Turn the corner. A flurry of crunchy leaves,
And head down Perfect Lane.
Arm in arm, closed-toed shoes,
Coats buttoned up tight.
My left hand sparkles, a glittering promise
Of this new beginning.
I like fancy, he likes simple,
A cozy little house is best.
Spiral staircase, delicate woodwork,
Are too outdated for us.
This one has artsy windows and artsy doors,
Cold stones and wooden floors.
I shake my head and we press on,
Me pulling him along.
Crunch leaves again and climb,
Upward to fancy dream homes.
I squeeze his hand tight and he pulls me close,
Our wish remains the same.
The wind winds softly around my ankles,
And he holds me even closer, to his heart.
We stop in front of a big two story,
And turn to face its simplicity.
White paint chips from upstairs to basement,
Windows as plain as day.
A rounded piece of house juts out in front,
An accent of our fairytale.
The smooth, rounded shingles are old,
The house is likely older.
Tilted steps lead to an entryway
Scattered leaves cover the worn wood.
The front porch sits, the way he’d like to read his morning paper.
A small garden overgrown with weeds, peeks out to greet me.
A tall-branched tree sits out front,
Gnarled roots poke up from the ground,
A symbol of imperfection on this Perfect Lane.
We look up and down the street to find,
Clean-cut perfect lawns.
This one needs some work and love,
Something we could both work on.
I look at him, and he smiles my way,
a silent accord between us.
The For Sale sign in front creaks and waves to us,
The numbers are worn and discolored,
Reflecting months of ignorance.
He snatches it up and tucks it under his arm, smiling excitedly.
Arm in arm, crunch leaves again, and return to Main Street.
Look back on Perfect Lane and hope to see it again soon.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Untitled: Chapter one/1
Sitting in her seat at Keshula North High School, Madison Summers anxiously waited for the final bell to ring, signaling her freedom. Only five minutes left. Madison nudged Kathleen, who was sitting next to her.
“Have a great summer,” Madison whispered.
“Thanks, you too. Keep in touch okay?” Kathleen whispered back.
“Of course,” Madison said as she began to pack up her things.
As soon as the bell rang, students came spilling out of the brick building. They looked like scurrying ants as they said goodbye to their friends and sprinted to the buses or mom’s waiting car.
To her advantage, Madison lived two blocks from the school so she had no need to rush out and catch the bus. This summer was going to be great. She would hang out with Julie all the time, and have sleepovers and stay up late.
Madison turned the corner and walked to the fifth house on Cumberland Drive. She skipped up the front steps, slid her key in the door and went inside.
“Hello! I’m home!” Madison called as she tossed her book bag in the front closet. She frowned when she got no response.
“Oh well,” she shrugged. Madison headed to the kitchen for something to eat. She opened the refrigerator and peered inside. Her mother’s yucky spinach dip sat in the front, stinking up the rest of the food. She dug in the back for the chocolate chip cookie dough she hid from her older brother Gabe. Her eyes twinkled as she took the tub in two hands, skipping to the counter for a spoon. As if her mother knew exactly what Madison was doing, the phone rang, stopping her in her tracks. Maddie set the tub down and walked to the phone.
“Hello?” she said quietly.
“How was school?” her mother asked from her desk at work.
“Good, it was my last day today” Madison happily shared.
“Well that’s good news huh?” her mother responded.
“Yep.”
There was silence for about a minute before her mother spoke again.
“Well baby cakes I was just calling to check up on you. Me and daddy will be home around 5 okay?”
Madison rolled her eyes. She was too old for that talk. No girl her age called her dad ‘daddy’ anymore. “ kay mom.”
“I would tell you to get your homework done, but you don’t have any. So, be good. I’ll see you later.”
“Okay bye,” Madison said. She hung up the phone and trotted happily back to her cookie dough. She dug in the drawer for the biggest spoon she could find and speared into the cold, gooey dough. She held her doughed-spoon in one hand as she stuck the tub back in the refrigerator with the other. Licking the spoon, she headed through the house to her bedroom.
“G’day Lemons,” she said to her pet turtle as she walked in. She gently tapped the glass. The reptile curled his tiny head up and out of its shell in response, slowly moving itself in the pool of water it chilled in.
Crunching away at some chocolate chips, Maddie sat down on her bed and stared out the window at her neighbor’s house. There was a boy that lived next door, and he was completely in love with Madison. Whenever she went down to swim in her pool, she would catch him peeking at her through the fence. She would call him out and scare him away, only to catch him spying on her again. He didn’t interest her whatsoever because he was really strange, besides the fact that he was 3 years younger than her.
“I mean seriously, I’m a 7th grader, I don’t date younger men,” she said out loud with a flip of her hair.
