Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The Ogre's Den: The Ogre/Chuck Challenge, Day 7
The Ogre's Den: The Ogre/Chuck Challenge, Day 7: Hey, Readerland. The Ogre is back once again with another installment of the Ogre/Chuck Challenge. We are on Day 7, so including today, we...
The Ogre/Chuck Challenge, Day 7
Hey, Readerland. The Ogre is back once again with another installment of the Ogre/Chuck Challenge. We are on Day 7, so including today, we have twenty four days left. Thanks for sticking with me.
So, on the editing front, I should be getting more line edits on my steampunk story, but I have notes from the other guy (Hi, Adam!) who is trying to get into this anthology and I'm going to do a major rewrite on my antagonist based on what he suggested. Hopefully I'll get the notes/edits soon, so I can have something to work on once my final exam is over tomorrow. On the positive (?) side, I can tell you the nine essential macronutrients and the eight essential micronutrients of plants AND their function!
That damn well better be on the test tomorrow.
So, let's get started on Day 7. Today's challenge is:
2. Write about a war in which both sides have it wrong.
Now, I'm going to be honest. My first thought when I saw that was 'Is there a war that DOESN'T fit that topic?' Ooo, edgy. Anyway. Usually when a challenge is picked, I immediately start to think about what I'm going to write in my 15 minutes, but since I'm been studying like crazy today, I didn't even remember what today's challenge was until I opened yesterday's blog and re-read it. So, with little to no preparation, let's get started.
(P.S. I'm also attempting to make dinner while doing this.)
"Private Monkey! Report!" Sergeant Schultz yelled.
"Sir! I just got back from meeting with my contact," Monkey said between gulps of water. "and he said that the Ruskies are taking our boys hostage and torturing them!"
Schultz roared. "We can't let them get our military secrets! We have to bomb those Russians back to the Bay of Asimov! We won't let them have Mars without a fight!"
Following the sergeant's order, the twenty third division of the Mars American Military Wing began preparing for war.
---
"Are you sure?" First Major Pikup Andropov asked the American informant. "They Americans are capturing Russian troops and torturing them for information? How can you be sure, Mr. Jones?"
"First Major," Jones said. "I am a deserter from the American ranks. I signed up to protect Mars, not have the Cold War start all over again! I...I've seen the horror with my own eyes. They used needles and straps and...and electrodes! But your soldiers never gave up, First Major! They were brave! Braver than the men I worked for. I never wanted this to happen."
"I see." Andropov said. "And what exactly do you want in return for providing this information to me?"
"Nothing, First Major." Jones said. "All I ask is that I be given a suit and enough oxygen to get out of here before you and the Americans go to war. I want nothing to do with war, First Major."
"Very well." Andropov said. He turned to his right hand man, Second Major Anatoli Smirnoff. "Second Major, get this man outfitted for a trip across the wastes. Give him a suit, oxygen, food and water for...a week?" Andropov asked, looking at Jones.
"That would be welcome, First Major!" Jones said. "Thank you very much!" Jones stood up and followed Second Major Smirnoff our of the room.
"First Colonel Borscht!" Andropov yelled.
"Yes, First Major!" Borscht said, saluting.
"Go to the men. Tell them that war has come to us and we will not back down from those American pig dogs!" Andropov yelled. "We will arm our most powerful weapons and blow them back to Earth!"
---
"Thank you again, Second Major Smirnoff." Jones said.
"You are welcome, Comrade Jones. And thank you for this information. It will give us the impetus to push the Americans off of Mars!" Smirnoff said.
Jones walked away from the Second Major and after several turns through the plasticrete tunnels of the Russian Embassy, met up with his brother Arfner.
"Is it done, Glarfin?" Arfner asked.
"It is, Arfner." Jones/Glarfin replied as he stripped off his costume to reveal himself as an orange Martian like his brother. "The Americans and Russians have the same information about the other side and soon they will use their most powerful weapons against each other."
"Good." Arfner said. "Hopefully soon they'll blow each other up and Mars can be only for the Martians again."
Well, there you have it. A war where both sides have it wrong. I apologize for the goofy names. They just popped into my head.
