"I'm not sure I'm interested in our little business deal anymore," said the hotshot young billionaire as he relaxed deeper into the hot tub.
The older businessman on the other side of the hot tub stood up in alarm. "Wh-what? But we, I mean, we had a deal!"
"Yeah, but you're not offering me anything I don't already have. Money? Got that. Cars? Got that. Don't need 'em, pal," the hotshot said cockily.
"Yes, well..." said the businessman as he tried to recover. "How about more money? I can talk to the board, see what else we can offer - "
"Phffff! No way, man." The billionaire laid his head back on the side of the hot tub in contentment as the businessman tried desperately to think of something else to offer.
"Uh, how about...how about every reality TV show?"
The billionaire glanced at the businessman, his interest piqued. The young man rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Reality TV shows, huh?"
"Yes, every reality show, on DVD."
"Right now?"
"Right now."
The billionaire paused briefly before breaking into a confident smile. "Alright, I accept. But I gotta say, pal, I'm not sure where you're goin' with this reality TV kick," he said, chuckling to himself and laying his head back down. On the inside, he lamented his lost ability to care, to feel.
"You idiot!" said a female voice. The voice's owner, a small fairy, flitted into view. "I can make you feel. I've been watching you," she said, starting to disrobe. "I can make you feel again. I can restore blood, revitalize you. I can make you tingle and hum until you're spent. I am the highest ranked naked body."
Suddenly, she glanced sharply up, her face angry. "You stupid idiot!" she yelled. "I can intercept your texts!"
The businessman, who had been trying to send a text to the billionaire while the fairy was talking, realized that his phone was upside down. "How do you do this?" he mumbled to himself as he turned the phone around. Once he had it correctly oriented, he hurriedly typed in "r80" and sent it to the default location, Asia.
"I just sent a text to Asia," declared the businessman.
"What'd it say?" asked the young billionaire.
"r80," replied the businessman. "Where will that go, what will that mean?"
"Let's see...r80..." said the billionaire, typing into a computer terminal on the side of the hot tub. "Rashirdiay. It'll go there. They'll tell Rashirdiay you're interested in them."
"Hmm," pondered the businessman. "This could be very good for our business deal. Or very bad."
The hotshot billionaire laughed.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Shirt Store
Jack gathered his confidence and entered the Renaissance Shirt Store for the second time that day. He'd already been in once to place an order, and on that visit he'd seen several of his own shirts sitting in a pile. It'd been bothering him that the store was profiting off of his stolen garments and he was determined to assert his ownership rights. The clerk nodded to him in recognition as Jack approached his stolen shirts near the window.
"How much are these shirts?" he asked.
"Five dollars," replied the clerk.
"Uh-huh, uh-huh, and would it help if I said I knew where they came from?"
The clerk's face assumed the rigid stare that so many retailers display when sensing the onslaught of a belligerent customer.
"These are mine," said Jack with conviction.
"Hmmm," said the clerk.
"Someone must've mistakenly brought in a load of my laundry," Jack said, lacing his speech with the slightest bit of sarcasm. "This one, here," he continued, holding up a blue t-shirt with the words "Bye Bye Birdie" printed on the front, "I just got done playing this show a few months ago."
"I'm sorry, sir, I can't - "
"And this one, I played this show, like, five or six years ago," Jack said, pointing to one that read "Guys and Dolls." He held the shirt up to show the clerk. "There's no way these aren't mine. You can't give them back to me?"
"I'm sorry, no," replied the clerk.
"What if there was one with my name, or nickname, on the back?"
"No."
"So, you're really not gonna give these back to me? My shirts?"
"No, sorry, I can't," said the clerk from behind his rigid facade.
Jack sighed as he turned around and made for the exit. "Hmm, well, that's really the best you can do?"
"I can offer $1 off," said the manager apologetically.
"Not good enough," said Jack forcefully. Then, to soften the blow, he added, "I'll be back to pick up the ones I ordered."
"How much are these shirts?" he asked.
"Five dollars," replied the clerk.
"Uh-huh, uh-huh, and would it help if I said I knew where they came from?"
The clerk's face assumed the rigid stare that so many retailers display when sensing the onslaught of a belligerent customer.
"These are mine," said Jack with conviction.
"Hmmm," said the clerk.
"Someone must've mistakenly brought in a load of my laundry," Jack said, lacing his speech with the slightest bit of sarcasm. "This one, here," he continued, holding up a blue t-shirt with the words "Bye Bye Birdie" printed on the front, "I just got done playing this show a few months ago."
"I'm sorry, sir, I can't - "
"And this one, I played this show, like, five or six years ago," Jack said, pointing to one that read "Guys and Dolls." He held the shirt up to show the clerk. "There's no way these aren't mine. You can't give them back to me?"
"I'm sorry, no," replied the clerk.
"What if there was one with my name, or nickname, on the back?"
"No."
"So, you're really not gonna give these back to me? My shirts?"
"No, sorry, I can't," said the clerk from behind his rigid facade.
Jack sighed as he turned around and made for the exit. "Hmm, well, that's really the best you can do?"
"I can offer $1 off," said the manager apologetically.
"Not good enough," said Jack forcefully. Then, to soften the blow, he added, "I'll be back to pick up the ones I ordered."
Friday, August 20, 2010
Mansion Pool
Jack swam around the indoor pool on the ground floor of the mansion. He tried his best to avoid revealing too much of himself; the giant glass wall provided no cover, and there were people outside. He saw someone he recognized over by the stairs: it was Small Saul! Jack swam over to him.
"Oh, hey Jack," said Small Saul.
"Hey Small Saul," replied Jack.
"How'd you end up here?" asked Small Saul.
Gesturing around to the opulent mansion, Jack replied, "Oh, you know, us Oles always end up in giant mansi-"
"Yeah, especially if they're produce workers!" interrupted Neemstoa from across the room.
"Far out, far out," said Small Saul.
"Oh, hey Jack," said Small Saul.
"Hey Small Saul," replied Jack.
"How'd you end up here?" asked Small Saul.
Gesturing around to the opulent mansion, Jack replied, "Oh, you know, us Oles always end up in giant mansi-"
"Yeah, especially if they're produce workers!" interrupted Neemstoa from across the room.
"Far out, far out," said Small Saul.
Tower Terrorism
Jack and the commando party made their way into water purification plant. The general had been very clear - she needed oil to construct the giant mirror lens, so their mission was to infiltrate and blow up the oil tower in the plant.
Jack was the last of the group to go through the security checkpoint, where a lone guard was waving them through. This plant used low-frequency sound waves to purify the water, and Jack could feel the bass tones resonating inside his body as he walked down the stairs. He approached the guard, who nodded as Jack walked past. He ran into LeMadd on the other side.
"She can't hum," explained the guard. Indeed, LeMadd was silent.
On the other side of the checkpoint, the group met up to take stock of the situation. A tall fellow in the back demanded, "Where's the general?"
"She's up ahead, I think," said another person, peering ahead through the orange glare of the setting sun.
The tall fellow stamped around in consternation. "I need to command," he declared, standing on his head.
