Monthly Archives: January 2017

Writing Prompt: Day 11

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Day 11 of 365 Days of Writing Prompts: Better Man by Pearl Jam

Shannon: You need to tell him you’re leaving. You can do this. You are brave. You are important. Willow repeated her pep talk for the hundredth time. He can’t change your mind again. Not this time.

She heard his car pull into the driveway from the bedroom, and immediately her throat started to burn. As he opened the front door and dropped his keys on the table, her hands started to shake. What if I’m wrong? What if my life only gets worse without him? She made an attempt to steady her hands. She took in deep breaths as she counted his footsteps on the stairs. Five more steps, she closed her eyes and in one quiet movement laid back down and covered herself with the blanket. She couldn’t do it. She was a coward who wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

She decided to sleep, too depressed to do anything else. Not long after she heard him turn away to let her rest, she was transported to a different land. Finding herself in a cabin where she was cozying up to the fireplace, memorized by the flames. A man interrupted her with a gift of hot chocolate and she offered him the spot next to her. His eyes were crystal blue, a stark contrast from her husband’s deep brown.

“You’re beautiful,” he praised her as took her first sip. She smiled behind the cup. “Where have you been hiding,” he questioned, lighting up her heart. “Run away with me,” he tempted her.

She laughed. “I don’t know you,” she shook her head.

“You will,” he put out his hand.

That was all she needed. She took his hand and they started running through the building. He lead her outside into the snow, and somehow it wasn’t cold. He picked some up and tossed it in the air above her head letting it fall around her like white glitter. He did the same above his own head and grabbed her hand tightly. They began to float, making her weightless. She felt alive and happy for the first time in a long time. “Willow, Willow,” she heard her name trying to figure out where it was coming from. As it continued she finally realized she was dreaming and had no choice but to go back to her real life.

“I’m sorry about last night. I love you,” he kissed her forehead the second she opened her eyes.

“I love you too,” she lied, wishing he hadn’t woken her up, but she couldn’t live in her dreams forever.

“Are you going to make diner,” he asked with an encouraging smile.

She wanted to cry, but just nodded, finally getting up.

Erin: “You need to leave him,” Liza took a swig of her straight black coffee.

“He said he’s never done this before,” I continued to leave my latté untouched.

“He didn’t have to do it before. He did it last night,” Liza continued to be harsh.

“He’s my fiancé,” I reminded.

“Exactly, which means yours is the only action he should be getting. End of story,” she rolled her eyes.

“Be quiet,” I looked to make sure no one else in the coffee shop was listening. “He is going to be my husband.”

“Have a little respect for yourself, you don’t need to be with a jerk like him,” she let out a grunting scream. “You deserve someone great.”

“Do I deserve kids and my beautiful wedding,” I asked suddenly having a hard time breathing.

“Yes of course, you deserve the world,” she smiled a soft smile.

“I’m 34 he’s the only one who’s going to give me that,” a few tears dropped from my eyes as the realization hit me of what I had said. This was not how my life was supposed to go.

The little smile she had faded. Liza shook her head and stood up, “find a new maid of honor.”

When in doubt a song will help you whip an idea out. Agreed?

Writing Prompt: Day 10

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Day 10 of 365 Days of Writing Prompts: Make the reader believe an evil character is good, and change their mind with the last few words.

Erin: Marrying a chef was undoubtedly one of the best decisions I ever made in my life. When we were first dating that didn’t cross my mind. He was just a kind, funny and inspiring human being. That was all I thought I needed, but once I got a taste of what someone taking care of me felt like I was hooked. His food was like a mother’s hug and he never failed to have the table sprawled in warmth when I arrived home.

On special occasions like our anniversary he would decorate the dining room like he had that night. He knew how to get me and nothing turned me on quite like the smell of caramelized onions or simmering garlic. Our breath was an afterthought when my stomach was full. “Welcome home,” he placed chicken nuggets on the table.

That’s how I knew he loved me. I knew he had every reason to be too good for my favorite food, but he cooked it anyway. He was too good for a lot of what I brought to the table, but he never alluded to that fact once. “Ugh, I can’t say I love you enough,” I hugged him and reached around him to steal a nugget while he drew me in tight.

I bit into the ecstasy and couldn’t tell where my pleasure from his touch and the food separated. He spiced it up. My throat was taken off guard, “what’s the new ingredient.

