit funny.”
“He told me he's not my dad when we were in the car a few minutes ago.”
“Well, he's not. But it's tough for anyone to be as uncaring as dad has been.”
“Will I ever let someone love me, Danni?”
“Yes, you will.”
I looked at her. “That was short.”
“Well, it's true. Someday you'll fall in love.”
“I was in love with Mitchell.”
“No you weren't. You were comfortable with him. It was easy with him for awhile, then not so much for awhile. Someday you'll really be in love.”
“Thank you for being honest.”
“What do you mean?”
“Other people would let me sit and wallow.”
“Well, I'm hungry and I really want you in once piece to go get dinner. You still want Tony's, don't you?”
“Yes. That cheesecake sounds even better now.”
“Okay, let's get going then. Well, first go wash your face. I've got my eyeliner and mascara in the top drawer if you want to use it.”
“Do I look that bad?”
“No, but you should definitely at least wash you face. Your eyes are red and puffy.”
“Again, thanks for the honesty.”
“Anytime. Hurry up, I'm hungry.”
I walked to the bathroom to clean my face off and try to get some of the redness out of my eyes. I came back out and asked, “Better?”
“Much. Now let's go.”
“You're going to have to drive. I kind of walked away from Mitchell at the gas station, and we were in his car.”
“I'm glad I just got gas today. Come on, let's go eat some dinner and flirt with a cute waiter.”
I smiled and hugged her. “Thank you, Danni. I really appreciate this.”
“Oh, no problem. Anyway, dinner is still on you.”

Magazine Competition Entry

There is a Short Short Fiction competition, and the deadline is July 31. My plan is to enter it with a story that I began in my creative writing class. It can be no longer than 3,000 words, and this story does not exceed that. The winners will be announced in September and there will be a monetary prize and publication awarded to the winner. The monetary prize would be nice since I'm still looking for a job in Dallas, but the publication is what I'm truly after. Get published one place and it's easier to get published in another. Ultimate goal - publish a novel.

Here's a piece of what I'm working on. Working title - "Keep the Ring"

I didn't know how to deal with school and my Mitchell. I loved him, but he wanted all the time I had. I figured that maybe if I made him understand just what I was dealing with in my classes, then he would get the hint that I needed some space.
He came over one afternoon while I was working on a big structural design project for an airport runway. It was a big project for one of my civil engineering classes, and it had my dinging room table covered with paper, books and coffee cups.
“Baby, I don't know what I'm going to do about this project,” I said as I threw my pencil down. “My group won't get together to finish it. I just want to scream.”
“It's going to be okay,” Mitchell assured me. “It can't be that bad.”
“It is that bad,” I insisted. “I've never had a group project with so many lazy people in my life.”
“Who's in your group?” he asked me.
“Bobby, Daniel, Melissa and Robert. Robert and I are the only two doing anything.”
I pushed some pages around and heard him shift positions on the couch. He leaned in closer and asked, “Robert? Your ex-boyfriend Robert?”
As I turned to look at him I felt all the questions he meant to ask me. I knew he was nervous about me being around my ex-boyfriends. Robert and I had a long history, starting back before high school. We went to every dance together, we spent all of our time together and he was my first kiss.
“Yes, but don't look at me like that, sweetie.” I took his hand. “You know that's over.”
“Does he still try to ask you out?”
His grip on my hand grew tighter. I tried to squeeze his hand back to show that I noticed, that I cared, but the hurt look was back on his face. I never knew how to make him feel that he was all I wanted.
“Every once in a while, but I tell him no. He's not a problem for you, don't worry.”
Even with those words, he pulled me a little closer to him, while keeping his grip on my hand. I didn't like this jealous side of him.
“Okay, I'll try,” he said.
“Good,” I said looking at him. “You know I love you.”
“I love you too.” Mitchell was staring at the ground.
He kept holding my hand without speaking. I turned back to my work but nothing could keep my mind focused on the perfect runway design. My eyes kept drifting to pictures of smiling faces, little angel figurines from my mother, and anything else in the room that pulled my attention away from my thoughts.

Piece of "Finally" manuscript

This is a piece of my manuscript "Finally" (which is a working title right now). It jumped out at me today and I wanted to share it.

I leaned in when Eric put his arm on the back of the couch. He looked down at me and smiled. We both looked back at the t.v. while he flipped through to find something to watch.
When his arm fell on my shoulder I leaned in a little closer. “What do you want to watch?” he asked.
“I really don't care,” I said. “Just pick something you like.” I tried to get myself comfortable and just about found a spot when my phone rang.
I picked it up and saw Stephen's number. “It's been awhile since I've heard from him,” I said. “Sorry, Eric.”
“It's okay. I'll get us something to drink.”
As he walked to the kitchen I flipped my phone open. “Hello?” I asked.
“Megan? Hey, how are you?” Stephen asked.
“I'm good. How about you?” My brain searched for a possible reason he could be calling.
“I'm good. I've got something to tell you.” He sounded nervous.
“Okay, what's up?” I asked. Eric came back with a drink in each hand.
“You remember Nikki, right?” he asked.
“That's Johnny's cousin, I believe,” I said.
“Yeah, well she and I kind of been dating,” he said.
“That's real cool, Stephen,” I said. “You finally found someone you can stand longer than a day. I told you someone would eventually not suck.” Eric handed me a cup and I took a sip.
“Yeah, she doesn't suck,” he mumbled. “Megs, I asked her to marry me.”
“Wow,” I said choking on my drink. “Is she pregnant?” Eric gave me a funny look and started to ask what was going on. I waved him off and started pacing behind the couch. “Stephen, seriously, you don't have to marry her just because she's pregnant.”
I heard him panic on the other end and whisper to someone else. “Megan, it's not like that at all. I love her, as strange as that sounds coming from me.”
“Put Johnny on the phone,” I said. “I know he's standing there.”
“Okay,” Stephen handed the phone away.
“No, I don't want to, oh hey, Megan,” Johnny stammered. “How are you?”
“Johnny, what they hell is going on?” I asked.
“Stephen and Nikki fell in love, or some crap like that,” he said.
“So, she's really not pregnant?” I asked. “Be honest with me.”
“Megan, she is not pregnant, and I'm done talking about my cousin and Stephen. How are you doing?” Johnny asked.
“I'm actually busy right now,” I said. “Tell Stephen I'll call him later, or he can send me an e-mail if he's too scared to talk to me.” I hung up and sat back on the couch.
“Bad news?” Eric asked.
“Weird news,” I said. “My friend Stephen is getting married to the cousin of my friend Johnny.”
Eric laughed. “How is that so weird? People get married sometimes.”
“Stephen said the only way he'd ever get married is if the father was holding a shot gun because she was pregnant.” I took a quick breath. “So, I assumed she was pregnant, but apparently in a couple of months they fell in love.”
He pulled me to him on the couch and ran his fingers through my hair.
“Sometimes you know quickly, and sometimes you need time,” he said. I rested my head on his chest. “it really doesn't take much to calm you down, does it?”
“No, not really,” I said. “It is just a weird thought that they are engaged.” I enjoyed the feeling of my head oh his chest. “I'll call him tomorrow to apologize.”
“Okay,” Eric said. He started to move his finger back and forth along my ear. I twitched from the tingling feeling and shifted to look up at him. It had been awhile since anyone had kissed me, but I still knew the look right before. He ran his fingers from my ear down to my mouth and then back up towards the other ear. “You're beautiful, you know.”
“Stop it,” I said, turning my head away.
“So confident until someone compliments you,” Eric said. “Well, I don't take it back.” He kept brushing his fingers against my face. The only reaction I had was to close my eyes and enjoy it. Before I knew it we were kissing on my couch with the sound of the channel guide music playing.
When he pulled away and kissed my forehead I saw him grab the remote that had fallen to the floor. I sat straight up on the couch scared that I had done something wrong.
“Sorry,” I said. I stared into the television, not wanting to look at him.
“What do you have to be sorry for?” he asked.
“For whatever made you stop and pull away. I haven't really done this in awhile.”
“I stopped because I needed some air. Plus, I wanted to find a movie or something for us to watch. Or kind of watch.” He put his arm back around me. “You did nothing wrong. No apologies. I'm the one who went for it.”
“Are you sure I didn't do anything wrong?” I heard myself and knew I sounded ridiculous, but I felt so nervous around him.
He leaned back in and kissed me again. He pulled me forward to the point of being on top of him and held me there in an embrace while we kissed.