It was night by the time they met up with the general at the base of the tower. She handed out ropes and began coordinating the scaling efforts, which involved ascending to a certain height, waiting for small elevator platforms to arrive so that they could rest, and repeating the process at the next level. Jack was worried about being able to hold on long enough, so he decided to act stronger than he was. It worked; hanging from the thin ropes was much easier that way.
By the time they had reached the top, workers and the police were circling in the water below, their spotlights lighting up the oil tower. The general took out a small bomb and threw it, but Jack quickly intervened and cast it off into the water. He realized that negotiation might be a smarter way to get the oil.
"We'll negotiate," he yelled to the head of the plant, a squat, bespectacled fellow who was swimming around in the dark water, "but on two terms." As he said this, Jack accidentally knocked a container of orange juice into the water.
"Uh, the first term is that you hand me that back. I didn't mean to knock it into the water," said Jack. "The second term is that you, and only you, can attend the negotiations." The man looked sourly at Jack for a time before agreeing.
The scene shifted to the negotiation table, where the general was doing a voice-over narration.
"And so we negotiated for the oil that I needed. I would soon be able to build my giant mirror lens. However, that was also the day that my rival got a little piece of the plan." Across the table, a lithe woman took a small tape recorder from the general, who yelled, "Give that back!" and snatched it from the lithe woman's grasp.
Jack was the last of the group to go through the security checkpoint, where a lone guard was waving them through. This plant used low-frequency sound waves to purify the water, and Jack could feel the bass tones resonating inside his body as he walked down the stairs. He approached the guard, who nodded as Jack walked past. He ran into LeMadd on the other side.
"She can't hum," explained the guard. Indeed, LeMadd was silent.
On the other side of the checkpoint, the group met up to take stock of the situation. A tall fellow in the back demanded, "Where's the general?"
"She's up ahead, I think," said another person, peering ahead through the orange glare of the setting sun.
The tall fellow stamped around in consternation. "I need to command," he declared, standing on his head.
It was night by the time they met up with the general at the base of the tower. She handed out ropes and began coordinating the scaling efforts, which involved ascending to a certain height, waiting for small elevator platforms to arrive so that they could rest, and repeating the process at the next level. Jack was worried about being able to hold on long enough, so he decided to act stronger than he was. It worked; hanging from the thin ropes was much easier that way.
By the time they had reached the top, workers and the police were circling in the water below, their spotlights lighting up the oil tower. The general took out a small bomb and threw it, but Jack quickly intervened and cast it off into the water. He realized that negotiation might be a smarter way to get the oil.
"We'll negotiate," he yelled to the head of the plant, a squat, bespectacled fellow who was swimming around in the dark water, "but on two terms." As he said this, Jack accidentally knocked a container of orange juice into the water.
"Uh, the first term is that you hand me that back. I didn't mean to knock it into the water," said Jack. "The second term is that you, and only you, can attend the negotiations." The man looked sourly at Jack for a time before agreeing.
The scene shifted to the negotiation table, where the general was doing a voice-over narration.
"And so we negotiated for the oil that I needed. I would soon be able to build my giant mirror lens. However, that was also the day that my rival got a little piece of the plan." Across the table, a lithe woman took a small tape recorder from the general, who yelled, "Give that back!" and snatched it from the lithe woman's grasp.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Starship Escapades
The demon woman stealthily entered the bridge of the massive starship, her face aglow with hate and anticipation. She snuck behind the lone female officer on duty, drew her blade and stabbed the air just behind the officer's back. The officer's face momentarily lit up with surprise as her torso ripped open in an explosion of blood and gore. She slumped down in her seat, expired. The demon woman ran out of the bridge before her dark work was discovered.
"Quickly, look in the practice rooms, she's got to be somewhere," yelled an authoritative female voice. It wasn't long before the demon assassin was discovered, hiding in one of the small rooms. Using the brief moment of surprise, the demon dashed out of the room past her pursuers and took off down the corridor, dodging people as she ran desperately for the elevator. The doors shut just barely in time as the demon woman frantically tried to get the elevator moving despite being unfamiliar with the controls. Finally she felt the inertial shift that signaled a descent. Whichever floor she arrived at, she knew that she'd need to use the stairs to throw off her hunters; it was too easy to track the progress of an elevator.
After a time, the lift slowed to a halt and the doors opened. The demon woman sprinted out into the corridor and down a short flight of stairs, zooming past a tall, mechanical woman with a long pointer in her hand.
"She's going awfully fast," remarked the mechanical woman. The demon looped around a circular hallway and again passed the mechanical woman, slowing herself so as not to attract further attention.
"I like to get exercise," explained the demon woman.
The demon woman became Bender, a robot.
Bender's frantic escape soon lead him to an enormous indoor chamber. It looked like the central gathering area for the ship's thousands of inhabitants, complete with plants, water fountains, and tables. Hundreds of apartments extended upwards from the ground level, where businesses plied their various wares, and the whole space was abuzz with people on the go, giving the area a mall-like atmosphere.
The most impressive and eye-catching feature of the space was a monstrously big sculpture situated in the center. Giant, polished metal girders extended across one another, forming a lattice that supported floors and stairways all the way up to the skylight in the roof. This main hub was at once artistic and functional, providing a sense of grandeur to the people who used it daily to ascend and descend.
The most important feature for Bender was the stairway. He immediately started climbing as fast as he could without drawing attention, painfully aware that the authorities were on his trail. Eventually he started climbing the girders themselves, knocking over the small stone placards that had been meticulously slotted into the metal. Upon reaching the top of the sculpture, he started pacing back and forth, looking down at all the people. He hoped he'd be safe here for a bit.
A call came in. "Hello?" said Bender.
"You're not doing enough," said the man on the line. "Start destroying, start bending. Make a ruckus."
Bender hesitated only briefly before he realized the man was right. He started to descend the giant structure, knocking down placards and bending rods as he went. At the bottom he grabbed a hold of the biggest black girder and bent it like it was paper. He ran into the corridor from where he'd entered, grabbed a shower head and started spraying what he thought was a reactor core. When nothing exploded it became apparent that he was just spraying a hearing test room.
"Now we can't test our hearing," said a disgruntled man.
Bender rushed back into the giant chamber and continued his rampage until his pace slowed from fatigue. All around, people stared at the strange robot that had ruined the enormous space. He cast his gaze slowly over the slightly mangled sculpture. Its beams were bent at odd angles, and the silent crowd lined its railings, staring down at him.
Maybe the artist won't mind so much, Bender thought hopefully, but the more he stared the more he knew that wouldn't be the case.
"I can bend it back," said Bender lamely, and he began climbing the sculpture, trying to reset the damage he'd done. Before made any progress, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and was greeted by the icy stare of a tall woman. It was the authority that had initiated the chase back on the bridge. He knew he was beat.
Bender became Jack.
The woman, Juna, led Jack toward one of the many crowded hallways branching off from the main hub. The formerly silent crowd, realizing that the show was over, went back to their business. As Juna led Jack to a check-in table, they passed two small children. Jack started crying, slowly at first, but shedding more and more tears as he thought about the child that Juna had lost. Juna looked at him oddly.
"Why are you crying?" asked Juna.