“I added peanuts to the breading,” he hugged me even tighter.

“I’m allergic,” I tried to open my increasingly closing throat.

That caused his grip to loosen, “Darling,” he took a step back and placed his hands on my shoulders, “I know.”

Shannon: “So close this time, but again you’re too late, and you suck again. Guess you’ll have to try again next year,” Dean shrugged before slamming the door in my face.

“Why do you always sabotage my chance? Why do you hate me,” I yelled, finally letting go of the anger I had built up against him for holding me back for so many years. I was ready to move on to the next level but as long as he was on the testing committee I wasn’t going anywhere.

“Sabotage your chance,” he mocked me with a laugh as he opened the door. “In what way have I done that,” he questioned in his usual snake-like tone.

I clenched my jaw, and shook my head. Where to begin, “I don’t know, maybe when you gave me different directions than everyone else to lead me off track. Then there was the time you drugged my meal with a hallucinatory pill, getting me disqualified. Oh wait, or how about when you gave me a clue in a language spoken by an isolated island population. A form communication that wasn’t widely documented until after competition. You gave me that clue on purpose. It was your choice,” I wanted him to own up to it.

His mouth curled. “Why don’t you give up if you are so sure I’m out to get you?”

“Because than you win,” I felt my voice crack. “Than you’ll have succeeded in breaking me.” I held my tears back so I could remind him, “But I won’t ever let you.”

He nodded his head slowly, staring at me with more fear and emotion than he’d ever shown before. “I know,” he breathed out, “And I admire you for your determination.” He put his hand out in the first peaceful gesture he’d offered since I met him. I was reluctant, but eventually gave in and shook his hand. He moved in closer to pat my back at the same time. “You don’t want to win,” he whispered almost inaudibly, so the cameras couldn’t pick up on what he was saying. He spoke out loud again as he leaned back to avoid causing suspicion. “I’ll never forgive myself if you ever make it past that door,” he smirked for the viewers, but the look in his eyes told a different story.

Evil or good is subjective most of the time. Not today… make it black and then white.

Writing Prompt: Day 9

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Day 9 of 365 Days of Writing Prompts: Write a love triangle where the main character feels forced by matters out of their control to pick one of the two options.

Shannon: “Choose,” was the word echoing in my head as I tossed and turned trying to fall asleep. They wanted an answer and they deserved an answer. How was I supposed to reveal that I already knew? All this time it wasn’t a choice, and I kept the knowledge hidden because I didn’t want to loose either of them.

Peyton was a perfect choice. She was the most beautiful girl in the school, and somehow, even with her flawless exterior, her interior contained even more to be sought after. I’d had enough study sessions with her to know her peers often underestimated her wisdom. Her jokes could command any crowd, and she was fearless in her execution, knowing exactly when everyone could use a laugh. She was also a very kind and forgiving soul, unless she felt the need to stand up for her neighbor, or herself. That’s why she didn’t’ hesitate when she demanded I choose between her and Hope, and give her my answer after our last class tomorrow.

Hope could go unnoticed in a crowd. There was nothing distinct about her appearance that made people want to take another look. She was smart in some subjects, but struggled in others. Her jokes were quirky, but not everyone appreciated them, so she kept them personally tailored to the people she knew would laugh, mostly me. I’d categorize her as gentle and kind. She took great care with anything she valued, and she placed the most importance on her relationships. Always taking full advantage of the time she was given with them, and always living in the moment. That’s why I figured she never asked if I was interested in something more, because it wouldn’t change her view of me.

If my heart could listen to any reason I would pick Peyton, but I only wanted Hope. I knew the first day she made me smile.  I knew by her eyes, not because they revealed anything about her specifically, but because I found myself lost in them at least once every single day. Her presence had a way of lighting a fire in me that reminded me I was alive. I liked the person I was when I was around her. There was never a choice.

Erin: I had massively ruined everything.

“Ready to go,” Mary’s smile was to my dismay just as breathtaking as ever.

“Yes,” I lied grabbing my gym bag.

Once we were in the car I had to concentrate even harder than normal not to take her hand in mine as she left it on the gears seeming to invite me to do just that. “You seem quiet today,” she finally stopped singing to the radio.

“I’m okay,” I couldn’t stop lying. I couldn’t admit that ride could be the last time we were co-pilots. I couldn’t come to terms with the fact that I would never hear her singing with reckless abandon again. I felt telling the truth meant the last time my running high was boosted by her conversation was behind us. I was afraid I was losing the most precious person in my life, because I was.