After going back down stairs and ditching the empty cookie dough spoon, Maddie went downstairs to snoop in her brother’s room. Gabe’s door was plastered with bumper stickers and ‘warning’ signs. Madison ignored the innuendos that stuck to the wooden door, and went inside. Gabe had cleaned his room for once and left nothing but a pair of socks on his floor. Carefully stepping around her brother’s bed, she went to his closet where she knew he kept his secret stash of pixie sticks (and playboys). She fumbled her hand around on the top shelf until she felt the smooth cardboard box she sought. Madison gently pulled the box down and hugging it to her chest, sat down on her brother’s bed. She lifted the lid and set it aside, peering inside the box. Old baseball cards, gum wrappers, ticket stubs, and condom wrappers created a kaleidoscope of colors, from bluest blues to shiny red. She fished through the box searching for the candy she craved. Her fingers closed around the tubes of sugar and she grabbed a few. Madison carefully lidded the box and put it back in the closet. After making sure everything was as she’d left it, she scampered off to her own room.
“Have a great summer,” Madison whispered.
“Thanks, you too. Keep in touch okay?” Kathleen whispered back.
“Of course,” Madison said as she began to pack up her things.
As soon as the bell rang, students came spilling out of the brick building. They looked like scurrying ants as they said goodbye to their friends and sprinted to the buses or mom’s waiting car.
To her advantage, Madison lived two blocks from the school so she had no need to rush out and catch the bus. This summer was going to be great. She would hang out with Julie all the time, and have sleepovers and stay up late.
Madison turned the corner and walked to the fifth house on Cumberland Drive. She skipped up the front steps, slid her key in the door and went inside.
“Hello! I’m home!” Madison called as she tossed her book bag in the front closet. She frowned when she got no response.
“Oh well,” she shrugged. Madison headed to the kitchen for something to eat. She opened the refrigerator and peered inside. Her mother’s yucky spinach dip sat in the front, stinking up the rest of the food. She dug in the back for the chocolate chip cookie dough she hid from her older brother Gabe. Her eyes twinkled as she took the tub in two hands, skipping to the counter for a spoon. As if her mother knew exactly what Madison was doing, the phone rang, stopping her in her tracks. Maddie set the tub down and walked to the phone.
“Hello?” she said quietly.
“How was school?” her mother asked from her desk at work.
“Good, it was my last day today” Madison happily shared.
“Well that’s good news huh?” her mother responded.
“Yep.”
There was silence for about a minute before her mother spoke again.
“Well baby cakes I was just calling to check up on you. Me and daddy will be home around 5 okay?”
Madison rolled her eyes. She was too old for that talk. No girl her age called her dad ‘daddy’ anymore. “ kay mom.”
“I would tell you to get your homework done, but you don’t have any. So, be good. I’ll see you later.”
“Okay bye,” Madison said. She hung up the phone and trotted happily back to her cookie dough. She dug in the drawer for the biggest spoon she could find and speared into the cold, gooey dough. She held her doughed-spoon in one hand as she stuck the tub back in the refrigerator with the other. Licking the spoon, she headed through the house to her bedroom.
“G’day Lemons,” she said to her pet turtle as she walked in. She gently tapped the glass. The reptile curled his tiny head up and out of its shell in response, slowly moving itself in the pool of water it chilled in.
Crunching away at some chocolate chips, Maddie sat down on her bed and stared out the window at her neighbor’s house. There was a boy that lived next door, and he was completely in love with Madison. Whenever she went down to swim in her pool, she would catch him peeking at her through the fence. She would call him out and scare him away, only to catch him spying on her again. He didn’t interest her whatsoever because he was really strange, besides the fact that he was 3 years younger than her.
“I mean seriously, I’m a 7th grader, I don’t date younger men,” she said out loud with a flip of her hair.
After going back down stairs and ditching the empty cookie dough spoon, Maddie went downstairs to snoop in her brother’s room. Gabe’s door was plastered with bumper stickers and ‘warning’ signs. Madison ignored the innuendos that stuck to the wooden door, and went inside. Gabe had cleaned his room for once and left nothing but a pair of socks on his floor. Carefully stepping around her brother’s bed, she went to his closet where she knew he kept his secret stash of pixie sticks (and playboys). She fumbled her hand around on the top shelf until she felt the smooth cardboard box she sought. Madison gently pulled the box down and hugging it to her chest, sat down on her brother’s bed. She lifted the lid and set it aside, peering inside the box. Old baseball cards, gum wrappers, ticket stubs, and condom wrappers created a kaleidoscope of colors, from bluest blues to shiny red. She fished through the box searching for the candy she craved. Her fingers closed around the tubes of sugar and she grabbed a few. Madison carefully lidded the box and put it back in the closet. After making sure everything was as she’d left it, she scampered off to her own room.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Shipwrecked--Part Three
“Where am I?” Jack asked as they rolled through ton, passing tiny houses with perfect lawns and pastel colored cars.
“Baltimore, Maryland” Crybaby answered. “This is the hoity toity neighborhood here the squares live. Where do you need to go?”
“I crashed my ship and I need some wood for repairs,” he answered watching a group of kids spill out of an elementary school, laughing and skipping down the sidewalk.
“Okay, I’ll take you to see my uncle Belvedere. He’s a real swell guy, really knows how to fix stuff. Why he always fixes the cars that my grandma hustles,” Crybaby said.
Jack’s face softened, “Are you a pirate too?”
“Nah, I sing. But my buddies are into that, stealing and stuff.”
“Oh,” Jack said with a frown.
“Here we are. Turkey Point.”
A wide stretch of patchy dirt and grass banked around a small lake. There were dozens of cars parked in the gravel parking lot, dust covering the wheel wells and dirt on the rims.