Anyway, that's going to do it for Day 7. Now, because there are 25 writing exercises and 31 days in December, we're have to have repeats, but I won't repeat the same thing twice in a row. So, bearing that in mind, Day 8's challenge is:
16. Find a random picture on Flickr. Then write about it. (Click here for a random Flickr image generator.)
So, Day 8 is the same as Day 1. Find a picture and write about. Now remember, since the rules are a little lax around here (as in, I tend to hate rules), if you want to find a random picture somewhere else or even use a picture that you have, that's fine too. I don't count off for creativity. Oh, wait. That's the whole point of the exercise. Go nuts!
So, that's going to do it for Day 7. Thanks for joining me and remember to leave your own content if you'd like! You can do that in the comment section. I'll see you tomorrow. Until then, take care and be awesome to each other.
#WWWYKI
So, on the editing front, I should be getting more line edits on my steampunk story, but I have notes from the other guy (Hi, Adam!) who is trying to get into this anthology and I'm going to do a major rewrite on my antagonist based on what he suggested. Hopefully I'll get the notes/edits soon, so I can have something to work on once my final exam is over tomorrow. On the positive (?) side, I can tell you the nine essential macronutrients and the eight essential micronutrients of plants AND their function!
That damn well better be on the test tomorrow.
So, let's get started on Day 7. Today's challenge is:
2. Write about a war in which both sides have it wrong.
Now, I'm going to be honest. My first thought when I saw that was 'Is there a war that DOESN'T fit that topic?' Ooo, edgy. Anyway. Usually when a challenge is picked, I immediately start to think about what I'm going to write in my 15 minutes, but since I'm been studying like crazy today, I didn't even remember what today's challenge was until I opened yesterday's blog and re-read it. So, with little to no preparation, let's get started.
(P.S. I'm also attempting to make dinner while doing this.)
"Private Monkey! Report!" Sergeant Schultz yelled.
"Sir! I just got back from meeting with my contact," Monkey said between gulps of water. "and he said that the Ruskies are taking our boys hostage and torturing them!"
Schultz roared. "We can't let them get our military secrets! We have to bomb those Russians back to the Bay of Asimov! We won't let them have Mars without a fight!"
Following the sergeant's order, the twenty third division of the Mars American Military Wing began preparing for war.
---
"Are you sure?" First Major Pikup Andropov asked the American informant. "They Americans are capturing Russian troops and torturing them for information? How can you be sure, Mr. Jones?"
"First Major," Jones said. "I am a deserter from the American ranks. I signed up to protect Mars, not have the Cold War start all over again! I...I've seen the horror with my own eyes. They used needles and straps and...and electrodes! But your soldiers never gave up, First Major! They were brave! Braver than the men I worked for. I never wanted this to happen."
"I see." Andropov said. "And what exactly do you want in return for providing this information to me?"
"Nothing, First Major." Jones said. "All I ask is that I be given a suit and enough oxygen to get out of here before you and the Americans go to war. I want nothing to do with war, First Major."
"Very well." Andropov said. He turned to his right hand man, Second Major Anatoli Smirnoff. "Second Major, get this man outfitted for a trip across the wastes. Give him a suit, oxygen, food and water for...a week?" Andropov asked, looking at Jones.
"That would be welcome, First Major!" Jones said. "Thank you very much!" Jones stood up and followed Second Major Smirnoff our of the room.
"First Colonel Borscht!" Andropov yelled.
"Yes, First Major!" Borscht said, saluting.
"Go to the men. Tell them that war has come to us and we will not back down from those American pig dogs!" Andropov yelled. "We will arm our most powerful weapons and blow them back to Earth!"
---
"Thank you again, Second Major Smirnoff." Jones said.
"You are welcome, Comrade Jones. And thank you for this information. It will give us the impetus to push the Americans off of Mars!" Smirnoff said.
Jones walked away from the Second Major and after several turns through the plasticrete tunnels of the Russian Embassy, met up with his brother Arfner.
"Is it done, Glarfin?" Arfner asked.
"It is, Arfner." Jones/Glarfin replied as he stripped off his costume to reveal himself as an orange Martian like his brother. "The Americans and Russians have the same information about the other side and soon they will use their most powerful weapons against each other."