“You promised never to lie to me. You promised I was different than Brittney,” she reminded cornering me in my deception.

“She’s pregnant,” I looked between my knees as she pulled to the side of the road. I suddenly felt like I might throw up.

“Who,” I wished I could turn a blind eye to her tears, but her voice showed me my mistake just fine.

“Brittney,” I choked out, suddenly unable to hold back.

There was a long silence, only interrupted by our uneven breathing. “How,” her voice was still higher, but she had gained some composure.

“What do you mean how,” I couldn’t go into detail.

“How far along is she?”

“About three weeks,” I whispered suddenly feeling the worlds judgments on me.

“I gave you time to figure out your living situation and let her down easy. It seems to me that you must have used that time to continue to sleep with her. How is that letting her down easy?” I slowly let my eyes raise to hers. Her face was the saddest sight I had ever seen.

“It’s not like I cheated on you,” I tried to salvage what glimmer of hope I possibly had left.

“Because I refused to be that woman and insisted we wait till you were a single man? I wasn’t giving you a free pass to continue your doomed relationship. I loved you,” the past tense stung. “I wouldn’t have done this to you.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah, me too. Get out, I’m not driving you home,” she unlocked the car and stiffened into driving position. Her hands and arms were cemented to the wheel.

“I still want you, you’re still my future Mary,” I graveled.

“You’re going to be a father start acting like one,” as she looked straight ahead she could be indifferent to my pain.

“I can still be a part of the kid’s life. With you,” I couldn’t remove her from my vision. She was all I knew of love.

“You can’t be a part of mine. I don’t want to hear any more of your bullshit. I gave you too much credit. That sleaze ball that tried to kiss me that night, that’s who you have always been. You told me what I wanted to hear, but if any of that was true you wouldn’t have been able to do that with her,” She tried to reach over and open my door, but I couldn’t be that person. Not to her.

“You don’t understand,” I pulled her arm off, but she immediately slapped it into my stomach to shake my touch.

“Oh, believe me when I say I understand that you are an expecting father and I wasted my life waiting for you. Congratulations on the exciting news, go celebrate with your fiancée.”

In honor of The Bachelor Monday this seemed fitting. What would your story be?

Writing Prompt: Day 8

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Day 8 of 365 Days of Writing Prompts: Your character is shrunk to the size of a gummy bear… Now what?

Erin: “How do we get in there,” Lilly pointed nearly all the way to the ceiling. That is how huge the fridge had gotten. She had to point her arm as high as she could to have her finger in the direction of the top.

“Are you insane,” I screamed.

“We were shrunk in our coats. That has to be a sign,” she argued. “Now, stop being a party pooper and help me get in there,” she jumped trying to reach the bottom of the door, to no avail.

“You are being an idiot. That thing is bigger than a skyscraper right now. The door is one trillion times heavier than you,” I sat down to prove my point.

“Trillion, that’s dramatic,” she continued jumping starting to pant.

“Is it,” I grabbed a crumb from the floor and it was heavy. “Look at this,” I showed her what was about the size of a beach ball with our current height.

“Wow,” she seemed genuinely surprised for some odd reason. I wasn’t sure how she could be surprised by anything anymore.

A thundering came from the hallway. “Mom,” I groaned sure of our impending death.

“Mom,” Lilly cheered until she saw the threat our gigantic creator had become. When she opened the fridge the ground shook.

“Oops,” our mother exclaimed as a fast food ketchup packet dropped to the floor nearly crushing my sister, who seemed to not understand that was a bad place to be.

“This is our chance,” Lilly grabbed my hand and before I knew it I was dragged onto the packed and holding on for dear life. We whipped up into the air like an amusement park ride and were shot off when our mom placed us down. After our mom grabbed her apple we were left in complete darkness and I rubbed my hurting side. “Yes,” Lily turned on her phone light and shined it around.

“What the flipping hell Lil,” I screamed and she completely ignored me.

“Yay, yes, yes, yes,” she sprinted toward the huge pan of jello from her birthday party. She grabbed onto the cling film and grabbed fistfuls, slowly making her way up.

“What are you doing,” I grumbled leaning against a block of cheese.

“Utilizing a moment while I have it,” she swayed a little getting over the ledge, and eventually stood on the side.