Weddings

So I wrote a poem in April of 2006 called "A Wedding to Be." It's funny that I just ran across it because I have two sisters getting married in August. While it's incredibly excited for the two of them, re-reading this poem I remember some of the things I was afraid of in regards to relationships at 18.

I thought that I guarded my heart to much to actually let someone in. Well, that's not such a bad thing. Then as it keeps going I am shocked when I find that I actually let someone in. Yeah, okay I can see that happening to me. It's funny how you can see the way someone thinks through their writing, whether the piece is particularly good or not.

I wish everyone out there giving relationships a try all the best in the world. It's tough out there sometimes. I'm excited for my sisters, for my friends, for everyone who is able to fall in love and find someone to spend their lives with. Maybe someday I'll need lace as well. :-)

Here is one of my attempts at a sonnet four years ago. Enjoy!

A Wedding to Be
by: Jennifer Nelson

My heart is guarded so steadfast
Many a man can surely see
I try to start a fling to last
But he and I shall never be

So there upon the satin mat
My mind was finding ways to run
I knew we soon would have a chat
These things tend to not be fun

As I run through the trees
He shouts to me a fond “Hello!”
And I have found me weak at the knees
When I realize this I think “Oh no!”

He pulls me to him and touches my face
With his kisses I know I’ll soon need lace

Sappy but I like it - unedited

Right Timing
by: Jennifer Nelson

Tripped into something I'm so glad
to find. You caught me before the ground
made it's imprint on my head
and caused the stars to rotate
around me. A little cartoonish
but it's like I'm in a fairy land.
Can't believe the luck
when you said you liked
me too. I enjoy your smile
your smell, the truth of your amazing
self. You found me in a time of change
when I loved myself, my memories,
my friends and every moment I had lived.
I would ask could this be true,
but I know it is. Your fingers trace my face
and cause chills to run through my body.
The butterflies fill my stomach
when I first tried to talk to you, but I want
you to know everything now. My mouth
fills with words and I fumble
through them. When I laugh
I want you to know why. When I cry
I want you to hold me. When I sing
I want you to be the ballad. And when I dance
I want you to be my partner. I know
this is true. So kiss me once
more and let the shivers in my body linger
as we say goodnight. I know once I leave
we'll both think and ponder the next
chance we will have to be together.
Never thought you'd find me so soon
but I'm glad you did. Goodnight, sweet
sir. I'll dream of you tonight,
regardless of how cliche. I'm thankful
to have you in my life.

My Happily Ever After - Poem

My Happily Ever After
by: Jennifer Nelson

I’m tired of hearing
fairy tales,
romance,
happy endings.
Snow white road off with her prince charming,
Sleeping beauty was awoken by a kiss,
but where is my happily ever after?
I continue through my days
with everyone smiling around me,
but I sit hiding behind a fake smile.
I want the shoe
to fit perfectly so my prince
will take me to the ball.
Maybe a spell
to turn me into the princess
of his dreams.
Instead I long for something that will never
happen. I want my Disney happy ending
that I’ve been promised.

Those fairy tales lied.

No one gets romanced
anymore. My friends got lucky
in finding each other.
Finding another person who wants
some sort of tale of their own.
Most of life leaves
you to fend for yourself.
The prince doesn’t come and you have to battle
the dragon all alone.
Some pretend you become stronger,
but all that happens is you lose
your princess effect.
Then your prince doesn’t see you
as his damsel in distress.
You fit into the new mold of woman,
the woman of the world,
the woman who is too independent
for her own good.

I just want my turn too,
but I don’t know who to be.
Maybe some fake,
whiney child who can’t live on her own.
I’ve been made much stronger
than that. Some day I’ll get a prince
who wants a princess
who travels with him.
A princess who will be by his side fighting
the evil witch.
That’s where I’ll find my fairy tale.

Dallas

So I'm in Dallas now, living here. Crazy, I know. Everything happened so fast and I'm so happy with the outcome. :-)

Writing has been kind of on a break, even though stories have been piling up in my head. This weekend I'm hoping to get a couple of chapters written on two of my books. I'll have time then. I've been getting things ready for the move so getting to a computer to write hasn't been the easiest. Okay, I know, that's just an excuse. I'll get back to it. I miss it, actually. It's like missing a part of yourself when you don't do something you know you are meant to do.

August is fast approaching, and then two of my sisters will be married. This should be lots of fun! I'm hoping that either Beth or Samantha can get my dress for Christina's wedding when they pick up their own. I'm sure they can. I'm so excited about that dress. :-)

More updates later, and hopefully some writing excerpts!

Graceful Dreams

Butterfly, pretty
little butterfly. So colorful,
so full of life,
so beautiful.

Hello, butterfly. I enjoy
seeing you float above me, so daintily.
Hard to believe
you were so recently just a little
catepillar,
just winding yourself up and hoping
for the freedom
wings would someday provide.

Look at you go.
Good for you, little
butterfly! Push forward
and continue the journey
for a life you always dreamed
to have.

I wish I could fly
with you into the clouds,
soaring
over the rest of the world.
You ignore thoughts of tomorrow
and have no need to see to next week--
I wish I could fly
with you to a place so clear
and free from worry. Take me home
with you to the meadow.

Pretty little butterfly, flutter
away. Go see the world
and send me the images of the beauty
you have seen. Please, butterfly,
linger a little longer,
but when you leave I'll watch
until you float
out of view.

Love endures

As I write about two characters that realize they love each other, it's interesting. This thought of love and how people will do such silly things when it has to do with someone they love. It's a beautiful thing. Yes, beautiful I called it. Love is doing things you never imagined you'd do. Love is trust, kindness, passion, honesty--even when it hurts. So I write about two characters and their interactions with each other. I laugh and cry as I imagine what things they are about to go through, all because they know love.

It's not easy. Romantic comedies make light of the pain, but still show that the people involved are not perfect. I enjoy them because they let me see how unexpected feelings can drive a person.

LOVE. :-)

Love is God. God is Love. God is so amazing to be so loving even when each of us struggle at some point with that fact. He loves us so completely. Unyeilding. It's breath taking.

I've learned so much about God's love lately. So much about His passion for each of us. Wounds of my past He takes from me. Washes me, comforts me, tells me to never think of them again. He draws my hands up to Him and through the song I sing my Lord surrounds me, engulfs me, in his Holy Spirit. As I walk through the day I feel His comfort on me. I feel the intoxicating passion of Love. His Love. I've never felt anything like it in my life, and I know I'll never feel anything better. This is the best kind of love. This is love I can never again live my life without.

Love can make you a better person. You want to lay down your life for someone you truly love, and slowly He is showing me how to do that. It won't always be the easiest, but with the Lord I will be able to endure anything. Daily I must remember to pick up my cross and lay down my life for Jesus, the One who first did this for me. For I was decaying and He brought me back through love. My heart forever belongs to Him, and no one else. I love you, Lord.

No News Isn't Bad News

I haven't heard from the magazine competitions I entered, but they have until the end of June to get back to me. I'm hopeful becuase I know one in particular will not leave you without an answer. Just knowing that it's almost mid-June and I haven't heard no yet means either I'm at the bottom of the stack or I'm on the list of possibilities. I'm going to go with the second one.

