Well look at that! I was able to make up for it after all! Behold my three missing days of 100+ and todays 100+ words aswell! Yes I know, I rock dem house... :-)
On with the show...
First ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/post-apocolyptic-fantasy.html
Previous ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-4.html
As they crossed the river and these thoughts occurred to him Jacob couldn’t help the feeling of doom that settled in his stomach. So far, everything was going brilliantly, they had left on time at first light without a hitch. Their flight had been completely uneventful and the countryside and city had been completely clear of any threats. But he knew there was a threat here, someone had destroyed that reconnaissance squad and someone must be attacking this city or they wouldn’t be wanting out so badly that they’d be willing to re-locate to the other side of the world. It was the absence of any threat where he knew there should be one that had him so on edge and it must have been playing on the minds of the other officers too because they were all so busy looking for danger outside the Vatican, none of them thought to look from danger within it.
That was how the machine gunners running to their posts failed to attract their attention, even when they took their positions behind their guns and loaded and aimed them they all failed to notice. It wasn’t until the bullets started to ping off the sides of the air craft that they finally noticed. Jacob snapped back to attention with the very first one and almost before a second bullet could find its mark he was up and running to the cockpit for the radio. He didn’t know what those bloody Italians were up to but he knew of only one way to find out, just as he knew that despite the multi-cultural nature of Melbourne and its guards he was the only one among them that spoke the language with any fluency.
He reached the cockpit in record time and snatched up the radio transmitter,
“Stop firing, we’re from Melbourne, we’re here to evacuate the Pope, Stop firing!” He yelled in somewhat broken Italian.
“Da Melbourne? Abbiamo pensato che non steste venendo!” was the reply that came back.
Jacob struggled for a moment to translate the words in his mind, “Not coming!” He screamed in English before switching back to Italian again.
“We are here to help, we came! Cease fire!”
There was no reply but silence as the machine gunners stopped firing.
Jacob dropped the radio transmitter and stumbled back out to the cabin. Why they had thought no-one was coming he couldn’t imagine, and thankfully these plans were heavily armoured so there would probably be no deaths from this. But if something happened to one of these planes they might find getting back to the ship tonight to be beyond their means. If that happened and they had to spend a night in Vatican city, then Jacob didn’t like to think how many deaths might actually end up being caused by this.
Next ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-6.html
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Apologies
Sorry that I've missed three nights! It's my birthday today and I've had things on everynight since friday night in celebration of this momentos occasion. On Friday night I went almost straight from work to dinner with friends for mexican food and fishbowl Margarittas, then on saturday I baked myself a birthday cake and had a few friends over for Tequila slammers (are you sensing a theme here) and last night I went to see my parents for my birthday. I had the day off work today but my phone rang off the hook today so I haven't done any extrodinary work today. You will get your 100+ words tonight but I just wanted to explain my absence and to assure you... it'll happen again but only on special occassions I promise!
:-)
:-)
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Daily update 4
Hello there! I'm here again! Happy Valentines Day to you all! Just so you all know, I happen to have the best husband ever. :-)
Well on with the show!
First ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/post-apocolyptic-fantasy.html
Previous ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-3.html
As they crossed the Tiber River, Vatican city came into view on the horizon. While it didn’t gleam in the sunlight, it was the only whole structure anywhere it sight and that alone made it special. After weeks away from home, away from the civilisation of buildings and roads and crowds of people it was a relief to finally see something that was at all like it. Jacob took in every interesting detail of it, the smooth high walls, the columns of marble, the statues, all still marvellously intact. All this beauty hidden behind fortifications but from the air they could see clearly. Beyond the high walls, beyond the barbed wire, beyond the ant-nuclear shield, beyond the barbed wire, and beyond the machine gun towers lay a small city that had survived the worst the wars could throw at them. Jacob couldn’t help but wonder what on earth had made them decide to evacuate now.
Next ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-53.html
Well on with the show!
First ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/post-apocolyptic-fantasy.html
Previous ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-3.html
As they crossed the Tiber River, Vatican city came into view on the horizon. While it didn’t gleam in the sunlight, it was the only whole structure anywhere it sight and that alone made it special. After weeks away from home, away from the civilisation of buildings and roads and crowds of people it was a relief to finally see something that was at all like it. Jacob took in every interesting detail of it, the smooth high walls, the columns of marble, the statues, all still marvellously intact. All this beauty hidden behind fortifications but from the air they could see clearly. Beyond the high walls, beyond the barbed wire, beyond the ant-nuclear shield, beyond the barbed wire, and beyond the machine gun towers lay a small city that had survived the worst the wars could throw at them. Jacob couldn’t help but wonder what on earth had made them decide to evacuate now.
Next ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-53.html
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Daily update 3
Yay! Three days in a row now I've updated daily! I'm so happy with my progress, for all I know it's all utter crap but it's being written and at this point that's the main thing.
Just on a personal note I want to say, I'm Sorry. If anyone reads this (at all) and knows anything about Australian Politics, they'll know what this is about. If not... google it.
First... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/post-apocolyptic-fantasy.html
Previous... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-2.html
Now back to our regularly scheduled programing.
Before the wars Rome was distinctive from other modern cities because it existed amongst the ruins of it’s glorious past; now it was all ruin. Jacob remembered his mother talking about her honeymoon there. She’d talked about how beautiful it was but how depressing it must be to live there, with ancient crumbling buildings on every side. It occurred to Jacob that he knew how those Romans must have felt.
They flew over the city, the Pantheon, the Coliseum, The Imperial palace; even the lesser known but no less important sites of Rome, the Piazza Novona, the little twisting streets with their coffee houses. It was all gone. It wasn’t even a crater it was just rubble, less than rubble. Jacob didn’t know what had happened here, it must have taken place towards the end when Melbourne was too far embroiled in its own affairs to know what was happening elsewhere. Communication became so difficult towards the end that there was no-way of even knowing what was and wasn’t real.
Jacob focused his eyes and his thoughts on the horizon, waiting for Vatican city to appear. He understood that the small city had a defence system every bit as advanced as the one that had protected Melbourne, apparently the coffers of the Catholic Church had been drained. Their resources clearly hadn’t been enough to extend the protection they purchased for themselves to the larger city around them.
Next ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-4.html
Just on a personal note I want to say, I'm Sorry. If anyone reads this (at all) and knows anything about Australian Politics, they'll know what this is about. If not... google it.
First... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/post-apocolyptic-fantasy.html
Previous... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-2.html
Now back to our regularly scheduled programing.
Before the wars Rome was distinctive from other modern cities because it existed amongst the ruins of it’s glorious past; now it was all ruin. Jacob remembered his mother talking about her honeymoon there. She’d talked about how beautiful it was but how depressing it must be to live there, with ancient crumbling buildings on every side. It occurred to Jacob that he knew how those Romans must have felt.
They flew over the city, the Pantheon, the Coliseum, The Imperial palace; even the lesser known but no less important sites of Rome, the Piazza Novona, the little twisting streets with their coffee houses. It was all gone. It wasn’t even a crater it was just rubble, less than rubble. Jacob didn’t know what had happened here, it must have taken place towards the end when Melbourne was too far embroiled in its own affairs to know what was happening elsewhere. Communication became so difficult towards the end that there was no-way of even knowing what was and wasn’t real.
Jacob focused his eyes and his thoughts on the horizon, waiting for Vatican city to appear. He understood that the small city had a defence system every bit as advanced as the one that had protected Melbourne, apparently the coffers of the Catholic Church had been drained. Their resources clearly hadn’t been enough to extend the protection they purchased for themselves to the larger city around them.
Next ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-4.html
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Daily update 2
Well, I've got nearly 3 times my promised minimum for you tonight! Typing during add breaks of "The Sarah Connor Cronicles" and "Burn Notice". I don't know how good it is, but it seems ok to me. It's just a bit of exposition tonight but it's important to set the scene sometimes, it can't be all action and drama. Still I'm very proud of myself for today's effort, I was really tired today and it was only the thought that "I only have to do 100 words" that got me to write at all. As usual though, once I got going it just seemed to flow. I hope that you enjoy it!
First ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/post-apocolyptic-fantasy.html
Previous ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-number-1.html
Here we go....
The deployment the next morning went as smooth as clockwork and Jacob convinced himself, as he boarded the plane with his company of troops, that it was a good sign. A day that started well was more likely to end the same way, at least that’s what he hoped for. The planes rose as one entity and headed out in formation the short distance over the Italian countryside towards Rome and Vatican City. Like an oversized flock of crows they swooped over the countryside but the type of countryside they were flying over, Jacob thought that the only kind of birds that would flourish here would be carrion.
He’d seen pictures of Rome and Italy, from before the wars, and so he knew what this area should look like. At this time of year everything should be in bloom, hills should be covered with spring green grass and wild flowers. This was wine growing country, in the valleys should be full of row upon row of vines bulging with grapes. The rivers should flow with sparkling water and the people here should be plump, happy, and full of life. Instead there was nothing.
The hills were sand dunes and the rivers a mere trickle and the people, if there were any, were no-where to be seen. Everything looked as though it had very recently been set on fire but it was a fire so deep that seeds and roots had burned too so no new life was possible. Yet somehow despite all of this devastation in the countryside the city was even worse.
Next ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-3.html
First ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/post-apocolyptic-fantasy.html
Previous ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-number-1.html
Here we go....
The deployment the next morning went as smooth as clockwork and Jacob convinced himself, as he boarded the plane with his company of troops, that it was a good sign. A day that started well was more likely to end the same way, at least that’s what he hoped for. The planes rose as one entity and headed out in formation the short distance over the Italian countryside towards Rome and Vatican City. Like an oversized flock of crows they swooped over the countryside but the type of countryside they were flying over, Jacob thought that the only kind of birds that would flourish here would be carrion.
He’d seen pictures of Rome and Italy, from before the wars, and so he knew what this area should look like. At this time of year everything should be in bloom, hills should be covered with spring green grass and wild flowers. This was wine growing country, in the valleys should be full of row upon row of vines bulging with grapes. The rivers should flow with sparkling water and the people here should be plump, happy, and full of life. Instead there was nothing.
The hills were sand dunes and the rivers a mere trickle and the people, if there were any, were no-where to be seen. Everything looked as though it had very recently been set on fire but it was a fire so deep that seeds and roots had burned too so no new life was possible. Yet somehow despite all of this devastation in the countryside the city was even worse.