Crybaby rolled on through, past a wide pavilion with young kids dancing on a small stage. Jack cringed at the music and grimaced with every long burst of saxophone.
They continued on through the park, passing ratty houses and tiny trailers. Crybaby slowed to a stop in front of an old sagging wooden house. The siding was rusted and the foundation crumbled in one corner. There were scratchy bushes and shrubs in what passed for a front yard, and miscellaneous tires, toys, and tacky garbage.
Jack wrinkled his nose at his surroundings, slowly climbing off the motorcycle. Crybaby marched on over to the front door and banged his fist on it, the flimsy screen door rapped against the wooden frame. An older woman in tan overalls, knee-high boots, and wild black hair burst outside. She fixed the duck shaped hat that squashed her hair down, as she stepped from the house.
“Who the…Crybaby! Boy where have you been? You’re worrying your grandma to death over here, being gone all the time,” she said, coming over.
“Sorry grandma. Uncle Belvedere around?”
“Yeah out back working on a truck,” she said. She chomped on her gum and smiled wildly through ruby red lips. “Uh, Crybaby? Who’s your friend?” she said, stopping him.
Crybaby beckoned over Jack who cautiously approached, gingerly stepping over the junk in the yard.
“This here’s Jack. I found him on the side of the road,” Crybaby joked.
Grandma came closer to Jack and peered up at him, her mouth in a wide open, toothy grin.
Jack wrinkled his nose, for once appalled by someone else’s breath besides his own.
“Pleasure,” Jack said, awkwardly sticking his hand in her face for a handshake.
She took a step back and shook his hand. “Good to meet you Jack. What were you doing on the side of the road?”
“Narrowly escaping an attack from a ferocious cat,” Jack said seriously.
Crybaby laughed, “A cat? Look who’s a sissy now?”
“Big kitty,” Jack said outstretching his arms in estimate of the animal’s size. “You have no idea.”
“C’mon Jack. Let’s go find you some lumber,” Crybaby said.
Jack dropped his arms and followed, muttering curse words to himself.
They went around to the back of the house, winding through a yard full of old cars, pieces of wood, and miscellaneous tools. A loud drilling was going on in a rusted old shed. Crybaby rapped on the door, and the drilling stopped.
“I’m coming!” A southern voice hollered at them from within. The door swung open and a tall thin man in a blue mechanic’s uniform stood before them. His face and hands were covered in black grease, and his stained red cap sagged to one side of his head.
“Uncle Belvedere, this is my pal Jack. He’s looking for some lumber,” Crybaby said, patting Jack on his shoulder.
“What kind of lumber? Uncle Belvedere asked looking from Jack to Crybaby.
Jack began his business voice, “My ship, the Black Pearl, crashed into some rocks and now I’ve got a rather large hole in the side.”
“Oh you want wood for a boat?”
“Ship,” Jack corrected.
Uncle Belvedere rubbed the back of his neck. I’m gonna have to order some. We don’t carry as much anymore, and I’m assuming you’ll need quite a bit. Might be a few days.”
“What? I haven’t the time to order some,” Jack complained.
“Well you can go into town and get the wood there but they’ll charge you an arm and 2 legs for it. You don’t strike me as the kind of guy to be into hobbling around with one arm for the rest of your life,” Uncle Belvedere said, folding his arms across his chest.
Jack huffed, “I need eight, two by four planks. Also the bolts and screws to fasten it all into place. How much are we talking here?”
Uncle Belvedere’s expression changed as he punched some numbers in his head. “I can give it all to you for 300 bucks.”
“What?! I don’t have that kind of money, I….” Jack looked in his coin purse, jingling around the few sad coins he kept for emergencies. Jack looked up ruefully and said, “I spent it all on rum.”
Crybaby lifted one corner of his mouth and shrugged, “I guess you’ll just have to get a job then Jack. C’mon Jack, I’ll show you around town.”
Jack sighed, zipped up his coin purse and trudged behind Crybaby to explore the wide world of employment.
“Baltimore, Maryland” Crybaby answered. “This is the hoity toity neighborhood here the squares live. Where do you need to go?”
“I crashed my ship and I need some wood for repairs,” he answered watching a group of kids spill out of an elementary school, laughing and skipping down the sidewalk.
“Okay, I’ll take you to see my uncle Belvedere. He’s a real swell guy, really knows how to fix stuff. Why he always fixes the cars that my grandma hustles,” Crybaby said.
Jack’s face softened, “Are you a pirate too?”
“Nah, I sing. But my buddies are into that, stealing and stuff.”
“Oh,” Jack said with a frown.
“Here we are. Turkey Point.”
A wide stretch of patchy dirt and grass banked around a small lake. There were dozens of cars parked in the gravel parking lot, dust covering the wheel wells and dirt on the rims.
Crybaby rolled on through, past a wide pavilion with young kids dancing on a small stage. Jack cringed at the music and grimaced with every long burst of saxophone.
They continued on through the park, passing ratty houses and tiny trailers. Crybaby slowed to a stop in front of an old sagging wooden house. The siding was rusted and the foundation crumbled in one corner. There were scratchy bushes and shrubs in what passed for a front yard, and miscellaneous tires, toys, and tacky garbage.