In other news, I've been bad and haven't been writing for the past week. I think I need to start my word limit a day again. I was on it when I started that. Starting today, 250 words a day again. I think this just needs to be a daily occurence anyway. I'm happier, my brain is clearer and I get great ideas down onto paper or in the computer.

No news on any of the jobs I've applied for yet either. I know God has a plan for me, so if these don't work out obviously that wasn't my path. I can feel that the Lord has something, but the actual physical description of what it is I don't know yet. I'm getting that excited feeling again though, like when He moved me to Mississippi for my senior year. And like the time I decided to go to MSU rather than a Texas school. It especially feels like the time when I left Housing, a little bit sad because I had a lot of fun there, but really excited about all the great possibilities of life. :-)

Tonight I write! So many novels to write, so little time.

Change is in the Air

I've moved into a new place, two of my sisters and a friend are getting married, and now I'm searching for a new job. It's fun how quickly life changes. I'm really wanting to get back into writing as my career path. So, while I try to get published creatively I'm going to be searching for freelance opportunities in editing, writing and marketing jobs.

I'm going to be looking for possible newspaper openings, tech writing/editing jobs, blogging opportunities and other marketing strategy jobs. If need be I'll go back for another sales position or a part time job to pay the bills while I focus a few months on my novels. I just want to be writing, and right now I've been full of new ideas!

If anyone hears of any jobs they think I'd be good at let me know. I'm on the hunt!

Beautiful Words

I love words. I love the combination of words to form sentences. I love that those sentences can be used to describe life and situations, actions and feelings. It's pretty fantastic notion that a compilation of words can describe the crazy moments in life. I think I said this already, but once more can't hurt. I love it.

Earnest Hemingway said: My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way.

Dear Mr. Hemingway,

I hope that one day I can allow someone to sit under a tree with a cup of coffee enjoying something I've written as much as I enjoy reading your words. You have definitely done a great job putting your feelings to paper. Thank you for that.

God, please continue to watch me and be with me as I pursue this love, this passion that I have. Thank You for Your constant love and all the people You have put in my life who believe in me. And thank You, Lord, for believing in me. :-)

More excerpts and things to come. It will probably be after I finish moving this weekend. Must keep pushing forward!

Opening of the new book

So, I haven't done much writing or editing in the past couple of days. I really need to get on this because the next magazine competition's deadline is May 15. I was hoping to submit 3-4 things, but at the rate I'm going I'll be happy to at least get one finished to submit. I think Saturday afternoon I'll have some time to work on them after a graduation and before a party. It's going to be a busy, but extremely fun weekend.

Well, as the title of the entry says, here is the beginning of the new book. Other pieces of it have been previously posted. Enjoy!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As orientation came to an end the soon to be freshmen of Lucas Steinwick College were shuffled into the auditorium of Ryder Hall. Twelve orientation leaders helped lead them to the front of the room and quiet them down so they could send them home to enjoy the rest of their summer.
“The sooner we finish this, the sooner you all get out of here,” one of the male leaders said. “Please, find a seat.” Students moved towards the aisles and the twelve senior students went to the stage and sat down with their legs dangling off the edge.
“Thank you all for a great two days of orientation,” a red headed orientation leader said. “On0 behalf of all of us, you really were the best group this summer. So thank you.”
“Give yourselves a round of applause,” a blond next to the red head said. The twelve at the stage started to applaud and eventually everyone in the auditorium began to clap.
“So, we're here now to let you ask any last minute questions, but first I want to give you the background behind this hall,” the red head said.
“Amanda, please don't,” the guy on the other side of her said. “They've learned enough this weekend.”
“I'll keep it short. Ryder Hall was named for one of the first graduates from the school,” she said. “He was a transfer student when the school began, so he only ended up spending a year here. He went on to found his own law firm in town. Ryder and associates is still here. See, Charlie, that was quick.”
“Great, let's keep moving,” he said.
“Okay, do any of you have any other questions? Anything you haven't asked this weekend?” Amanda said.
A girl on the front row raised her hand timidly. Amanda nodded at her to speak. “Will you tell us the story about the statue?” she asked.
The orientation leaders glanced nervously at one another. “We're really not supposed to provoke that superstition,” Amanda said.
“What could be the worst that could happen?” Charlie said. “It's the last night, the last group. It's not like they'll fire us or kick us out of school.”
“Charlie, we're not supposed to,” she said.
“I'll tell you the story,” he said. “If any of you want to fill in any details be my guest.” He glanced around at his nervous co-workers. “Okay, so the legend of the statue man dates back to the beginning of the school opening, in 1897. Steinwick was founded by a man named Lucas Steinwick, like we already told you or should have told you. This man was a great wizard that did many great things in the United States during that time, while avoiding those people who opposed the idea of witchcraft.”
“So, the school is named after a wizard?” an awkward guy sitting on the fourth row asked. “That doesn't make sense.”
“He had a lot of money to open the school. And this is a legend, remember that. This isn't necessarily real. Now, where was I?”
“He avoided people who didn't like magic,” Amanda said. She was sitting off the side of the stage with her arms crossed.
Charlie smiled at her. “Right. Thank you. Well, Mr. Steinwick liked to hang out at the O'Nally Pub, the one just off campus, because the O'Nally's always let him be.”
“Then how is the pub still around?” the awkward guy interrupted again.
“The O'Nally's still live in this area. I think Kitty O'Nally owns it now. She's an alumni from here. Anyway, Mr. Steinwick would spend three or four days a week drunk at the pub. He was a nice enough guy, but he was rumored to have a bit of a mean streak when he had a few too many, if you know what I mean. He taught classes here for the first probably fifteen or twenty years. One class a semester. I guess it was the best way to keep up with the way things were going.
“Well the pub wasn't just a great place for him to go. Being walking distance from our beautiful campus made it a great spot for students as well. By the way, it still is great to go. The food is great and when you're old enough try a drink. They have many great ones.” He chuckled to himself. “I think I'm going to run by there tonight.”
“Charlie, we shouldn't be talking about alcohol,” the red head urged.
“Sorry, right. So, one frightful Saturday night the first semester the school was open a transfer student from somewhere to the east of us showed up to the pub after Mr. Steinwick was already drunk and particularly loud.”
“Get to the point. Parents are waiting and I've got a date,” the blond whispered.
“Okay, well the drunk wizard and the student got into a big argument over some book, so the wizard turned him into a statue that would forever be stuck reading that book.”
“What book?” a small, blond freshman asked.
“I don't know,” he said. “I don't know if that part of the story is important. The main point of the story is use the buddy system at night so you have a better chance against the statue man. He will forever be tormenting our campus at night, but at night only.”
“Now, that is just a story,” Amanda said. “But the buddy system is important. You should never walk alone at night, even on a campus as safe as ours. Does anyone else have a question?” The students all looked around at each other. No one moved. “Well, if you do sometime before school you should have the e-mail address of your group leader. We'll be more than happy to help you answer any question.”
“Have a great night,” the blond said and stood up.
“Yes, thank you all for a great orientation,” Amanda said. The students were already pushing each other down the aisles to find the best shot to the door. “We'll see you on campus in a couple months.” She looked out and everyone was looking away from her.
As the students headed to find their parents, Amanda went to scold Charlie. She didn't notice the two girls lingering behind to talk to them.
“They asked. I could have given more detail,” Charlie said. “Lighten up, Mandy.”
“It's inappropriate. How many groups did you tell the story to?” she asked.
“Every group I led.” She scowled at him. “Oh, come on. It's a school legend. It's history and tradition. I thought you love those things.”
“Charlie,” one of the girls interupted, “why are you always in some sort of trouble with a girl. I htought you were the good one.”
“Hey, Sarah.” He reached out and hugged her. “Mandy, this is my little sister, Sarah. Sarah, this is my slightly senior co-worker.”
“He fell for the last girl I saw talk to him that way, so be careful,” Sarah said, shaking Amanda's hand.
Mandy pulled her left hand into the air. “I've very happily engaged.”
“Good, then no falling for her, Charlie. Oh, hey, this is my new friend Leann. I invited her to eat with us. She's already gotten permission from her parents. She's not going back home until tomorrow, like me.”
“Well, it's nice to see Sarah's making friends already,” Charlie said, shaking Leann's hand. “Bye, Mandy.”
“I'm not done talking about this,” she said. “I'll call you later.” Mandy walked toward the back of the stage to get her things.
“How about O'Nally's? I'm craving one of their burgers and a beer.”
“Sounds great. I guess we're walking then,” Sarah said. “I'd like to see how long a walk it is. We didn't do that through orientaion.”
“Follow me,” he said, holding the auditorium doors open for the girls.