Next ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-3.html
Monday, February 11, 2008
Daily update number 1
I think that this is actually going to be the final part of chapter 1. Of course as previously stated this is an un-revised 1st draft so who knows what will happen in the final draft. Anyway I promised daily updates and here I have delivered! The first of many! See you all againg tomorrow!
Previous... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/post-apocolyptic-fantasy.html
“That can’t be everything!”
“I’m sure he’d tell us more if he could Kyte.” Angus said quietly
“There isn’t any more to tell.”
Angus and Kyte both just looked at him silently, their looks more expressive than any word.
“Alright, I know your not stupid. There is more to it but I can’t tell you, you know I could be court marshalled if I went against orders like that.”
“You can tell us!” Kyte insisted at the same time as Angus re-assured him, “We understand Jake”
“Look, I would love to tell you guys everything. You know I would. I just can’t guys.”
“It’s okay Jake, we know. We trust you.” Angus said with a significant look to Kyte.
The look was supposed to silence their outspoken friend, but if there was anything on this earth that could silence Kyte when he had something to say, then neither Jacob nor Angus had yet met with it.
“If you get us killed I will come back and haunt you.”
Jacob smiled in spite of himself, “I know mate, and if you get yourself killed, you’ll come back and haunt me anyway right.”
Kyte grinned in return “Right”
“I’ll keep that in mind”
After the two men had left Jacob lay down on his bed and tried to sleep. In the morning they would leave for Vatican city and if all went well they would be back on board the ship by this time tomorrow night. The pope and all the most important works of the city on board and heading back home to Melbourne. As much as he tried to think positively Jacob found himself very aware that the success of the plan was so heavily reliant on “all being well”. He didn’t want to think about what might happen if all did not go well.
Next ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-2.html
Previous... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/post-apocolyptic-fantasy.html
“That can’t be everything!”
“I’m sure he’d tell us more if he could Kyte.” Angus said quietly
“There isn’t any more to tell.”
Angus and Kyte both just looked at him silently, their looks more expressive than any word.
“Alright, I know your not stupid. There is more to it but I can’t tell you, you know I could be court marshalled if I went against orders like that.”
“You can tell us!” Kyte insisted at the same time as Angus re-assured him, “We understand Jake”
“Look, I would love to tell you guys everything. You know I would. I just can’t guys.”
“It’s okay Jake, we know. We trust you.” Angus said with a significant look to Kyte.
The look was supposed to silence their outspoken friend, but if there was anything on this earth that could silence Kyte when he had something to say, then neither Jacob nor Angus had yet met with it.
“If you get us killed I will come back and haunt you.”
Jacob smiled in spite of himself, “I know mate, and if you get yourself killed, you’ll come back and haunt me anyway right.”
Kyte grinned in return “Right”
“I’ll keep that in mind”
After the two men had left Jacob lay down on his bed and tried to sleep. In the morning they would leave for Vatican city and if all went well they would be back on board the ship by this time tomorrow night. The pope and all the most important works of the city on board and heading back home to Melbourne. As much as he tried to think positively Jacob found himself very aware that the success of the plan was so heavily reliant on “all being well”. He didn’t want to think about what might happen if all did not go well.
Next ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-2.html
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Post Apocolyptic Fantasy
I know it's been a long time, and I'm really sorry. But I got married and went on a month long honeymoon in Europe. So for a long time my life has been all about that. Now that I'm back home and it's all done, I'm doing a lot more writing. To celebrate this new phase in my life, as a happily married women with plenty of time for writing, I've started a new project. I may one day finish the other story, but probably not in the near future.
To start you off I'm posting what I've written so far in this new story. Also as part of this special promotion (he, he, he, sorry but I feel like I'm writing an add at the moment) I will be posting at least an additional 100 words per day.
Now be warned, before we begin... this is a work in progress and as part of my new philosophy I am going to finish this project before bothering with any editing or re-writing. The reason for this is simple, what's the point in spending hours editing and revising something if I don't finish it. Also I think there's a better chance of my finishing if I just keep writing! So it is very rough! Of course any comments and constructive criticism is more than welcome. You are also more than welcome to just heap praise on me in encouragement!
So here we go installment numero uno!
Draft 1
Dear Amy,
I miss you more than I miss solid ground beneath my feet, but maybe you’d have to spend weeks at sea to really understand that. We’ve just reached Rome today and the Colonel has ordered reconnaissance, we have to wait for them to get back before we decide how to go into this. I thought I would take the opportunity of writing to you now before we head into the fire, once we go in there who knows when I’ll have a chance to put pen to paper again.
I have to tell you that I’m a bit shocked with Rome. I think sometimes, in the daily humdrum of life in Melbourne, that all other cities of comparable size have been destroyed gets a bit lost. Not that you ever forget of course, we both know that the wars are not something you can ever forget, but more that it gets pushed to the back of your mind that there were ever other cities even approaching the size of Melbourne. To see one of them and to see the kind of condition it’s in, gives you so much more of a sense of everything the war destroyed. I’m torn between wishing that you could see this and being glad that you can’t. This could have been our town, we could have been that generation of Romans that will now never be. It’s a sobering thought. Especially when you consider why we’re here.
I know you’ve always said I should have been a politician rather than a soldier and I never disagreed with you, if we still had elections I probably would be, but I’ve never realised until now how ill suited I really am for this job. This entire situation makes me furious. Firstly, why, after all the destruction that has already occurred here, are people attacking the Vatican, one of the few strongholds of civilisation left? Secondly, why are we being dragged into it? Don’t we already have enough dead of our own? Finally, what on earth am I doing here? I joined the guard to serve the city of Melbourne not to travel halfway round the world and kill people!
The speech that Edward Kennet made to us before we left Amy, you wouldn’t have believed it even if you’d heard it. Full of all the old propaganda style rhetoric, ‘We must stand together or we will all fall’, ‘Your duty is to your country and your country has a duty to it’s friends’. I can’t believe that he thinks no one has ever seen those exact phrases printed on all the faded old war propaganda posters that are still all over the city! His arrogance knows no bounds, I’m certain of it. I’m just as sure that he was behind me being sent here, probably hoping to get me out of the way. He obviously didn’t like how quickly I was promoted, especially after I married a known dissenter. Still as we both know, you can never predict what the consequences of your actions will be. You only have to look at the way we met, if someone had told me that day, when I led my squad out to arrest protesters, that I would end up marrying one of them I’d have thought they were crazy. and I know for sure that you never thought that not only would you not get arrested at the rally but you’d end up marrying one of the soldier!
Anyway, as much as I could spend another hour writing you all the thoughts in my head I can’t. One of our recon squads has returned and I have to get to the debriefing. I’d ask you to pray for me, but I know you already are.
I love you.
Jacob.
Jacob put down his pen and scratched his head, then he stood, stretched and picked up his helmet. He’d been waiting all day for this debriefing so he had been ready to go. He had told his wife the truth in the letter, that he was taking the opportunity to write while he had it but even more than that he was writing to calm his nerves. The reconnaissance team had left early the previous evening and should have been back by dawn, but dawn had come and gone without any sign of them it was now early afternoon and, if his Lieutenant was correct, one of the squad had now returned. Only one of them returning was a bad sign, but not as bad as none of them returning would have been.
His boots clacked against the steel deck of the aircraft carrier as he walked, his stride quick and determined, he was anxious to know what kind of report the man would give. He reached the door of the Colonel’s office and gave a firm rap and when he heard the Colonel’s terse ‘Enter’ he opened the door and stepped into the room. It was a handsome room for all that it was just a shipboard office, many of their meetings were held there so it was large enough to accommodate several officers sitting down and even more standing. At one end, in front of a large window, was a handsome oak desk that Jacob knew to actually belong to the Colonel. The Colonel was not presently seated behind his desk however, he was seated at one of the chairs in front of it, the other Captains stood behind him, and in front of them sat the most distraught and dirty soldier Jacob had yet seen.
‘I came as soon as I heard, Sir’ he said touching his hat in a brief salute. The only acknowledgement was a nod.
‘Well private, tell us what you saw.’
The Colonel and all of his Captains waited, their eyes fixed on the young soldier whose own eyes, wide and still showing the fright from his ordeal, never left his shirt buttons.
‘We’d only just made it over the rise, sir, when we spotted them. They didn’t see us at first and the Sergeant told us to keep low to the ground, you know to keep ‘em from seeing us and then, I don’t know.’ The young man shrugged looking distraught, ‘One of them must have heard us, or something, though I don’t know how they could have but all of a sudden they were charging at us. Course there’s not much point sending us if we don’t come back so we all scattered. I don’t know how I got away, but I could hear others screaming behind me and I just ran as fast as I could. I nearly ran straight into another group of them but I hid beneath some ruins and they just passed right by me. I was careful not to make a sound but I saw them well enough, there were hundreds of them and I don’t know what they were but they did not look human. They were like the worst kind of mutants, like devils or something. Anyway, so around dawn things started to quiet down a bit and when the sun was out they all seemed gone away somewhere so I came out from where I was hidden and found my way back here. I didn’t see any of the rest of the squad.’
During this recital the Colonel had paced the room and now that the Private was finished he was standing facing the window, his face hidden from view. When he spoke his voice was flat and hard,
‘This man will need to be sedated and I want him to be isolated.’ He turned to, Captain Longstaff of the C company who was his ever-hovering assistant, ‘see to it that he is tested for radiation poisoning and I want him to be kept away from the rest of the men until further notice.’
‘Yes sir.’ The faithful assistant, given his marching orders, gave up his hovering instantly and hustled the soldier out of the room.
The Colonel turned to the other officers then, but his eye was fixed on Jacob, ‘Well, you’ve heard the mans tale as well as I, Captain Clark what do you make of it?’
‘I’d like to believe that the terror of the night played tricks with his mind sir, but I have to say that I think it more likely there’s men out there suffered from radiation poisoning. Probably so mutated can’t even be called men now sir. Though it’s likely the truth could even be some combination of the two.’
The older soldier sat down at his desk and swivelled his chair around to face the window.
‘I believe you are probably quite right,’ he paused for a moment looking out over the harbour where they were anchored.
The silence stretched between them as they all contemplated the implications of the soldiers report and the conclusion that had been drawn. After a few moments the Colonel spoke again, his voice no longer hard and stern but distant.
‘We’ll travel by day to reach Rome, if the scout is to be believed these monsters were everywhere by night but during the day he seemed to have no trouble returning to the base here on his own and while wounded.’
Jacob considered this, surprised that not only had he missed this vital piece of information but also the implications this seemed to have.
‘Yes, perhaps their mutations make them unable to venture into the light of day.’ He replied speaking before he thought. The Colonel immediately swivelled round in his chair and the contemplative mood disappeared like flower under a soldiers boot.