"Good." Arfner said. "Hopefully soon they'll blow each other up and Mars can be only for the Martians again."
Well, there you have it. A war where both sides have it wrong. I apologize for the goofy names. They just popped into my head.
Anyway, that's going to do it for Day 7. Now, because there are 25 writing exercises and 31 days in December, we're have to have repeats, but I won't repeat the same thing twice in a row. So, bearing that in mind, Day 8's challenge is:
16. Find a random picture on Flickr. Then write about it. (Click here for a random Flickr image generator.)
So, Day 8 is the same as Day 1. Find a picture and write about. Now remember, since the rules are a little lax around here (as in, I tend to hate rules), if you want to find a random picture somewhere else or even use a picture that you have, that's fine too. I don't count off for creativity. Oh, wait. That's the whole point of the exercise. Go nuts!
So, that's going to do it for Day 7. Thanks for joining me and remember to leave your own content if you'd like! You can do that in the comment section. I'll see you tomorrow. Until then, take care and be awesome to each other.
#WWWYKI
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
The Ogre's Den: The Ogre/Chuck Challenge, Day 6
The Ogre's Den: The Ogre/Chuck Challenge, Day 6: Hey, Readerland. The Ogre/Chuck Express has pulled into the station long enough to drop some more content. Today is Day 6 of the Ogre/Ch...
The Ogre/Chuck Challenge, Day 6
Hey, Readerland. The Ogre/Chuck Express has pulled into the station long enough to drop some more content.
Today is Day 6 of the Ogre/Chuck Challenge and today's entry should be interesting. For those that don't remember what today's exercise is:
24. Create tension by writing a scene where a character you adore does something you hate.
The way that I am interpreting this is that I'm going to use an existing character and write them in an odd situation.
Pete Lattimer and Myka Bering stopped and tried to catch their breath as the man who possessed Sir Edmund Hilary's Ice Axe, which let you climb anything, scaled up a brick wall at the end of an alley and out of sight.
"Pete!" Myka yelled. "See if you can climb the wall and I'll try to find another way around it!"
"You know what, Myka?" Pete asked. "No. I'm done."
"What do you mean you're 'done,' Pete?" Myka asked.
"Myka, we've been after this guy for two weeks straight. We've been Warehouse 13 agents for three years." Pete stood up straight. "I'm tired, Myka. I'm tired of the running and the chasing and all the weird artifacts. I'm tired of Artie always yelling at me and I'm tired of you always have to be right." Pete reached into his pocket and pulled out the Farnsworth as Myka looked between him and the brick wall.
"Hey, you two." Artie said over the Farnsworth. "Did you catch him?"
"Artie, I quit." Pete said.
"What? Quit?" Artie pushed his glasses up his nose. "Pete, this is no time for jokes."
"No joke, Artie." Pete said. "I've had enough of having my brain messed with and being electrocuted and switching bodies with people. I've had enough of it all, Artie."
"Pete," Artie said quietly. "You know the rules."
"Once an agent, always an agent!" Pete yelled. "I know the rules and I also know how often we ignore those rules when it suits us, Artie! Right now, it suits me to quit this job and go find a farm in Montana or Canada or something and never have to deal with artifacts again."
"Pete, you don't mean that." Myka said. "Think of all the people we've helped! All the people we've saved!
"You're right, Myka," Pete said. "but at what cost? Neither of us can ever have a normal life knowing what we know." Pete put his hand up. "I know what you're going to say. 'If we can't have a normal life, then we should keep doing what we're trained for and what we're good at.' But I'm not good at this anymore, Myka. This guy that we've been chasing? Back when we started, we've have caught him in a couple of days max. Now here we are in a dirty alley, in a city I can't remember the name of, chasing a guy we've been after for three weeks. I...I can't keep this up, Myka. Other than being in the hospital, I've had no time off. Especially after you left."
Myka looked down at the ground, embarrassment flooding her face.
"So, what?" Artie asked. "You want a week off? Fine. You've got it."
"No, Artie." Pete said. "It's not that. Because when the vacation's over, I've got to come back to...well, this," he said, waving his arm at the alley. "I'm done. I've got nothing left in the tank."
"If that's the way you truly feel." Artie said.