Magazine contests

Well, I haven't been blogging lately, but I have been writing. I haven't been keeping track of the word count, but I am being productive.

So, I'm submitting some short stories to two magazine contests. One story is going into a Family Matters genre at one competition, and hopefully 3-4 others will be submitted into a Writers Digest competition.

Lord, thank You for this ability you've given me! Thank you for the words I ran across in Proverbs 16:3 today - "Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed." Those are great words, and I thank You for that love Lord!

I'm about to submit the story for the Family Matters competition. Of course I've waited till the absolute last moment hehe. It's due tomorrow. :-) Below is the story I'm submitting to that one. Keep me in your prayers!

Annabel's Shoes
by: Jennifer Nelson

A little less than a month after we moved the final boxes of clothing and shoes into my sister, Annabel's, dorm room she still hadn't made any friends. I attributed this to the long phone conversations with her boyfriend back home, Nick. She constantly sat in her room moping about the loss of her social life. I was trying to be a good sister when I invited her to hang out with me one Saturday night.
“Come with us,” I said.
“You're leaving now?”
“That was the plan,” I said. “Everyone is hungry.”
“Oh, okay.”
“So, are you coming?”
“Sure. I'll be down in a minute.”
It seemed like an hour had passed before she actually made it downstairs. I assumed she had to do all her proper primping. Straighten her hair, put on her make-up, and find the right clothes. She always looked so perfect. I just had on a dorm t-shirt and a faded pair of jeans.
She walked out the door wearing her black pumps, her red tank top and a mini skirt that seemed to be missing material at the bottom.
“We were about to leave you,” I said.
“Sorry, Nick called,” she said. “And I had to straighten my hair. It looked pretty bad. You know how that goes.”
I rolled my eyes. “So how's Nick since you left?”
“He's fine,” she said. “He misses me.”
“He'll see you when we go home at Christmas,” I said.
They had been together two years, but she was always flirting with some other guy. I didn't blame her much. She planned on marrying Nick right out of high school, but that plan changed when he dropped out of college told her he had no intention of going back. It broke her heart. Since her dreams of being a housewife were ruined she decided to follow me to school in Mississippi, while the rest of her life stayed home in Texas.
“Are we going?” Annabel's roommate, Jessica, asked.
“Yeah, let's go,” I said.
“Good, I'm hungry,” Jessica said.
“Sorry,” Annabel said. “It's my fault.”
Jessica was the only friend Annabel really had at this point. Out of all the people I had introduced her to, Jessica seemed to be the only person who could tolerate the mood swings of my sister.
My recent crush, Johnny, said he'd meet us at Burger King. I saw him when we arrived and went over to say hello. When Annabel saw him she whispered something to Jessica. They laughed, ordered their food, and filled up their drinks.
Johnny was a pretty good friend of mine, but I couldn't really get closer than that. He was the first guy to make me so nervous I was actually speechless. I used to feel like a moron when I'd stumble over my feet and laugh incessantly at jokes that weren't funny.
“There's a seat right here,” Annabel said when he walked up. “So, how are you doing, Johnny?”
“Pretty good. Not sure I'm ready for classes to start though.”
“I understand that,” Annabel said.
“I'm going to have nineteen hours this semester. It's crap,” he said.
“Why so many?” Annabel asked.
“It's what my advisor suggested since I start co-oping in the spring.”
“What is co-oping?” Annabel asked.
“It's like an internship, but for engineers. I wish I could take this semester easy, though.”
“That sucks,” I said absentmindedly.
“What sucks?” he asked.
“Just that, well, you'll be so busy this semester. And then gone in the spring. You'll be busy and, well, I just want you to be able to relax.” He smiled at me.
“Number 547,” the burger king woman said.
“That's mine.” Johnny got up to retrieve his food.
“Must you flirt with ever guy?” I asked Annabel once he was out of ear shot.
“What are you talking about?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
Johnny came back with food and eventually we all had our numbers called. Annabel kept talking with Johnny, and I inhaled my food. When I finished I went up to the counter to order a Hershey's chocolate pie to make myself feel better.
“Are we ready to go?” Jessica asked. “I think it's about that time.”
“Just let me re-fill my drink first,” Annabel said. “I'm really thirsty. One glass just didn't do it for me.”
I walked out front and waited for them. I didn't feel like being around people anymore, but I knew walking alone at night wasn't the best idea.
“We should go out tonight,” Annabel said when we all got outside.
“I don't know,” Johnny said. “It depends on what we do.”
“Michelle, wouldntitbefuntogodancing?” Annabel asked.
“What?” I really wasn't paying attention.
“Dancing, Michelle. Wouldn't it be fun? We should go tonight.”
“Um, okay. If you want,” I mumbled.
“Johnny, you have to come with us.” Annabel patted his shoulder. “Have you ever been out dancing? We love it.”
We started walking back towards their dorm. Annabel was telling a high school story to Johnny and Jessica. I slowed down to avoid hearing their conversation. Plus, I didn't want to watch and create ideas in my head about the way he was looking at her. I knew if he liked her I was better off knowing then.
This wasn't the first time I believed that a guy had chosen her over me. I just didn't think it would happen again, especially up here at my school. She didn't know anything about this university until I described my crazy friends and all the fun we've had exploring campus and attending all the different campus events.
In high school Annabel was the cheerleader who went to all the parties and had all the friends. I played softball and had whatever person I was talking to that day. She dated head football players while I pined over my best friend, Michael. She ended up dating Michael too.
I didn't notice that Annabel had slowed down to catch a moment to talk with me.
“What's wrong with you?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
“You're a bad liar.” I didn't say anything. “So, you're not going to tell me what that comment was for?”
“What comment?”
“The one about me flirting.”
“Oh, that.”
“Yeah, oh that. What was that? And you said it in front of Jessica.”
“Jessica knows you're a flirt.”
“I wasn't flirting with Johnny.”
“Well he was flirting with you, and you didn't stop it.”
“You're just seeing things. Besides, you weren't talking. Someone had to fill the void. I've never seen you so quiet.”
“Don't do this again.”
“What?”
“You did this with Michael.”
“Don't bring him up. I didn't even know you liked him. You never told me.”
“I was always around him. Always trying to get his attention.”
“He asked me out and he was cute. I didn't know you liked him. I'm sorry. I've already told you I was sorry. Will that ever go away?”
“Not when you're doing it again. I'll tell you very clearly, I like him so don't take him.”
“Fine.” She picked up her pace toward the dorm and was able to get several feet ahead of me.
“Fine then, just run off,” I yelled.
“I'm not running off, I'm just walking,” she said, not looking back.
“Well, you're trying to get away from me.”
“I'm just walking fast. I can't help that I walk fast.” Her fast walking helped us reach Jessica and Johnny at the girls entrance of the dorm, where they had waited for us, a bit faster.
“I think I'll just leave then,” I said. “You're mad and running away from me anyway. So, I'll do the same.” I started walking towards my car. Johnny and Jessica slowly started inching towards the front door of the dorm.
“What do you want me to say?” she asked.
I turned around and saw her gripping the rail of the handicap entrance. “What can you say, Annabel?”
“I could ask why you're always such a jerk to me.”
“Because you take everything I want. Why do you do that?” Annabel's face was getting red from frustration.
“I don't try to take everything. Stop being so, so you.” She threw her drink and the cup busted as it hit the ground about three feet in front of me. Jessica opened the girl to the girls side and let Johnny in after her.
“Were you trying to hit me?” I asked.
“No, I wanted that drink,” she said. “It kind of slipped.”
“You threw it. Now you have no drink.”
“I wasn't thirsty anymore.”
“Good, you don't have a drink anymore.”
We stood in silence for a few moments. Sometimes we looked at each other, sometimes we looked out at the walking paths around the dorm. Annabel sighed and said, “Are we still going out tonight?”
“Sure,” I said. “We'll probably have to find Jessica and Johnny.”
“Maybe we shouldn't invite Johnny.”
“Why? I'd like to dance with him,” I said.
“Well you call him. I'll go talk to Jessica.”
She went up the ramp and through the door to her dorm. I went to my car so that I could head home to change.
I wanted to believe that Annabel didn't want to hurt me on purpose. When we were younger we'd yell and get over it. Back then we used to argue over dolls and candy. Now fights, like the one about Johnny, were getting slightly more serious.
Before Annabel had gotten to Mississippi we had a fight over the phone about her boyfriend, Nick. She asked me, “What if I go there and he doesn't want me anymore. What if no one after him wants me.”
“Guys will always ask you out, and they always have. Don't give me that,” I said.
“But he's the guy I love,” she said. “You don't know what it's like.”
“You're right. I can't understand this.” I laid down and moved the phone to the other hand.
“Michelle, don't be like that. I wasn't trying to get you mad at me. Why can't you just be my big sister for like five seconds.”
“Why do you even talk to me if you're just going to ignore everything I say. I'm trying to be a good sister and be honest with you.”
“I don't ignore what you say,” Annabel said. “I just don't think you know what you're talking about.”
“I've seen the way he's treated you the last year. He doesn't deserve you.”
“That's not fair. He's just had a rough time.”
“Not fair? He's done drugs, got caught, was sent to jail and then dropped out of college. He also doesn't seem to think he's done anything wrong and doesn't want a better life for the two of you.”