Jack wrinkled his nose at his surroundings, slowly climbing off the motorcycle. Crybaby marched on over to the front door and banged his fist on it, the flimsy screen door rapped against the wooden frame. An older woman in tan overalls, knee-high boots, and wild black hair burst outside. She fixed the duck shaped hat that squashed her hair down, as she stepped from the house.
“Who the…Crybaby! Boy where have you been? You’re worrying your grandma to death over here, being gone all the time,” she said, coming over.
“Sorry grandma. Uncle Belvedere around?”
“Yeah out back working on a truck,” she said. She chomped on her gum and smiled wildly through ruby red lips. “Uh, Crybaby? Who’s your friend?” she said, stopping him.
Crybaby beckoned over Jack who cautiously approached, gingerly stepping over the junk in the yard.
“This here’s Jack. I found him on the side of the road,” Crybaby joked.
Grandma came closer to Jack and peered up at him, her mouth in a wide open, toothy grin.
Jack wrinkled his nose, for once appalled by someone else’s breath besides his own.
“Pleasure,” Jack said, awkwardly sticking his hand in her face for a handshake.
She took a step back and shook his hand. “Good to meet you Jack. What were you doing on the side of the road?”
“Narrowly escaping an attack from a ferocious cat,” Jack said seriously.
Crybaby laughed, “A cat? Look who’s a sissy now?”
“Big kitty,” Jack said outstretching his arms in estimate of the animal’s size. “You have no idea.”
“C’mon Jack. Let’s go find you some lumber,” Crybaby said.
Jack dropped his arms and followed, muttering curse words to himself.
They went around to the back of the house, winding through a yard full of old cars, pieces of wood, and miscellaneous tools. A loud drilling was going on in a rusted old shed. Crybaby rapped on the door, and the drilling stopped.
“I’m coming!” A southern voice hollered at them from within. The door swung open and a tall thin man in a blue mechanic’s uniform stood before them. His face and hands were covered in black grease, and his stained red cap sagged to one side of his head.
“Uncle Belvedere, this is my pal Jack. He’s looking for some lumber,” Crybaby said, patting Jack on his shoulder.
“What kind of lumber? Uncle Belvedere asked looking from Jack to Crybaby.
Jack began his business voice, “My ship, the Black Pearl, crashed into some rocks and now I’ve got a rather large hole in the side.”
“Oh you want wood for a boat?”
“Ship,” Jack corrected.
Uncle Belvedere rubbed the back of his neck. I’m gonna have to order some. We don’t carry as much anymore, and I’m assuming you’ll need quite a bit. Might be a few days.”
“What? I haven’t the time to order some,” Jack complained.
“Well you can go into town and get the wood there but they’ll charge you an arm and 2 legs for it. You don’t strike me as the kind of guy to be into hobbling around with one arm for the rest of your life,” Uncle Belvedere said, folding his arms across his chest.
Jack huffed, “I need eight, two by four planks. Also the bolts and screws to fasten it all into place. How much are we talking here?”
Uncle Belvedere’s expression changed as he punched some numbers in his head. “I can give it all to you for 300 bucks.”
“What?! I don’t have that kind of money, I….” Jack looked in his coin purse, jingling around the few sad coins he kept for emergencies. Jack looked up ruefully and said, “I spent it all on rum.”
Crybaby lifted one corner of his mouth and shrugged, “I guess you’ll just have to get a job then Jack. C’mon Jack, I’ll show you around town.”
Jack sighed, zipped up his coin purse and trudged behind Crybaby to explore the wide world of employment.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Shipwrecked- Part Two :)
Jack stumbled through the trees that engulfed him. He opened his eyes as wide as they would go to try and absorb the little light that floated down through the thick branches.
“This is absolutely ridiculous” he exclaimed in frustration. A thick twig snapped behind him and Jack froze. He looked around and saw nothing. In the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of movement disappear into the trees. Jack flicked his eyes back and forth, scanning the trees. His hand moved to his pistol, unbuttoning the leather clasp that secured it. More twigs snapped behind him. Jack turned. In front of him stood a ferocious looking wolf, his teeth bared, glinting in the shafts of sunlight.
“Good doggy, nice doggy..” Jack coaxed.
The wolf stalked toward him, its strong shoulders gliding under its thick fur. The wolf uttered a low, threatening growl.
Jack tightened his hold on his pistol, turned and ran. With the wolf at his heels, Jack leaped over fallen trees and batted at the thick green vines that obstructed his path. Jack puffed and raced through the brush. Aiming for the opening in the trees ahead of him. Jack hurled himself from the forest, stumbling into the main road that led into town. He landed face down on the asphalt, scraping his hands and knees. Jack lifted his head and his eyes widened in horror as a big black motorcycle screeched to a halt inches in front of his face. Scrambling backward, Jack took in the young man that sat atop the rumbling cycle.
A young male, no more than 21, shut off the cycle and leaned it into park. He lifted his leg off the bike, his tight blue jeans creasing in protest. Jack looked up at him, seeing is own reflection in the pair of black shades that hid his eyes. His hair was greasy and slicked back. He chewed on a toothpick, and straightened his leather jacket as he approached Jack.
