X Post It Notes

 

I am seven days into the New Year and the calendar on my cubical wall still shows December. I just am not motivated to change it.  My resolution for this year is not to update it.  What difference would it make? At the end of the day, it is just another “x” in a square. The x’s form a chain and the chain of x’s in all the calendars that have graced this beige eighties wall goes back nine years.  Post-it notes with names and extensions of co-workers who are no longer here adorn this fossil of a fabric. I have not moved most of them because they give the area much needed color, but Emily’s has not moved because it is all I have left of her.

There was a feeling of newness when she would drop off her breakdown at my desk the start of every week. My heart would jump in celebration when she would walk into the breakroom when I was there.  I would pray that God would bless me with the confidence to let her know how I felt. He never did and my lack of self-esteem would renew every Tuesday.

I could not bring myself to do it when she was here, but I sometimes call her old extension and Carlos answers. I have no idea who he is or what his role is in this trench of depression, but I can feel he is beginning to get annoyed with me. Honestly, I do not care. Carlos is just another Post-it.

I wonder if Emily felt the same way about me.

the above was part of a writing prompt from Creative Copy Challenge.

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What Happened, Happened

1:08 PM

Guy was excited.  Late but excited as he was on his way to meet his girlfriend at their favorite downtown restaurant.  Hurriedly he maneuvered through oncoming pedestrians. Some would give him dirty looks and make comments under their breaths as he passed.  He didn't care, he had something he wanted to tell Emily and nothing was going to prevent this high.

He was at the corner of 8th and Austen, two blocks away from the restaurant, waiting for the crosswalk to grant permission to cross.  Even though he was lost in his thoughts, he could still hear the sounds of the outside world.  Street vendors, the chatter of the masses, squeaking breaks filled the air between the buildings.  He even thought he heard someone yell his name.  He stood on his tip toes to try and look over the crowd, just to see if he could see someone he knew.

Nothing. 

Oh well.

The signal changed and the mass he was part of moved. A few seconds later there were squealing of brakes and the sound of glass shattering.  He looked back.  A large crowd had gathered around the accident but he keeps walking away.  Not that he didn't care, but he wasn't a doctor or paramedic.  That's how he could justify his current non-involvement actions.  He'll have to remember it for later.  Hopefully he can help out somehow.

Down the block, Guy could see Emily waiting by the front of the restaurant.  He rushed to her and apologized.

"I'm sorry, Sweetie.  My watch stopped working."

"It's okay, I haven't been here that long.  You can make it up to me with a glass of wine."

"Of course." he said with a smile.

He grinned as he held the door for her and entered the foyer.  Guy put a request for two guests to the hostess and she took them to a prepared table. 

"Your waiter will be here momentarily to get your drink orders."

They acknowledged and sat across from each other.  There was a short silence before Emily spoke first.

"So, what's this big announcement you want to tell me?"

"You'll never believe me, but something happened to me yesterday."

"What is it?"

"It's difficult to explain, but it's still new to me and I don't know exactly how it happened.  But...."

"Here's your water.." The waiter interrupted.

"Thanks." Guy said, still looking at Emily.

"May I take your order?"

"We're not ready yet, thank you."

"Oh okay, just let me know."

The waiter places Emily's water down, but cold water and ice spills into her lap.

"OH MY GOODNESS!!!!"

"Dude, watch what you're doing!!!"

"I'm sorry."  He said holding his head down.

Emily doesn't say anything, but gets up and rushes to the bathroom.

"Emily?!?!"

"She'll be fine", the waiter says as he sits down at the table.

"What are you doing?!"  Guy looks at the waiter really for the first time and is surprised at what he sees. 

"Hey Guy, it's me... errr.. you... Guy."

He was right, Guy was looking across the table at himself.  An exact copy of himself down to what he was wearing today.

"Don't freak out.  It's okay.  Everything is fine."

"What's going on here?"

"As you can tell, I am you.  Actually I am you about two hours from now."

"What?"

"I'm you two hours from now.  You are me two hours ago.  Well you're me now, and I'm you now and we're here together."

"I'm confused."

"Dude, did we, or did we not find out we have the ability to time travel yesterday?"

"Yeah."

"And that's what you, we, were going to tell Emily today this afternoon correct?"

"How did you know that?"

"Dude, we are the same person, we have the same mind.  Even though we're a novice time traveler, we should understand the basic principles of it."

"....................."

"I can't believe I was this clueless two hours ago."

"So why are you here now?"