“I'm going to hang up,” she said.
“Please do,” I said, but hung up on her first. I just didn't want my little sister to be hurt, but I didn't know how to explain how I felt to her without fighting.
I realized when I started driving home that I still needed to call Johnny to go out with us. I wanted him to go, but I don't know what I expected from the night.
“Johnny,” I said when I got him on the phone.
“Hey, Michelle. Are you and Annabel okay?” he asked.
“Oh yeah, we're fine. We were wondering if you still wanted to go out with us tonight.”
“You two aren't fighting anymore?” he asked.
“No, we're being big girls now,” I joked.
“Okay, then I'd like to go,” he said.
“Great. Meet us downstairs in about fifteen minutes. I'm running home to change.”
“Okay.”
I wanted to have fun that night, but I was afraid of putting Annabel and Johnny back in the same room together. I had to look good. Johnny had rarely seen me dressed up. I went into my closet at home and hoped that I owned something that would look good. I knew Annabel would look fantastic.
Out of all my clothing one top seemed appropriate. It happened to be one I had bought when Annabel and I went shopping. It was modest, yet it had the Annabel touch. Guys liked the Annabel touch. I also grabbed a pair of red heels that we bought that same weekend. I found a pair of clean jeans and finished getting ready so I could hurry back.
When I pulled back into the parking lot of the dorm I called Annabel. “Are you ready? I'm parked outside.”
“I'll be out in a few seconds,” she said. “Is Johnny going?”
“Yeah, he's downstairs.”
“Jessica and I will be there in a minute.” I was surprised when they actually came down in about a minute. That had to be Jessica.
“So, where are we going?” Annabel asked.
“You know this is more of a retirement community than a party town, right? The whole club scene may not be what you were thinking it would be,” I warned.
“I just want to go out in my heels,” she said. “There has to be some place to go.”
She was wearing the pink pumps that she fell in love with one shopping trip, and the outfit she bought weeks later just to go with the heels. I was happy that she was wearing jeans, because if she had been wearing a skirt, or worse some Daisy-Duke shorts, I would have felt terrible.
“I saw the sign at the tavern said the Burnt Herrings are playing,” I said.
“What kind of place is that?” Annabel asked.
“It's a hang out bar,” I said. “I'll just drive by and let you decide.”
I drove up and circled the parking lot. After a few moments Annabel said, “No.”
“Well, there's a bar down the street where I've listed to bands,” I said.
“Okay, let's try it,” she said. When Annabel saw the building she said no, so I kept driving past. “I say Johnny chooses.”
He grumbled, but picked the country bar next to the bowling alley which was famous for karaoke and underage drinking. It was really the only choice left.
We paid the cover and went into the back room. I had never been in there on a Saturday before, so I was excited to find that there was a dance floor and a DJ. Sadly no one was dancing because they were there to drink.
Johnny found a table while we rubbed off the happy birthday stamps that were barely pressed to our skin. Those were supposed to prove we were too young for alcohol.
“Why don't you go dance with Michelle, Johnny,” Annabel said, trying to prove she wasn't interested.
“Sure, I'll dance with her,” he said.
He led me out to the dance floor and started spinning me around. Our dancing didn't fit the music, but I was enjoying myself. I looked over at Annabel and smiled. She had Jessica out on the dance floor dancing with her.
“How's my dancing?” Johnny asked.
“You're doing fine.” I smiled. This was the first time I had ever danced with him.
“Are you sure? I don't look stupid?”
“You look good.” I couldn't stop smiling. “Just go with the music.”
“I thought I was going with the music.” He stopped dancing. “Let's go sit down, I know I look stupid.”
“Johnny, you're dancing so well,” Annabel said when she overheard him.
“Really?” he asked. “It doesn't look bad, Annabel?”
“Here, let me show you a little bit,” Annabel said. Johnny started dancing with her and I awkwardly stood mid-dance floor. I waited one song, dancing alone, before walking back to the table. I grabbed my keys and phone before going outside so I could cry without them seeing me. I didn't realize, but Annabel had followed me out.
“I'm sorry,” Annabel said. “Don't take that the wrong way.”
“Just take him if you really want him that bad,” I said.
“I wasn't trying to take him. I was showing him a little bit about dancing.”
“He was dancing with me. With me! And you just jumped in there like always. Always perfect. Always the one guys want.”
“Johnny doesn't want me. I was just helping him dance.”
“I was helping him dance.”
“I'm sorry,” she said again.
“I just don't understand. You have Nick, just leave my life alone. You say I don't understand, but you don't understand.”
She sat down next to me. “I know I have Nick, but you don't even like him.”
“So you want to take the one I like from me? You think I'll approve of Johnny more than Nick?”
“No, I'm not trying to take him. I want him to ask you out,” Annabel said. “I just like being around him. If you like him, I know he's a good guy. I fell in love with, well, a guy who's kind of a loser.”
I couldn't stop my tears. “I just don't understand, Annabel. Why does he want you instead of me?” I kept thinking about the freedom I felt in moving away to school. I felt like I had a new life. When Annabel followed me to college it was like I was back in high school again.
“They all want you, Annabel. I'll just have to marry one before you meet him.”
“Michelle, that's not true.”
“Just leave me alone.” I stood up and headed toward my car. Annabel followed behind me. I turned and said, “Why do you like to ruin my life.” I wanted to be angry. To scream at her. But my voice just got lower and more difficult to understand.
“I'm not trying to ruin anything, I swear.” She reached out to grab my hand and I pulled farther away from her.
“Why don't you just move home and marry Nick. It would solve both our problems.”
I kept walking to my car and fumbled for my keys. I turned around and saw Annabel slowly walking back to the bar. I unlocked the car and opened the door. I sat down and put the key in the ignition. Annabel was still outside the bar when I looked back at her.
“Annabel, wait,” I yelled. She stopped walking, but didn't turn around. “I'm sorry.” She started walking again, this time at her faster pace. I jumped out, slamming the door, and ran back toward the bar. I wobbled in the heels as I ran. A pothole grabbed the back of the left shoe and pulled me down. “Crap!” I yelled.
Annabel turned back and looked at me as she got to the door. “What did you do?” she asked across the parking lot. A door closed near me and I saw two girls laughing as they passed by. Annabel put her hand out when she reached me. “You really shouldn't wear those if you're just going to break them.”
I took her hand and let her pull me up. I tried to stand but my left heel collapsed and I pulled Annabel to the ground with me as I fell again.
“Michelle, I was trying to help you up, jerk.” She got up and dusted her clothes off.
“It was an accident. Sorry.” I took my shoe off and threw it at her. “See, the heel broke.”
“Don't throw your stupid, broken shoe at me.” She started walking toward to the building again. I caught a glimpse of Johnny and Jessica past Annabel as they headed back into the bar.
“Are you running away from me again?” I asked.
“You threw a shoe at me. I think we're done.” She turned back to face me.
“Come talk with me, please. I don't want to fight anymore.”
“We're always going to fight. Always have.”
“Annabel, were you crying?” I asked when I noticed her mascara running.
“I just found out my sister hates my existence and wants me to make the worst mistake of my life, just to get me to leave her alone.”
“That's what I'm apologizing for,” I said. “I shouldn't have been so mean about Nick. It's your life.”
“He's cheating on me.” She came back and sat near my pothole. “His new girlfriend, or whatever she is, has been calling me from his phone.” She put her hands on her face so I couldn't see the tears.
“Has he talked to you?” I asked.
“We've talked. He said she's just a girl from work.” She wiped the black from her cheeks. “I don't want to be alone, Michelle. I don't know what I'll do without him.”
I moved over and put my arm around her. “You'll live. You'll go to school. You'll meet another guy, just not Johnny.”
She laughed which caused her to hiccup between the sobs. “I don't like Johnny.”
“With all the guys that have liked you, how can you believe you'll be alone very long?”
“What if I'm meant to be with guys like Nick?” she asked. “I mean, we're both attractive, but not very smart.”
I nudged her shoulder and said, “Don't talk about my sister like that. Only I can call her stupid.” She laughed. “You are intelligent. You moved two states away. You got yourself away from a bad situation.”
“Just to hurt you. I should have just stayed home.” She put her head down in her hands again. A car pulled past us and parked a few spots away. They whispered something I assumed to be about us as they walked to the bar. “We should go back in,” she said as she stood up. I pulled my other shoe off so I could too.
“I love you,” I said. “You know that right?”
“I love you, too,” she said.
“I'm glad you're here. I can't lie though, I'm not always going to like it. I'll try to be nicer.”
“And I'll try not to steal anymore guys from you so you can get married one day.”
“Ha, ha, aren't you funny.”
“Let's go back in,” Annabel said.
“I have no shoes.”
She looked down at my feet. “Do you have any extras in the car? Flip-flops or something?”
“I don't know. Wait, where are my keys?” We looked around the pothole but they weren't on the ground. Annabel reached her hand in to see if they dropped in the pothole. They weren't there either. “Not tonight,” I said.
“Check the car,” she said, already walking to it. She opened the door and leaned in to look for them. She pulled herself back out and dangled the keys in front of me. “They were in the ignition. Maybe it is a good thing I'm here.”
We laughed and fumbled through my car for my flip-flops. I found them in the trunk and tossed my broken red heels in their place before slamming the back shut. I put the flip-flops on and headed back into the club with Annabel to enjoy the rest of the night.

