Justbec
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July Challenge
Ok gang here it is. Below you will see 4 pictures. Pick the one you like and tell me a story.
It can be a poem, a short story, or the opening to a longer story. You know, one of those "read the first few pages and I've got you" things. Your choice, there really aren't any rules... Well except one, try and keep it under 1000 words. Yes Sue, that is for you. 
If you opt for a story that is open ended that's fine. Who knows, maybe we'll beg you to continue it or let us join in.
I really hope you'll all give it a shot. Heck it's just for fun and I can't write for beans.
Deadline for entries is: July 30th
Ok take your pick:
Picture 1:
Picture 2:
Picture 3:
Picture 4:
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7/11/2009, 11:57 am
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Justbec
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July Challenge
You can post it when you want. It's up to you. I'm working on one. Just not too far on it yet
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7/17/2009, 11:57 am
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Justbec
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July Challenge
Heck I can't write. It's just for some fun
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7/17/2009, 12:07 pm
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Catcherlady
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Re: July Challenge
Ok, I finally got mine together. Went with a poem this time, and yes, bec, I kept it under 1,000 words. 
I went with picture number 1:
Forest Spirit
In the still of dewy morning,
As daylight lifts the mantle of evening’s rest,
The spirit of the forest is awakened,
Softly, gently, on the smallest robin’s breast.
Green and fertile, it breaks from every leaf,
Quiet and peaceful, it trips along the babbling brook.
The forest comes to life before us,
You only have to see, to look.
To listen for its very heartbeat, carried on the wind,
In the footsteps of the creatures here.
The spirit is alive, it beats within,
And the creatures come, the rabbit and deer,
The squirrel and fox, the chipmunk and bird,
They come and complete it, they each play their part,
On the great stage of nature, green and alive,
The spirit is with them, it beats like a heart.
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7/17/2009, 12:28 pm
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Justbec
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July Challenge
Very nice Sue.
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7/17/2009, 12:31 pm
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Catcherlady
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July Challenge
Thanks...it's not my favorite thing I've ever written, but it's what came to me when I looked at that picture.
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7/17/2009, 12:39 pm
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Justbec
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July Challenge
I don't do poems. So I'm going to opt for a story, perhaps an open ended one.
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7/17/2009, 12:50 pm
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Loveable Bitch
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Re: July Challenge
Okay - this is the beginning of a story but I am not sure where I am going to go with this yet! And it just under 1000 words!
I chose picture three:
The day dawned cold and grey, but the again every morning was the same here in the winter. The air was sullen and cold with the threat of the first snow of the season. Megan was up at the crack of dawn to get the hotel ready for the breakfast shift as she always was. Although she always felt a sense of despair every time she laid out the tables that no one ever sat at, she knew she had no choice. Her family had owned the hotel for years and they refused to give it up. Why wouldn't they let her choose her own path and go to university? She was over 18 after all.
The first job was to light the fires in the huge fire places at each end of the main hall and then light the candles on the table. The main hall was freezing at this time of year and she appreciated that the guest would not like to eat their breakfast in icy cold surroundings. She was so focussed on getting ready for the day that she never noticed that the snow started, blanketing the sounds from the forest and the drive way.
Two hours later, she was on duty at the front desk. Sitting behind the desk, she was daydreaming about being in California at university and working on her thesis. It would certainly be warmer than it was here with the snow storm raging outside. Why would anyone want to come here in this weather? It isn't even pretty at the moment.
Just then the door burst open and a snow covered man walked in. The first thing she noticed was how tall and strong he looked but then she noticed the outfit and the style of moving and she knew he was a hunter or some form. Maybe deer or bear? She realised she was staring but she found it hard to take her eyes of him as there was something interesting about his face and the way he moved.
He slunk over to the desk the way hunters moved.
“Name's Chesterfield. I need a room.”
“Of course, sir. How long for?”
“Indefinitely.”