"Because..." Jack sobbed, "...you, your - "
He was overcome by a wave of grief before he could explain. Jack wept profusely as Juna continued leading him down the hallway, though it became apparent that she too was crying somewhat. She knows why, thought Jack.
Finally they reached the check-in station. Juna and Jack sat down at the table across from an impatient-looking woman. She handed Jack a mauve envelope.
"You need to mail this," she said. The inconsolable Jack continued crying loudly. The woman looked at Juna, who only returned the stare.
"Do you know how this works? How to mail this?" said the woman. Jack looked down at the envelope through his tears. He did not know how it worked, but he was too overcome to communicate this to the woman.
Neemstoa walked up and put his arm around Juna, and the two walked a short distance away from the forlorn Jack before they doubled back and went inside a closet behind the check-in table. Neemstoa handed Juna a small, white stick, which she pocketed, and they both began drinking from large bottles of cleaning chemicals. Jack looked at them with scorn before leaving the table to begin the search for his room. It would be a while before he found one; there were many, many people here.
"Quickly, look in the practice rooms, she's got to be somewhere," yelled an authoritative female voice. It wasn't long before the demon assassin was discovered, hiding in one of the small rooms. Using the brief moment of surprise, the demon dashed out of the room past her pursuers and took off down the corridor, dodging people as she ran desperately for the elevator. The doors shut just barely in time as the demon woman frantically tried to get the elevator moving despite being unfamiliar with the controls. Finally she felt the inertial shift that signaled a descent. Whichever floor she arrived at, she knew that she'd need to use the stairs to throw off her hunters; it was too easy to track the progress of an elevator.
After a time, the lift slowed to a halt and the doors opened. The demon woman sprinted out into the corridor and down a short flight of stairs, zooming past a tall, mechanical woman with a long pointer in her hand.
"She's going awfully fast," remarked the mechanical woman. The demon looped around a circular hallway and again passed the mechanical woman, slowing herself so as not to attract further attention.
"I like to get exercise," explained the demon woman.
The demon woman became Bender, a robot.
Bender's frantic escape soon lead him to an enormous indoor chamber. It looked like the central gathering area for the ship's thousands of inhabitants, complete with plants, water fountains, and tables. Hundreds of apartments extended upwards from the ground level, where businesses plied their various wares, and the whole space was abuzz with people on the go, giving the area a mall-like atmosphere.
The most impressive and eye-catching feature of the space was a monstrously big sculpture situated in the center. Giant, polished metal girders extended across one another, forming a lattice that supported floors and stairways all the way up to the skylight in the roof. This main hub was at once artistic and functional, providing a sense of grandeur to the people who used it daily to ascend and descend.
The most important feature for Bender was the stairway. He immediately started climbing as fast as he could without drawing attention, painfully aware that the authorities were on his trail. Eventually he started climbing the girders themselves, knocking over the small stone placards that had been meticulously slotted into the metal. Upon reaching the top of the sculpture, he started pacing back and forth, looking down at all the people. He hoped he'd be safe here for a bit.
A call came in. "Hello?" said Bender.
"You're not doing enough," said the man on the line. "Start destroying, start bending. Make a ruckus."
Bender hesitated only briefly before he realized the man was right. He started to descend the giant structure, knocking down placards and bending rods as he went. At the bottom he grabbed a hold of the biggest black girder and bent it like it was paper. He ran into the corridor from where he'd entered, grabbed a shower head and started spraying what he thought was a reactor core. When nothing exploded it became apparent that he was just spraying a hearing test room.
"Now we can't test our hearing," said a disgruntled man.
Bender rushed back into the giant chamber and continued his rampage until his pace slowed from fatigue. All around, people stared at the strange robot that had ruined the enormous space. He cast his gaze slowly over the slightly mangled sculpture. Its beams were bent at odd angles, and the silent crowd lined its railings, staring down at him.
Maybe the artist won't mind so much, Bender thought hopefully, but the more he stared the more he knew that wouldn't be the case.
"I can bend it back," said Bender lamely, and he began climbing the sculpture, trying to reset the damage he'd done. Before made any progress, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and was greeted by the icy stare of a tall woman. It was the authority that had initiated the chase back on the bridge. He knew he was beat.
Bender became Jack.
The woman, Juna, led Jack toward one of the many crowded hallways branching off from the main hub. The formerly silent crowd, realizing that the show was over, went back to their business. As Juna led Jack to a check-in table, they passed two small children. Jack started crying, slowly at first, but shedding more and more tears as he thought about the child that Juna had lost. Juna looked at him oddly.
"Why are you crying?" asked Juna.
"Because..." Jack sobbed, "...you, your - "
He was overcome by a wave of grief before he could explain. Jack wept profusely as Juna continued leading him down the hallway, though it became apparent that she too was crying somewhat. She knows why, thought Jack.
Finally they reached the check-in station. Juna and Jack sat down at the table across from an impatient-looking woman. She handed Jack a mauve envelope.
"You need to mail this," she said. The inconsolable Jack continued crying loudly. The woman looked at Juna, who only returned the stare.
"Do you know how this works? How to mail this?" said the woman. Jack looked down at the envelope through his tears. He did not know how it worked, but he was too overcome to communicate this to the woman.
Neemstoa walked up and put his arm around Juna, and the two walked a short distance away from the forlorn Jack before they doubled back and went inside a closet behind the check-in table. Neemstoa handed Juna a small, white stick, which she pocketed, and they both began drinking from large bottles of cleaning chemicals. Jack looked at them with scorn before leaving the table to begin the search for his room. It would be a while before he found one; there were many, many people here.
Catalyst Weird
Jack noticed the small girl ahead of him in line whispering to her friends and gesturing towards him. This was too much, he couldn't contain himself any longer.
"You think I'm weird, huh? Is that it? You think I'm weird?!" he said, angrily pointing his finger at her face. She backed up slowly in fear down he spiral staircase as he advanced on her.
"Am I weird? Is that what you were saying? Is this something a weird person would do? Is this weird? Huh?! TELL ME! IS THIS WEIRD?!" As Jack's face contorted with rage and frustration, something clicked over inside of himself, the world shifted. His vision wiggled and swam as he realized that the girl might be right.
"You think I'm weird, huh? Is that it? You think I'm weird?!" he said, angrily pointing his finger at her face. She backed up slowly in fear down he spiral staircase as he advanced on her.
"Am I weird? Is that what you were saying? Is this something a weird person would do? Is this weird? Huh?! TELL ME! IS THIS WEIRD?!" As Jack's face contorted with rage and frustration, something clicked over inside of himself, the world shifted. His vision wiggled and swam as he realized that the girl might be right.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Drainage Rabbits
The rabbits carefully made their way down the ropes, deeper and deeper into the drainage system. Finally they reached a small landing area that fed into a wide room with very low ceilings. They waded their way through the clear, shallow water until they saw a figure hunched a short way off. It was a short, squat, ogre of a man carrying a bludgeon. The rabbits stood frozen as the man stood up and started feeling around.
"He's blind," said one rabbit, "so let's just skirt carefully around him."
"I can still hear you," said the ogre man. He walked towards the rabbits, hands outstretched. One had to quickly dodge his lumbering feet.