“You’re going to kill yourself,” I sassed.

“You’re already dead,” she flashed the light at me and then took out a pocket knife. She cut a hole in the film and I almost believed her statement as she yelled, “Cowabunga.” That was of course until I saw the phone lodge into the jello with her body. They were both trapped by the jello crack they had created. The light slowly faded to darkness. I let her come to the conclusion on her own. “That was a lifelong dream, but I must say was quite anticlimactic,” I listened to her stupidity in the dark.

“You think,” I added. “That phone may have been able to call mom. You just lost our only chance of us making it out of this nightmare alive. We are going to freeze to death in her,” my teeth chattered.

Shannon: I decided to spend the rest of my lunch in search of a good book. Once I found it, I had enough time to spare to get a good start on it before my next class. “Is this seat taken,” I questioned the girl sitting alone at a table in the back of the library. I’d often seen her alone and never had the courage to ask if she was in need of company until today.

She didn’t respond immediately, and looked a little nervous. “Um, it’s not taken…but a…I don’t know if you might not want too,” she whisper very quietly.

“No I want to” I ensured her. “I’m weird, I like reading with company and I don’t have lot of friends who spend much time here. Thanks for putting up with me,” I joked. “My name is April by the way.”

There was a slight delay, but the corners of her mouth lifted into a kind smile. “That’s not weird,” she shook her head, “And my name is Amber,” she added before looking back to her book. I tried to read the title in case I had ever heard of it, but it looked like it was written in another language that I wasn’t familiar with.

I started reading my book too and really enjoyed the first chapter, but as I continued the words seemed to be getting larger. Then the table started growing too. I was shrinking into the chair and I felt like a little kid. And when I shrunk even smaller I started panicking, afraid I was disappearing, but finally I stopped. I was now standing in the middle of the chair. I figured I couldn’t be any bigger than the size of a bug.

“Oh my gosh,” I’m so sorry, Amber’s booming voice apologized as her shadow towered over me. “Here, I can fix you,” she put her hand in front of me and the wind from her movement knocked me over. This was bad. I regained my footing and was just barely able to hoist myself into her palm.

“Slowly,” I warned and I crawled to the middle digging my nails into her skin to get a safe grip.

She discretely raised me to face level with her back to the rest of the library. “What did you say,” she whispered.

“I said move slowly. It’s a big fall from up here. How did you do this,” I shouted, freaking out.

“I was reading spells,” she admitted ashamed. “I’m sorry I didn’t think they would work. I didn’t think I had the magic to pull them off, and I told you not to sit next to me.”

“Are you a witch,” I asked without fear. I was mostly just intrigued. This was pretty spectacular and she seemed harmless enough.

“We don’t prefer that term. We like to call ourselves magicians.”

“Well congratulations, you’re one hell of a good magician. Can you change me back before I get busted for skipping class?”

“I’ll try,” she stated, unsure. “And you won’t tell anyone will you?”

“I promise I won’t. I don’t think anyone would believe me anyway,” I shrugged.

“Ok,” she placed her hand on the table and I hopped off, happy to be on solid ground. “Get to the end of the table, so you don’t cause a scene when you grow. I don’t think anyone has noticed yet.”

I guess we were decently hidden, but even if we were in plain sight I wondered if our peers would have been observant enough to notice. Everything on the table looked like the biggest oddly colored trees I’d ever seen in my life. I ran to the end of the table and scooted myself so my legs were dangling over the edge. I glanced up at the wall of books in front of me. I always wanted to venture to the world’s largest library someday, but this took my dream to another level. It was beautiful.

I heard Amber whispering behind me some nonsense language. After a while of nothing happening I turned back looking for a progress update. “I don’t want you to panic, but it’s not working. I’ll keep trying, but you may be stuck like that for a bit until I can get help,” she winced ready to be scolded.

I felt my heartbeat pick up. I wanted to freak out, or at least get mad, but as I looked around at the vastness of the room I started to realize this could be fun. I turned around and walked over to leap on top of the page in her book. The words covered the ground the size of a gym floor. I brushed the page with my fingers, and smiled. “That’s ok, but you’ve got to protect me,” I demanded pointing up at her.

“Of course,” she nodded just before the bell rang. “Come on,” she plucked me up by the back of my shirt and placed me in the hood of her sweatshirt, so I could hide behind her hair. This was going to be one crazy ride.

Participate in today’s challenge and look at the world from a different perspective.