April Update

So far I've done pretty well, but I have missed writing about 4 days. I just have to keep pushing on though. This has been going pretty well, so I think I'm going to extend it through May. The story just keeps growing. I think I'm at 35 or so pages. :-) Hope to have more as the week progresses!

Cutting it close today...

So I just finished my writing today. About 550 words. I was really cutting it close today, being that it's already 11:40ish at night. Tomorrow I will be too. Grabbing a sister from the airport 2 hours away, right after I get out of work. Then getting back home at about 11. I might let my day end when I sleep, at least for this particular situation. I'm starting to write journal excerpts from a man that will leave clues for them on their search. The man didn't mean for the journals to be clues...or did he?

3 days past, still going strong

Day 5 - about 750 words
Day 6 - about 400 words
Day 7 - about 650 words (and that's today)

I'm doing pretty well. For the past three days I've worked on a nice section. I almost have an entire chapter done. Splitting chapters up can some times be difficult, but I think I'll focus on that in the editing stages. I'm going to post this pretty big scene. Hope people like it!

(This takes place at probably about the 4th or 5th maybe 6th chapter would be my guess. Somewhere in there. It's early, but it's not the very beginning so if you're missing some details that's probably why.)

“Why did you choose seven on Friday night?” Sarah asked.
“Bad choice, I admit.” Thomas glanced around the room. “Well there's our boyfriend from the other night. He has extra chairs.”
“That's sad,” Leann said.
“What is?” Patrick asked.
“He's sitting alone on Friday night.” Leann walked toward his table. Sarah grabbed for her arm and missed. “Hey, Gil,” they heard Leann say.
“He just looked over at you,” Thomas teased. “Oh, he's waving us over. This should be fun.” Sarah rolled her eyes.
Gil got up and pulled out the seat next to him. “Here, Sarah.”
Thomas sat down in the only remaining chair, so Sarah was forced to sit in the one Gil was holding. When he pushed the chair in, her body ended up squished between the table and the chair. Once Gil sat down she pushed her chair back a couple inches. Thomas turned and laughed into his arm with a slight cough.
“What are you doing here?” Sarah asked Gil while glaring at Thomas.
“I knew this was the place to be on Friday night. I got here early to get a table.” Gil took a sip of his drink and quickly put it back down. “Do you need something, Sarah? I'll get it.”
“Oh, Gil, will you grab one for me as well. A coke, please,” Thomas said, still smiling.
“Um, sure, man. Sarah?”
“I'll wait until the waitress gets here.” She pulled out her cell phone and typed into it for a few seconds before putting it away. Leann's phone beeped while she was talking with Patrick. After she read the message she looked up and shrugged at Sarah.
“This should be lot's of fun,” Thomas whispered.
“I really can't stand you right now.” She looked through the pub menu to ignore Thomas smirking and the looks from Gil across the room.
As Gil walked back to the table with a coke for Thomas, the waitress walked up and asked, “Can I get you guys anything to drink?” Gil sat down and slid the coke over to Thomas, who picked it up, tilted it to Gil, and then took a sip.
“Can I have a straw, please?” Thomas asked.
“Sure, she said, pulling a straw from her apron. “What would the rest of you like?”
“I just want a water,” Sarah said. She kept noticing the looks from Gil and the stifled laughter from Thomas. The waitress left with the promise of drinks and menu's for those who didn't have one.
The small band area had three guys setting up for their eight o'clock performance while popular radio songs softly played to provide atmosphere for the loud crowd.
“Do you think they'll be any good?” Thomas asked, leaning over to Sarah.
“I just want them t be really loud,” she said.
“Gil, did you do all the homework for Cal yet?” Patrick asked. “She assigned a lot more than I was expecting.”
“I've got about half done,” he said. He shifted his chair a bit toward Sarah. “You want to do some homework together this weekend?”
“I've gotten all done that I needed to. Thanks, though.” Sarah went back to reading the one menu on the table.
“So, maybe that movie tomorrow?” he asked. Leann let out an awkward laugh. “There are a couple of good ones out.”
Sarah looked confused. She stared at Gil as the waitress came and sat drinks out in front of her, Leann and Patrick, followed by menus.
“I'll give you a few minutes,” she said, walking to a nearby table.
“They have several great burgers,” Thomas said. “Look at this one.” He pointed to a description on Sarah's menu.
“That's pretty good, but I prefer the Nicholas burger.”
“Only as of this summer,” Leann said. “You almost stole your brother's meal.”
“I don't see that on here,” Gil said.
'It's not on the menu. It used to be when my grandfather was in school here. They know how to make it, though. They keep a binder of specialty meals that have come off the menu.”
“The Stienwick burger sounds good,” Patrick said. “He knew what to eat. Two patties, bacon, cheese, mayo and onions. Plus some barbecue sauce. Perfect.”
“Sounds like it would clog my arteries,” Leann said.
“You're grandfather has a burger named after him here?” Thomas asked.
“Yeah. He was great friends with the previous owner. Plus, he ate here more than he should have, much like Charlie. My grandfather didn't know how to cook. My grandma was the best thing that ever happened to him.”
“She cooks for him?” Thomas asked.
“Yes. She won't even let him near the stove. He had a close call in the dorm kitchen that could have burned down the entire building. Thankfully the guys got the fire out.”
“I wouldn't let him in my kitchen either,” Leann said. “That's a sacred place.”
“I can cook,” Patrick said.
“Really?” Leann looked skeptical. “What exactly can you cook?”
“Mostly breakfast stuff. And grilled cheese. I love grilled cheese.”
“That sounds about right,” Sarah said.
“I think your grandfather did it right. Almost burn something down so the woman will always cook,” Thomas said. “I might have to try this out.”
“You have to find that woman first. Someone that doesn't mind being around you constantly,” Sarah said.
“I never had to cook,” Gil said. “My mom is a great cook. She wanted me to focus on other things.”
“Oh, like what?” Thomas asked.
“School, mostly. It gave me time for collecting to.”
“What do you collect?” Leann asked.
“Bugs, not alive though. They are all dead and preserved. And stamps. My dad traveled a lot before he died, and he always collected stamps for me.”
The waitress came back to take their orders and then disappeared again. The table of five sat quietly until Leann said, “I'm sorry about your dad.”
“It's okay,” he said. “It was about five years ago. It was tough in high school, but my step dad helped.”
“Wow, you have a step dad already?” Patrick said. Leann hit his shoulder. “I mean, wow, your mom moved on already?” Leann elbowed his ribs. “You know what I mean.”
“She met him two years after my dad passed. He's a nice guy. They've been married a little over two years now.” Gil took a sip of his drink then said, “I'm glad she found him. He helped me make it through high school.”
They all looked from Gil to each other, then shifted back to looking at Gil. He just smiled and leaned back in his chair. “When do you think our first algebra test will be?” Sarah asked Leann, trying to shift the topic. “I'm afraid he's going to make it next Friday.”
“We haven't covered enough material to take a test next Friday. Maybe the Friday after that.”
“You are just in algebra?” Gil asked. “Patrick and I are already in cal two.”
“Well I don't have to take that. I just have to take algebra and trig and I'll be done with math, thank goodness,” Sarah said.
“And I don't know what I want to do, so for now I'm just going to take algebra and trig to have them out of the way,” Leann said.
“Do you like math?” Patrick asked her.
“It's okay,” Leann said. “It's not my favorite, but I don't hate doing it.”