"Do you guys want to stay?" said the ogre in a friendly way. "Come this way." The ogre led the rabbits to the center of the room, where a tiered wooden sculpture stood over an opening in the floor. On the top step was an abstractly carved fisherman, his line feeding down into the opening below.
"You can have all this wood, if you want," said the ogre. As he spoke, a section of the wooden sculpture lit up with a green glow. With relief, the rabbits realized that they would not starve down here; they could eat the wood!
"Can we even have that wood?" asked one rabbit, causing another section of the sculpture to glow.
"Of course!" said the ogre, grinning with joy.
"Even that part?" said the other rabbit, and the very bottom of the sculpture lit up.
"Er, no, not that part," said the ogre a little defensively. A multitude of ships flew in, and the rabbits blasted them apart, being careful not to hurt the biggest one, which was the ogre. The ogre-ship landed and disassembled, revealing a small robot that was trying to pry off part of the flat wreckage. As the ogre explained about the tiny bots, more swarmed onto the debris, harvesting small bits here and there.
"They came for that," said the ogre. The rabbits realized this was their reason for being in the drainage system, the tiny robots were their goal.
"What are you fishing for?" asked a rabbit, referring to the top of the wooden sculpture. The ogre reached into the opening in the floor and pulled up a glass of white liquid.
"Do you want a drink?" he asked the rabbits.
"What is it?" replied one.
"Oh, it's, well..." said the ogre sheepishly as he handed glasses to the rabbits. "I, uh...heh, well, you see..."
"Oh, is it?..." asked a rabbit.
"Yeah, that's what it is," said the ogre with relief.
"He's blind," said one rabbit, "so let's just skirt carefully around him."
"I can still hear you," said the ogre man. He walked towards the rabbits, hands outstretched. One had to quickly dodge his lumbering feet.
"Do you guys want to stay?" said the ogre in a friendly way. "Come this way." The ogre led the rabbits to the center of the room, where a tiered wooden sculpture stood over an opening in the floor. On the top step was an abstractly carved fisherman, his line feeding down into the opening below.
"You can have all this wood, if you want," said the ogre. As he spoke, a section of the wooden sculpture lit up with a green glow. With relief, the rabbits realized that they would not starve down here; they could eat the wood!
"Can we even have that wood?" asked one rabbit, causing another section of the sculpture to glow.
"Of course!" said the ogre, grinning with joy.
"Even that part?" said the other rabbit, and the very bottom of the sculpture lit up.
"Er, no, not that part," said the ogre a little defensively. A multitude of ships flew in, and the rabbits blasted them apart, being careful not to hurt the biggest one, which was the ogre. The ogre-ship landed and disassembled, revealing a small robot that was trying to pry off part of the flat wreckage. As the ogre explained about the tiny bots, more swarmed onto the debris, harvesting small bits here and there.
"They came for that," said the ogre. The rabbits realized this was their reason for being in the drainage system, the tiny robots were their goal.
"What are you fishing for?" asked a rabbit, referring to the top of the wooden sculpture. The ogre reached into the opening in the floor and pulled up a glass of white liquid.
"Do you want a drink?" he asked the rabbits.
"What is it?" replied one.
"Oh, it's, well..." said the ogre sheepishly as he handed glasses to the rabbits. "I, uh...heh, well, you see..."
"Oh, is it?..." asked a rabbit.
"Yeah, that's what it is," said the ogre with relief.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Plague Fields
Jack gazed out from the window of the van at the passing scenery. The flat agrarian landscape was overshadowed by dark, ominous clouds, but despite the foreboding weather, the small water park on the left side of the road was open for business. Children floated by on short water slides that honeycombed the strip of land between the road and a barn. It looked nice to Jack, but he wasn't sure he was in the mood for a water park.
The van stopped at what looked like a back entrance, and Jack and others got out. A man leaning against the barn gave them a stern look and said, "You can't leave by this way."
"Can we go in this way?" asked the man who'd just been driving the van.
"Heh, just kidding, go on in," said the leaning man, breaking into a wide grin.
Inside the barn, patrons wandered about amiably, attending to the various kiosks and vendors. It didn't look to Jack to be very glamorous, but he got some food and took in the sights. He spotted a beer kiosk and walked over, intending to purchase a bottle of Newcastle. Jack recognized the young attendant as Madison, a girl he once knew.
"We don't have any beer," said Madison. Jack knew this was false, as the bottles were clearly displayed on the counter. He decided to go along with her game, as he was unsure of the customs. "We do have soda," Madison said cheerily. Jack stood and pondered awhile.
"You can give me the beer," she suggested helpfully. At this she knelt down, bowed her head, and held up a flat but deep glass container.
"Ok..." replied Jack. He grabbed a bottle of beer from behind the counter and poured some into the container. "More?" he asked.
"Yes, please," she replied. He continued to pour.
"The whole thing?" asked Jack.
"Yes."
Jack emptied the beer into the container, quickly sipping the last bits from the bottle before Madison looked up at him. As he set down the empty bottle, he noticed some odd sores on Madison's back.
"Are you okay?" Jack asked.
"Oh, yeah, I've just got this rash thing," she replied.
"Yeah, she does," confirmed a man as he walked up to the counter. Jack peered at the sores on Madison's back. He had seen the like before, and with a sinking feeling he realized it was no ordinary rash. Madison was afflicted by a horrible plague, and she would be dead in a matter of hours. From her body would burst vicious, scorpion-like bugs that would seek out others and burrow into their skin, infecting them in the process. Jack didn't know how long she had, but judging from the sores, he needed to leave soon.
Suddenly, Madison let out a groan and several bugs emerged from her skin. They began to skitter around the crowded barn, seeking other victims. People screamed in alarm as a stricken Madison fled the barn, releasing more bugs as she went. Jack made his way through the chaos and as soon as he was clear of the barn he dashed into the fields, watching carefully for the green insects. He wasn't sure of his plan, but he felt a strong need to follow Madison.
Soon Jack reached a field full of pews and hedged on one side by a forest. The pews were full of people listening to a man talk from the lectern off to one side. Not having anything else to do, Jack sat down and listened. The speaker seemed to be discussing some plan or goal, but Jack was too distracted to make much sense of it.
Without warning, a multitude of cars and vans screeched to a halt in front of the congregation. Someone in the pews said, "Wait, hold on, those are the authorities, I think."
"Oh, uh, so they are," said the man at the lectern, looking with mild surprise at the new arrivals. The authorities exited their vehicles and commandeered the meeting, jostling and reorganizing the crowd with a confusing sense of bureaucratic urgency. The original man at the lectern was pushed aside and replaced by another. Jack realized that he was running out of time.
"I've got to find Madison," Jack said to the person next to him. Hoping to get help from the authorities, Jack hurriedly approached the new man at he lectern and asked, "Hey, are there any public health officials here?"
"Sit down," said the man impatiently.
"No, this is extremely important, if we don't - "
"Don't interrupt me, I said sit down!" said the man, anger creeping into his voice.
"No, listen to me! A little while ago, a diseased little girl named Madison ran into these fields, and soon she will die, sending forth flesh-burrowing bugs that will spread the infection, spreading and spreading until it's too late. We need to find this girl, or everyone will be killed," said Jack.