Writing Prompt: Day 7

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Day 7 of 365 Days of Writing Prompts: Incorporate these words- Rodent, Ethical, Birthmark

Erin: “I’m going to kill it,” Griffin said diving into the knife drawer far too calmly.

“What? No, let’s just set him free,” I pleaded slamming the drawer shut. It was too late his hand was already in and all I managed to do was slam his wrist.

“Are you looking to be next,” his irises flashed red then settled back into their natural purple.

“I’m sorry,” I spoke softly as not to set him off. He flashed his pointed teeth and breezed past me.

“He would die a slow painful death on his own,” his face hardened. “This is the right thing to do.”

“Griffin, giving him to someone who could care for him would be the most ethical. That is the right thing to do. Please spare him,” his lips draped back over to cover his teeth. “You love me, don’t you?”

“I’m doing this because I love you, he is not some rodent Rochel. He could be the end of our civilization,” he walked up until he was face to face with me. I allowed my eyes to look from his twisted birthmark to the one on our son. The blade of Griffin’s knife brushed my finger. He didn’t even notice as a drop of my blood dropped to the floor. He didn’t notice much of anything anymore. “I protect our land Rochel, you promised to do the same.”

“I did, and nowhere in our teachings was his impact prophesized to be detrimental. He could be the savior of land,” I sprinted past his shoulder while he was still under the impression I would never cross him. I snatched our yet to be categorized creature and bolted for the door by the time he caught on and began to follow me.

Shannon: “It’s not ethical to keep him here like this,” I heard the voices faintly from behind the closed door as I regained consciousness. I was too disoriented to panic as I racked my brain trying to figure out how I ended up in this dark room with only one dim purple light to reveal its features. Was I alone?

After I heaved my torso up quietly, and placed my bare feet on the cold floor, I paused again to listen and look around. My short-term memory was blank, and the last thing I could remember was watching a movie in biology the day before and seeing an image of a hideous rodent of some kind flash across the screen.

“You’re awake,” an old man’s voice wavered from somewhere in front of me. I searched around, but he was hiding in the darkness and my frantic head movements to find him were making me dizzy. “How are you feeling,” the voice questioned as it got closer.

“Where am I?” I rubbed my temple to soothe it.

“Answer my questions first and then I’ll answer yours,” he explained calmly.

“I feel like I was hit by a truck, and my mind feels hazy,” I gave in. “Now where am I?”

The man stepped forward in a lab coat clicking on a blinding light over his forehead not giving me enough time to make out any of his facial features. I had to close my burning eyes. The room was obviously dark for a reason.

“Sorry, but you will eventually have to get used to the light again. I find most patients prefer one painful exposure over many consecutive gradual healings. I believe it’s the mind’s anticipation that truly tortures the rest of the body,” he explained as if he was sharing a fun fact.

“Does that mean I’m in a hospital?” I asked as soon as the daggers in my eyes start to retreat just enough for me to think clearly again.

“Something like that,” the man was vague as I felt his palm on my forehead. “You’re fever is gone. I’d say you’re just in recovery, but let me take a peak at your arm just to make sure,” he rolled up my sleeve as I blinked through the burning pain of the light.

Red discolorations on my skin traced every vein in my arm like birthmarks. “What’s wrong with me,” I feared the worst.

“You’re transforming.”

When I started writing that (I’m Erin FYI) I had not pictured the story I would write at all. My original idea involved a mouse and fast food restaurant. Not sure where that came from? It’s fun surprising yourself, give it a shot.

Writing Prompt: Day 6

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Day 6 of 365 Days of Writing Prompts: Choose one letter from the alphabet and write a short story only using major words that start with that letter. (Small, 3 letter and under, filler words can start with other letters)

Shannon: “Perhaps,” Penelope pondered as she passed the pudding, “People pick partners poorly.”

“Please,” Paula puffed, placing the plate on her pants. “Popular practice of prenuptials prove you preposterous. Provide proof.”

“Proudly,” she plopped on the patio pillow. “Past my previewing of potential princes perceived by you, percentages prove partners prefer to be parted.”

“Pitiful Penelope, you push pain to my pupils,” she pouted. “Parting is not peaceful but positive. For passion precedes all peril. My pouting pranks perception, but I am profoundly pleased with my past. Pursuing my potential prince is priceless.”

“Pursing him poorly,” I peeped, purposefully.