“You get better and better,” Patrick mumbled as the bands bassist checked a couple of cords.
“What?” she asked
“It wasn't important.” He leaned over to Thomas and whispered something. Both of them laughed.
The waitress arrived to the table with three plates, and a guy following behind had two more. She placed them in front of everyone and asked, “Do you need anything else?”
“Some more coke,” Gil said.
She left with his cup just seconds before the bands lead singer tapped on the microphone which caused a loud static noise to invade the cheery atmosphere. “Welcome. We are just a small local band, but we hope you enjoy what you hear.” The drummer started pounding a few drums and then began.
A tall, blond approached the table after they had eaten about half of their meal. She smiled and said, “I was hoping it was you and not your brother.”
“Kitty!” Sarah jumped up from her seat and edged past Thomas to hug her. “Why was I being confused with my brother?”
“I overheard one of my kitchen guys saying it's the second time today he's had to make a Nicholas burger. Since I saw Charlie earlier, I was hoping it was you.”
“Well, it is me,” Sarah said. “How are you?”
“I'm doing well. Sad that you had yet to come and see me.”
“I'm a freshman, which means goodbye freedom of where you eat and hello meal plan.”
“You'll miss that when you don't have it anymore. Because then you won't be able to walk in there when you're randomly on campus and grab a to go cup.”
“I've never thought to do that.”
“You should. So, who are all these people?”
“This is Leann my roommate,” Sarah said. “And next to her is Patrick. This is Thomas. They are roommates. And this is Gil.”
“Well it's nice to meet all of you, I'm Kitty O'Nally.”
“So you own the pub?” Gil said.
“I do. I've had it since my parents passed, rest their souls. My brother and his wife didn't want to run it, so I moved home. It basically runs itself, but I hang around and pretend to be cool still.”
“I'm sure you are still cool,” Sarah said. “Kitty is good friends with my mom. They were in business school together here.”
“You are a mini version of your mother,” Kitty said. “How are your parents?”
“Good. They call me too often, but I think that's the empty nest thing,” Sarah said.
“Well, eventually they'll enjoy having their house to themselves. They won't know what o to when you go home for the summer.”
“I won't know what to do if I go home for the summer.”
Kitty laughed and patted her shoulder. “Maybe you can get a summer internship or something. Would they send you abroad?”
“Maybe if an adult agreed to go. Want to take me to Europe?” Sarah teased. “My other option would be if they came with me, and I don't want to go with them.”
“Maybe I'll see about us going off to Europe. I'm due for a trip, and I know this place can run without me. Especially for the summer.”
Sarah stared at her while everyone else at the table sat quietly through the conversation. “Seriously? I was just joking. Would you really do that?”
“Why not? It'd be great. Here, write your cell number down on this for me, she said handing her a reciept from her pocket. “I'll see what I can come up with for a teenagers first European trip.”
“Wow, that would be great.” Sarah jotted her number down. “I can write down mom and dad's too, just in case you lost them. You will have to talk to them about this.”
“I still have those, unless they've changed in the last few months. And I'll just tell them this is your belated graduation present. They'll let you go with crazy Kitty.” She looked around at the silent faces around the table. “Well, I should let you get back to dinner with your friends.”
“Wait, I was wondering if I could ask you something, alone.” Thomas elbowed her side. Sarah simply brushed him away.
“He looks like he wants to know whatever this is too,” Kitty said. “Why don't you come to my office for a second, when you're done eating.”
“I'm done,” Sarah said, grabbing her purse. “Stay and finish your food, Thomas. I'll tell you what I find out.”
“I want to hear it too,” he said.
“What are you going to find out?” Gil asked.
“Don't worry about it,” Sarah said. Leann, we'll be back in a few minutes.” Leann nodded and went back to her conversation with Patrick.
Sarah followed Kitty through the kitchen door, with Thomas following behind sipping his coke. The kitchen staff made no movement signaling that they noticed people walking in. They were on the grill line working to complete the dozen or more tickets they had backed up.
Kitty's office was in the back of the kitchen, to the left. When Sarah and Thomas walked in they saw a large desk with a small white laptop and a couple of picture frames and several papers littering the top. Hanging behind her chair was a diploma from Stienwick in business and a picture of Kitty in graduation robes with a man and a woman.
Kitty sat in the black computer chair and put her hands down on the table. “So, what question do you have for me?”
Sarah sat in the chair in front of the desk and Thomas sat on the couch to the left. “Well, we're sort of on a mission.”
“A mission, really?” Kitty laughed. “Your brother gave you the book, didn't he?”
Sarah pulled a book out of her purse and set it on the desk. Kitty picked it up and laughed again. “What?” Sarah asked.
“I haven't seen this in almost twenty or so years now. Your brother didn't bring it with him when he quizzed me his freshman year. He's not very organized,” Kitty said as she saw Sarah pull a notebook out of her purse. “Do you have questions prepared for me?”
“A few, if that's okay?”
“We worked on them this afternoon,” Thomas said.
“And who are you again?” Kitty asked. “Are you two dating?”
“Not yet,” he said.
“No,” Sarah interrupted. “He pestered me until I agreed to be his friend.”
“Watch out. He may wear you down enough that you'll agree to go out with him.” Kitty leaned back in her chair. “I'm ready for the questions.”
“Okay, in the book it says the statue has been on campus since the semester the school started, but it doesn't say which month. Do you know which month?”
Kitty got up and went to a filing cabinet on the opposite wall. She pulled the bottom drawer out and searched through some of the file folders until she pulled out a couple of leather bound books. “I think this might tell us,” she said.
“What are these?” Thomas asked.
“They are journals. My great, great grandfathers journals. Well, it might be one more great. Anyway, they belonged to the man who opened O'Nally's.”
“So he would have been here when the fight between Steinwick and the student happened,” Sarah said. “These cold tell us all we need to know. Have you read through them all?”
“Not full, and not since college when your parents and I tried to figure this out. Here we go, it was on October 25, 1897 that Lucas Steinwick argued with a student. My grandfather didn't write the students name down.”
“Kitty, could we borrow those and bring them back to you?”
“Sure, as long as I get them back,” she said. “Do you have any more use of me?”
“I will, but I think I want to see what I can get from these first.” Sarah took the three journals, her book and her notebook, and placed them in her purse. “I should go back out there so Leann doesn't have to sit with those two guys alone anymore.”
“She looked cozy enough to me,” Kitty said. “Enjoy your mission. And let me know what you find.” Kitty stood up, so Thomas and Sarah followed her lead. “Watch this one,” she said, pointing to Thomas.
“Don't worry, I'm nice,” he said.
“Not what my warning is for,” Kitty laughed. “Have a good night.”
Sarah and Thomas left her office and walked past the cooks again to get out to the pub floor. Gil was sitting at the table alone, so Sarah looked around to try and find Leann. “Where did they go?” Sarah asked when she got back to the table.
“She and Patrick walked back to the dorm. They had some work they needed to do. A group project or something. She said you knew about it.” He smiled at her. “So, what are we doing next?”
“I have to go help Leann with that project. Sorry, Gil.” Sarah turned and headed for the door. She heard Thomas say, “I'm her escort, so we'll see you later.” Gil shrugged and turned to face the band that had just started their third song.