She was immediately curious as to why he wouldn't know how long he wanted the room for, but she knew to remain polite and helpful having dealt with people like this for her whole life.
“That's fine. You will need to pay for a week in advance.”
He didn't answer but slid a credit card towards her. She took the payment and then handed him the key to room 13.
“Here you go, sir. Room 13. Would you like a hand with your luggage?”
He shot her a look stating clearly that he was annoyed to have being asked and headed off the way that she had indicated.
* * * * * * * * * * *
A month passed and every day was the same. No one came to to the hotel and the breakfast was generally just the regulars who liked the cold winters for the skiing. The hunter never seemed to bother with breakfast.
Megan didn't like to admit it but she had been watching his habits. He would leave the hotel about the same time she got up in his beat up pick-up truck. Where he went, she never knew and it seemed no one in the little village nearby did either. He never went into town but seemingly went up into the mountains to hunt. However, when he got back once it started to get dark, he never seemed to have had any luck with the hunting. There were no animals in the back of his pick up and he always seemed really down hearted as he sat by the fire staring into the flames.
Every day, she would bring him the menu but he always had the same thing: a beer and a rare steak. He never seemed to notice her or the fact that it was always the same thing that was said between them. Somehow the sullen sadness really caught her attention but she couldn't bring herself to ask him what the matter was. She knew somehow that he would never answer her and also that he would never admit what the matter was.
That is until one day when things changed... The hunter was back earlier than expected but still took up the normal place by the fire. Megan decided to see whether that meant that something else in his day would change.
“Can I get you anything, sir?”
He turned to her and she could see that he was in a worse state than normal. He was actually physically hurt with blood running down his face. She gasped slightly, but managed to keep herself together.
“Let me get something to stop the bleeding.”
“No. It's fine.”
“It's not fine. That cut looks nasty.”
“I'll survive.”
She turned and walked to the kitchen to get the first aid box anyway. When she came back, she noticed he was crying without really seeming to know that he was. She walked over to him and started to dab away the blood on his face. He started but then allowed her to continue to clean up the face.
“It's Megan, isn't it?”
She was rather shocked that he had even picked up on her name, but nodded.
“Why do you care?”
“We don't want people dying in our hotel.”
He started giggling which shocked her even more. That was the first time she had seen any emotional reaction from him. She felt that maybe this was the time to ask him something that had been annoying her.
“How long are you going to be here?”
He turned away and she could tell that something was really hurting him.
“Until I find my brother.”
--- 
Pam in reference to Sam: "That perky little ass of yours. You could bounce a nickel off that thing!" |
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7/18/2009, 4:42 am
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ICQ
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Justbec
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July Challenge
Wow!!! Excellent job Mel!
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7/18/2009, 8:01 am
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Justbec
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July Challenge
I like it.
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7/18/2009, 9:11 am
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Catcherlady
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July Challenge
GREAT job, Mel! Now I can't wait to find out what happens next! 
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7/18/2009, 10:31 am
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Catcherlady
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July Challenge
Excellent, moonie...looking forward to reading it!
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7/18/2009, 2:56 pm
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Justbec
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July Challenge
Looking forward to reading it Moonie.
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7/19/2009, 8:24 am
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Catcherlady
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July Challenge
Did you really, Mel? That's cool...I love it when something just flows right out of your head and fingers onto the page. Doesn't happen often but when it does, it's such a rush.
And don't worry about continuing it...sometimes when you walk away for a little bit and then go back to it, you'll get another inspiration.
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7/19/2009, 11:45 am
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Catcherlady
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July Challenge
I get a lot of inspirations when I'm in bed...I should really keep a pad of paper and a pencil next to my bed!
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7/19/2009, 12:01 pm
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Justbec
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…
Hope you can Moonie. We'd like to read it. No deadline really so don't rush.
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7/27/2009, 12:36 pm
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Catcherlady
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…
Aw, take your time moonie...we'd love to read it!
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7/27/2009, 12:39 pm
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