The man removed his sunglasses, revealing his deep chocolate eyes, and bent to examine Jack.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?”
Jack stumbled to his feet and brushed off his hands and knees.
“Ello mate, I’m Captain Jack Sparrow,” he said, offering a dirty paw.
The man nodded in response and crossed his arms. He looked Jack up and down, his brow creasing in confusion.
“What’s the matter with your hair?” the rebel asked, chewing his toothpick.
Jack caught one of his dreadlocks as it blew in the wind. He sniffed it and frowned.
“My hair is fine. Your hair looks icky.”
“You got something against my hair?” he asked, at which point he pulled a comb from his inside jacket pocket and ran it through his greasy locks. “This is how good hair is supposed to look, and this is how I wear it. You’ll do good to learn that this is the appropriate hairstyle if you want to look real bad and cool.”
Jack raised one eyebrow, doubtful. The two of them stared each other down for a few moments. Finally the man took a step forward and reached his hand out to Jack.
“My name is Crybaby Walker, good to meet you Mr. Sparrow,” He said.
“That’s a funny name, do they call you that because you’re a sissy?” Jack dared to comment.
“Ay, I ain’t a sissy It’s just my name and you better learn it,” Crybaby defended.
“Well Mr. Crybaby, I need some assistance, can you direct me to town?” Jack asked, looked up and down the road.
“Yeah, I was just on my way into town now. Hop on, I’ll hitch you a ride into town,” Crybaby offered.
He walked back to the bike, hiked one leg over and kick-started the engine.
“You want me to ride on that?” Jack said, pointing to the rumbling hunk of metal.
“Well, yeah. Unless you want to be a sissy about it,” Crybaby teased with a poisonous grin.
Jack narrowed his eyes and stomped over to the bike. “I am not a sissy." Jack gently climbed onto the motorcycle and wrapped his arms around Crybaby’s waist.
“Alright Mr. Sparrow, hang on tight,” Crybaby said. He gave the bike a rev, Jack squealed, and the two of them zoomed down the road into town.
“This is absolutely ridiculous” he exclaimed in frustration. A thick twig snapped behind him and Jack froze. He looked around and saw nothing. In the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of movement disappear into the trees. Jack flicked his eyes back and forth, scanning the trees. His hand moved to his pistol, unbuttoning the leather clasp that secured it. More twigs snapped behind him. Jack turned. In front of him stood a ferocious looking wolf, his teeth bared, glinting in the shafts of sunlight.
“Good doggy, nice doggy..” Jack coaxed.
The wolf stalked toward him, its strong shoulders gliding under its thick fur. The wolf uttered a low, threatening growl.
Jack tightened his hold on his pistol, turned and ran. With the wolf at his heels, Jack leaped over fallen trees and batted at the thick green vines that obstructed his path. Jack puffed and raced through the brush. Aiming for the opening in the trees ahead of him. Jack hurled himself from the forest, stumbling into the main road that led into town. He landed face down on the asphalt, scraping his hands and knees. Jack lifted his head and his eyes widened in horror as a big black motorcycle screeched to a halt inches in front of his face. Scrambling backward, Jack took in the young man that sat atop the rumbling cycle.
A young male, no more than 21, shut off the cycle and leaned it into park. He lifted his leg off the bike, his tight blue jeans creasing in protest. Jack looked up at him, seeing is own reflection in the pair of black shades that hid his eyes. His hair was greasy and slicked back. He chewed on a toothpick, and straightened his leather jacket as he approached Jack.
The man removed his sunglasses, revealing his deep chocolate eyes, and bent to examine Jack.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?”
Jack stumbled to his feet and brushed off his hands and knees.
“Ello mate, I’m Captain Jack Sparrow,” he said, offering a dirty paw.
The man nodded in response and crossed his arms. He looked Jack up and down, his brow creasing in confusion.
“What’s the matter with your hair?” the rebel asked, chewing his toothpick.
Jack caught one of his dreadlocks as it blew in the wind. He sniffed it and frowned.
“My hair is fine. Your hair looks icky.”
“You got something against my hair?” he asked, at which point he pulled a comb from his inside jacket pocket and ran it through his greasy locks. “This is how good hair is supposed to look, and this is how I wear it. You’ll do good to learn that this is the appropriate hairstyle if you want to look real bad and cool.”
Jack raised one eyebrow, doubtful. The two of them stared each other down for a few moments. Finally the man took a step forward and reached his hand out to Jack.
“My name is Crybaby Walker, good to meet you Mr. Sparrow,” He said.
“That’s a funny name, do they call you that because you’re a sissy?” Jack dared to comment.
“Ay, I ain’t a sissy It’s just my name and you better learn it,” Crybaby defended.
“Well Mr. Crybaby, I need some assistance, can you direct me to town?” Jack asked, looked up and down the road.
“Yeah, I was just on my way into town now. Hop on, I’ll hitch you a ride into town,” Crybaby offered.
He walked back to the bike, hiked one leg over and kick-started the engine.
“You want me to ride on that?” Jack said, pointing to the rumbling hunk of metal.
“Well, yeah. Unless you want to be a sissy about it,” Crybaby teased with a poisonous grin.