"It is." Pete said.
"Then you are hereby relieved of duty, I guess." Artie said. "Agent Bering will take the Farnsworth and the Tesla. Thank you for your service, Agent Lattimer."
Without a word, Pete closed the Farnsworth and handed it and the Tesla to Myka. He wanted to say something, but there were no words. Myka's tears said enough. Their hands touched for just a moment.
"I'm sorry, Myka. I really am." With that, Pete turned and walked out of the alley, leaving Myka all alone.
Well. That took longer than it should have. It took me a while to figure out which character I wanted to use. If you've ever watched Warehouse 13, you know Pete is not the kind of guy to give up. He's the upbeat, cheerful one who always tries to find a way. It actually hurt me to write this. Whew. Tough one, but a good one.
Remember, if you want to join in the fun, it's easy. Just look at the previous blog and find the exercise and then post your content as a comment or if you have your own blog or website, you can leave links of those as comments, too. If you write it up as a Word (or some other word processing document), you can either attach that or email it to me at SkredlitheOgre@gmail.com.
Another day is done and the Ogre/Chuck Express is leaving the station. Tune back in tomorrow. 'Wait!' I hear you saying. 'What's tomorrow's exercise?!?!?!?!?!' Good question. My lovely assistant has drawn:
2. Write about a war in which both sides have it wrong.
Well. That will be interesting.
Anyway, that's all I've got for today, so I'll see you all tomorrow. Until then, take care and be awesome to each other.
#WWWYKI
Today is Day 6 of the Ogre/Chuck Challenge and today's entry should be interesting. For those that don't remember what today's exercise is:
24. Create tension by writing a scene where a character you adore does something you hate.
The way that I am interpreting this is that I'm going to use an existing character and write them in an odd situation.
Pete Lattimer and Myka Bering stopped and tried to catch their breath as the man who possessed Sir Edmund Hilary's Ice Axe, which let you climb anything, scaled up a brick wall at the end of an alley and out of sight.
"Pete!" Myka yelled. "See if you can climb the wall and I'll try to find another way around it!"
"You know what, Myka?" Pete asked. "No. I'm done."
"What do you mean you're 'done,' Pete?" Myka asked.
"Myka, we've been after this guy for two weeks straight. We've been Warehouse 13 agents for three years." Pete stood up straight. "I'm tired, Myka. I'm tired of the running and the chasing and all the weird artifacts. I'm tired of Artie always yelling at me and I'm tired of you always have to be right." Pete reached into his pocket and pulled out the Farnsworth as Myka looked between him and the brick wall.
"Hey, you two." Artie said over the Farnsworth. "Did you catch him?"
"Artie, I quit." Pete said.
"What? Quit?" Artie pushed his glasses up his nose. "Pete, this is no time for jokes."
"No joke, Artie." Pete said. "I've had enough of having my brain messed with and being electrocuted and switching bodies with people. I've had enough of it all, Artie."
"Pete," Artie said quietly. "You know the rules."
"Once an agent, always an agent!" Pete yelled. "I know the rules and I also know how often we ignore those rules when it suits us, Artie! Right now, it suits me to quit this job and go find a farm in Montana or Canada or something and never have to deal with artifacts again."
"Pete, you don't mean that." Myka said. "Think of all the people we've helped! All the people we've saved!
"You're right, Myka," Pete said. "but at what cost? Neither of us can ever have a normal life knowing what we know." Pete put his hand up. "I know what you're going to say. 'If we can't have a normal life, then we should keep doing what we're trained for and what we're good at.' But I'm not good at this anymore, Myka. This guy that we've been chasing? Back when we started, we've have caught him in a couple of days max. Now here we are in a dirty alley, in a city I can't remember the name of, chasing a guy we've been after for three weeks. I...I can't keep this up, Myka. Other than being in the hospital, I've had no time off. Especially after you left."
Myka looked down at the ground, embarrassment flooding her face.
"So, what?" Artie asked. "You want a week off? Fine. You've got it."
"No, Artie." Pete said. "It's not that. Because when the vacation's over, I've got to come back to...well, this," he said, waving his arm at the alley. "I'm done. I've got nothing left in the tank."