“Patience prevails. Prepare to be pleasantly puzzled.”

Erin: Carl couldn’t contemplate Cathryn’s confidence. Cathryn could command a crowd. Carl couldn’t command a child. Consequently, captivating Carl came easy for Cath. Carl’s conviction in ceaselessly cherishing her charm could crush a captains control of a crew. Cathryn was contagious. Cathryn changed Carl.

This is a great way to realize you are in desperate need of a bigger, better vocabulary. Share your attempt in the comments or wherever we (AKA @pelkysisters) are found!

Writing Prompt: Day 5

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Day 5 of 365 Days of Writing Prompts: Your Character was tricked into drinking a potion and is slowly realizing the effects.

Erin: “Do you want to go get some ice cream,” a random girl came up to ask me.

“I’m Trish, nice to meet you,” I sassed picking at the cherry tomatoes I had left on my plate.

“I don’t get you. Is that supposed to be funny,” her left eyebrow rose into a point. “I’ve seen you eat ice cream, I know you like sweets.”

“If that is not the creepiest thing I have ever heard, I don’t know what is? If you think someone gets this body by eating that junk you are insane, I would not touch anything more rich that fro-yo. I’m waiting for my boyfriend to come back. Please leave me alone.”

The waiter came to pick up our dishes and looked to me as the girl said, “You don’t have to wait any longer… I’m right here.” She plopped down into the seat and let her leg shoot out to the side just like Nick always did.

“Another drink,” the waiter asked with a wink and I looked to my empty glass. The drop that was left burned into my memory. I needed to know what was happening to me.

“What did you do to me,” I shouted and everyone stopped talking. When I looked at the crowd they hurt my eyes. “What did you do to all of these people,” I whispered hoping they would get back to chatting.

“I’ve done nothing to them. I just wanted to help you diminish your blindness,” he let a small chuckle slip. “Alcohol makes most of us more honest.”

“Why do they all look so hideous all of a sudden,” I tried to rub away the confusion from my eyes.

He shook his head at my attempt, “They have always looked that way, deep down. This is just the first time you’re seeing their true self and not their image.”

“You look the same,” I argued.

“My attractiveness is average, being equal inside and out is common for us.”

I pulled out my phone and turned the camera on myself. Half of my body was missing. The half that was left was covered in blisters and warts. Down my center was a giant festering scab. “No,” the screen of my phone shattered on the floor. “This can’t be,” I paused trying to figure out what my eyes were seeing. “If what you’re saying is true most people are ugly.”

“Not everywhere, this is a party full of fashion models. You should see a nursery. Children glow so brightly they could blind you,” his smile gave be a glimpse of what must be life changing.

“But adults all get uglier,” I stammered.

“Not your boyfriend,” he alluded.

“He is a girl,” I faded off realizing what my words meant.

“She sure is beautiful though, isn’t she?”

She was absolutely radiant, easily the most attractive in the room. “Yeah.”

Shannon: “This is crazy man,” I messaged Carl’s shoulder. “I can’t believe we are both going to be in the finale. You ready for me to pummel any chance you had at the prize money?”

“Yeah, yeah we’ll see about that. Do want me to get you a drink to celebrate?”

“We’re going out in a few minutes, we don’t have time to drink. We can celebrate after.”

“Not together. You know by the end of this, no matter who crosses that finish line, we’re not coming out friends. This may be our last chance.”

Though I wanted to argue we were different than past contestants, deep down I knew I was just in denial. “Fine, one drink,” I gave in.

“Ha, ha,” he raised his fist as he walked to the private bar in the room.

He soon returned to hand me a small glass. “May the best man win,” I joked before we clinked glasses.

“Oh I will,” he smiled, before we both took a drink.

I winced at the aftertaste. “Is this wine? It’s awful.”

“It was the strongest thing I could find,” he flashed his teeth having a hard time getting it down too. “I need it for my nerves, I’ve got to finish it,” he took another swig. “What, you’re not a little on edge?”

“I don’t know, I guess I feel a little funny.”

“It’s the nerves man, drink up,” he advised. “You’ll feel more relaxed.

I nodded and took another big sip, and it felt as if I was trying to swallow acid this time. “No,” I shook my head. “That isn’t safe, how are you still drinking it?”

“You baby, come on. It’s time to go,” he tugged at my arm to lead us to line up. When I looked down he looked like he had grown two arms. Then with a heavy head I looked up at his face. He had two of those too.