"Because we can't tell Emily about the time travel thing.  Not yet.  She's not ready.  I'm here to stop you."

"Like Terminator stop me?"

"No dude.  I'm just here to tell you to just don't tell her about it.  She's going to freak out and leave you... Me... Us..."

"Okay.  What should I tell her?"

"Tell her you fell in love with her again or something.  I don't have enough time, she'll be back any second."

"How do you know?"

Guy from two hours from now sighs, "Because I was you two hours ago, and she comes her any second.  She's going to know something is up."

"What is going on here?!?!"  A shocked Emily bursts out when she sees two of her boyfriend having a conversation.  "There's two of you at the table, I don't know what's going."

"Sweetie.."  Guy starts.

"Don't do it"  Guy from two hours from now tries to interrupt.

"Emily... I'm a.."

"LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" 

"Who is that? Why does he look like you and what does he not want you to tell me?"

"You'll want to lock me up if I tell you, but..."

"Don't do it man!!!"

"YesterdayIdiscoveredtimetravelandIwasgoingtotellyoutodayandthisismefromtwohours

fromnowinanattempttostopmefromtellingyouaboutmydiscoverybecausether'sachanceyou

willleaveme."

"Crap.  I was hoping I could have stopped myself this time unlike when I was sitting there two hours ago  and the Guy from two hours from now for you  then tried to stop me.  I guess whatever happened happens."

"What?"

"The Guy from two hours from now two hours ago when I was here the first time tried to stop me just like I tried to stop you.  And this is the biggest case of Déjà Vu from another point of view because I'm saying word for word what he was saying two hours ago.  Well, two hours ago to me, not to you."

"That's it.  I'm out of here!!!"  Emily storms off.

"Emily wait!!!"

"Hold up.  It's no use.  She's gone.  She's flipped.  The best thing to do is go home.  And in a couple hours come back to now and do a better job of talking yourself out of telling Emily than I or the us from two hours from now two hours ago did for me."

"Why two hours?"

"Because that's how long it takes for all this to make sense."

"Ahh."

"Yeah, that's just what I said two hours ago."

"What are you going to do?"

"There's something that I need to do.  It's what the Guy from two hours from now two hours ago told me to do if I was not able to talk the Guy from two hours ago (which is you) out of telling Emily our finding.  Go back and try to tell us before we get here."

"What do I do?"

"You need to return to this time and try to talk the you two hours from now, two hours before out of the same things I tried to do to you, got it?"

"No."

"Well you will.  Two hours from now."

"Who's going to pay the bill?"

"You're not thinking fourth dimensionally.  Plus, we haven't ordered anything yet."

"What if the us two hours before now does not listen to you when you tell them what happens?"

"I'm just going to deck him and take his place and act like him for a while."

"Ahh.. Cool.  Well good luck and stuff."

"I can't believe I was such a dork two hours ago."

1:06 PM

Guy is standing at the corner of Austen and 8th, waiting for the Guy from two hours and 20 minutes ago to get there.

Where the stink am I??

Guy thinks for a moment.  Looks at his watch.  Not that it makes any difference, he's looking at his watch at what it would be  in his time if he never time travelled in the first place.

Crap!!! If it didn't stop on me earlier in the day!!!!  That's why I'm late and not here yet.  If this doesn't work, I'm

just going to go back and replace the watch battery.

Guy sees a crowd of people waiting for the signal to change.  He looks deep in the crowd and he sees himself from two hours and twenty minutes ago on the way to meet Emily.  Oblivious to everything with a retarded smile on his face.

Man, time travel can make you cynical.

"GUY!!!!""

Nothing.

"GUY!!!"

Nothing.

Crap.

Guy rushes across the street to stop himself when the squealing of brakes is heard followed by Guy's body smashing the glass of a taxi.  He rolls off the hood and slides on the pavement.  A crowd of people gather around him as he tries to focus on Guy walking away from the accident.

I was such a self absorbed jerk.

Guy's vision goes to black.

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PoV: Luke

This is from Creative Copy Challenge. The object is to use ten words and build a cohesive story. The ten words are bold. Original Post

Luke Tenpenny walked along the sidewalk towards his Theatre Arts class in Shepherd Hall. This was his second semester teaching at Meadow Brook University. Luke looked at his watch.

8:10, Crap!

Luke was running late on the first day of class. It didn’t help that his wife, Alicia spent the better part of the morning nagging at him about staying out at the Welcome Back Dance all night.

He stepped up his pace when his phone rang.

Great, now to hear more of it.

He answered the phone.