Jack narrowed his eyes and stomped over to the bike. “I am not a sissy." Jack gently climbed onto the motorcycle and wrapped his arms around Crybaby’s waist.
“Alright Mr. Sparrow, hang on tight,” Crybaby said. He gave the bike a rev, Jack squealed, and the two of them zoomed down the road into town.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Shipwrecked- Part uno
Hello. I have been in such the writing mood lately, it's amazing. Here is the first part of a collaboration fanfic that I am writing with a bunch of Johnny Depp characters. I had a lot of fun writing Just a Bunch of Bananas, so I thought I would try it again with some other characters. Also, in a way, I am showing my support for Johnny in Alice in Wonderland! Can't wait to see it! Well read on and enjoy, The next part should be coming shortly :) Thanks for the support!
Part One
Jack Sparrow drunkenly crawled out of his captain’s quarters, steadying himself on the smooth wooden railing of the Black Pearl. He squinted up at the sun and pulled out his compass, checking the direction of the ship. The compass arrow spun erratically in his palm giving no clear direction.
“Bugga” Jack muttered, clearly annoyed. He snapped the compass shut and waltzed over to the starboard side of the ship. The boat sailed smoothly through the cerulean ocean water. He looked up at the tattered black sails that whipped in the strong ocean wind. It was a wonder those sails caught any wind at all. Jack headed to the front of the ship and pulled out his telescope. He peered through it, and his eyes focused on a giant coastline a few hundred miles off. As the ship chugged along, he was able to make out an empty beach, perfect for his arrival and anchoring of the pearl. Not so perfect were the razor sharp rocks that bordered the beach.
Jack’s eyes nearly burst from their sockets as he squealed in alarm, “not good!”
Jack sprinted to the wheel of the ship and turned the wheel as far as it would go to try and maneuver through the dangerous submerged stones. The ship sailed on, unable to turn in the strong current and headed straight for the rocks in his path. Jack shrunk against the wheel and held on tightly, preparing for the crash.
The pearl slammed straight into the jagged, granite surface, wood splintering and grating against the ocean floor as it rushed toward the beach. The boat bumped along and finally came to a creaking halt on the edge of the deserted beach. Jack peeked his head up from the wheel and blinked several times before righting himself again. He crept toward the front of the boat and nervously leaned over the side to examine to damage. The front starboard side of the ship was splintered and cracked up the side. There was a rather large hole in the side, eagerly welcoming the water that rushed in with the push of the waves. Jack ground his teeth and headed down below deck. He splashed through the water that was up to his ankle and on his way to the hole, grabbed a hammer, nails and some boards. He struggled to nail the boards over the gaping hole as water splashed in, pushing him backwards. He sputtered through the salty water, nailing the boards in place as best he could. After several minutes, he stepped back to survey his work. The hole was mostly covered, but it definitely wasn’t a permanent fix. Jack huffed. He would have to go into town to get supplies to repair it further. He emptied most of the water that drenched the floor and mopped up the rest that remained.
Physically tired, Jack climbed the ladder back up to the deck and closed the doors behind him. He locked them in place and turned on his heel to fetch his effects. Jack secured his hat, money purse, pistol, and cutlass, and after he had ‘locked up’ and dropped anchor, climbed down from the ship. He leapt onto the soft warm beach, sand caking his still wet boots and slacks. Jack looked around, judging the best direction to head in. He decided to head north, straight through the trees in front of him. It wasn’t the first time Jack had to navigate through unfamiliar forest. Jack took a deep breath, secured his belt once more and strode to the mouth of the forest, the trees closing in behind him
Part One
Jack Sparrow drunkenly crawled out of his captain’s quarters, steadying himself on the smooth wooden railing of the Black Pearl. He squinted up at the sun and pulled out his compass, checking the direction of the ship. The compass arrow spun erratically in his palm giving no clear direction.
“Bugga” Jack muttered, clearly annoyed. He snapped the compass shut and waltzed over to the starboard side of the ship. The boat sailed smoothly through the cerulean ocean water. He looked up at the tattered black sails that whipped in the strong ocean wind. It was a wonder those sails caught any wind at all. Jack headed to the front of the ship and pulled out his telescope. He peered through it, and his eyes focused on a giant coastline a few hundred miles off. As the ship chugged along, he was able to make out an empty beach, perfect for his arrival and anchoring of the pearl. Not so perfect were the razor sharp rocks that bordered the beach.
Jack’s eyes nearly burst from their sockets as he squealed in alarm, “not good!”
Jack sprinted to the wheel of the ship and turned the wheel as far as it would go to try and maneuver through the dangerous submerged stones. The ship sailed on, unable to turn in the strong current and headed straight for the rocks in his path. Jack shrunk against the wheel and held on tightly, preparing for the crash.