“I think I’m sick,” I slurred my words.

“You look fine,” he didn’t stop tugging at me. How was I still walking? I looked forward and the room kept getting smaller every time I blinked. I tried to shield my face from the colors zooming in at me from all directions. “Stop it, you’re acting crazy,” he slapped my hand down and tightened his grip on my upper arm.

“You did this,” I slurred again.

He shook his head, “You drank bad wine. Good luck,” he slapped my back as a bright light blinded my eyes.

The gate was open again. “Let the games begin,” I heard in an unending echo in my ears.

5 days down! If we can do that amount of days 72 more times, we will have succeeded. Share your ideas in the comments if you’d like, we’d like to read them. 🙂  

Writing Prompt: Day 4

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Day 4 of 365 Days of Writing Prompts: Have a character describe the person they admire most using all, or mostly, similes and metaphors.

Erin: The subway was where I always saw him.

He was a photograph. The picture was of a laughing baby. The print displayed lovingly on a grandmother’s wall would be no less uplifting placed on the top of a landfill. No matter what photographs were next to that one in the album, the giggling baby wouldn’t change. The baby’s dimples were permanent. He was a photograph.

I was the weather. Yesterday was gray. Today was meant to be dry, but my sopping socks proved the weatherman wrong. Tomorrow’s sky would most likely be clouded, but a ray of light could peak through. If I could be a photograph of the sun I would. I wished my forecast was forever filled with rainbows. Except, rainbows only came after the rain. I was the weather.

My favorite photograph blew out the door, but I wasn’t worried. It would be displayed in the same spot the next day. If my forecast was correct, I would be there to study the picture once again. If we were both prints we could be displayed together, but I wasn’t. I was the weather and I would not dare get too close to a photograph. Depending on the day my touch could fade the color, waterlog the paper, or blow it away to another city. Weather could ruin a perfect picture.

Shannon: When I’d first met her I was skeptical a person so flawless could exist. I soon learned there was nothing to question. She was hopelessly herself, and I admired almost every aspect of her. Everyone in her presence felt lucky to be sprinkled with just one measly flake of her fearless, because spending time with her was the closest most of us would ever get to flying without needing wings. She wasn’t just an adrenaline rush, but the best friend a person could have. Her kindness offered the same comfort as a mother’s hug. She was as trustworthy as loyal sidekick, and as encouraging as a number one fan. When she moved away I swear the world lost my favorite color.

If you got this far, thanks, and leave your response or prompt ideas in the comments!

Writing Prompt: Day 3

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Day 3 of 365 Days of Writing Prompts: Write a story inspired by these three pictures.

Shannon: “You must be Leo,” I spoke up from the tree I was leaning on as soon as I caught sight of the new face. He looked like a lost puppy, carrying his suitcase and bags. He looked to me a little surprised, but didn’t say a word as he started walking in my direction. “I’m Faye,” I stood up to introduce myself.

He shook my hand as he looked into my eyes, “Nice to meet you.” I got little distracted by how his iris were almost as dark as his pupils, when there was a sharp pain on my palm.

“Ow,” we both pulled our hands away and I examined mine to see that it was red and rough as if I’d touched something hot.

“I’m sorry. I thought I could prove that I could control my power, and get out of here. I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he looked down, preparing for my backlash.

“It’s okay. I get it, but I’m not the one you should be trying to impress. I was banished here too.”

“Earth is our home, not this place. They can’t really make us stay here, can they?”

“They’ve deemed our powers are dangerous, and we can’t control them. They could do much worse to us than this. Come on I’ll show you where to put you’re things,” I waved him to follow.

He sighed, but listened, “So what makes you dangerous?”

I turned around, “How about I show you?” He agreed with a smirk, and we headed to my room.

I opened the door to the familiar sound of violin music and laughter that transformed into a swarm of live inanimate objects greeting us hello. Leo jumped back, “What the…”

“Who is this,” the floor mat questioned.

“A new reject.”

“A new friend,” my chess pieces cheered.

“You make things come to life,” he looked at me, confused.

I nodded, “Only inanimate objects, and it doesn’t work on fabric.”

“Why is that so dangerous?”

“Armies of objects that can’t die. It was a little too intimidating for the council.”