“Hey Sweetheart!”

“You didn’t take the trash out this morning. The pizza boxes are still in the kitchen and the aroma is disgusting.”

“I’m sorry, Sweetie. You know I was running late. Can you take it to the curb please?”

“I guess I don’t have a choice now do I?”

“Hey Mister Tennpenny!!”

Sylvia Blanca, a student of his last semester comes up to him and hands him a flyer for the Tri-Delt Gumbo Cook off.

“..it’s going to be this Saturday outside the quad. All the Deltas would love it if you could be a judge.”

Alicia was still going off in his ear.

“Yeah, sure Sylvia. I’ll see what I can do.”

“Cool beans, Mister Tennpenny. I’m on Facebook. Let me know.”

Then she takes off handing out more flyers.

“Who the hell was that?”

“A student, why?”

“I could hear how she would sing your name.”

“Can you give it a rest, ‘Licia? I need to get to class.”

It was useless to argue with her over the phone. Luke was getting irritated with her and his body language to show his frustration was obvious. He had passed the Hundred Year Tree. That’s where he proposed to Alicia their senior year. His outlook on life was different back then. Alicia was different back then. Everything changed after the miscarriage.

Luke noticed this creepy kid giving him the hairy eyeball.

What’s up with this guy?

Creepy Kid would not take his eyes off Luke. It was pissing him off more than he already was.

What is this kid’s problem??

He broke the stare down and continued his attention to Alicia.

“Listen, Sweetie. I’m sorry about the trash. If you could take it out for me please, I’ll make it up to you. I’ll bring home a movie tonight, okay?”

“Sure, I guess.”

“Great. I’m almost to class, I’ll call you later. Bye Sweetie.”

“Bye Lucius.”

Ugh.

Luke hated his real name. What parent names their kids Lucius? He entered the building and into the class. The students were talking and texting waiting for him to get there. They turn their attention to their teacher.

“Okay Ramblers. Let’s get rambling!”

Everyone straightens up as Luke walks towards the front of the class.

“Welcome back, everyone. Sorry I’m late. I haven’t seen most of you since the New York Broadway trip. Did everyone who went have a good time??’

A student starts to tell about his experience in New York when the fire alarm starts blaring.

What the hell?

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

The students start cheering thinking they’ll have to leave class.

“Everyone just hang on. This has to be some sort of glitch. Let me go check first.”

As Luke gets closer to the door, he hears what could be gun shots and people screaming.

What the hell is going on out there??

Luke opens the door and the world has gone berserk. Someone had pulled the fire alarm to lure people into the hallway and started shooting. It had only been about 20 seconds at the most, and carnage had enveloped Shepherd Hall.

Bodies were lying on the floor, lifeless. A girl in pajamas screams and tries to run around the bodies into the mess of people being slaughtered.

The seconds passed like minutes. He looked back at the shooter.

Creepy Kid??

Luke see’s the smile on Creepy Kid’s face. This was a game to him as he used his guns as life ending joysticks. And he was getting off to this. This was a game to him.

Luke didn’t take another second to take in the situation and charged at Creepy Kid. Too many people were losing their lives, he had to do something.

He hit Creepy Kid hard in the ribs. He felt a couple crack as he tackled him to the ground. Creepy Kid’s head smashed against the floor and dropped one of his guns. Luke grabs the gun, stands up and points it and yells at Creepy Kid.

“What the hell are you doing?!?! Let go of the other gun!!”

Luke could have been screaming at him through a microphone and Creepy Kid would not have registered anything with that glazed look on his face.

Was that his face before or after he hit the ground?

Creepy Kid smiles and points his gun at Luke.

BLAM! BLAM!

They fire at the same time. Luke falls against the wall and slides down leaving a blood smear against the bulletin board. He sees blood coming out of his left shoulder. It takes a couple seconds to register the piercing pain coming from the same shoulder.

He looks over at Creepy Kid with blood coming out of his chest. Lifeless, with that same smile on his face.

Luke feels unconsciousness coming down on him. He manages to pull his phone from his pocket. He pushes the talk button twice.

Alicia picks up.

“Lucius?”

“Sorry about the movie, ‘Licia. I probably won’t make it. I love you as I always have.”

“Lucius, what’s going on? What happened?”

Luke’s eyes close as his hand falls to the floor.

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PoV: Mark

This is from Creative Copy Challenge. The object is to use ten words and build a cohesive story. The ten words are bold. Original Post

Mark sat on the bench near the hundred year tree. He dragged his fingers over the extreme detail of the carvings.