The man laughed dismissively. It was clear that he thought Jack was joking.
"WHAT THE FUCK!!" Jack screamed in frustration.
"Son, listen to - " started the man before he was interrupted by a scream from the crowd. Jack realized it was too late, Madison had died nearby and the bugs would soon swarm everywhere. He climbed up to the top of a pew to gain some altitude. All around was fear and chaos. A man nearby was frantically trying to shake two bugs off his arm. He grabbed Jack and threw him clear of the field. Jack stood up. He didn't know what to do.
The van stopped at what looked like a back entrance, and Jack and others got out. A man leaning against the barn gave them a stern look and said, "You can't leave by this way."
"Can we go in this way?" asked the man who'd just been driving the van.
"Heh, just kidding, go on in," said the leaning man, breaking into a wide grin.
Inside the barn, patrons wandered about amiably, attending to the various kiosks and vendors. It didn't look to Jack to be very glamorous, but he got some food and took in the sights. He spotted a beer kiosk and walked over, intending to purchase a bottle of Newcastle. Jack recognized the young attendant as Madison, a girl he once knew.
"We don't have any beer," said Madison. Jack knew this was false, as the bottles were clearly displayed on the counter. He decided to go along with her game, as he was unsure of the customs. "We do have soda," Madison said cheerily. Jack stood and pondered awhile.
"You can give me the beer," she suggested helpfully. At this she knelt down, bowed her head, and held up a flat but deep glass container.
"Ok..." replied Jack. He grabbed a bottle of beer from behind the counter and poured some into the container. "More?" he asked.
"Yes, please," she replied. He continued to pour.
"The whole thing?" asked Jack.
"Yes."
Jack emptied the beer into the container, quickly sipping the last bits from the bottle before Madison looked up at him. As he set down the empty bottle, he noticed some odd sores on Madison's back.
"Are you okay?" Jack asked.
"Oh, yeah, I've just got this rash thing," she replied.
"Yeah, she does," confirmed a man as he walked up to the counter. Jack peered at the sores on Madison's back. He had seen the like before, and with a sinking feeling he realized it was no ordinary rash. Madison was afflicted by a horrible plague, and she would be dead in a matter of hours. From her body would burst vicious, scorpion-like bugs that would seek out others and burrow into their skin, infecting them in the process. Jack didn't know how long she had, but judging from the sores, he needed to leave soon.
Suddenly, Madison let out a groan and several bugs emerged from her skin. They began to skitter around the crowded barn, seeking other victims. People screamed in alarm as a stricken Madison fled the barn, releasing more bugs as she went. Jack made his way through the chaos and as soon as he was clear of the barn he dashed into the fields, watching carefully for the green insects. He wasn't sure of his plan, but he felt a strong need to follow Madison.
Soon Jack reached a field full of pews and hedged on one side by a forest. The pews were full of people listening to a man talk from the lectern off to one side. Not having anything else to do, Jack sat down and listened. The speaker seemed to be discussing some plan or goal, but Jack was too distracted to make much sense of it.
Without warning, a multitude of cars and vans screeched to a halt in front of the congregation. Someone in the pews said, "Wait, hold on, those are the authorities, I think."
"Oh, uh, so they are," said the man at the lectern, looking with mild surprise at the new arrivals. The authorities exited their vehicles and commandeered the meeting, jostling and reorganizing the crowd with a confusing sense of bureaucratic urgency. The original man at the lectern was pushed aside and replaced by another. Jack realized that he was running out of time.
"I've got to find Madison," Jack said to the person next to him. Hoping to get help from the authorities, Jack hurriedly approached the new man at he lectern and asked, "Hey, are there any public health officials here?"
"Sit down," said the man impatiently.
"No, this is extremely important, if we don't - "
"Don't interrupt me, I said sit down!" said the man, anger creeping into his voice.
"No, listen to me! A little while ago, a diseased little girl named Madison ran into these fields, and soon she will die, sending forth flesh-burrowing bugs that will spread the infection, spreading and spreading until it's too late. We need to find this girl, or everyone will be killed," said Jack.
The man laughed dismissively. It was clear that he thought Jack was joking.
"WHAT THE FUCK!!" Jack screamed in frustration.
"Son, listen to - " started the man before he was interrupted by a scream from the crowd. Jack realized it was too late, Madison had died nearby and the bugs would soon swarm everywhere. He climbed up to the top of a pew to gain some altitude. All around was fear and chaos. A man nearby was frantically trying to shake two bugs off his arm. He grabbed Jack and threw him clear of the field. Jack stood up. He didn't know what to do.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Dot Love
Jack entered the house. He had with him a dot, a very small speck that he cared deeply for. He had battled with Gunther on the vector grid, and then left the game space with the only surviving character to find a thriving world. Gunther was inside the house, along with Dingland and Bangknox. Jack set down his dot and approached Gunther.
"After our motherships destroyed each other, I found this place outside of the normal game - "
"Me too! It was amazing," said Gunther excitedly.
"Yeah, it was so realistic. And all that stuff happening, house parties and stuff. Why would the developers put so much time into an area and then hide it so well?"
"I don't know," said Gunther.
Someone else inside the house asked Jack about the dot he had brought in. Looking down at it, he replied, "D to b."
"After our motherships destroyed each other, I found this place outside of the normal game - "
"Me too! It was amazing," said Gunther excitedly.
"Yeah, it was so realistic. And all that stuff happening, house parties and stuff. Why would the developers put so much time into an area and then hide it so well?"
"I don't know," said Gunther.
Someone else inside the house asked Jack about the dot he had brought in. Looking down at it, he replied, "D to b."
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Lake Campground
Jack sat at the picnic table with his parents, his grandmother Luisa, and his uncle Vito. Petunia and his two cousins, Nevda and Danabru were also there, and he and the three of them were preparing to head out to the campsite on the other side of the lake where the rest of the extended family had just arrived.
"Remember how it's all cozy stopping at the bathroom in the rain and storms?" reminisced Petunia in a dreamy tone.
"They're not all going to the bathroom together, are they?" asked Luisa incredulously.
"Oh no, they stopped allowing that a while ago," joked Vito. Everyone laughed.
Jack, Petunia, Nevda and Danabru began making their way into the forest. As they walked away, Jack heard snatches of the continued conversation from the picnic table.
"Are they old enough?" asked Luisa.
"Oh, I think so. 24?" replied The Mother.
The party of four made there way through the brightly-lit forest at a leisurely pace. They began to throw a big, blue bouncy ball back and forth to pass the time.
"Oh no!" said Jack after a particularly exuberant toss by Danabru nearly landed the ball in the calm, turquoise river. Jack picked up an enormously long twig, in case they needed to fish the ball out of the water. Another of Danabru's reckless throws caused the ball to rebound off the wooden bridge ahead and land on the other side of the river, in a shallow area populated by fuzzy pond fronds.
"Let's go across," suggested Danabru. "It's shallow here." He and Jack jumped across a narrow part of the river and waded through the fronds over to the ball. Danabru, who was feeling playful, began to jump and skip around, singing a small song as he went:
"Look at me,
I bathe in the ancient mists!