The pearl slammed straight into the jagged, granite surface, wood splintering and grating against the ocean floor as it rushed toward the beach. The boat bumped along and finally came to a creaking halt on the edge of the deserted beach. Jack peeked his head up from the wheel and blinked several times before righting himself again. He crept toward the front of the boat and nervously leaned over the side to examine to damage. The front starboard side of the ship was splintered and cracked up the side. There was a rather large hole in the side, eagerly welcoming the water that rushed in with the push of the waves. Jack ground his teeth and headed down below deck. He splashed through the water that was up to his ankle and on his way to the hole, grabbed a hammer, nails and some boards. He struggled to nail the boards over the gaping hole as water splashed in, pushing him backwards. He sputtered through the salty water, nailing the boards in place as best he could. After several minutes, he stepped back to survey his work. The hole was mostly covered, but it definitely wasn’t a permanent fix. Jack huffed. He would have to go into town to get supplies to repair it further. He emptied most of the water that drenched the floor and mopped up the rest that remained.
Physically tired, Jack climbed the ladder back up to the deck and closed the doors behind him. He locked them in place and turned on his heel to fetch his effects. Jack secured his hat, money purse, pistol, and cutlass, and after he had ‘locked up’ and dropped anchor, climbed down from the ship. He leapt onto the soft warm beach, sand caking his still wet boots and slacks. Jack looked around, judging the best direction to head in. He decided to head north, straight through the trees in front of him. It wasn’t the first time Jack had to navigate through unfamiliar forest. Jack took a deep breath, secured his belt once more and strode to the mouth of the forest, the trees closing in behind him
Friday, February 26, 2010
Untitled Story. Please leave feedback!
Prologue
Dr. Madison Summers walked into the dimly lit office and set her coffee on her desk. Yawning, she stepped over to the window and pulled open the shades. A pool of light flooded into the room, making the gray carpet suddenly brighten. Dr. Summers unbuttoned her wool coat and hung it on the black leather chair in front of her desk. As the young doctor sat down in the chair, she picked up her coffee mug. She carefully took a sip of it; a bit of cream and two sugars, just the way she liked it. Madison grabbed the mail from her mailbox and scanned over it. Nothing new…bills…credit card offers… “Have you seen us,” missing ads. Madison put the mail back and leaned back in her chair. The lock on the front door rattled and the door pushed open.
A short, plump woman with medium brown hair bustled inside and hung her jacket on one of the pegs by the door.
“Good morning Laura,” Madison called from the office waving her hand above her head.
“Oh hi honey, I didn’t think you’d be here so early,” Laura said coming down the hall to Madison’s office.
“Well, you know me…always full of surprises,” Madison said sacastically ith a smile.
“Yeah, yeah,” Laura said nodding.
Laura had been working for Madison a little over a year and the two of them were very close friends. She’d been married for 9 years now and her daughter was turning 5 in a few weeks. She and her husband had been struggling to have a baby, but she was the kind of person who always saw the positive side of things, and coming from a southern background, she had strong Christian beliefs. Every night she prayed that she’d someday be blessed with another child.
The phone at the front desk rang and Laura excused herself to go answer it.
Madison went to the closet, took out her white coat and pulled it on. She brushed back her long dark hair and smoothed it into a ponytail. She had dark, dark brown hair that almost looked black, and her soft green eyes were one of a kind. Her skin was a light shade of bronze and soft to the touch. She was a regular beauty queen with a smart head, a clever attitude and quick wit; traits she’d learned from her father.
She sat back down at her desk and opened her top desk drawer. She picked up a photo album and flipped through the pictures of her and her family and stopped when she reached the pictures of her at Lake Winapo summer camp. A young girl leaned up against a boat and a boy sat next to her. They were holding hands and smiling. The picture was of her and her camp friend Andrew. She smiled at this picture and looked at a few more of them.
Madison put the book away and sat back in her chair. She’d been having a lot of thoughts about Andrew lately, but she hadn’t heard from him in ten years. She wasn’t ever able to find him and after 2 years of searching, she finally gave up. She should’ve given up as soon as she met her boyfriend Devon; he was perfect at first but now things were a little rocky, and a little not so perfect, perhaps the reason she’d started to come to work earlier.
The morning flew by with only 3 patients. One had come down with the flu, and another had strep throat. The third was a newborn baby in for shots and as his mother carried him into room one, Madison glanced at Laura who was smiling with twinkling eyes at the baby.
A ring from the bell on the door signaled someone’s entrance.
“Hi. I’m here for the 11:30 appointment,” a man said as he walked up to the front desk.
“Alright hun, let me just look here…ok, Spurkitz, and you’ve brought Lily right?” Laura said to the man.
“Yes, this is my little Lily,” the man answered.
“How ya doin’ sugar?” Laura said, peering over the desk to look at the tiny child. Lily tucked herself further behind her father’s legs, holding onto him tightly.
“She’s a little shy,” the man whispered, running a nervous hand through his hair. He kept glancing towards the hallway, leading to Madison’s office.
“Oh that’s quite all right. You may have a seat now,” Laura said warmly.
The man went to sit in the waiting area and his daughter shuffled behind him, shooting nervous glances back at Laura.
Laura smiled and went back to Madison’s office. She knocked on the door.
“Dr., You’ve got a Lily Spurkitz here for you. There’s a mighty fine man sitting with her,” Laura said with a grin.
Madison’s heart leapt when she heard Lily’s last name, and she swallowed her coffee so fast she burned her throat. She relaxed a little by reminding herself that it could very well just be a coincidence.
“Room one please,” Madison said as she recovered.