‘There’s to be nothing said to the men about any mutants or radiation or any of it. All they are to know is that the squad was ambushed and only one made it back alive and that he is badly injured, not to be disturbed.’
‘Yes sir.’ The Captains all said in unison
‘I shall give orders to keep the scout under sedation and we shall move out at first light tomorrow. For tonight we’ll stay anchored a little further out to sea, just in case they can pick up some trace of our man coming back.’
‘Shall I give the orders sir?’ Jacob wanted to know
‘Yes, see to it Captain Clark, you are dismissed Captains.’
As soon as Jacob left the Colonel’s office he hurried to the bridge, thinking about the order’s he’d been given. He didn’t agree with the Colonel’s stance that the men shouldn’t be told. Unfortunately as only he and the other officers knew the substance of the Scout’s report there didn’t seem to be anything he could do about it without openly violating his commanders orders. With these thoughts rushing through his head his quick step seemed to get him to the bridge faster than usual. A feeling of urgency had descended on him and he couldn’t seem to shake himself free of the fear that it was extremely important that they move further out of harbour as soon as possible. On entering the bridge the crew there saluted him promptly and he ignored them making straight for the navigators. It was easy for him to see now, with all the windows of the bridge before him, why he felt this pressing need to move further out to sea. The sun was slowly setting on the horizon and, even as the clouds were turning brilliant shades of orange and pink, darkness was creeping ever closer and Jacob realised with a start that he felt some fear of that darkness and what it might bring with it.
‘Sir’ the bridge commander said as he approached.
‘We’re to head a bit further out to sea for the night before deployment commences at first light.’
‘Yes sir’ replied the bridge captain.
Jacob did not stay to see these orders carried out, he knew they would be. Before he had gone more than halfway back to his cabin he could feel the familiar motion of the ship beneath his feet. By the time he got back to his cabin he could see that the coastline was a much more comfortable distance away. Jacob sat at his small writing desk and folded the letter he’d been writing to his wife, he knew that it wouldn’t be long before his Lieutenant showed up wanting to know the details of the meeting and he didn’t want it lying around for him to see. Kyte was an excellent Lieutenant, extremely loyal and trustworthy and Jacob was certain that should the need ever arise he would do anything he could to help anyone that he cared about. Unfortunately Kyte was also a terrible tease and when he got hold of something it would be months before anyone heard the end of it. Kyte always said it was part of his charm, Jacob always said that it was the reason Kyte was still unmarried.
The letter now safely tucked away in a desk draw, Jacob removed his helmet and re-spiked his short brown hair. Having to wear a helmet whenever on deck was one of the more irritating shipboard rules, in his opinion, but like a good soldier he still followed them all to the letter. No sooner had this been done than anticipated knock on the door came, despite knowing exactly who it would be Jacob decided to tease his friend.
“Who is it?” he asked. Kyte was only allowed address him informally when they were alone, if they were in a public place (like a ships corridor) then it had to be Sir. Jacob knew that this often annoyed Kyte and therefore put him in situations where he had to do it whenever possible.
“Lieutenant Peterson, Sir, requesting permission to enter?”
“Come in.”
Kyte entered looking disgruntled, with Angus by his side who was trying not to look too amused.
“Was that really necessary? You knew it would be us!” He demanded as soon as the door closed behind them.
“I didn’t know that, despite the fact that I am your superior officer I am actually not all knowing.” They had all three joined up as infantry together and it was only recently that Jacob had been promoted above the other two.
Kyte scowled briefly but would not be distracted from the purpose of his visit, “Right but there are some things you know that we don’t, like what the scout said?”
Jake sighed but he knew that this question had been coming, and he knew what he had to do.
“They were ambushed, only one of them returned and he’s injured and pretty badly shaken up. We think the trauma of being the only surviving member of his squad has gotten to him because, well, he seems to have cracked completely. The only useful information we got out of him is that the enemy is everywhere by night but no-where to be seen by day, and the enemy are savage. Probably they were driven mad by the wars, but who knows.”
“Right, well that’s not much to go on.”
“No but it’s all we’ve got and the Colonel doesn’t want to risk any more troops on reconnaissance.”
“We could be risking more if we don’t have proper reconnaissance, we could stumble into nest of the buggers without even realising it”
“There was no evidence of them having any kind of weaponry, the scout couldn’t recall hearing any shots fired, so as long as we stay in our planes till we reach Vatican city and go there and get back while it’s light….” Jacob let his sentence trail off unwilling to give them any more reassurance than he felt.
NEXT ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-number-1.html
To start you off I'm posting what I've written so far in this new story. Also as part of this special promotion (he, he, he, sorry but I feel like I'm writing an add at the moment) I will be posting at least an additional 100 words per day.
Now be warned, before we begin... this is a work in progress and as part of my new philosophy I am going to finish this project before bothering with any editing or re-writing. The reason for this is simple, what's the point in spending hours editing and revising something if I don't finish it. Also I think there's a better chance of my finishing if I just keep writing! So it is very rough! Of course any comments and constructive criticism is more than welcome. You are also more than welcome to just heap praise on me in encouragement!
So here we go installment numero uno!
Draft 1
Dear Amy,
I miss you more than I miss solid ground beneath my feet, but maybe you’d have to spend weeks at sea to really understand that. We’ve just reached Rome today and the Colonel has ordered reconnaissance, we have to wait for them to get back before we decide how to go into this. I thought I would take the opportunity of writing to you now before we head into the fire, once we go in there who knows when I’ll have a chance to put pen to paper again.
I have to tell you that I’m a bit shocked with Rome. I think sometimes, in the daily humdrum of life in Melbourne, that all other cities of comparable size have been destroyed gets a bit lost. Not that you ever forget of course, we both know that the wars are not something you can ever forget, but more that it gets pushed to the back of your mind that there were ever other cities even approaching the size of Melbourne. To see one of them and to see the kind of condition it’s in, gives you so much more of a sense of everything the war destroyed. I’m torn between wishing that you could see this and being glad that you can’t. This could have been our town, we could have been that generation of Romans that will now never be. It’s a sobering thought. Especially when you consider why we’re here.
I know you’ve always said I should have been a politician rather than a soldier and I never disagreed with you, if we still had elections I probably would be, but I’ve never realised until now how ill suited I really am for this job. This entire situation makes me furious. Firstly, why, after all the destruction that has already occurred here, are people attacking the Vatican, one of the few strongholds of civilisation left? Secondly, why are we being dragged into it? Don’t we already have enough dead of our own? Finally, what on earth am I doing here? I joined the guard to serve the city of Melbourne not to travel halfway round the world and kill people!
The speech that Edward Kennet made to us before we left Amy, you wouldn’t have believed it even if you’d heard it. Full of all the old propaganda style rhetoric, ‘We must stand together or we will all fall’, ‘Your duty is to your country and your country has a duty to it’s friends’. I can’t believe that he thinks no one has ever seen those exact phrases printed on all the faded old war propaganda posters that are still all over the city! His arrogance knows no bounds, I’m certain of it. I’m just as sure that he was behind me being sent here, probably hoping to get me out of the way. He obviously didn’t like how quickly I was promoted, especially after I married a known dissenter. Still as we both know, you can never predict what the consequences of your actions will be. You only have to look at the way we met, if someone had told me that day, when I led my squad out to arrest protesters, that I would end up marrying one of them I’d have thought they were crazy. and I know for sure that you never thought that not only would you not get arrested at the rally but you’d end up marrying one of the soldier!
Anyway, as much as I could spend another hour writing you all the thoughts in my head I can’t. One of our recon squads has returned and I have to get to the debriefing. I’d ask you to pray for me, but I know you already are.
I love you.
Jacob.
Jacob put down his pen and scratched his head, then he stood, stretched and picked up his helmet. He’d been waiting all day for this debriefing so he had been ready to go. He had told his wife the truth in the letter, that he was taking the opportunity to write while he had it but even more than that he was writing to calm his nerves. The reconnaissance team had left early the previous evening and should have been back by dawn, but dawn had come and gone without any sign of them it was now early afternoon and, if his Lieutenant was correct, one of the squad had now returned. Only one of them returning was a bad sign, but not as bad as none of them returning would have been.
His boots clacked against the steel deck of the aircraft carrier as he walked, his stride quick and determined, he was anxious to know what kind of report the man would give. He reached the door of the Colonel’s office and gave a firm rap and when he heard the Colonel’s terse ‘Enter’ he opened the door and stepped into the room. It was a handsome room for all that it was just a shipboard office, many of their meetings were held there so it was large enough to accommodate several officers sitting down and even more standing. At one end, in front of a large window, was a handsome oak desk that Jacob knew to actually belong to the Colonel. The Colonel was not presently seated behind his desk however, he was seated at one of the chairs in front of it, the other Captains stood behind him, and in front of them sat the most distraught and dirty soldier Jacob had yet seen.
‘I came as soon as I heard, Sir’ he said touching his hat in a brief salute. The only acknowledgement was a nod.
‘Well private, tell us what you saw.’
The Colonel and all of his Captains waited, their eyes fixed on the young soldier whose own eyes, wide and still showing the fright from his ordeal, never left his shirt buttons.
‘We’d only just made it over the rise, sir, when we spotted them. They didn’t see us at first and the Sergeant told us to keep low to the ground, you know to keep ‘em from seeing us and then, I don’t know.’ The young man shrugged looking distraught, ‘One of them must have heard us, or something, though I don’t know how they could have but all of a sudden they were charging at us. Course there’s not much point sending us if we don’t come back so we all scattered. I don’t know how I got away, but I could hear others screaming behind me and I just ran as fast as I could. I nearly ran straight into another group of them but I hid beneath some ruins and they just passed right by me. I was careful not to make a sound but I saw them well enough, there were hundreds of them and I don’t know what they were but they did not look human. They were like the worst kind of mutants, like devils or something. Anyway, so around dawn things started to quiet down a bit and when the sun was out they all seemed gone away somewhere so I came out from where I was hidden and found my way back here. I didn’t see any of the rest of the squad.’
During this recital the Colonel had paced the room and now that the Private was finished he was standing facing the window, his face hidden from view. When he spoke his voice was flat and hard,
‘This man will need to be sedated and I want him to be isolated.’ He turned to, Captain Longstaff of the C company who was his ever-hovering assistant, ‘see to it that he is tested for radiation poisoning and I want him to be kept away from the rest of the men until further notice.’
‘Yes sir.’ The faithful assistant, given his marching orders, gave up his hovering instantly and hustled the soldier out of the room.