Look at me,
I bathe in the ancient mists!"
Almost as soon as Jack noticed it, Danabru jumped too close to a nearby drop-off into the lake below. As he lost his footing and began falling over the edge, his arms found purchase on the slippery rock face and he clung desperately to the edge. Alarmed, Jack hurriedly offered his twig to Danabru, but it wasn't strong enough to pull him back up. Jack carefully made his way to the cliff's edge where he grasped a strong tree branch for support. He was able to hoist Danabru back up, and they both hugged the tree as they took stock of the situation.
The cliff was much higher than Jack had thought, and any hopes that they might safely jump into the water were dashed when he saw the sharp rocks below. They wouldn't be able to jump far enough away from the cliff face to land in deep waters. They would have to try and climb back up to safety, but the rocks were extremely slippery and any attempts to ascend would likely fail. It appeared they were stuck.
"Shit!" yelled Jack, vaguely aware that he should be more careful of his language around his younger cousins. "Girls, back up, climb back up." Jack turned to Danabrum and asked, "How far of a drop do you think that is?"
"Forty feet?" replied Danabrum.
"Shit!" said Jack again.
"Remember how it's all cozy stopping at the bathroom in the rain and storms?" reminisced Petunia in a dreamy tone.
"They're not all going to the bathroom together, are they?" asked Luisa incredulously.
"Oh no, they stopped allowing that a while ago," joked Vito. Everyone laughed.
Jack, Petunia, Nevda and Danabru began making their way into the forest. As they walked away, Jack heard snatches of the continued conversation from the picnic table.
"Are they old enough?" asked Luisa.
"Oh, I think so. 24?" replied The Mother.
The party of four made there way through the brightly-lit forest at a leisurely pace. They began to throw a big, blue bouncy ball back and forth to pass the time.
"Oh no!" said Jack after a particularly exuberant toss by Danabru nearly landed the ball in the calm, turquoise river. Jack picked up an enormously long twig, in case they needed to fish the ball out of the water. Another of Danabru's reckless throws caused the ball to rebound off the wooden bridge ahead and land on the other side of the river, in a shallow area populated by fuzzy pond fronds.
"Let's go across," suggested Danabru. "It's shallow here." He and Jack jumped across a narrow part of the river and waded through the fronds over to the ball. Danabru, who was feeling playful, began to jump and skip around, singing a small song as he went:
"Look at me,
I bathe in the ancient mists!
Look at me,
I bathe in the ancient mists!"
Almost as soon as Jack noticed it, Danabru jumped too close to a nearby drop-off into the lake below. As he lost his footing and began falling over the edge, his arms found purchase on the slippery rock face and he clung desperately to the edge. Alarmed, Jack hurriedly offered his twig to Danabru, but it wasn't strong enough to pull him back up. Jack carefully made his way to the cliff's edge where he grasped a strong tree branch for support. He was able to hoist Danabru back up, and they both hugged the tree as they took stock of the situation.
The cliff was much higher than Jack had thought, and any hopes that they might safely jump into the water were dashed when he saw the sharp rocks below. They wouldn't be able to jump far enough away from the cliff face to land in deep waters. They would have to try and climb back up to safety, but the rocks were extremely slippery and any attempts to ascend would likely fail. It appeared they were stuck.
"Shit!" yelled Jack, vaguely aware that he should be more careful of his language around his younger cousins. "Girls, back up, climb back up." Jack turned to Danabrum and asked, "How far of a drop do you think that is?"
"Forty feet?" replied Danabrum.
"Shit!" said Jack again.
Positive Press
As he watched the Act I finale of the cartoon Don Giovanni production, Jack realized why he never understood this show as a kid: there was no second act on the disc! He went over to inspect the giant electronic ad for the next volume. The automated narrator began explaining the features and which operas were represented, but Don Giovanni was not included.
"They're mostly sciency or technical," explained the narration.
Disappointed, Jack wandered over to the small play castle and began to stroll around the ramparts. The nearby mountains cast long shadows in the light of the setting sun. Jack listened idly to his radio, which was tuned to NPR.
"The internet community was set abuzz this week with the release of the next installment of the popular web video series, "Fullness of Fern," said the announcer. "The series' star and creator, Moptop..."
Moptop! That was the third time today that Jack had heard his friend's name on the radio. This was definitely cause for a phone call, despite Jack just having called him earlier today. Jack excitedly took out his phone and tried to dial Moptop, but he had no signal. Gunther, who was nearby, took out his own phone and called Moptop instead.
"Hey...oh, Jack had something to tell you," said Gunther. "You going out to that bar?...Uh huh...ha ha!...Okay, well, let me give you to Jack."
Jack, whose continued attempts to get a hold of Moptop had failed, said, "Oh, no, it's not that impor - " Gunther thrust the phone to Jack's ear before he could finish.
"What? What is it?" Moptop's voice said from the phone.
"It's nothing, it can wait," replied Jack.
"What?" insisted Moptop.
"I heard your name on National Public Radio three times today!!" said Jack excitedly.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah, this last time was about how the new edition of "Fullness of Fern" had just come out."
"Yeah, I'd heard...oh wow, let's see...well, that's a lot of people," said Moptop. Jack assumed that he was looking at something online, presumably the positive press his work was receiving.
Jack, phone in hand, walked away from the wooden play castle and saw Montano approaching him from the distance.
"So, Jelnikia was just at our house for dinner," explained Montano, "and she wasn't crying but you could tell she was close to tears, and she said, 'Aha! You tricked me! You knew all along, but you just went through the motions, you were never going! Just putting all that money in the bank!"
"They're mostly sciency or technical," explained the narration.
Disappointed, Jack wandered over to the small play castle and began to stroll around the ramparts. The nearby mountains cast long shadows in the light of the setting sun. Jack listened idly to his radio, which was tuned to NPR.
"The internet community was set abuzz this week with the release of the next installment of the popular web video series, "Fullness of Fern," said the announcer. "The series' star and creator, Moptop..."
Moptop! That was the third time today that Jack had heard his friend's name on the radio. This was definitely cause for a phone call, despite Jack just having called him earlier today. Jack excitedly took out his phone and tried to dial Moptop, but he had no signal. Gunther, who was nearby, took out his own phone and called Moptop instead.
"Hey...oh, Jack had something to tell you," said Gunther. "You going out to that bar?...Uh huh...ha ha!...Okay, well, let me give you to Jack."
Jack, whose continued attempts to get a hold of Moptop had failed, said, "Oh, no, it's not that impor - " Gunther thrust the phone to Jack's ear before he could finish.
"What? What is it?" Moptop's voice said from the phone.
"It's nothing, it can wait," replied Jack.
"What?" insisted Moptop.
"I heard your name on National Public Radio three times today!!" said Jack excitedly.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah, this last time was about how the new edition of "Fullness of Fern" had just come out."
"Yeah, I'd heard...oh wow, let's see...well, that's a lot of people," said Moptop. Jack assumed that he was looking at something online, presumably the positive press his work was receiving.
Jack, phone in hand, walked away from the wooden play castle and saw Montano approaching him from the distance.