Laura nodded and went back to the front of the building.
“Sir, I’ll need to see your insurance card,” Laura said as she sat at the desk again.
“Oh, right,” he said, getting up.
The man walked over to the counter and gave Laura his card. She took the card and his ID, glancing at the ring on his left hand and watched him as he signed the medical form she’d given him:
Andrew Spurkitz
Madison Walked to the first room, telling herself it was all in her head. She knocked on the door, waited, and slowly opened it. As she turned and closed the door behind her, Andrew looked up at her, smiling.
“Hi Maddie,” he said.
She smiled back nervously and the memories of her childhood summer camp came rushing back to her.
Dr. Madison Summers walked into the dimly lit office and set her coffee on her desk. Yawning, she stepped over to the window and pulled open the shades. A pool of light flooded into the room, making the gray carpet suddenly brighten. Dr. Summers unbuttoned her wool coat and hung it on the black leather chair in front of her desk. As the young doctor sat down in the chair, she picked up her coffee mug. She carefully took a sip of it; a bit of cream and two sugars, just the way she liked it. Madison grabbed the mail from her mailbox and scanned over it. Nothing new…bills…credit card offers… “Have you seen us,” missing ads. Madison put the mail back and leaned back in her chair. The lock on the front door rattled and the door pushed open.
A short, plump woman with medium brown hair bustled inside and hung her jacket on one of the pegs by the door.
“Good morning Laura,” Madison called from the office waving her hand above her head.
“Oh hi honey, I didn’t think you’d be here so early,” Laura said coming down the hall to Madison’s office.
“Well, you know me…always full of surprises,” Madison said sacastically ith a smile.
“Yeah, yeah,” Laura said nodding.
Laura had been working for Madison a little over a year and the two of them were very close friends. She’d been married for 9 years now and her daughter was turning 5 in a few weeks. She and her husband had been struggling to have a baby, but she was the kind of person who always saw the positive side of things, and coming from a southern background, she had strong Christian beliefs. Every night she prayed that she’d someday be blessed with another child.
The phone at the front desk rang and Laura excused herself to go answer it.
Madison went to the closet, took out her white coat and pulled it on. She brushed back her long dark hair and smoothed it into a ponytail. She had dark, dark brown hair that almost looked black, and her soft green eyes were one of a kind. Her skin was a light shade of bronze and soft to the touch. She was a regular beauty queen with a smart head, a clever attitude and quick wit; traits she’d learned from her father.
She sat back down at her desk and opened her top desk drawer. She picked up a photo album and flipped through the pictures of her and her family and stopped when she reached the pictures of her at Lake Winapo summer camp. A young girl leaned up against a boat and a boy sat next to her. They were holding hands and smiling. The picture was of her and her camp friend Andrew. She smiled at this picture and looked at a few more of them.
Madison put the book away and sat back in her chair. She’d been having a lot of thoughts about Andrew lately, but she hadn’t heard from him in ten years. She wasn’t ever able to find him and after 2 years of searching, she finally gave up. She should’ve given up as soon as she met her boyfriend Devon; he was perfect at first but now things were a little rocky, and a little not so perfect, perhaps the reason she’d started to come to work earlier.
The morning flew by with only 3 patients. One had come down with the flu, and another had strep throat. The third was a newborn baby in for shots and as his mother carried him into room one, Madison glanced at Laura who was smiling with twinkling eyes at the baby.
A ring from the bell on the door signaled someone’s entrance.
“Hi. I’m here for the 11:30 appointment,” a man said as he walked up to the front desk.
“Alright hun, let me just look here…ok, Spurkitz, and you’ve brought Lily right?” Laura said to the man.
“Yes, this is my little Lily,” the man answered.
“How ya doin’ sugar?” Laura said, peering over the desk to look at the tiny child. Lily tucked herself further behind her father’s legs, holding onto him tightly.
“She’s a little shy,” the man whispered, running a nervous hand through his hair. He kept glancing towards the hallway, leading to Madison’s office.
“Oh that’s quite all right. You may have a seat now,” Laura said warmly.
The man went to sit in the waiting area and his daughter shuffled behind him, shooting nervous glances back at Laura.
Laura smiled and went back to Madison’s office. She knocked on the door.
“Dr., You’ve got a Lily Spurkitz here for you. There’s a mighty fine man sitting with her,” Laura said with a grin.
Madison’s heart leapt when she heard Lily’s last name, and she swallowed her coffee so fast she burned her throat. She relaxed a little by reminding herself that it could very well just be a coincidence.
“Room one please,” Madison said as she recovered.
Laura nodded and went back to the front of the building.
“Sir, I’ll need to see your insurance card,” Laura said as she sat at the desk again.
“Oh, right,” he said, getting up.
The man walked over to the counter and gave Laura his card. She took the card and his ID, glancing at the ring on his left hand and watched him as he signed the medical form she’d given him:
Andrew Spurkitz
Madison Walked to the first room, telling herself it was all in her head. She knocked on the door, waited, and slowly opened it. As she turned and closed the door behind her, Andrew looked up at her, smiling.
“Hi Maddie,” he said.
She smiled back nervously and the memories of her childhood summer camp came rushing back to her.
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