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.
Showing posts with label relationships. Show all posts
Showing posts with label relationships. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, July 23, 2010
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
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
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
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.
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.
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