Probably donated by the class of twenty-four or something.

He looked at his watch once more.

8:15

It was the first day of the spring semester at Meadow Brook University. New and returning students were hurrying past Mark on their way to buildings and classrooms across campus. Mark would grab a random student with his eyes and follow them until they left his peripheral vision. With everyone in their rushed state, no one paid him any attention.

Some SB ignored him when passing out her sororities' rush gumbo cook off.

Would anyone miss her?

He took his eyes off the female student and started following a guy on the cell phone. Cell Phone seemed agitated. He was expressing his frustration with whoever was on the other side of the phone by waving his arms wildly slicing the air. Cell Phone's eyes locked with Mark's in passing, but continued on his way.

He followed Cell Phone with his eyes as he walked towards Shepherd Hall.

It looks like we have a winner. What fate will fall on me in this building?

With Cell Phone closing in on the front door of the building, Mark stood up, adjusted his coat and slung his backpack over his shoulders. It took him about forty-two seconds to reach the door. He turned around to see the courtyard relatively clear. Everyone was in their class. Everyone was in their place. He entered the building and the doors slammed behind him. A shimmer of hope in his pathetic life was about to unfold.

The hallway longed forward and was empty. The walls were bare and nude to any hiding spaces or detractors.

Perfect.

He looked to his right, saw the fire alarm, and pulled.

The alarm blared in a steady slow tempo. Mark smiled and put reached both hands into his jacket.

Let's see who is going to be first.

A girl with her ponytail sticking out her cap comes out of the room up on the left.

Congratulations, Pony Tail!

Mark pulls his hands from his coat and points a 9mm contraband pistol at Pony Tail.

Blam!

Pony Tail falls. More students start exiting out of the other rooms.

Letterman Jacket. Dolphin Notebook. Goth Chick.

In unison with the raging alarm.

Blam! Blam! Blam!

All three fall.

ROTC Cadet. Fat Girl. Old Man. Another ROTC cadet.

Blam! Blam! Blam! Blam!

It's only been fifteen seconds since the alarm had been pulled and the hallway is full. They see Mark standing at the entrance with weapons pointing at them and the panic sets in like a train wreck. Pajama Pants screams, side steps a fallen body and starts running the opposite way into the throng of other fish sitting in the barrel.

Still in unison with the alarm, Mark fires into the mass.

Cornrows. Gay Guy. Old Navy. Hispanic Chick.

Blam! Blam! Blam! Blam!

Suddenly, Mark feels his ribs crack and then notices that he is lying on the floor. His vision goes blurry as his head crashes against the linoleum. He looks up and sees a figure standing above him. He hears mumbling, but the alarm and the screams makes it impossible for him to make out what Blurry Man is saying.

Mark squints and focuses on the man. His eyes meet the eyes of a stranger. Or is it?

Cell Phone?!

Cell Phone is holding one of Mark's guns.

Is he threatening me?

Mark smiles and raises his gun at Cell Phone.

BLAM! BLAM!

Mark's chest begins to feel warm with blood as it empties from his chest.

Cell Phone the hero.

With death all around him, Mark's vision goes black and joins them.

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Days of Elijah: Chapter 1

This is from Creative Copy Challenge. The object is to use ten words and build a cohesive story. The ten words are bold. Original Post

It was a few minutes to midnight and Elijah was he was instructed to wait for his friends.

"Go to the old apartment building and wait for us."

Is what the last instant message said. He climbed out his window after he knew his parents were asleep. He hid in the shadows of some rotting scaffolding. Was it safe? He stopped caring about his welfare a few months ago when his mom and her husband brought home another baby. It was their fourth in five years.

Can't these people get cable or something? Why do they have to keep making babies?

Life at his father's wasn't any better. He got remarried after he left his mom and they had three more kids as well. Every other Friday, he'd go to their house and stay in his room all weekend. His dad was working on his boat and his step-mom cared more about her kids than him. His dad even dropped Elijah off his insurance because with the additional children, he couldn't cover the child support and the medical premiums.

Here Elijah was, the oldest of eight and he felt most neglected. He was no longer her momma's little boy. The other kids saw to that. Only his friends knew what he was going through.

He hated the rules, the chores, the restrictions, the requests to look after the kids. He hated having to ask to go somewhere. He couldn't go to the mall or someplace with his friends. It was like they took away his freedom when he became a teenager.

So when the option to run away and get out from the oppressive rule that were his parents, the fourteen year old Elijah knew it was a no-brainer he had to leave.