The Colonel turned to the other officers then, but his eye was fixed on Jacob, ‘Well, you’ve heard the mans tale as well as I, Captain Clark what do you make of it?’
‘I’d like to believe that the terror of the night played tricks with his mind sir, but I have to say that I think it more likely there’s men out there suffered from radiation poisoning. Probably so mutated can’t even be called men now sir. Though it’s likely the truth could even be some combination of the two.’
The older soldier sat down at his desk and swivelled his chair around to face the window.
‘I believe you are probably quite right,’ he paused for a moment looking out over the harbour where they were anchored.
The silence stretched between them as they all contemplated the implications of the soldiers report and the conclusion that had been drawn. After a few moments the Colonel spoke again, his voice no longer hard and stern but distant.
‘We’ll travel by day to reach Rome, if the scout is to be believed these monsters were everywhere by night but during the day he seemed to have no trouble returning to the base here on his own and while wounded.’
Jacob considered this, surprised that not only had he missed this vital piece of information but also the implications this seemed to have.
‘Yes, perhaps their mutations make them unable to venture into the light of day.’ He replied speaking before he thought. The Colonel immediately swivelled round in his chair and the contemplative mood disappeared like flower under a soldiers boot.
‘There’s to be nothing said to the men about any mutants or radiation or any of it. All they are to know is that the squad was ambushed and only one made it back alive and that he is badly injured, not to be disturbed.’
‘Yes sir.’ The Captains all said in unison
‘I shall give orders to keep the scout under sedation and we shall move out at first light tomorrow. For tonight we’ll stay anchored a little further out to sea, just in case they can pick up some trace of our man coming back.’
‘Shall I give the orders sir?’ Jacob wanted to know
‘Yes, see to it Captain Clark, you are dismissed Captains.’
As soon as Jacob left the Colonel’s office he hurried to the bridge, thinking about the order’s he’d been given. He didn’t agree with the Colonel’s stance that the men shouldn’t be told. Unfortunately as only he and the other officers knew the substance of the Scout’s report there didn’t seem to be anything he could do about it without openly violating his commanders orders. With these thoughts rushing through his head his quick step seemed to get him to the bridge faster than usual. A feeling of urgency had descended on him and he couldn’t seem to shake himself free of the fear that it was extremely important that they move further out of harbour as soon as possible. On entering the bridge the crew there saluted him promptly and he ignored them making straight for the navigators. It was easy for him to see now, with all the windows of the bridge before him, why he felt this pressing need to move further out to sea. The sun was slowly setting on the horizon and, even as the clouds were turning brilliant shades of orange and pink, darkness was creeping ever closer and Jacob realised with a start that he felt some fear of that darkness and what it might bring with it.
‘Sir’ the bridge commander said as he approached.
‘We’re to head a bit further out to sea for the night before deployment commences at first light.’
‘Yes sir’ replied the bridge captain.
Jacob did not stay to see these orders carried out, he knew they would be. Before he had gone more than halfway back to his cabin he could feel the familiar motion of the ship beneath his feet. By the time he got back to his cabin he could see that the coastline was a much more comfortable distance away. Jacob sat at his small writing desk and folded the letter he’d been writing to his wife, he knew that it wouldn’t be long before his Lieutenant showed up wanting to know the details of the meeting and he didn’t want it lying around for him to see. Kyte was an excellent Lieutenant, extremely loyal and trustworthy and Jacob was certain that should the need ever arise he would do anything he could to help anyone that he cared about. Unfortunately Kyte was also a terrible tease and when he got hold of something it would be months before anyone heard the end of it. Kyte always said it was part of his charm, Jacob always said that it was the reason Kyte was still unmarried.
The letter now safely tucked away in a desk draw, Jacob removed his helmet and re-spiked his short brown hair. Having to wear a helmet whenever on deck was one of the more irritating shipboard rules, in his opinion, but like a good soldier he still followed them all to the letter. No sooner had this been done than anticipated knock on the door came, despite knowing exactly who it would be Jacob decided to tease his friend.
“Who is it?” he asked. Kyte was only allowed address him informally when they were alone, if they were in a public place (like a ships corridor) then it had to be Sir. Jacob knew that this often annoyed Kyte and therefore put him in situations where he had to do it whenever possible.
“Lieutenant Peterson, Sir, requesting permission to enter?”
“Come in.”
Kyte entered looking disgruntled, with Angus by his side who was trying not to look too amused.
“Was that really necessary? You knew it would be us!” He demanded as soon as the door closed behind them.
“I didn’t know that, despite the fact that I am your superior officer I am actually not all knowing.” They had all three joined up as infantry together and it was only recently that Jacob had been promoted above the other two.
Kyte scowled briefly but would not be distracted from the purpose of his visit, “Right but there are some things you know that we don’t, like what the scout said?”
Jake sighed but he knew that this question had been coming, and he knew what he had to do.
“They were ambushed, only one of them returned and he’s injured and pretty badly shaken up. We think the trauma of being the only surviving member of his squad has gotten to him because, well, he seems to have cracked completely. The only useful information we got out of him is that the enemy is everywhere by night but no-where to be seen by day, and the enemy are savage. Probably they were driven mad by the wars, but who knows.”
“Right, well that’s not much to go on.”
“No but it’s all we’ve got and the Colonel doesn’t want to risk any more troops on reconnaissance.”
“We could be risking more if we don’t have proper reconnaissance, we could stumble into nest of the buggers without even realising it”
“There was no evidence of them having any kind of weaponry, the scout couldn’t recall hearing any shots fired, so as long as we stay in our planes till we reach Vatican city and go there and get back while it’s light….” Jacob let his sentence trail off unwilling to give them any more reassurance than he felt.
NEXT ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-number-1.html
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Snippet
This is just a Snippet of something I've been working on... No firm plans as yet for what it will be, it's more like I'm just brainstorming it at the moment. I'm still working on the other story but I thought I'd post this since I've written it.
Riddis prettily stamped her foot and pouted, Riddis did everything prettily and stamping her foot and pouting was no exception.
‘Edhard, you must do it!’
‘No he doesn’t’
‘Stay out of this Adaline, I’m not talking to you.’
‘The elders told you to do it Riddis,’ Edhard responded, he didn’t mind breaking the rules when necessary but on this occasion it was clear he didn’t feel it was necessary. It made no difference, Riddis was used to getting her own way and would not be swayed.
‘Don’t be silly Edhard, the elders only asked me to do it because it was one of their tests. Everybody knows that at the beginning of time when the spirits were divided into male and female, taking out the garbage was assigned as a male job.’ This was one of Riddis's favourite arguments for getting Edhard to do things she didn't like doing, and Adaline and Edhard had both grown tired of telling her it was ridiculous.
Adaline snorted causing Riddis to look at her in disgust, ‘what a charming noise Adaline’
‘Well I’m sorry if I can’t be as charming as you are, stamping your foot and pouting because you Edhard won’t do your job and dispose of the garbage. What a pity you’ll fail yet another test set for you by the elders.’
‘I will not fail again! I know what I’m supposed to do and if Edhard would just co-operate it would be done already.’
‘I don’t think that’s how the elders wanted you to accomplish your task actually.’
‘Really and how do you think they wanted me to “accomplish my task then”?’
Adaline laughed and shook her head, ‘Oh no, I’m not going to let you goad me into doing it for you!’
Riddis huffed and turned back to Edhard, ‘Please Edhard, I hate taking out the garbage. It’s so dirty and filthy and gross’
Edhard sighed and stood up, ‘Alright I’ll do it, but it’s not because I believe you about it being a boys job.’
‘Thank you Edhard, I won’t forget this!’
‘I know, I’m sure you’ll remember it every time you get asked by the elders to empty the rubbish bins.’
Riddis didn’t answer, only smiled up at him. Edhard heaved another sigh.
‘I don’t know why it bothers you anyway, it’s not like you have to touch it.’
She wrinkled her nose, ‘I know but I just don’t like it following me like that, I’m convinced that last time I smelt bad for a week.’
‘Maybe that’s why the elders ask you to do it.’ Adaline volunteered, ‘so you’ll finally bother to learn how to transport things without having them follow you around.’
‘I’m sure that has nothing to do with it, there’s nothing wrong with moving something by having it follow you.’
Adaline shrugged, but even as she did so a hollow voice echoed through hall, the elders were calling.
‘Riddis, child, we would speak with thee.’
Riddis huffed out of the hall just as Edhard returned to the table where they had been sitting supervising the potatoes as they shed their skins.
‘You really need to stop letting her push you around you know.’
Edhard shrugged, ‘it’s better than the alternative.’
Adaline laughed, ‘well, you better just hope the elders don’t decide to set you a task.’
Riddis prettily stamped her foot and pouted, Riddis did everything prettily and stamping her foot and pouting was no exception.
‘Edhard, you must do it!’
‘No he doesn’t’
‘Stay out of this Adaline, I’m not talking to you.’
‘The elders told you to do it Riddis,’ Edhard responded, he didn’t mind breaking the rules when necessary but on this occasion it was clear he didn’t feel it was necessary. It made no difference, Riddis was used to getting her own way and would not be swayed.
‘Don’t be silly Edhard, the elders only asked me to do it because it was one of their tests. Everybody knows that at the beginning of time when the spirits were divided into male and female, taking out the garbage was assigned as a male job.’ This was one of Riddis's favourite arguments for getting Edhard to do things she didn't like doing, and Adaline and Edhard had both grown tired of telling her it was ridiculous.
Adaline snorted causing Riddis to look at her in disgust, ‘what a charming noise Adaline’
‘Well I’m sorry if I can’t be as charming as you are, stamping your foot and pouting because you Edhard won’t do your job and dispose of the garbage. What a pity you’ll fail yet another test set for you by the elders.’
‘I will not fail again! I know what I’m supposed to do and if Edhard would just co-operate it would be done already.’
‘I don’t think that’s how the elders wanted you to accomplish your task actually.’
‘Really and how do you think they wanted me to “accomplish my task then”?’
Adaline laughed and shook her head, ‘Oh no, I’m not going to let you goad me into doing it for you!’
Riddis huffed and turned back to Edhard, ‘Please Edhard, I hate taking out the garbage. It’s so dirty and filthy and gross’
Edhard sighed and stood up, ‘Alright I’ll do it, but it’s not because I believe you about it being a boys job.’
‘Thank you Edhard, I won’t forget this!’
‘I know, I’m sure you’ll remember it every time you get asked by the elders to empty the rubbish bins.’
