Inspiration 2.0

[blueerica]

She lay flat on her back wondering why sand always gets, well… you know… It’s not like John would notice if she pulled the bottom out a little to shake some of it out, then she wouldn’t have to pad back to the hotel or jump back into the cold water. She was so toasty-warm already… John snored lightly.

She stood up, tugged gently, and felt the right tie loosen. Sh*t! Who is that creep over there? Why does the beach feel crowded all of a sudden?

When I’m sad, she comes to me
With a thousand smiles, she gives to me free

Running through the front door, the smell of eggs, mayonnaise and mustard slaps her across the face. But it’s a gentle slap. Maybe pickles? MMmm…. She could smell the barbeque sauce, too. Mom gives a sideways glance at the dirty little girl running through the living room into the kitchen. I just vacuumed...

Ay candela, candela, candela, me quemo aé!

Her hips swayed with his to the beat, tapping their entire bodies to the congo drums, the bongo beat. Dark room, shoulders brushing, shoulders back, chest out, chin up, back and forth and forth and back. One-Two-Three-Four. Ruffles and sweat, roses, candles…

¡Y ahora si quieren bailar, búsquense
otro timbalero!

Little One coos against her chest, full from the Gerber Peas and Carrots… Laughter. Smiles. Bright blue eyes, just like John’s. Glad she got that pretty ocean blue from him. Good thing she’s got mama's nose. Maybe she’ll be a teacher, a singer, a doctor? Wow, maybe. She could be President. Or a janitor.


Work It Harder Make It Better
Do It Faster, Makes Us stronger
More Than Ever Hour After
Our Work Is Never Over

Tum-tum-tum-tum-tum-tum…
Feet pounding to the rhythm in her headphones.
Tum-tum-tum-tum-tum-tum…
Past the corner store…
Tum-tum-tum-tum-tum-tum…
Keep going… Breathing hard…
Tum-tum-tum-tum-tum-tum…
God, why do I feel so panicky?
Tum-tum-tum-tum-tum-tum…
Cross the street to the park…
Pick up the pace… faster… faster…
Tum-tum-tum-tum-tum-tum…
Who’s behind me?
Tum-tum-tum-tum-tum-tum…
Smacked in the face with a stray branch…
Faster…
Tum-tum-tum-tum-tum-tum…
What! Where am I? This…
Where am I going?…
Tum-tum-tum-tum-tum-tum…

With all your power
What would you do?

Startled by the alarm, I straightened up and slammed the palm of my hand across the snooze button. One eye open, it’s 7:45… Maybe I can get another 10 minutes… Yeah… Why does this apartment have to always smell like cigarettes?

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Wow, LSPE, that was just wonderful.

[blueerica]

Yeah, H pretty much astounded me.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Erica - didn't see it coming. What a great way to show off your grasp of the moment.

[wendybeth]

Man, I am just so impressed with these stories- seriously impressed.

LS- I loved everything about your story. I agree with CP and Erica wholeheartedly- you nailed it down.

Erica- I loved the layers of your story. I don't know how to articulate it, except to describe it as layered, and each part (excepting the spanish, which I suck at) I could identify with. I know something has struck home when I can personalize it, and yours struck home.I'll think of it tomorrow when I hit the snooze button.......

CP- really, you rock for starting this!

[blueerica]

Haha, I keep reading it over and over - and I can't help but wonder if anyone knows why I wrote it this way. It barely makes sense to me... /shrug

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Originally Posted by blueerica

...I can't help but wonder if anyone knows why I wrote it this way. It barely makes sense to me... /shrug

I just said it to you, but I'll say it out here, too. I really don't think that something has to be obvious or resolved for it to resonate with an audience.

Everyone's pieces are really terrific, all very evocative. This thread always fascinated me in the way it always reveals how different points of view can run with a small idea. (And how it reveals just how many excellent writers we have among us. Good work, all!)

More people should contribute, too! I know Tom is hoping to get a piece up before this one closes. Is there an ETA for closing?

By the way, CP, are you looking for future theme ideas? I have one...

[wendybeth]

LS is absolutely right- I like having to think about something, and I only want to think about something if it hits home with me. I don't care to be spoon-fed the story anymore than I want to have someone else tell me how I should feel about a work of art. If I want that, I can read some of those stupid Nora Roberts books one of my clients insists on bringing me......


(MY client is an absolute sweetheart, but I don't have the courage to tell her I don't like that crap, so I just smile and hope she doesn't ask for a book report).

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

More people should contribute, too! I know Tom is hoping to get a piece up before this one closes. Is there an ETA for closing?

By the way, CP, are you looking for future theme ideas? I have one...

I said two weeks from the OP, which makes it the 24th. Not hard and fast, of course.

I don't need to be the only idea person. When the topic runs out of steam you can post your idea, no problem.

[tracilicious]

Sometimes when I'm reading, I feel as though I have a phoenix sitting in my lap. I feel my fingertips singe as I open the cover, the first sparks of his pyre already igniting. The fire burns slowly at points, barely a crackle. Other times it burns so bright and hot that my eyes can only focus on the blue bright flame. Feathers of words burn off and flitter around me as I fly and bounce over the text.

The more I read the more the fire blazes the nakeder my regal bird gets. Until finally, I'm staring at the last sentence and my phoenix is sitting vulnerable in the ashes of the dust jacket. We stare at each other for a while, then we look away for a while, then he flutters back to his shelf while I stare at traffic and try to digest what just happened between us.

I shoot him lingering glances as I pass by, trying to discern if we're ready for another go. Sometimes his plumage is bright and beautiful again right away and we dive right back in. Other times he needs a month or more to recover, so I pass the time with travel literature and organic cookbooks, waiting for him to call. Then there are the times when I've gotten a bit too close to the fire, so I ignore his phoenix song, unable to bear the pain of the heat again so soon.

Eventually though, I unfailingly approach him and extend my arm for him to perch on and we sit down again together, ready to burn and be left naked once again.