“Why would anyone do that? And how can they assume these objects have the potential to be evil?” He seemed more upset about my placement than his own. He put his hands out to let a group of pawns jump into his palms. They began gossiping about his looks before complaining about the heat. “Sorry,” he quickly handed them to me.

“I’m sure they told you. It’s not about how you can stop it, but about how they can stop you. If they can’t successfully cage the power on Earth, we end up here.”

Erin: I finally found my way on my new planet. The purple air started to taste blue, or maybe even tasted better than blue. My body seemed to walk, but walking was more like floating there, and I had come to like floating far better than walking. Pompee was filled with tickles and once I started to befriend the Zorks, getting stuck there didn’t seem like such a bad fate. Even being the designated “transferrer” at work, because of my size, didn’t seem like such an insult.

The little Zorks filled the pudding cups and slid them down the line to be lidded. Then I would transfer to packing and the train would fly them to the markets. Work was fun with how sound came through the air particles in Pompee. The injecting machine chimed, when the cups slid they whistled, and the tape guns snapped. Her coworkers could keep a good beat. “Wal mantana keyote,” Tasseray’s hair shot to the ceiling as he yelled.

All of the Zorks started chanting in unison initiating a crescendo that evolved into a holler. Once they were all shrilling with a consistent vibrato a human boy walked into the room. A person just like me, not a little, colorful, legless, armless… Zonk. My eyes were deceiving me, but if he was real I could be happy in Pompee, and I could be happy with him. The shrilling faded and slowed. His hair was silver, my favorite color. He walked toward me. He wafted his sugar scent in my direction. I tried to blink away my mirage and on the third attempt I succeeded.

I was back on stage and back on earth. I dropped my bow and violin to my side as our conductor smiled at us. I along with the other humans bowed for the crowd. No one seemed suspicious. They must have thought I never left, but the homesickness burning a hole in my side would beg to differ. My need to get back to the silver haired boy would beg to differ.

Three pictures for day three. Share your stories with us here or any of the other places we are, we’d love to here from you!

Writing Prompt: Day 2

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Day 2 of 365 Days of Writing Prompts: Your character in yesterday’s post is justified (…at least to some extent), make us trust their goal is positive.

Erin: “How did your Christmas go,” Rosa asked sipping at some sort of brown liquor in her glass.

Leah stirred her coke, the ice cubes clinked on the sides of the glass. “Same old, same old.”

“What did they say now?” Leah could see all of the day’s happenings in Rosa’s eyes. Her mom asking her if she fell off of her diet. Her sister trying to convince her she would be happier if she found the right guy. Her dad presenting a few job options she could consider “if she wanted a career change.”

“Pretty much that my sister is doing everything right, and therefore I am not,” she pulled her straw out of her glass and pushed it back through the layer of ice.

“Your sister can take her 20’s housewife life and go back to Kansas,” Rosa said pouring her straight liquor into Leah’s glass. She could see her own control spilling out and over the rim.

“No,” she pulled the glass away and her friend’s drink poured straight onto the bar.

“You need to loosen up,” she insisted grabbing a small bar napkin and soaking up as much as she could. “If I were you I wouldn’t be calling my mom every day trying to get my family’s approval. I would cut them off,” she slurred the last few words and asked the bartender to top her off again.

The bar erupted as the glass ball dropped on the screen. Leah clinked her friend’s new drink and took 3 long sips. The alcohol felt warm entering her system and she felt warm around Rosa. Around her the whiskey felt safe, and around her whatever came of the night and of her life seemed fine. “You’re right, this year I will finally drink more and talk to my family less.”

Shannon: “You need to break out of your shell,” was the constant critique running through my head for the past few years of my life. I could never seem to meet enough new people, go to enough strange places, or test out enough out-of-the-norm activities. After all of my efforts to please my critics and better myself, I came to one conclusion: I miss my shell. This last year I spent so much time trying to break free from my shell that I left it so far behind I started feeling like I might never get it back. Sure, changing things up once in a while feels great, but I don’t want to lose my comfort zone again just to explore a new one. That’s why my New Year’s Resolution is to spend more time in my shell. I want to spend more time with the people I already love, more time in the places that bring me peace, and more of my days doing the activities that make me smile. Life is too short to spend free time not doing exactly what I enjoy most. So if anyone ever needs me, there’s a good chance they’ll find me happily in my comfy, cozy shell.

Day two built off of the simplicity of day one. Share your stories in the comments, and we’ll be back tomorrow!