Riddis didn’t answer, only smiled up at him. Edhard heaved another sigh.
‘I don’t know why it bothers you anyway, it’s not like you have to touch it.’
She wrinkled her nose, ‘I know but I just don’t like it following me like that, I’m convinced that last time I smelt bad for a week.’
‘Maybe that’s why the elders ask you to do it.’ Adaline volunteered, ‘so you’ll finally bother to learn how to transport things without having them follow you around.’
‘I’m sure that has nothing to do with it, there’s nothing wrong with moving something by having it follow you.’
Adaline shrugged, but even as she did so a hollow voice echoed through hall, the elders were calling.
‘Riddis, child, we would speak with thee.’
Riddis huffed out of the hall just as Edhard returned to the table where they had been sitting supervising the potatoes as they shed their skins.
‘You really need to stop letting her push you around you know.’
Edhard shrugged, ‘it’s better than the alternative.’
Adaline laughed, ‘well, you better just hope the elders don’t decide to set you a task.’
Friday, July 06, 2007
Chapter1 part3 (and still not finished)
Well I know I have been severly lax in updating. but it won't happen again. I am writing again, and to prove it I have a mini update for you. If anyone is still willing to read it that is.
Part 2
http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2006/07/ghost-town-chapter-1-part-2.html
Part 1
http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2006/05/ghost-town-chapter-1-part-1.html
Chapter 1 part 3
‘It’s exactly as I imagined it.’ Rachael said, her voice almost a whisper.
‘Is this place ours Mummy?’ Abigail asked, evidently forgetting her nerves as she let go of Rachael’s hand and took a step away from her mother.
‘Yes baby it is,’ she replied with a smile, pleased by her daughter’s reaction.
‘But where do we sleep?’ Abby asked all wide-eyed innocence.
Rachael laughed, ‘Mr McMillan was just about to show us that.’ She replied turning back to the Real Estate Agent who had been watching the interchange between mother and daughter with evident pleasure. ‘Weren’t you Mr McMillan?’ she asked.
He smiled broadly, ‘Yes I was, now if you’ll just come through this door here I’ll show you the residence and the yard.’
They all filed through a door behind the shop counter into a long narrow corridor filled with light from sunlights in the ceiling.
‘Immediately on your left here is a toilet, obviously not the main bathroom but convenient for when your minding the shop out front.’
He led them a few more paces down the corridor, ‘and here we have the laundry it has access to a small side section of yard that is fenced off from the main yard, I imagine because the previous owners had several dogs that they didn’t want to have access to their washing.’
‘We’re getting a dog too, aren’t we Mummy!’ Abigail squealed excitedly.
‘Once we’re settled in.’ she agreed smiling at her daughter’s excitement.
‘Well that will be nice,’ Garry agreed, ‘Now just down here at the end of the corridor, is the main the main living space of the house. As you can see you’ve got your large entertainers kitchen here facing the decking and grassed area, This room gets heaps of natural light and is great in summer when your having a barbeque.’
Rachael smiled and ran her hand over the old granite benches imagining sunny days filled with the laughter of friends dining on the deck and the squeals of small children as they ran through the house and out into the yard.
Garry noticed her distracted smile, ‘would you like me to show you the rest of the house or do you think you can take it from here?’
Rachael looked up at him and smiled, ‘I think we can take it from here, thankyou so much for meeting us.’
‘It was my pleasure, but I’ll just show you one last thing before I go.’ He led her to a door on the other side of the lounge room with a small tiled area in front of it, ‘When you have guests, you don’t have to walk them through the shop, because you also have,’ he paused dramatically and opened the door with a flourish, ‘a front door.’
Rachael laughed, ‘well that just makes it perfect, doesn’t it.’
‘It does,’ he agreed, ‘and since that’s my car parked there in front, I’ll leave you too it.’ He got halfway down the yard before he stopped and turned back, ‘You’ve got my card, don’t you?’ He called back.
‘Yes, I do.’
‘Excellent, if you need anything at all..’
‘You’ll be the first person I call.’
He smiled, ‘Great, I’ll see you then.’
Rachael closed the door and leaned against it, she was going to have to tread carefully with him. Sighing she pushed away from the door and went to move the truck around to the front of her new home, seemed senseless to traipse all of her belongings through the shop and down that long narrow corridor if she didn’t have too. She only had small items with her on this trip, she’d brought airbeds and sleeping bags to sleep in, beanbags to sit in, her microwave, an esky full of food (including microwave dinners), t.v & stand and everything that could be put into a box. The rest would be arriving with the removalists the following day. She smirked involuntarily, she should be glad really that her husband had been unfaithful, if he hadn’t the divorce settlement may not have been good enough for her to afford little luxuries like removalists.
With a little help from Abby they got all of their belongings moved into the house before it was fully dark. They had just put down the last of it when it and put on the house lights when there was a sudden unexpected nock on the door.
Rachael swiped her sweaty hair out of her face, ‘Don’t answer that, Abby!’ she called as her little girl rushed at the door, ‘let me get it.’
Stumbling over what seemed like one million boxes that stood between her and the doorway, she finally reached the door just as the chime sounded again. An unfamiliar old woman stood before her and she couldn’t help but bite back a laugh at her comical appearance. She looked as though she was auditioning for the part of the scary old gypsy woman in the local amateur theatre company play and she’d gone overboard on “getting into character”. She was complete from the woollen shawl to the mole on her cheek, the only things missing were the head scarf and dangly earrings.
‘Hello, can I help you?’ Rachael asked at last trying to keep the amusement out of her voice.
‘New, yes?’ the old woman asked at last with apparently great difficulty. It seemed that English was not her native language.
‘Ah, Yes I’m new to this to town,’ She indicated the boxes behind her, ‘We’ve only just arrived today, I’d invite you in but you see we’re still in a bit of a mess.’
‘Curse.’ She said suddenly panic in her eyes
‘I’m sorry I don’t understand, is there something I can help you with? I really do need to get back to unpacking what I can.’
‘NO help! Curse, leave!’ the woman was shouting now, her eyes wide and terrified.
‘I can’t leave, we only just got here…’ she trailed off unsure of how to respond, ‘what’s cursed?’ She said at last.
Suddenly the woman grabbed her by the shoulders, ‘Curse, leave, Curse!’ she shouted repeatedly as she shook her as violently as her elderly frame would allow.
‘NO! I can’t!’ she yelled back trying to get her grip on the doorway, ‘Get out!’ she screamed as the older woman continued to shake her.
Then just as suddenly as the shaking had started it stopped, it took her a few moments for her world to stop spinning and when she did she saw that her rescuer was a middle aged woman who looked to be the daughter of the older woman, a fact that her next words confirmed this supposition.
‘Mother, you cannot go around shaking people and yelling at them. You are not a crazy old lady, no matter how much some people think you are, and I refuse to let you behave like one.’ The other woman then turned to her.
‘I’m so sorry for my mother’s behaviour, she has these episodes from time to time, but she’s lovely really.’
‘I’m sure she is.’ She lied openly through the wooden smile on her face.
‘Anyway my name is Sandra, Cassandra actually, but everyone calls me Sandra. I just came over to welcome you to the neighbourhood and bring you a casserole for dinner.’ The woman said awkwardly transferring the hot dish held with two tea towels to her.
The smile on her face now felt a little less wooden, ‘I’m Rachael, thankyou for the Casserole Sandra, and you really didn’t have to.’
‘Oh it’s my pleasure, I know moving can be such a pain, not that I’ve moved in years of course,’ she laughed a jittery, nervous little laugh, ‘and even when we did move it wasn’t far, I’ve lived in this town all my life. Still,’ she said with a sigh, ‘I know it can be a pain, so I thought you could use some real sustenance for dinner, better than take out!’ She finished brightly.
Rachael smiled, ‘Well, thankyou I do appreciate it. If you just want to wait a moment I can transfer this to another dish and give you yours back.’
Sandra shook her head, ‘No, no, don’t worry about the dish. You can bring it back another time, and perhaps stop in for a cup of tea when you do? Besides I really ought to get my mother home before she causes any more problems.’ She laughed a little self-consciously.
‘Ok well thankyou again for the casserole, I’ll return the dish as soon as I can.’
‘Oh no rush,’ Sandra replied now shepherding her wayward mother down the path to the front gate, ‘It was nice meeting you Rachael.’
‘Yes it was nice to meet you too.’ She replied surprised, despite the harassment she had received at the hands the woman’s mother, and the slightly odd way Sandra had conducted herself, that her words were sincere. They waved one final time before she closed the door behind her and sagged against it, ‘well at least that solves one problem’ she said to herself.
‘Abby, come here sweetie, Dinners ready’
There is no more to this story at this stage.
Part 2
http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2006/07/ghost-town-chapter-1-part-2.html
Part 1
http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2006/05/ghost-town-chapter-1-part-1.html
Chapter 1 part 3
‘It’s exactly as I imagined it.’ Rachael said, her voice almost a whisper.
‘Is this place ours Mummy?’ Abigail asked, evidently forgetting her nerves as she let go of Rachael’s hand and took a step away from her mother.
‘Yes baby it is,’ she replied with a smile, pleased by her daughter’s reaction.
‘But where do we sleep?’ Abby asked all wide-eyed innocence.
Rachael laughed, ‘Mr McMillan was just about to show us that.’ She replied turning back to the Real Estate Agent who had been watching the interchange between mother and daughter with evident pleasure. ‘Weren’t you Mr McMillan?’ she asked.
He smiled broadly, ‘Yes I was, now if you’ll just come through this door here I’ll show you the residence and the yard.’
They all filed through a door behind the shop counter into a long narrow corridor filled with light from sunlights in the ceiling.
‘Immediately on your left here is a toilet, obviously not the main bathroom but convenient for when your minding the shop out front.’
He led them a few more paces down the corridor, ‘and here we have the laundry it has access to a small side section of yard that is fenced off from the main yard, I imagine because the previous owners had several dogs that they didn’t want to have access to their washing.’
‘We’re getting a dog too, aren’t we Mummy!’ Abigail squealed excitedly.
‘Once we’re settled in.’ she agreed smiling at her daughter’s excitement.
‘Well that will be nice,’ Garry agreed, ‘Now just down here at the end of the corridor, is the main the main living space of the house. As you can see you’ve got your large entertainers kitchen here facing the decking and grassed area, This room gets heaps of natural light and is great in summer when your having a barbeque.’
Rachael smiled and ran her hand over the old granite benches imagining sunny days filled with the laughter of friends dining on the deck and the squeals of small children as they ran through the house and out into the yard.