At this time of night only a few cars would pass this place. Usually it was a motorist or random trucker looking for a place to park for the night. Elijah looked at the time on his phone again. It was a couple minutes past twelve.

Where are they? I came out here for nothing, didn't I? Just someone else breaking promises in my life.

"Hey Madman!!" Came a soft voice from the tree line.

Elijah squinted to try and pierce the darkness. From the shadows came Saul, Alex and Heaven. Three kids he knew that had everything they wanted. Most importantly, their parents didn't tell them crap. Elijah liked Heaven. Ever since she walked into his class in the fourth grade, he had a crush on her. She was the main reason he was out here.

His mom and Dan didn't approve of him dating until he was sixteen. It was their philosophy that if they prevent him from being in the same situations as his mother, he won't end up a teenage parent as well.

They gathered near the scaffold. Heaven and Elijah exchanged glances partnered with a smile. He noticed they were all wearing some sort of metal bracelet. Almost like a knight's gauntlet.

"What are those?" Elijah asked Alex.

"These are the answers to all your problems, Elijah."

"What do you mean?"

"You hate your life right? What if we had the means to change that?"

"I don't understand."

Before Alex could answer, a beam of light came from around the corner.

"Elijah!" called the voice.

It was Samuel, his step-dad.

"Sam?"

Elijah's three friends took defensive positions when Sam approached.

"Elijah, I don't know what you're doing, but we're leaving now."

"How did you know where..."

"It doesn't matter. You're mom doesn't know we are not home. We need to get back before she wakes up for your sister's next feeding. Let's go."

"He's not going anywhere with you, man. Just turn around, get a donut and a chocolate milk, I don't care what and leave Elijah alone. He doesn't live with you any longer." Alex threatened.

"It's going to be a cold day in hell before I'm scared of a Twilight and Jonas Brother wannabe." Sam's quick wit retorted.

Sam went to grab Elijah's wrist and Elijah pulled back. At the same time Saul pulled a gun out and pointed it at Sam.

"What the hell are you doing with that thing? Put that away now and I won't file a report."

Elijah was confused. Sam was out here, how he found him he didn't know, but he was out here none the less. He seemingly did not tell his mom about it either. Now he's seen a side of his friends he never expected.

"Elijah, let's go home." Sam said softly holding out his hand.

"You don't have to Elijah, we can show you how life will be different." Heaven's angelic voice pleaded.

His head was spinning. He felt dizzy. Was it his anxiety? Migraines? Elijah needed to rest on something or he was going to eat pavement. He leaned against the scaffolding. Sam went to help Elijah. A few steps away from his son, Sam was pushed from behind by Alex into the structure. Elijah backed away and stumbled into Heaven's arms. Sam's shoulder clipped a support pole. Trying to regain his balance his head struck the side of the building and he fell to the ground.

The scaffolding started to sway back and forth. The kids backed up. Within seconds Sam was buried in a mess of metal and wood. Elijah couldn't speak. His head hurt. He didn't know what to do. He was about to say something when he heard Alex talking.

"Chrono slide. Three Rogues plus one. Engage!"

What was he doing?

Before he could take his next breath, they were engulfed in a blue flame and were gone.

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My Time for Glory

This is from Creative Copy Challenge. The object is to use ten words and build a cohesive story. The ten words are bold. Original Post

Here it my big moment. My time to shine. My time for glory.

My music blares through the speakers of the arena as the crowd jumps to their feet. I step through the curtain and the noise is deafening. I want to thank each and every one of them for the support they've given me through my entire run. I'm getting older and I'm not as quick as I used to be. Each year goes by and I get further and further behind in this sport. New moves. New characters. Just like the seasons, everything has changed.

Before I was married, I would let this monopolize my time. Every chance I got, I would find ways and reasons to come return. The locker room was like a co-ed dorm with all of us hanging out. Some of us would leave of our own accord. Some of us were kicked out.

I managed to come back for this last big run. I trained and I practiced. I even hired a dietician to help me with my weight. Since I got married, I put on a few pounds. Sure I wasn't as fast as I was ten years ago, but I could still work the crowd.

I was at the end of the ramp now. The ring only a few feet from me. I let the cheers and support are my tailwind of encouragement in what many have called an epic battle.

On Pay Per View none the less.

My opponent is "MaddSkillz" Mike Joseph, my protégé. I pretty much taught him this sport. He's young. He's quick. He also struts around the ring with a cocky confidence. Is it because he thinks he can beat his old mentor? To make him tap out?