"If that's the way you truly feel." Artie said.
"It is." Pete said.
"Then you are hereby relieved of duty, I guess." Artie said. "Agent Bering will take the Farnsworth and the Tesla. Thank you for your service, Agent Lattimer."
Without a word, Pete closed the Farnsworth and handed it and the Tesla to Myka. He wanted to say something, but there were no words. Myka's tears said enough. Their hands touched for just a moment.
"I'm sorry, Myka. I really am." With that, Pete turned and walked out of the alley, leaving Myka all alone.
Well. That took longer than it should have. It took me a while to figure out which character I wanted to use. If you've ever watched Warehouse 13, you know Pete is not the kind of guy to give up. He's the upbeat, cheerful one who always tries to find a way. It actually hurt me to write this. Whew. Tough one, but a good one.
Remember, if you want to join in the fun, it's easy. Just look at the previous blog and find the exercise and then post your content as a comment or if you have your own blog or website, you can leave links of those as comments, too. If you write it up as a Word (or some other word processing document), you can either attach that or email it to me at SkredlitheOgre@gmail.com.
Another day is done and the Ogre/Chuck Express is leaving the station. Tune back in tomorrow. 'Wait!' I hear you saying. 'What's tomorrow's exercise?!?!?!?!?!' Good question. My lovely assistant has drawn:
2. Write about a war in which both sides have it wrong.
Well. That will be interesting.
Anyway, that's all I've got for today, so I'll see you all tomorrow. Until then, take care and be awesome to each other.
#WWWYKI
Monday, December 5, 2011
The Ogre's Den: The Ogre/Chuck Challenge, Day 5
The Ogre's Den: The Ogre/Chuck Challenge, Day 5: Hey, Readerland. Back for Day 5 of the Ogre/Chuck Challenge! Ain't no stopping this train! Or something. So, sadly, we had no writer's ...
The Ogre/Chuck Challenge, Day 5
Hey, Readerland. Back for Day 5 of the Ogre/Chuck Challenge! Ain't no stopping this train! Or something.
So, sadly, we had no writer's group meeting yesterday as two people out of four couldn't make it, but we're still going to be editing and whatnot and a couple of us are getting together in a couple of weeks for a 'writer's lunch' to try to hammer out final details. Hopefully by then I won't have a story that doesn't resemble a half-written, half-edited pile of poo.
Enough of the nonsense! On to today's challenge!
#25 Write about the worst mistake a character has ever made -- the kind of mistake that resonates
throughout that character's life. The kind where the snake can never be put back into the can.
Now re-write it like that mistake is the best thing that ever happened to the character.
Let's roll.
Take 1:
"What do you mean, you gave it to the cops?" Mark yelled. "Do you have any idea what we could have done with five thousand dollars?"
"Mark, it wasn't our money." Joyce said. "It just showed up at our store by mistake. A bad address. From what the cops told me, the money was being sent to a drug dealer. I didn't want drug money in our house!"
"But what about the student loans? Or the car payments?" Mark asked. "Or the mortgage? We could have used that money to eliminate some of our debt." He shook his head.
"I know, Mark, but I just couldn't." Joyce said. "If I had taken the money then I wouldn't be the same person you married. I wouldn't be able to look at myself in the mirror anymore."
"We'll manage somehow." Mark said. He hugged her, kissed her forehead and walked into the other room.
Joyce stayed in her chair and curled her legs up to her chest. Taking the money had been one of the biggest temptations she had ever faced. She had hid the money and thought it over during work, but in the end, she wasn't the kind of person who would steal. She hadn't been raised that way.
As she sat on her chair in silence, she could hear Mark groan in the other room in frustration. She hadn't wanted the situation to be this way when she told Mark she thought she was pregnant. That would make things even worse.
Take 2:
"What do you mean, you gave it to the cops?" Mark yelled. "Do you have any idea what we could have done with five thousand dollars?"
"Mark, it wasn't our money." Joyce said. "It just showed up at our store by mistake. A bad address. From what the cops told me, the money was being sent to a drug dealer. I didn't want drug money in our house!"