Garry noticed her distracted smile, ‘would you like me to show you the rest of the house or do you think you can take it from here?’
Rachael looked up at him and smiled, ‘I think we can take it from here, thankyou so much for meeting us.’
‘It was my pleasure, but I’ll just show you one last thing before I go.’ He led her to a door on the other side of the lounge room with a small tiled area in front of it, ‘When you have guests, you don’t have to walk them through the shop, because you also have,’ he paused dramatically and opened the door with a flourish, ‘a front door.’
Rachael laughed, ‘well that just makes it perfect, doesn’t it.’
‘It does,’ he agreed, ‘and since that’s my car parked there in front, I’ll leave you too it.’ He got halfway down the yard before he stopped and turned back, ‘You’ve got my card, don’t you?’ He called back.
‘Yes, I do.’
‘Excellent, if you need anything at all..’
‘You’ll be the first person I call.’
He smiled, ‘Great, I’ll see you then.’
Rachael closed the door and leaned against it, she was going to have to tread carefully with him. Sighing she pushed away from the door and went to move the truck around to the front of her new home, seemed senseless to traipse all of her belongings through the shop and down that long narrow corridor if she didn’t have too. She only had small items with her on this trip, she’d brought airbeds and sleeping bags to sleep in, beanbags to sit in, her microwave, an esky full of food (including microwave dinners), t.v & stand and everything that could be put into a box. The rest would be arriving with the removalists the following day. She smirked involuntarily, she should be glad really that her husband had been unfaithful, if he hadn’t the divorce settlement may not have been good enough for her to afford little luxuries like removalists.
With a little help from Abby they got all of their belongings moved into the house before it was fully dark. They had just put down the last of it when it and put on the house lights when there was a sudden unexpected nock on the door.
Rachael swiped her sweaty hair out of her face, ‘Don’t answer that, Abby!’ she called as her little girl rushed at the door, ‘let me get it.’
Stumbling over what seemed like one million boxes that stood between her and the doorway, she finally reached the door just as the chime sounded again. An unfamiliar old woman stood before her and she couldn’t help but bite back a laugh at her comical appearance. She looked as though she was auditioning for the part of the scary old gypsy woman in the local amateur theatre company play and she’d gone overboard on “getting into character”. She was complete from the woollen shawl to the mole on her cheek, the only things missing were the head scarf and dangly earrings.
‘Hello, can I help you?’ Rachael asked at last trying to keep the amusement out of her voice.
‘New, yes?’ the old woman asked at last with apparently great difficulty. It seemed that English was not her native language.
‘Ah, Yes I’m new to this to town,’ She indicated the boxes behind her, ‘We’ve only just arrived today, I’d invite you in but you see we’re still in a bit of a mess.’
‘Curse.’ She said suddenly panic in her eyes
‘I’m sorry I don’t understand, is there something I can help you with? I really do need to get back to unpacking what I can.’
‘NO help! Curse, leave!’ the woman was shouting now, her eyes wide and terrified.
‘I can’t leave, we only just got here…’ she trailed off unsure of how to respond, ‘what’s cursed?’ She said at last.
Suddenly the woman grabbed her by the shoulders, ‘Curse, leave, Curse!’ she shouted repeatedly as she shook her as violently as her elderly frame would allow.
‘NO! I can’t!’ she yelled back trying to get her grip on the doorway, ‘Get out!’ she screamed as the older woman continued to shake her.
Then just as suddenly as the shaking had started it stopped, it took her a few moments for her world to stop spinning and when she did she saw that her rescuer was a middle aged woman who looked to be the daughter of the older woman, a fact that her next words confirmed this supposition.
‘Mother, you cannot go around shaking people and yelling at them. You are not a crazy old lady, no matter how much some people think you are, and I refuse to let you behave like one.’ The other woman then turned to her.
‘I’m so sorry for my mother’s behaviour, she has these episodes from time to time, but she’s lovely really.’
‘I’m sure she is.’ She lied openly through the wooden smile on her face.
‘Anyway my name is Sandra, Cassandra actually, but everyone calls me Sandra. I just came over to welcome you to the neighbourhood and bring you a casserole for dinner.’ The woman said awkwardly transferring the hot dish held with two tea towels to her.
The smile on her face now felt a little less wooden, ‘I’m Rachael, thankyou for the Casserole Sandra, and you really didn’t have to.’
‘Oh it’s my pleasure, I know moving can be such a pain, not that I’ve moved in years of course,’ she laughed a jittery, nervous little laugh, ‘and even when we did move it wasn’t far, I’ve lived in this town all my life. Still,’ she said with a sigh, ‘I know it can be a pain, so I thought you could use some real sustenance for dinner, better than take out!’ She finished brightly.
Rachael smiled, ‘Well, thankyou I do appreciate it. If you just want to wait a moment I can transfer this to another dish and give you yours back.’
Sandra shook her head, ‘No, no, don’t worry about the dish. You can bring it back another time, and perhaps stop in for a cup of tea when you do? Besides I really ought to get my mother home before she causes any more problems.’ She laughed a little self-consciously.
‘Ok well thankyou again for the casserole, I’ll return the dish as soon as I can.’
‘Oh no rush,’ Sandra replied now shepherding her wayward mother down the path to the front gate, ‘It was nice meeting you Rachael.’
‘Yes it was nice to meet you too.’ She replied surprised, despite the harassment she had received at the hands the woman’s mother, and the slightly odd way Sandra had conducted herself, that her words were sincere. They waved one final time before she closed the door behind her and sagged against it, ‘well at least that solves one problem’ she said to herself.
‘Abby, come here sweetie, Dinners ready’
There is no more to this story at this stage.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Monday, July 17, 2006
Ghost Town chapter 1 part 2
Hello a new installment in my horror/romance story. I hope everyone who reads it enjoys it and whether you do or don't I hope you comment. Thankyou very much to Scout, Merv & Searcy for commenting.
Part1 is linked below
http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2006/05/ghost-town-chapter-1-part-1.html
‘Daddy’s got a new family now doesn’t he?’
‘Yes he does, but he still loves you just the same, and he’ll visit and call all the time.’
After a few moments thought Abby said, ‘Ok,’ seeming to accept this explanation with the kind of grace only small children possess, then ‘what kind of puppy will we get?’
Rachael laughed at the abrupt change of topic, and the rest of the trip passed pleasantly enough with discussions of puppies and, if Abby was a good girl, possibly a pony.
Several hours later Abby slept peacfully in the passanger seat and they costed smoothly up the main street of the quiet rural city. Looking around Rachael noticed, with mild surprise, that all of the shops were closed and the streets were practically deserted. It seemed amazing that Sunday trading had not yet reached parts of the civilized world.
Their new home was on the outskirts of the Milawara across from the last petrol station before you hit the open highway once more. Rachael had called the Real Estate Agent when they first reached town and by the time they got to their new home he was there waiting for them. He was a handsome man with strong regular features, sandy brown hair and the type of physic that suggested he played some kind of competition sport regularly. An easy smile lit his face as Rachael parked the truck and stepped out onto the pavement.
‘Hi you must be Rachael.’ He said as he approached.
‘Yes that’s right,’ she replied shading her eyes from the glare of the late afternoon sun as she looked up at him.
‘I’m Garry McMillan, the real estate agent, it’s a real pleasure to finally meet you,’ he said holding out a hand for her to shake, which she did. His handshake was warm and strong, just like the rest of him she thought smiling.
‘Shall I give you the grand tour?’ he asked letting go of her hand and indicating the building behind him with a tilt of his head.
‘That’d be great, just let me get my daughter from the truck.’
‘Sure thing’ he said treating her to the warm lazy smile again. In a few minutes she was back with a tired, somewhat grumpy, Abby in tow. Garry smiled down at the little girl who was looking up at him with bleary eyes and clutching a blanket in one hand and a toy horse in the other.
‘Hello, what’s your name?’
Abby looked at her mother as though asking for permission, they were well versed in stranger danger, Rachael just smiled and gave a small nod.
‘Abigail’ she said her voice quiet and shy.
Garry’s smile broadened, he seemed delighted by this shy little girl. Wait until he gets to know her, Rachael thought amused by her daughters apparent shyness.
‘Well it is just lovely to meet you Abigail, I’m Garry. Now let’s all go and have a look at your new home.’
The house was just as lovely as the many pictures she’d been sent. Some people had thought it irresponsible to purchase a property without ever having set foot there, mainly her ex-husband, but Rachael had felt a pull to this place that was undeniable and after getting building inspection reports, plumbers reports, electrical reports and an engineers report she felt she knew exactly what she was getting herself into. Somehow, as much as she’d fallen in love with the place from only seeing the pictures and as detailed as all of the expert reports had been, nothing in all her research had prepared her for just how lovely it would be. It was a beautiful bluestone structure with a wraparound bull nose verandah complete with squeaky wooden boards and a low border of rose bushes.
The front entrance led into the tearoom and general store, a few tables and chairs stacked against a wall, a short counter with an ornate old-fashioned til, a few empty shelves and a vacant fridge all combined to give the place a feeling of expectancy, as though it was just waiting for someone to come in and breath life into it once more. Rachael’s fingers itched to begin cleaning and setting her own stamp onto it, some people might think it would be dull task but she was looking forward to it more eagerly than she had looked forward to anything in years.
Abby was staring around wide eyed as though she, like her mother, could see the potential all around her. Garry was looking at them both a big grin of real happiness on his face, he lived for moments like these when he showed someone a house and they fell in love.
‘Well, is it living up to your expectations so far?’ He asked, even though he was sure he knew the answer already.
Click the below link for part 3
http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2007/07/chapter1-part3-and-still-not-finished.html
Part1 is linked below
http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2006/05/ghost-town-chapter-1-part-1.html
‘Daddy’s got a new family now doesn’t he?’
‘Yes he does, but he still loves you just the same, and he’ll visit and call all the time.’
After a few moments thought Abby said, ‘Ok,’ seeming to accept this explanation with the kind of grace only small children possess, then ‘what kind of puppy will we get?’
Rachael laughed at the abrupt change of topic, and the rest of the trip passed pleasantly enough with discussions of puppies and, if Abby was a good girl, possibly a pony.
Several hours later Abby slept peacfully in the passanger seat and they costed smoothly up the main street of the quiet rural city. Looking around Rachael noticed, with mild surprise, that all of the shops were closed and the streets were practically deserted. It seemed amazing that Sunday trading had not yet reached parts of the civilized world.