I take a few moments to watch his antics. I can't help it but smile. I climb the steps, go through the ropes and keep my muscles loose in my corner. The referee calls us to the center. Explains the rules and signals for the bell.

I don't know what hit me. MaddSkills attacks like a rattlesnake. He attacks me from all different directions. He throws me into the ropes. The turnbuckles. I spend more time on the ground than I do on my feet. He's hits burn like the sting of a bumblebee. I really don't know how much more I can take.

Honestly, I'm pretty much done. I can't even muster enough energy to stay on my feet. MaddSkillz is loving this. He's just toying with me now. He kicks me in the gut which sets up his finisher.

The Propeller.

He lifts me on his shoulders, spins around and slams me face first on the mat. He rolls me over and the ref counts.

1...

2...

3!!!!

He won again.

I suck. I suck. I suck. I suck.

"I'm done playing this game with you!!!"

I throw the controller down it slams against his bookcase and I storm out of my son's room the worst of the sore losers. No sportsmanship whatsoever. Great example of being a father. He didn't even give me a chance.

I need to practice when he's at school. That's how I'll beat him.

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Victor Garber

This is from Creative Copy Challenge. The object is to use ten words and build a cohesive story. The ten words are bold. Original Post


My wife and I are currently sitting in the administrative “lobby” I guess you call it of my son’s high school. We have this “meeting” with the principal. We weren’t really told what was going on, but my wife and I have differing opinions.

KC is worried that something had happened. Upon becoming a teenager, the boy had started building this barrier between us and him. He had stopped talking to us as much as he used too, and even went a few months without telling us he was dating this chick. We did not support him dating until he was sixteen. In high school you have unlimited access to any boy or girl wanting to hook up. Then one thing leads to another and you become another teen statistic.

“Don’t worry about it, Sweetheart” I tell her, “Everything is going to be fine.”

I shouldn’t blow off her feelings, but I just got this new iTouch and I am watching Green Lantern: First Flight and using a blue tooth earpiece to listen.

She is saying something else, but I can’t really make out what it is. I’m distracted by wondering who is providing the voice to Sinestro.

Our son is an honor student. He’s gotten straight “A’s” all semester. He’s in theater and quickly becoming an extrovert.

Maybe that is why KC is concerned. A cute kid that can put on the actor’s charm.

Why didn’t I go into Theater Arts when I was in school. I was just a comic book geek.

I guess not much has changed.

The tranquility that filled my head is now clouded. Maybe KC is right.

Where have I heard that voice before? This is getting frustrating.

The door opens and KC turns her head quickly. The principal motions her to come in. She pats my leg, I get up and follow them in.

Its the big battle right now. Sinestro is beating the crap out of the Green Lantern Corps.
We sit down and exchange pleasantries. He starts to talk and I can start to make out the owner of the voice in my head.

Principal is talking about something, but I have no clue. I’m concentrating on the voice.

Oh its that guy from Legally Blonde. Of course.

I rule. I didn’t even have to IMDB it. I start to pay attention to the conversation.

“Your son has the highest grape up his ass.” The principal says.

“WHAT?!?!” I stand pissed off.

My wife jerks her head in my direction and the principal leans back in his chair.

“I don’t know what gives you the right. But you can’t just sit there with a straight face and insult us by insulting our son. I do not know how you became a principal with that kind of uncouth tact. You’re a retarded ruffian who is better equipped to be a dishwasher than a principal. I hope you die, sir. I hope you die. But I won’t be rude and not go to your funeral. Oh, I will be there. I will be there to piss on your coffin and crap on your grave. We are out of here. We’re taking our kid to private school. You! You have a grape up YOUR ass!!!”

I hold up three fingers.

“Read between the lines, fat head. Read between the lines. Let’s go sweetie!”

I start to walk towards the door. I turn to see KC embarrassed and pissed.

“Eric, he said that he has the highest grade in the class!”

Hmmm.

That certainly does change things.

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Window of Opportunity

This is from Creative Copy Challenge. The object is to use ten words and build a cohesive story. The ten words are bold. Original Post

The three of them gathered under the cover of darkness late one Saturday night. The Leader was the oldest. She had the most experience in matters at hand. She has worked with the male of the group the longest. He has had her back on numerous occasions. Even ones more dangerous than this one. He's the closest thing she has to a best friend.

The third was the newest recruit. She had been with them a little over a year, with most of the time committed to training rather than out in the field. She was the daydreamer of the group. Often she would stop in the middle of an exercise and start dancing for no particular reason. As if there were a party music frequency wavelength pumped directly into her head.