"So, Jelnikia was just at our house for dinner," explained Montano, "and she wasn't crying but you could tell she was close to tears, and she said, 'Aha! You tricked me! You knew all along, but you just went through the motions, you were never going! Just putting all that money in the bank!"
Monday, August 09, 2010
The Warm
An old man stood in the small spaceport building.
"...no more, not anymore; you never find the warm finding blankets from the warm," he said, tapping his arm.
"...no more, not anymore; you never find the warm finding blankets from the warm," he said, tapping his arm.
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Mansion Bar
The converted mansion sat in the heart of midtown, amid the bustle of the midnight bar crowds. Jack wiggled his way between the cells of conversation that nestled comfortably against each other in the mansion-bar's main room. As he approached the counter, he decided that tonight was a White Russian sort of night.
"Could I get a White Russian?" Jack said loudly over the din. The bartender gave him a slightly confused look.
"Sure," she said. Satisfied, Jack took a step back as she helped the next customer. After her transaction was finished, a minute passed before she turned back to Jack and asked, "What did you get again?"
"A White Russian."
"Oh," she said, smiling with relief, "I thought you said pancakes." She relayed the order to another bartender, who filled the glass with ice and a white substance before handing it to her. She filled the glass near to the top with water and then gave it back to the other bartender. Jack presumed this was so the drink could be completed with vodka.
Jack wandered into the bathroom. It was clearly a bedroom or antechamber of sorts, and little attempt had been made to alter it otherwise. Stuffed chairs crowded around elegant end tables, making the lone sink and urinal look sorely out of place. Gunther sat down in a chair and waited while Jack approached the urinal. He propped up the piece of cardboard he was carrying on the mantle in front of him.
"I'll just prop this up here," he explained to Gunther, who nodded. Jack examined the the cardboard as he peed. It looked like a receipt:
Im Lhotep $14
Im Lhotep $14
Im Lhotep $14
Im Lhotep $14
"How come everyone got this?" asked Jack.
"Cuz it's a really good deal, happy hour, Bloody Mary's only $1.75!" replied Gunther as the two left the bathroom. He picked up a publication from the rack. "I think I'm gonna go see this band."
"Where at?" asked Jack.
"The Dakota Club," replied Gunther.
"The Dako - oh, the Dakota Club, not the Dakota."
"Yeah, the Dakota."
"Could I get a White Russian?" Jack said loudly over the din. The bartender gave him a slightly confused look.
"Sure," she said. Satisfied, Jack took a step back as she helped the next customer. After her transaction was finished, a minute passed before she turned back to Jack and asked, "What did you get again?"
"A White Russian."
"Oh," she said, smiling with relief, "I thought you said pancakes." She relayed the order to another bartender, who filled the glass with ice and a white substance before handing it to her. She filled the glass near to the top with water and then gave it back to the other bartender. Jack presumed this was so the drink could be completed with vodka.
Jack wandered into the bathroom. It was clearly a bedroom or antechamber of sorts, and little attempt had been made to alter it otherwise. Stuffed chairs crowded around elegant end tables, making the lone sink and urinal look sorely out of place. Gunther sat down in a chair and waited while Jack approached the urinal. He propped up the piece of cardboard he was carrying on the mantle in front of him.
"I'll just prop this up here," he explained to Gunther, who nodded. Jack examined the the cardboard as he peed. It looked like a receipt:
Im Lhotep $14
Im Lhotep $14
Im Lhotep $14
Im Lhotep $14
"How come everyone got this?" asked Jack.
"Cuz it's a really good deal, happy hour, Bloody Mary's only $1.75!" replied Gunther as the two left the bathroom. He picked up a publication from the rack. "I think I'm gonna go see this band."
"Where at?" asked Jack.
"The Dakota Club," replied Gunther.
"The Dako - oh, the Dakota Club, not the Dakota."
"Yeah, the Dakota."
Saturday, August 07, 2010
Draft Notice
Jack slowly unrolled the plastic scroll, afraid of what he might find. Sure enough, it was a letter from the president, covered in official seals and accompanied by a booklet with maps and drawings.
"Dear MR. CLIVES,
You have been officially drafted into the U.S. National Guard. Please read the information contained in the booklet and report to basic training at the specified date.
--------------------------------------------------
Also, you were right about that other thing.
-General Yarha
--------------------------------------------------
It is a great honor to serve in the Guard. Welcome!
Sincerely,
President Obama"
Jack read with a sinking feeling. Now he was supposed to be in the army? How could he pass basic training? At any rate, he was glad that the General had gotten his correspondences and deigned to let him know in this draft letter. Jack flipped through the booklet. It appeared that rather than going overseas, he'd be stationed at a mountain town in southern California called Grionsville. This pleased him; perhaps it wouldn't be so bad.
Jack turned to Niel and handed her a TV. He saw that her parents had already gotten her a bigger TV, and he quickly tried to think of what to say.
"This one's a little smaller, so, you know, I was thinking it could be for another room, besides the living room. The bigger TV is more of a main room TV.
"Thanks," said Niel.
"I was thinking that if you don't want it, you can just return it and get the money."
"Sure."
They started to put it back in the box. "This is kinda heavy," said Jack. "Also, it's supposed to be from me, Gunther, and Petunia, but I haven't actually asked them to pitch in yet, so..." He walked over and started to help Gunther sort boxes.
Jack realized that he'd have to join the National Guard to protect the calcium supplements. "Yeah, and see if they actually work!" said a voice.
"Dear MR. CLIVES,
You have been officially drafted into the U.S. National Guard. Please read the information contained in the booklet and report to basic training at the specified date.
--------------------------------------------------
Also, you were right about that other thing.
-General Yarha
--------------------------------------------------
It is a great honor to serve in the Guard. Welcome!
Sincerely,
President Obama"
Jack read with a sinking feeling. Now he was supposed to be in the army? How could he pass basic training? At any rate, he was glad that the General had gotten his correspondences and deigned to let him know in this draft letter. Jack flipped through the booklet. It appeared that rather than going overseas, he'd be stationed at a mountain town in southern California called Grionsville. This pleased him; perhaps it wouldn't be so bad.
Jack turned to Niel and handed her a TV. He saw that her parents had already gotten her a bigger TV, and he quickly tried to think of what to say.
"This one's a little smaller, so, you know, I was thinking it could be for another room, besides the living room. The bigger TV is more of a main room TV.
"Thanks," said Niel.
"I was thinking that if you don't want it, you can just return it and get the money."
"Sure."
They started to put it back in the box. "This is kinda heavy," said Jack. "Also, it's supposed to be from me, Gunther, and Petunia, but I haven't actually asked them to pitch in yet, so..." He walked over and started to help Gunther sort boxes.
Jack realized that he'd have to join the National Guard to protect the calcium supplements. "Yeah, and see if they actually work!" said a voice.
Quiet Visitor
"Hey, what is your address again?" said Andray over the phone.
"1662227," replied Jack.
"Ok, I'm just a short distance away."
Jack looked out the front door and saw the powerful frame of Andray standing on the steps. He was here! Jack struggled to put on the correct shirt in time before going to answer the door.