Mark stood there with one hand on his hip, a beer in the other. "God. You and your stupid hippie mother. 'Don't lie. Don't steal.' Jesus. That money could have gotten us free and clear of a lot of money we owe people, but no, you just had to hand it over to the cops instead of thinking about us!"
"And what if they found us?" Joyce asked. "The drug dealers, I mean. They might have hurt us. Or killed us!"
Mark surged forward and grabbed Joyce by the hair. "Shut up! You think you know everything, don't you? You don't! You should have asked me what to do! I would have handled everything." Mark pushed her head away. "Why do I stay around here anyway?"
Joyce stood up and moved to walk past Mark, but Mark stopped her.
"Where do you think you're going?" Mark asked.
"I'm leaving." Joyce said firmly. "I'm tired of you pushing me around and thinking that you know everything. You don't know anything, Mark." Joyce pushed him back. "I am tired of you forcing yourself on me and hitting me. I am through making trips to the emergency room when you get back drunk from where ever you were and decide that you're in control."
"You can't leave." Mark said. "I won't let you."
With no warning, Joyce punched Mike square in the nose, something he had done to her a time or two. There was a satisfying crack and Mike howled in pain.
As Mike tried to stop the gushing of his nose, Joyce walked back to their cramped bedroom, took a suitcase from the closet and shoved all of her clothes into it, slamming it shut.
"No," Mike whimpered from the kitchen. He had a dish cloth up held up to his face. "Don't go, Joyce. Things will be..."
"Shut up!" Joyce screamed. "You say that every damn time you put me in the hospital. 'It'll be different, Joyce.' I'm leaving, Mike. I'm going to the court house tomorrow and I'm filing for divorce."
Anger rose in Mike's eyes. "Fine! You do that! See how far you get as a single woman with no money! The account is in my name, Joyce!" Mike started laughing, snorting blood into the dish towel. He stopped when Joyce just smiled at him.
"That's where you're wrong, Mike." Joyce said, opening the front door. "You see, there's something I hadn't told you yet."
"Oh, yeah?" Mike asked suspiciously.
"I'm pregnant, Mike. Five weeks along." Joyce rubbed her belly. "That means, once we're divorced, you owe me alimony and child support. I'll see you in court, Mike."
Even if it wasn't the type of freedom Mark had wanted, as she closed the door, Joyce felt like she was finally free.
Well. There you go. Obviously I put a lot more into the second section than the first. I want to go back and add more to the first, now that I'm taking more time to think about it, though.
Okay, so there you have Day 5. What is in store for Day 6, you ask? My lovely assistant has drawn:
24. Create tension by writing a scene where a character you adore does something you hate.
That goes along relatively well with today's exercise. Should be fun!
Remember, if you want to join in the Ogre/Chuck Express, it's easy. Just post your content as a comment and I'll approve it or if you have your own blog/website/corner of the interwebs, leave that as a comment and I'll approve that as well.
That's all I've got for today. Thanks for joining me and I'll see you all tomorrow for Day 6! Until then, take care and be awesome to each other.
#WWWYKI
So, sadly, we had no writer's group meeting yesterday as two people out of four couldn't make it, but we're still going to be editing and whatnot and a couple of us are getting together in a couple of weeks for a 'writer's lunch' to try to hammer out final details. Hopefully by then I won't have a story that doesn't resemble a half-written, half-edited pile of poo.
Enough of the nonsense! On to today's challenge!
#25 Write about the worst mistake a character has ever made -- the kind of mistake that resonates
throughout that character's life. The kind where the snake can never be put back into the can.
Now re-write it like that mistake is the best thing that ever happened to the character.
Let's roll.
Take 1:
"What do you mean, you gave it to the cops?" Mark yelled. "Do you have any idea what we could have done with five thousand dollars?"
"Mark, it wasn't our money." Joyce said. "It just showed up at our store by mistake. A bad address. From what the cops told me, the money was being sent to a drug dealer. I didn't want drug money in our house!"
"But what about the student loans? Or the car payments?" Mark asked. "Or the mortgage? We could have used that money to eliminate some of our debt." He shook his head.
"I know, Mark, but I just couldn't." Joyce said. "If I had taken the money then I wouldn't be the same person you married. I wouldn't be able to look at myself in the mirror anymore."