306 words today

Well, day 4 and I'm still on track for the goal. It wasn't as much as the few days before, but that's why I set the 250 minimum. I knew some days would be tougher than others. But, I've gotten a new scene started. It's late, I'm tired, so I'm going to stop now and go to sleep. :-)

Happy Easter!

Day 3 - already over 1,500 words

Yay for Saturdays and dogs waking you up early in the morning. At least being up early got me working on the book. I've worked on a couple of scenes and I've gotten over 1,500 words written so far. I'm at 25 single spaced pages in the word document. The book I've actually finished was 160 or so single spaced pages, so I've got a bit more to go, but I've got the complete outline. It's now just sitting down and writing it. I'm not done with writing for the day, but I wasn't going to have a chance to get back on here and post, so I wanted to do it now.

Here's another continuation to the last 2 posts. Same scene, just read the April 1st post, then the Day 2 post, then this excerpt. Enjoy!

Charlie pushed his cup around in a circle leaving a larger condensation ring than normal.
“Is it going to be weird for you to live in the same building as your sister?” Rachael asked.
“No, it'll be okay. We lived in the same house for years, and wasn't terrible. Plus, the dorm is much bigger.”
“It'll be easy to avoid him,” Sarah said. “I made a game of avoiding my brothers growing up.”
“She was really good at it when it came to Walter, our older brother, but I could normally find her.”
“I've gotten older and wiser. Don't underestimate me.” She raised her eyebrows.
“Oh, it's game on.” They laughed and sat looking at each other. The radio was playing in the background, but it was hours before any band would be coming on to create a distraction. Sarah started drumming her finger tips on the table.
The room was filled with booths along the wall and circle tables with chairs along the middle. There was a stage area opposite the bar which wasn't big, but it had the look of being used regularly. The bar had a brunette with a O'Nally's fitted t-shirt and jeans talking to a customer at the bar. She seemed to be funny because he kept laughing and every so often ordering a new drink.
“So, do you really believe in that statue story?” Leann asked.
“Are you asking me?” Charlie asked.
“Well, yes,” she said. “You were telling that story today. Do you really think it comes to life?”
“It's possible, isn't it? Otherwise you wouldn't be so curious about it.”
“It can't be possible. There's no such thing as wizards or spells or statues that come to life.” Leann leaned in. “If it is true, that's not really safe. Is it?”
“You're safe,” Sarah said. “Don't freak her out. The statue doesn't attack just anyone. You have to get in it's way or have what it wants.”
“I guess you believe the story too,” Rachael said.
“How could I not? My grandfather and my dad have notes. They've seen things. People disappearing, the statue not in it's spot in the middle of the night. These are all clear signs that it moves and takes people.”
“The disappearing people are just because there are people who aren't careful at night and we go to school not far from a rough neighborhood,” Rachael said. “That's what happens when we're thirty minutes from a big place like D.C.”
“You can't explain the statue not being where it's supposed to be though. What's with that?” Sarah asked.
“Okay, I've got food,” the waitress said, appearing out of no where. “The chicken strips.” She handed them to Sarah. “Chicken strip sandwich, no mayo, for Rachael. You had the chicken strip sandwich with everything. And you had this concoction,” she said, handing the last plate to Charlie. “Do you need anything else?” Everyone shook their head to signal they were fine.
“Thanks, Taylor,” Rachael said.
“No problem. Just let me know if you need anything else.” She walked over to a circle table with two people that had just sat down.
“Try this, Sarah,” Charlie said. “I told dad I'd get you to try it.”
“Fine, but when I don't like it you'll leave me alone, right?”
“Just take a bite.”
Sarah took the burger off the plate Charlie had slid toward her. A mushroom fell from the burger onto the plate. She looked at the melted swiss and cheddar cheeses melted on top of the bacon and hamburger patty. “At least it has lettuce and tomato on it.” She pushed the burger toward her mouth and took a big bite.
Charlie pulled his plate back toward him and put a big mound of ketchup next to his fries. “What do you think?” he asked.
“It's alright,” she said. “Was that jalapeños on there?”
“And onions, mushrooms, pickles, cheese and bacon. Along with the lettuce and tomato.”
She took his burger off his plate and took another bite. “You know, that's really not bad.”
“Give me my burger back, crazy.” He grabbed it from her hand. “You want me to bite your hand?”
“You told me to try it.”
“Try it, not steal it. If you want one, order one.”
“I've got chicken strips. I'll be okay. I'll definitely order one next time.”
“Does anyone else want a bite before I get a chance to eat?' Charlie asked.
“I'm okay,” Rachael said. “I'm not a fan of hot things.”
“I'll let you eat your dinner,” Leann said. “I've got my own.” She picked the burger up and took a bite. “It's really good. Thanks, Rachael.”
“No problem. It definitely my favorite. Sometimes I get it with pizza sauce. It's incredible like that.”
Charlie had his burger in one hand while he ate fries with the other. After another bite of the burger he put it down, but pulled his plate closer to him.
“Stop being paranoid, I'm not going to steal your food,” Sarah said. “If you keep acting like that I'll have a reason to try.”