Time for action was quickly creeping closer. If all goes to plan, the three of them will have the objects of their desire in as little as ten minutes.

Their inside man had made arrangements for security to be as light as possible. The window of opportunity was going to be very small. If they didn't accomplish their mission tonight, who knows what hands the prize might fall into.

They waited quietly for the signal. The Leader heard the catcall signal from their inside man.

It was go time.

The door was unlocked just like they planned. They spread out and moved along the ground like a small militia of silkworms to avoid detection. They hugged shadows to avoid casting any themselves.

There were four other known people in the building. Inside man and three others. They knew were the inside man was and how he would avoid the area, but the unscheduled actions of the other three were the only flaws to what could be the perfect heist.

This was part of the plan where The Leader could feel things going wrong in her stomach. Anxiety, a phobia if you will of failure. Worse yet. Being caught. She noticed a light coming from one of the rooms. She lifted her right hand into a closed fist. It was the signal to stop. The Rookie was late to stop and her foot clipped a stand that held a cheap iron-ore sculpture.

It started to wobble back and forth. All the planning was going to be for nothing all because she wasn't paying full attention but signing "Boom Boom Pow" in her head.

The sculpture stopped.

The Leader looked back at The Rookie and gave her a stern "you got lucky" glare.

Five feet of open space separated them from their prize. The Male was the best at vertical scaling. He moved into the point position and started climbing. The two females were smiling with anticipation. The spoils of this score could last them a good month or two if they rationed it responsibly.

He had it. This was easier than he thought. He put the prize in his backpack for the climb back down. They just had to make it out of there before...

The door opened and the room filled with light from the other room. The silhouette of the owner filled the doorway. He hadn't seen them yet. His attention was still directed to the others inside.

"....get some water and some painkillers for this back pain. You need anything from the kitchen?"

"Maybe some chocolate." Came a female voice.

He flicked the light on and the three kids were dead to rights where they sat.

"What the?!?"

Loreli and Araceli sat on the floor while Seth was standing on a chair with the candy from their cousin's piñata in his backpack.

Mission, failed.

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The USB

This is from Creative Copy Challenge. The object is to use ten words and build a cohesive story. The ten words are bold. Original Post

The cold dark winter wind bit at Jerome as he sat in the back of the old pick-up truck. He bounced around as the vehicle raced down the interstate. If he didn’t think he was going to die soon, he would never have jumped in the back of this deathtrap. He held pressure on his lower abdomen to keep the bleeding to a minimum. He was thankful for the Samaritan who said would give him a ride to San Antonio from Houston with no questions asked. As cars passed, light would sometimes reflect on objects inside an old hubcap sitting next to him.

His friend, Casper at the liquor store said it was called a USB drive. He was begging for change at a familiar intersection when a car sped by and tossed the object out of his window. Jerome had no idea what it was; it was shiny and looked expensive. He’d been away from home for ten years. He thought maybe he could exchange the treasure for some liquid at Casper’s that would drown a sorrow or two. Casper tried to pull something up on his computer, but nothing happened. Only a name appeared, “Jericho”. He gave it back to Jerome and a forty for his time.

Jerome had gone to his corner to sit and enjoy his liquid amnesia. He noticed a couple of non-descript cars pull up to Casper’s a few minutes later. The visitors left a couple minutes later as quickly as they entered. Within seconds the place exploded. Jerome wasn’t sure if they saw him leave earlier or the stupidity of running from the scene that tipped off the visitors, but it wasn’t long before he noticed the burning in his side and the smell of gunpowder. He didn’t know why they left him for dead instead of following up on their initial attack. Maybe they thought an old homeless drunk wouldn’t be a threat.

He managed to get the bullet out with the old switchblade that currently rattled next to the USB. Is this where his decisions in life have taken him? His mind raced ten years ago to when he left his wife and daughter. He looked at the crumbled picture he always carried of him and his daughter Rose. Ten years on the street did a lot to the good looking man with the sharp haircut and trimmed goatee. He couldn’t remember if Rose had been in kindergarten or first grade in the picture. Regardless, he didn’t know how much time he had left. All he did know was that he needed to tell her something before he might die.

The Samaritan stopped a block away as promised and Jerome jumped from the truck bed. He felt the pain radiate through his torso the second he landed. He grimaced and limped his way back to the familiar house he once shared with his wife. He remembered bringing Rose home from the hospital. He thought of how scared he was when she got real sick shortly after the picture was taken. He couldn’t take the pressure of all the treatments, tubes and tests that were constantly attacking his daughter. A part of him died each time he saw his daughter in pain. So he just left.