Their new home was on the outskirts of the Milawara across from the last petrol station before you hit the open highway once more. Rachael had called the Real Estate Agent when they first reached town and by the time they got to their new home he was there waiting for them. He was a handsome man with strong regular features, sandy brown hair and the type of physic that suggested he played some kind of competition sport regularly. An easy smile lit his face as Rachael parked the truck and stepped out onto the pavement.
‘Hi you must be Rachael.’ He said as he approached.
‘Yes that’s right,’ she replied shading her eyes from the glare of the late afternoon sun as she looked up at him.
‘I’m Garry McMillan, the real estate agent, it’s a real pleasure to finally meet you,’ he said holding out a hand for her to shake, which she did. His handshake was warm and strong, just like the rest of him she thought smiling.
‘Shall I give you the grand tour?’ he asked letting go of her hand and indicating the building behind him with a tilt of his head.
‘That’d be great, just let me get my daughter from the truck.’
‘Sure thing’ he said treating her to the warm lazy smile again. In a few minutes she was back with a tired, somewhat grumpy, Abby in tow. Garry smiled down at the little girl who was looking up at him with bleary eyes and clutching a blanket in one hand and a toy horse in the other.
‘Hello, what’s your name?’
Abby looked at her mother as though asking for permission, they were well versed in stranger danger, Rachael just smiled and gave a small nod.
‘Abigail’ she said her voice quiet and shy.
Garry’s smile broadened, he seemed delighted by this shy little girl. Wait until he gets to know her, Rachael thought amused by her daughters apparent shyness.
‘Well it is just lovely to meet you Abigail, I’m Garry. Now let’s all go and have a look at your new home.’
The house was just as lovely as the many pictures she’d been sent. Some people had thought it irresponsible to purchase a property without ever having set foot there, mainly her ex-husband, but Rachael had felt a pull to this place that was undeniable and after getting building inspection reports, plumbers reports, electrical reports and an engineers report she felt she knew exactly what she was getting herself into. Somehow, as much as she’d fallen in love with the place from only seeing the pictures and as detailed as all of the expert reports had been, nothing in all her research had prepared her for just how lovely it would be. It was a beautiful bluestone structure with a wraparound bull nose verandah complete with squeaky wooden boards and a low border of rose bushes.
The front entrance led into the tearoom and general store, a few tables and chairs stacked against a wall, a short counter with an ornate old-fashioned til, a few empty shelves and a vacant fridge all combined to give the place a feeling of expectancy, as though it was just waiting for someone to come in and breath life into it once more. Rachael’s fingers itched to begin cleaning and setting her own stamp onto it, some people might think it would be dull task but she was looking forward to it more eagerly than she had looked forward to anything in years.
Abby was staring around wide eyed as though she, like her mother, could see the potential all around her. Garry was looking at them both a big grin of real happiness on his face, he lived for moments like these when he showed someone a house and they fell in love.
‘Well, is it living up to your expectations so far?’ He asked, even though he was sure he knew the answer already.
Click the below link for part 3
http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2007/07/chapter1-part3-and-still-not-finished.html
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Questions or When Cliches are true
A short story I typed up just to show that I am still writing. Next time It'll be another post to the Horror/Romance story. I have been working on it but it's not ready for posting yet, shouldn't be too much longer though. In the meantime I present you with the following little ficlet.
"Questions" or "When Clichés are true."
It started with a kiss, but doesn’t it always?
I knew from the moment his lips touched mine, but doesn’t everyone?
How do you know if what your feeling is real when it all seems to be one big cliché?
I know that’s a lot of questions to ask, and difficult questions at that, but I’m so confused about what’s happening in my life that I really don’t know what to do. Every time I try to express how I’m feeling it just comes out being so corny and clichéd that I honestly wonder if what I’m feeling is real or if it’s just wishful thinking brought on by reading to many romance novels.
When did life become so difficult?
I guess the problem lies in the fact that I’ve only been single for a few months. It’s March and my ex and I broke up in December. It was a long time coming, but then we were together for a long time so it was still quite difficult in the end. He was really terrible to me and dragged my self esteem down in ways I would never have imagined possible. When I was a little girl I used to think I was so strong and so powerful, I could do anything I wanted, I was going to be a doctor, or a journalist, or a scientist, I never imagined I would go as low as I did. I never imagined I would become a drug addict.
Where did that strong, smart little girl go?
Don’t get me wrong I was never on heroine or cocaine or anything strong like that, I’ve always had a rule about chemical drugs. Thank goodness for the rule about chemical drugs, or it would have been even worse. Marijuana can be just as detrimental, it’s a depressant and when your circumstances are already pretty bad downers are really not what you need. So I was depressed, and with a guy who had been treating me like crap for years, life was pretty terrible.
Will I ever forget the night we broke up?
He’d gone out without me, again. He’d taken another girl out and left me at home, alone, to smoke myself into depression, again. When one of my girlfriends called me,
‘Is he there?’
‘No’
‘Good, I’m coming to get you.’
Can I ever thank her enough for saving me from myself?
When he came home and I wasn’t there he called me in a rage.
‘Where the hell are you?’ He screamed at me down the telephone.
‘Out with my friend.’ I replied trying to stay calm, ‘You went out without me.’ I couldn’t help but add somewhat bitterly.
‘So? You fucking knew where I was going, you should have called me and told me you were fucking going out. And who the fuck are you with?’ He wouldn’t stop screaming and I started crying.
‘I’m with Mona.’ I said my voice as small as my self esteem.
‘Well get your ass home right now Lisa or we’re through.’
Is there anyway he could have been more of a jerk?
‘Well I guess we’re through then.’ I answered back amazingly finding a shred of dignity.
‘What?’ he sounded surprised, imagine that.
‘I said we’re through.’ It was a lot easier saying it the second time.
‘What do you mean?’ he sounded confused, like he didn’t understand what was happening. Truthfully he probably didn’t understand, he really was that arrogant.
‘You know exactly what I mean Alex. I’ve had enough. It’s over, I’ll come by tomorrow and get my stuff.’ And then I hung up.
Could I have been any clearer about what I meant?
I moved out and spent the next for months being fabulous. I got dressed up in tight clothes and went dancing till four am, I kissed random hot guys on the dance floors of crowed nightclubs, and I loved every minute of my new found freedom. It was like being born again, and I was like a child. None of it meant anything, and the next morning all I had for my trouble was a bad hangover, sore feet and a lingering sense of guilt that what I was doing wasn’t right. I knew I had to stop it, I knew that the new behaviour was just as destructive as the old but I thought I had all the time in the world.
Does love ever strike when you expect it to?
Then university started up again and, as a reward for breaking things off with my terrible ex, my parents paid for me to live on campus for the year. That’s where I met him. I think they were hoping I’d meet a nice university boy and get my shit together and it worked. He was nice, maybe too nice. He seemed like everything I’d ever dreamed of, and here we are back at the clichés again. He was smart, well groomed, well mannered and handsome and he seemed to like me. I knew from the moment I laid eyes on him that he was the one I wanted.
Is love at first sight even possible?
All the clichés all happening at once, he confessed that he thought I was out of his league, that I was too good looking for him. He made me feel shy and coy yet at the same time helplessly flirtatious. I couldn’t resist him and as much as I told myself it was too soon for another relationship, and I knew that’s what I wanted with him, I couldn’t stop myself. He was so infatuated with me and so inexperienced with girls in general, he’d gone to an all boys school, that I couldn’t help but respond to him.
Has there ever been anything more appealing than a cute shy guy who is hopelessly infatuated with you?
We looked into each others eyes and everything else melted away. I was drowning in the depths of his clear blue eyes. I could see the desire plainly written across his face. He leaned in to kiss me and I was powerless to resist. When his lips touched mine for the first time it was as though an electric spark jumped between us. His lips were soft and warm and gentle and I felt safe and secure in his arms. When we broke apart and gazed into each others eyes we both knew that it was love, the kind that lasts forever.
Can I help it if the clichés were true?
"Questions" or "When Clichés are true."
It started with a kiss, but doesn’t it always?
I knew from the moment his lips touched mine, but doesn’t everyone?
How do you know if what your feeling is real when it all seems to be one big cliché?
I know that’s a lot of questions to ask, and difficult questions at that, but I’m so confused about what’s happening in my life that I really don’t know what to do. Every time I try to express how I’m feeling it just comes out being so corny and clichéd that I honestly wonder if what I’m feeling is real or if it’s just wishful thinking brought on by reading to many romance novels.
When did life become so difficult?
I guess the problem lies in the fact that I’ve only been single for a few months. It’s March and my ex and I broke up in December. It was a long time coming, but then we were together for a long time so it was still quite difficult in the end. He was really terrible to me and dragged my self esteem down in ways I would never have imagined possible. When I was a little girl I used to think I was so strong and so powerful, I could do anything I wanted, I was going to be a doctor, or a journalist, or a scientist, I never imagined I would go as low as I did. I never imagined I would become a drug addict.
Where did that strong, smart little girl go?
Don’t get me wrong I was never on heroine or cocaine or anything strong like that, I’ve always had a rule about chemical drugs. Thank goodness for the rule about chemical drugs, or it would have been even worse. Marijuana can be just as detrimental, it’s a depressant and when your circumstances are already pretty bad downers are really not what you need. So I was depressed, and with a guy who had been treating me like crap for years, life was pretty terrible.
Will I ever forget the night we broke up?
He’d gone out without me, again. He’d taken another girl out and left me at home, alone, to smoke myself into depression, again. When one of my girlfriends called me,
‘Is he there?’
‘No’
‘Good, I’m coming to get you.’
Can I ever thank her enough for saving me from myself?
When he came home and I wasn’t there he called me in a rage.
‘Where the hell are you?’ He screamed at me down the telephone.
‘Out with my friend.’ I replied trying to stay calm, ‘You went out without me.’ I couldn’t help but add somewhat bitterly.
‘So? You fucking knew where I was going, you should have called me and told me you were fucking going out. And who the fuck are you with?’ He wouldn’t stop screaming and I started crying.
‘I’m with Mona.’ I said my voice as small as my self esteem.
‘Well get your ass home right now Lisa or we’re through.’
Is there anyway he could have been more of a jerk?
‘Well I guess we’re through then.’ I answered back amazingly finding a shred of dignity.
‘What?’ he sounded surprised, imagine that.
‘I said we’re through.’ It was a lot easier saying it the second time.
‘What do you mean?’ he sounded confused, like he didn’t understand what was happening. Truthfully he probably didn’t understand, he really was that arrogant.