"We'll manage somehow." Mark said. He hugged her, kissed her forehead and walked into the other room.
Joyce stayed in her chair and curled her legs up to her chest. Taking the money had been one of the biggest temptations she had ever faced. She had hid the money and thought it over during work, but in the end, she wasn't the kind of person who would steal. She hadn't been raised that way.
As she sat on her chair in silence, she could hear Mark groan in the other room in frustration. She hadn't wanted the situation to be this way when she told Mark she thought she was pregnant. That would make things even worse.
Take 2:
"What do you mean, you gave it to the cops?" Mark yelled. "Do you have any idea what we could have done with five thousand dollars?"
"Mark, it wasn't our money." Joyce said. "It just showed up at our store by mistake. A bad address. From what the cops told me, the money was being sent to a drug dealer. I didn't want drug money in our house!"
Mark stood there with one hand on his hip, a beer in the other. "God. You and your stupid hippie mother. 'Don't lie. Don't steal.' Jesus. That money could have gotten us free and clear of a lot of money we owe people, but no, you just had to hand it over to the cops instead of thinking about us!"
"And what if they found us?" Joyce asked. "The drug dealers, I mean. They might have hurt us. Or killed us!"
Mark surged forward and grabbed Joyce by the hair. "Shut up! You think you know everything, don't you? You don't! You should have asked me what to do! I would have handled everything." Mark pushed her head away. "Why do I stay around here anyway?"
Joyce stood up and moved to walk past Mark, but Mark stopped her.
"Where do you think you're going?" Mark asked.
"I'm leaving." Joyce said firmly. "I'm tired of you pushing me around and thinking that you know everything. You don't know anything, Mark." Joyce pushed him back. "I am tired of you forcing yourself on me and hitting me. I am through making trips to the emergency room when you get back drunk from where ever you were and decide that you're in control."
"You can't leave." Mark said. "I won't let you."
With no warning, Joyce punched Mike square in the nose, something he had done to her a time or two. There was a satisfying crack and Mike howled in pain.
As Mike tried to stop the gushing of his nose, Joyce walked back to their cramped bedroom, took a suitcase from the closet and shoved all of her clothes into it, slamming it shut.
"No," Mike whimpered from the kitchen. He had a dish cloth up held up to his face. "Don't go, Joyce. Things will be..."
"Shut up!" Joyce screamed. "You say that every damn time you put me in the hospital. 'It'll be different, Joyce.' I'm leaving, Mike. I'm going to the court house tomorrow and I'm filing for divorce."
Anger rose in Mike's eyes. "Fine! You do that! See how far you get as a single woman with no money! The account is in my name, Joyce!" Mike started laughing, snorting blood into the dish towel. He stopped when Joyce just smiled at him.
"That's where you're wrong, Mike." Joyce said, opening the front door. "You see, there's something I hadn't told you yet."
"Oh, yeah?" Mike asked suspiciously.
"I'm pregnant, Mike. Five weeks along." Joyce rubbed her belly. "That means, once we're divorced, you owe me alimony and child support. I'll see you in court, Mike."
Even if it wasn't the type of freedom Mark had wanted, as she closed the door, Joyce felt like she was finally free.
Well. There you go. Obviously I put a lot more into the second section than the first. I want to go back and add more to the first, now that I'm taking more time to think about it, though.
Okay, so there you have Day 5. What is in store for Day 6, you ask? My lovely assistant has drawn:
24. Create tension by writing a scene where a character you adore does something you hate.
That goes along relatively well with today's exercise. Should be fun!
Remember, if you want to join in the Ogre/Chuck Express, it's easy. Just post your content as a comment and I'll approve it or if you have your own blog/website/corner of the interwebs, leave that as a comment and I'll approve that as well.
That's all I've got for today. Thanks for joining me and I'll see you all tomorrow for Day 6! Until then, take care and be awesome to each other.
#WWWYKI
Sunday, December 4, 2011
The Ogre's Den: The Ogre/Chuck Challenge, Day 4
The Ogre's Den: The Ogre/Chuck Challenge, Day 4: Hey, Readerland. Day 4 is here and I am ready to get started. So, no writing group today, as two of our four members were unable to make ...
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