For ten years he has beat himself up constantly about his decision. He would fight and clobber and wrestle with his fear of failure to find some excuse not to go back. The six months in what was generously called an asylum didn’t help much either.

So here he was, waiting for her to come outside to go to school. He needed to tell her something. She was the only one he trusted, maybe the only one that could possibly trust him. If only for a minute.

The five hour trip and two hours of waiting finally paid off. Rose came out the front door. He never knew that someone could be so beautiful. He wondered how someone as dirty and broken as he could have a daughter as wonderful and pure as this young lady. He knew it would be hard on her, but he had no other choice. Time was running out. He came out from behind a car as she approached.

“Rose.” Jerome softly spoke.

Rose jumped back and screamed.

“Wait, it’s me. Dad!”

“What?? Who?? Daddy?!?”

“I know I have a lot of explaining to do, but I don’t have much time left. I just need you to know that I’m sorry for leaving. I regretted the decision every day the past ten years. I love you very much and you’re the only one I can trust with this. I hope that you find it in your heart to forgive me someday. Take care of this please, the person on this has caused a lot of hurt and needs to be dealt with. In the name of love, please take this.”

He put it in her trembling hand and walked away. Rose stood frozen, not knowing what to do, say or feel. Jerome turned the corner, sat against a fence and died.

Rose wiped the tears from her eyes, opened her hand and cried as she pressed the picture against her chest.

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Totally Worth It

This is from Creative Copy Challenge. The object is to use ten words and build a cohesive story. The ten words are bold. Original Post

A Disclaimer: I was trying something different with this one.


As a glacier to the valley, you formed my soul and being.
My love for you was forever carved on the stone tablet of eternity.

But you’re just an illusion.
An imposter who broke through the shield that protects my heart.

A rancid pile of excrement.
That seeks innocence to drag it into the cesspool of your life.

I’ll give you half my paycheck,
it’s totally worth it.

Better a womanizer
than a coke head.

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The Further Adventures of Mike Dagger

This is from Creative Copy Challenge. The object is to use ten words and build a cohesive story. The ten words are bold. Original Post

“I dare you to kiss me again,” threatened Illiana.

“Don’t mind if I do, Baby Cakes!”

Mike Dagger, Intergalactic Man of Espionage, grabbed the Regulon beauty and laid another kiss on her that made her brain reach hyperactive speeds. She struggled at first, but like all his women, she succumbed to the awesomeness that ebbs from Mike Dagger, Intergalactic Man of Espionage.

Her kiss tasted like earth’s vanilla. Mike Dagger, Intergalactic Man of Espionage visited earth once in his early twenties. But the Prime Minister didn’t much appreciate what Mike Dagger, Intergalactic Man of Espionage did to his daughters.

Or his sisters.

Or his nieces.

Or his wife.

Mike Dagger, Intergalactic Man of Espionage was on the first class-five cargo cruiser taking off on the galactic freeway leaving earth.

Mike Dagger, Intergalactic Man of Espionage released the kiss and Illiana’s knees were weak. She had gone through a lot recently. She hired Mike Dagger, Intergalactic Man of Espionage to find a kidnapped diplomat she worked for. An Emissary from the planet Regulon. Mike Dagger, Intergalactic Man of Espionage found him but it was too late.

He was already dying. He described his killer as a woman with a thorn tattoo on her lower back. Mike Dagger, Intergalactic Man of Espionage thought it was sexy but didn’t share that piece of information with anyone. This went from a kidnapping to a murder. He needed to keep his information to himself. He didn’t know who he could trust.

With her boss now dead, Illiana was unemployed.

“Let’s go Sweet Lips. You can work for me.”

“Do you mean it?” the voice Regulon women had when desperate really turned Mike Dagger, Intergalactic Man of Espionage on.

“Would I lie to you, Hot Bottoms?”

Illiana turned to walk away. She looked back over her shoulder giving Mike Dagger, Intergalactic Man of Espionage a look that shook him to the core. He almost didn’t notice a thorn tattoo on her lower back. Mike Dagger, Intergalactic Man of Espionage sighed and pulled his blaster from his holster and shot her dead. Her alien body burnt to a crisp as her skeleton turned to ash and blew away into the Regulon night.

Love never comes easy for Mike Dagger, Intergalactic Man of Espionage.

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