‘You know exactly what I mean Alex. I’ve had enough. It’s over, I’ll come by tomorrow and get my stuff.’ And then I hung up.
Could I have been any clearer about what I meant?
I moved out and spent the next for months being fabulous. I got dressed up in tight clothes and went dancing till four am, I kissed random hot guys on the dance floors of crowed nightclubs, and I loved every minute of my new found freedom. It was like being born again, and I was like a child. None of it meant anything, and the next morning all I had for my trouble was a bad hangover, sore feet and a lingering sense of guilt that what I was doing wasn’t right. I knew I had to stop it, I knew that the new behaviour was just as destructive as the old but I thought I had all the time in the world.
Does love ever strike when you expect it to?
Then university started up again and, as a reward for breaking things off with my terrible ex, my parents paid for me to live on campus for the year. That’s where I met him. I think they were hoping I’d meet a nice university boy and get my shit together and it worked. He was nice, maybe too nice. He seemed like everything I’d ever dreamed of, and here we are back at the clichés again. He was smart, well groomed, well mannered and handsome and he seemed to like me. I knew from the moment I laid eyes on him that he was the one I wanted.
Is love at first sight even possible?
All the clichés all happening at once, he confessed that he thought I was out of his league, that I was too good looking for him. He made me feel shy and coy yet at the same time helplessly flirtatious. I couldn’t resist him and as much as I told myself it was too soon for another relationship, and I knew that’s what I wanted with him, I couldn’t stop myself. He was so infatuated with me and so inexperienced with girls in general, he’d gone to an all boys school, that I couldn’t help but respond to him.
Has there ever been anything more appealing than a cute shy guy who is hopelessly infatuated with you?
We looked into each others eyes and everything else melted away. I was drowning in the depths of his clear blue eyes. I could see the desire plainly written across his face. He leaned in to kiss me and I was powerless to resist. When his lips touched mine for the first time it was as though an electric spark jumped between us. His lips were soft and warm and gentle and I felt safe and secure in his arms. When we broke apart and gazed into each others eyes we both knew that it was love, the kind that lasts forever.
Can I help it if the clichés were true?
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Ghost Town chapter 1 part 1
* This is a Horror/Romance story I've been working on that the lovely Scout has encouraged me to post. I hope it's not too cliched and I hope you enjoy reading it. Please leave a comment on your way out, constructive critisim is always appreciated. At this point I'm not sure if it will be more Mills and Boon or Steven King, but I guess we'll all find out as we go.*
'Mummy can't we stop? I'm hungry.' Abigail wailed piteously from the passenger seat of the large four wheel drive.
'Not yet Abigail, we've only just left. Why didn't you say something half an hour ago before we started out?'
'I wasn't hungry then.' the little girl mumbled her little chin dropping down onto her chest.
'Why do we have to go away mummy?' she asked her lower lip now set firmly in a pout.
'We've been through this Abby,' her mother said with a deep sigh, trying very hard to stay patient, 'We're going to live in a lovely house in the country, with plenty of room to run around and we're going to get a puppy! Remember we talked about getting a puppy?' Rachael said injecting a little forced cheerfulness into her words.
It had been six months since the divorce and three since she'd seen the add in the paper for the gorgeous little corner store up for sale in Milawara. She'd always dreamed of living in the country and being her own boss and now with no hot shot lawyer husband to tie her to the city she was going to do it. She'd talked it all through with Abby of course before making any decisions, but she had to admit that most of the little girl’s enthusiasm had been directed at the bribes of puppies and ponies that Rachael had made.
Unfortunately this time the reminder of the promised puppy didn't seem to be having the cheering effect Rachael had been hoping for as Abby remained stubbornly slumped in her seat an air of gloom surrounding her little frame.
'Come on Abby don't be like this we've been over this. I thought we agreed it'd be fun to live in the country?'
The little shoulders of the still slumped figure beside her shrugged.
'Why isn't daddy coming?' She asked now, her voice barely more than a sad little whisper.
'You know why Daddy's not coming sweety. Daddy and I have both explained it to you.' Rachael replied, her heart breaking for her precious little girl who just didn't understand.
It was so difficult, to see her little girl so heartbroken. They were so much alike mother and daughter, they shared the same shiny dark brown hair, though Abby wore hers in pigtails and Rachael’s was softly layered framing her face, they had the same bright hazel eyes and the same clear porcelain skin. People would often look at childhood photos of Rachael and think that they were looking at pictures of Abby. That's why it hurt so much that Abby was now going through the same thing she'd experienced as a child. Rachael had tried so hard to hold together her marriage with Daniel, she'd been ready to leave him when she'd found out she was pregnant but hadn't been able to do it knowing there was now a child involved. She'd stayed in that loveless marriage for eight years pretending to the best of her ability that there was nothing wrong for her daughter’s sake. When Daniel had come home one night and told her that he was leaving her for another woman, it had hurt even more, because she should have been the one to leave him and yet she'd stayed, because she had done everything she could to be what he wanted and he'd still left her.
Seeing her daughter now, her broken heart clearly displayed in her clear hazel eyes, broke her heart all over again and brought back all the pain and sadness she had felt as a little girl when her daddy had left.
**Sorry it's so short but as I said it's only the first part of chapter one and I just wanted to get something posted to try and get the ball rolling. I'll post more soon. Please let me know your thoughts positive and negative.**
Cheers Lady L
http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2006/07/ghost-town-chapter-1-part-2.html
'Mummy can't we stop? I'm hungry.' Abigail wailed piteously from the passenger seat of the large four wheel drive.
'Not yet Abigail, we've only just left. Why didn't you say something half an hour ago before we started out?'
'I wasn't hungry then.' the little girl mumbled her little chin dropping down onto her chest.
'Why do we have to go away mummy?' she asked her lower lip now set firmly in a pout.
'We've been through this Abby,' her mother said with a deep sigh, trying very hard to stay patient, 'We're going to live in a lovely house in the country, with plenty of room to run around and we're going to get a puppy! Remember we talked about getting a puppy?' Rachael said injecting a little forced cheerfulness into her words.
It had been six months since the divorce and three since she'd seen the add in the paper for the gorgeous little corner store up for sale in Milawara. She'd always dreamed of living in the country and being her own boss and now with no hot shot lawyer husband to tie her to the city she was going to do it. She'd talked it all through with Abby of course before making any decisions, but she had to admit that most of the little girl’s enthusiasm had been directed at the bribes of puppies and ponies that Rachael had made.
Unfortunately this time the reminder of the promised puppy didn't seem to be having the cheering effect Rachael had been hoping for as Abby remained stubbornly slumped in her seat an air of gloom surrounding her little frame.
'Come on Abby don't be like this we've been over this. I thought we agreed it'd be fun to live in the country?'
The little shoulders of the still slumped figure beside her shrugged.
'Why isn't daddy coming?' She asked now, her voice barely more than a sad little whisper.
'You know why Daddy's not coming sweety. Daddy and I have both explained it to you.' Rachael replied, her heart breaking for her precious little girl who just didn't understand.
It was so difficult, to see her little girl so heartbroken. They were so much alike mother and daughter, they shared the same shiny dark brown hair, though Abby wore hers in pigtails and Rachael’s was softly layered framing her face, they had the same bright hazel eyes and the same clear porcelain skin. People would often look at childhood photos of Rachael and think that they were looking at pictures of Abby. That's why it hurt so much that Abby was now going through the same thing she'd experienced as a child. Rachael had tried so hard to hold together her marriage with Daniel, she'd been ready to leave him when she'd found out she was pregnant but hadn't been able to do it knowing there was now a child involved. She'd stayed in that loveless marriage for eight years pretending to the best of her ability that there was nothing wrong for her daughter’s sake. When Daniel had come home one night and told her that he was leaving her for another woman, it had hurt even more, because she should have been the one to leave him and yet she'd stayed, because she had done everything she could to be what he wanted and he'd still left her.
Seeing her daughter now, her broken heart clearly displayed in her clear hazel eyes, broke her heart all over again and brought back all the pain and sadness she had felt as a little girl when her daddy had left.
**Sorry it's so short but as I said it's only the first part of chapter one and I just wanted to get something posted to try and get the ball rolling. I'll post more soon. Please let me know your thoughts positive and negative.**
Cheers Lady L
http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2006/07/ghost-town-chapter-1-part-2.html
Monday, April 10, 2006
First post
Well as this is my first post I thought I'd take a little bit of time to introduce myself. I'm twenty six years old and I've been an avid reader since I was a child. I've always admired the authors who can create a new world for me, especially those whose influence has extended to generations. My own favourite authors are Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, David Eddings, Katherine Kerr, and Robert Asprin, JK Rowling may be added to that list but at this stage that's heavily dependant on how the Harry Potter Series ends.
I'm constantly having new ideas for novels that I'd love to write but I do have a lot of trouble writing. I've read that most writers do find it difficult so it doesn't worry me to much. I find it difficult to keep going with the projects that I start and because all of my favourite authors are such powerful writers I sometimes feel like my work simply isn't good enough. I read a lot of amature fiction, fanfiction mostly, and I'm very severe on a lot of the things that I read. I'm so severe on my own work that I don't like for other people to read my work because I'm so scared of what they might say. I think that's part of the reason I never finish anything aswell because it terrifies me that I will and then publishers say it sucks. Even if family and friends tell me that my work is good I never believe them because I think they kind of have to say nice things because they are my family and friends.
That's where I'm hoping this blog will help. I'm going to update once a week with whatever it is I'm working on and I hope that with some feedback and hopefully some encouragement I'll be able to write regularly and finish what I start. So please if you read my blog, and you have any comments, positive or constructive, I really hope that'll you'll reply.
I'm constantly having new ideas for novels that I'd love to write but I do have a lot of trouble writing. I've read that most writers do find it difficult so it doesn't worry me to much. I find it difficult to keep going with the projects that I start and because all of my favourite authors are such powerful writers I sometimes feel like my work simply isn't good enough. I read a lot of amature fiction, fanfiction mostly, and I'm very severe on a lot of the things that I read. I'm so severe on my own work that I don't like for other people to read my work because I'm so scared of what they might say. I think that's part of the reason I never finish anything aswell because it terrifies me that I will and then publishers say it sucks. Even if family and friends tell me that my work is good I never believe them because I think they kind of have to say nice things because they are my family and friends.
That's where I'm hoping this blog will help. I'm going to update once a week with whatever it is I'm working on and I hope that with some feedback and hopefully some encouragement I'll be able to write regularly and finish what I start. So please if you read my blog, and you have any comments, positive or constructive, I really hope that'll you'll reply.
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