First Storytime Bloghop 2019
Not much to say but that I’m very tired and extremely busy. Some things leech more strength than I had anticipated, mostly due to stupid people. So I dug out this old writing exercise for you. I still quite like it despite its obvious flaws. Have fun, and don’t forget to visit the other participants.
Morning has broken
I kicked the pebbles and watched them fly into the gently breaking waves. In the distance, the sea sparkled but close to the beach, its sheen seemed dull. I should have known she wouldn’t come. Not only didn’t she talk to boys, ever, also this part of the beach smelled like rotting garbage, and the water carried brown sludge from Dad’s sewage factory. His slogan still rang in my ears.
‘Synbatec – Cleanliness everyone can afford ‘
Hah! I dug my bare feet into the sand, cooling grains mixed with water squeezed through my toes. I loved this feeling but hated the effort of rubbing them clean later. The sun burned my face and helped me suppress my tears. I had wanted her to come more than anything in the world. I needed her to see what Dad really did when he “cleaned” the waste water. She would have known what to do. After all, she and her father featured eminently in the news—him being a famous actor and an environmental activist. They surely could negotiate something that would keep Dad out of jail and end the pollution.
With my eyes still closed, I strained my ears for footsteps, but not even seagulls came to this godforsaken place. I sighed, opened my eyes, and gagged on a foul taste. A hairy hand pressed a wet, sweet smelling cloth to my mouth. My vision blurred, but I recognized the butterfly tattoo on the man’s forearm. Every Wastopaneer Environmentalist wore it. I relaxed and sucked in the sweet odor of the sleeping drug. If they had to kidnap me to stop Dad’s toxic waste, I wouldn’t put up a fight.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw her. She smiled at me, and her smile stayed with me when darkness claimed me.
Here are the other stories:
Good Honest Work, by Chris Wight
Bad For Business, by Gina Fabio
The Last Friday, by Raven O’Fiernan
Lost And Found, by Angela Wooldridge
Bia Trevi’s Worldly Eats, by Barbara Lund
Hunting Bob, Vanessa Wells
Don’t Drink The Water, by Juneta Key
Duty, Elizabeth McCleary
The Footnote, Karen Lynn
The Monster Under The Bed, by Nic Steven
Field Trip to the UFO Museum, by Bill Bush
Scary Monsters and Other Friends, by Lisa Stapp
20 thoughts on “First Storytime Bloghop 2019”
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Very intriguing! I agree with the other comments – a great setup for something more.
Interesting setup! I agree this could definitely lead to more. ?
This feels like the beginning of a really good Mystery. I can’t wait to hear about any developments…
I’ve got a long line of projects that will come before this one. So it’ll probably take quite a while.
Awww… the boy’s in love. (I suppose having inlaws who are in federal prison would make marriage a whole lot easier.) Nice story!
Thanks.
Liked this – Didn’t guess the ending
I must have done something right then. 😉
Yes, interesting and unexpected. Enjoyed reading it.
Thanks.
Kids would put their toes in sewer runoff. They do stuff like that…
I loved the story structure. That first twist when you realize this is not a date! Great job.
True. As a kid, I loved stepping barefoot into fresh cow pads. They were so warm as they squeezed past my toes… 😀
Yes, room for more here (when you have time!)
Some day…
“Interesting” was the first word that came to my mind, too. What inspired this?
I wrote this when a ship in the North Sea lost a lot of oil.
Lovely. I agaree with Barb, too: more please!
Thanks. I’ve still got this tucked away as a possible opening for a longer story. Just now, I’m swamped.
Oooh, interesting. More please!
Thank you.