"Andray, how are you, it's good to see you! Come in!" said Jack as Andray gave him a bear hug.
They walked up the stairs and into the living room. Andray sat down on the couch while Jack lay down on the floor, staring up at the ceiling. They sat in silence while Jack wondered who would be the first to talk, and what they would say.
"1662227," replied Jack.
"Ok, I'm just a short distance away."
Jack looked out the front door and saw the powerful frame of Andray standing on the steps. He was here! Jack struggled to put on the correct shirt in time before going to answer the door.
"Andray, how are you, it's good to see you! Come in!" said Jack as Andray gave him a bear hug.
They walked up the stairs and into the living room. Andray sat down on the couch while Jack lay down on the floor, staring up at the ceiling. They sat in silence while Jack wondered who would be the first to talk, and what they would say.
Monday, August 02, 2010
Corner Building
Jack saw a vision of his two daughters trapped on the first floor of a burning building. The building sat on the corner of the lowest city block, closest to the waterfront. The road beyond extended at a gradient into the river where dancing reflections of flame mingled with those of street lights and stars. Jack vowed not to let this vision come to pass; they were in the tiered city, and this corner building was their destination, but Jack would not let his daughters be harmed.
Snapping back to reality, Jack and his two daughters entered the train. It began to speed through the city down toward the river, taking the steep inclines with abandon. The three passengers braced as they barreled into an opposing train. Time slowed as the other train was split asunder, its material funneled outward like a parachute. Jack's train was unharmed and continued its race downward. They split yet another train before finally crashing into the corner building from Jack's vision. The train exploded in a ball of fire, engulfing the building as Jack and his daughters tried frantically to free themselves from the inferno.
Once free of the wreckage, Jack was horrified to see only one of his daughters with him; the other was surely still trapped in the building. Jack froze, panic written on his face, his mind screaming as his legs and limbs stayed firmly rooted.
The daughter that had freed herself put on a large coat and gloves, ran down the road into the river and submerged herself. She raced back as quickly as she could and began reaching into the flames to clear the burning wreckage, aided by the protection her waterlogged winter gear afforded.
"Good idea," Jack hastily observed, running into the river himself while his daughter continued to work. Jack ran back to find that a path had been cleared into the interior of the building where his daughter was. She was just out of reach through the window, waist-deep in a tub of water. Jack reached for her in desperate panic, his arm straining ever closer to his daughter's extended hand. Just a little further, almost there...
Snapping back to reality, Jack and his two daughters entered the train. It began to speed through the city down toward the river, taking the steep inclines with abandon. The three passengers braced as they barreled into an opposing train. Time slowed as the other train was split asunder, its material funneled outward like a parachute. Jack's train was unharmed and continued its race downward. They split yet another train before finally crashing into the corner building from Jack's vision. The train exploded in a ball of fire, engulfing the building as Jack and his daughters tried frantically to free themselves from the inferno.
Once free of the wreckage, Jack was horrified to see only one of his daughters with him; the other was surely still trapped in the building. Jack froze, panic written on his face, his mind screaming as his legs and limbs stayed firmly rooted.
The daughter that had freed herself put on a large coat and gloves, ran down the road into the river and submerged herself. She raced back as quickly as she could and began reaching into the flames to clear the burning wreckage, aided by the protection her waterlogged winter gear afforded.
"Good idea," Jack hastily observed, running into the river himself while his daughter continued to work. Jack ran back to find that a path had been cleared into the interior of the building where his daughter was. She was just out of reach through the window, waist-deep in a tub of water. Jack reached for her in desperate panic, his arm straining ever closer to his daughter's extended hand. Just a little further, almost there...
Sunday, August 01, 2010
Jubilant Delivery
"Ok, ok, that's enough," said Arnie, "give me some booming now." He was hardly able to contain himself. They had just finished their musical number, and now was the time for his big line, his favorite part of the show. A table and some dishes appeared onstage, the kids sat down, and Arnie turned his back on the small audience in the theater to prepare. His fellow actor was about to pitch him his lead-in.
"Hey Arnie, how's the weather?" said the actor in an exaggerated tone.
"How's the weather? How's the weather?!" Arnie turned around to face the crowd, his face flush with joy as he threw back his head and yelled, "I'LL TELL YOU HOW THE WEATHER IS!!!" Having said his line, his rapturous expression staled slightly.
"Uhhh...well, let's see...ummm..."
"Arnie, you son of a bitch!" yelled someone just offstage. She approached Arnie and started berating him for focusing all his energy on his favorite line, as he'd clearly forgotten the rest.
Jack, happily disconnected from the action onstage, busied himself attaching needles to thin sections of wire tubing that fed into small bottles. He placed each completed device in its own square, wooden bucket just in front of the audience, and each bucket was filled with a small amount of warm water. While the needle was fully submerged, the bottle had to lean awkwardly on the side of the bucket, and Jack spent much of his time trying to balance them. Once he finished, he stuck himself with one of the needles and turned back to the stage, where the woman was still yelling at Arnie.
"Your daughter loves fishing as much as you do, she'd be floating out there now, but you don't know!!" shouted the woman. Arnie seemed slightly ashamed, but it was clear he was still much too jubilant to be affected.
Jack stuck himself with another needle and carefully placed it back in the water. He began to wonder when the others would use the needles. He wasn't sure which he'd used already, and he was slightly worried about cross-contamination. Once again he poked himself with a needle before trying to detach it from the small fastener at the end of the metal tubing. Petunia started to push and prod him, and he closed his eyes in frustration; didn't she know he was dealing with dangerous needles? The glow from the television bathed the siblings in warm light.
"Hey Arnie, how's the weather?" said the actor in an exaggerated tone.
"How's the weather? How's the weather?!" Arnie turned around to face the crowd, his face flush with joy as he threw back his head and yelled, "I'LL TELL YOU HOW THE WEATHER IS!!!" Having said his line, his rapturous expression staled slightly.
"Uhhh...well, let's see...ummm..."
"Arnie, you son of a bitch!" yelled someone just offstage. She approached Arnie and started berating him for focusing all his energy on his favorite line, as he'd clearly forgotten the rest.
Jack, happily disconnected from the action onstage, busied himself attaching needles to thin sections of wire tubing that fed into small bottles. He placed each completed device in its own square, wooden bucket just in front of the audience, and each bucket was filled with a small amount of warm water. While the needle was fully submerged, the bottle had to lean awkwardly on the side of the bucket, and Jack spent much of his time trying to balance them. Once he finished, he stuck himself with one of the needles and turned back to the stage, where the woman was still yelling at Arnie.
"Your daughter loves fishing as much as you do, she'd be floating out there now, but you don't know!!" shouted the woman. Arnie seemed slightly ashamed, but it was clear he was still much too jubilant to be affected.
Jack stuck himself with another needle and carefully placed it back in the water. He began to wonder when the others would use the needles. He wasn't sure which he'd used already, and he was slightly worried about cross-contamination. Once again he poked himself with a needle before trying to detach it from the small fastener at the end of the metal tubing. Petunia started to push and prod him, and he closed his eyes in frustration; didn't she know he was dealing with dangerous needles? The glow from the television bathed the siblings in warm light.
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