Weekly Whine: Morning Coffee's a Must

See below for It's Monday! What are you reading?

I don't really have anything to whine about today. I'm over my latest bout of anemia as of yesterday and actually had the energy to get out of bed at 3:50 A.M. this morning. Still had to head to the Keurig brewer first thing and watched the strongest brew stream into the cup. Ahhh...the aroma of morning coffee.

I got a bunch of yard work done yesterday. I love yard work! Really gives you the time to be productive and ponder, all at the same time. My poor backyard garden was seriously neglected after being ill the last couple years, so getting it back in order really makes me happy and peppy too :-). It was pretty hot yesterday though, and I HATE the heat--there's a tiny whine. Can't wait until we move up to the mountains full time. House in the mountains looking out on Longs Peak, where you see snow for most of the year, is the definition of heaven.

I have a confession. I missed the cutoff date for the contest. I worked my ass off editing The Courier and pulling my hair out with the synopsis, and it was nothing but painful. When the anemia got bad last weekend, I gave up and used my "lack of energy" as an excuse not to finish. The deadline came and went last Tuesday, and I didn't care. In fact, I was relieved I didn't enter. What it all came down to is that I lose my enjoyment for writing when I enter contests. So, NO MORE CONTESTS!

Off to add this week's forum topic to Vamplit Writer's. This week's question is who our vampire alter ego would be from literature, movies or television. The question came to me while watching Ultraviolet for the 20th time this weekend. Another movie I loved that no one else seemed to enjoy. So it's, no contest. I'd be Violet.

Oh, another movie we watched over the weekend that I thought was awesome, even after my son warned me young people really hated it was Gamer with Gerard Butler. Michael C. Hall plays another psycho in the movie. The man sure has talent for such roles.

WOW! I may not of had a lot to whine about, but I sure had enough to natter through.

It's Monday! What are You Reading?

What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme, hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Currently Reading: Road Trip of the Living Dead by Mark Henry & God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert

Listening to: Blood Trail by C. J. Box

Just Finished: Moonshine by Alaya Johnson & Small Favor by Jim Butcher (LOVED IT!!)

Next up: Dance on Fire by James Garcia Jr.

Powered by Linky Tools Click here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links…

Amy's Doll, by W. J. Howard

I received the contest results for the WOW Flash Fiction Contest and did not place with Amy's Doll. I scored high on creativity and originality, but screwed up on the technical judging. Has made me pick up a review book on grammar. If you would like to read the winning stories, go to http://wow-womenonwriting.com/22-FE1-Spring08Contest.html.

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Four-year-old Amy had become quite a handful for her mother Emily while the family moved into their new home. And Emily, seven months pregnant with twins, quickly lost patience with her daughter. “Amy, go to the playroom and unpack your toys,” said Emily after Amy sang her ABCs for what seemed like the hundredth time.

“Okay,” replied Amy. She eagerly left Emily’s side, ready to do anything besides stare up at her mother’s oversized belly.

In the playroom, Amy opened a box and noticed her favorite doll and its cradle. Feeling exhausted herself, Amy decided her doll should have a nap. She set up a nursery in the closet and placed her doll in the cradle. Then Amy laid down on the floor and fell asleep.

An hour later, Amy awoke to find her doll missing from the cradle. Confused, Amy ran to the kitchen where her mother was unpacking dishes. “Mommy where’s my baby?” she asked.

“Probably in one of the boxes.”

“No Mommy, she was in the closet.”

“I’m sure she’ll show up.”

Not getting the answer she wanted, Amy left in a huff.

Amy returned to the closet, where she noticed a small cabinet sized door. Curious, she opened the door and leaned inside. “Baby!” she called. Her tiny body tilted precariously into the silence and was swallowed by the darkness.

* * *

Four years later twin brothers Austin and Aden sat bored in their playroom.

“Let’s make a spaceship in the closet,” suggested Austin. He opened the closet door to find boxes packed with toys for a girl. Uninterested, he pushed the boxes aside and discovered a small cabinet sized door. A curious Austin opened the door with anticipation, but found nothing but a dark hole.

“Close the door. Mommy’s going to get mad,” said Aden.

Austin ignored Aden and poked his head inside the wall. Fearful for his brother’s well-being, Aden grabbed Austin’s shirt and pulled him backwards. Austin fought his brother, causing Aden to lose his grip. Austin flew forward and down into the darkness.

In a panic, Aden ran to the kitchen. “Mommy!” he cried. “Austin fell in the hole.”

“What?” cried Emily.

Aden grabbed his mother’s hand and pulled her back to the closet. “There.” He pointed at the small doorway.

“Austin,” Emily shouted down the dark shaft.

“Mommy,” replied a faint voice.

Emily dialed 911, and the fire department arrived within minutes. Three firefighters rushed to the basement and tore down a wall that concealed an old laundry chute. Inside they found Austin, dirty but uninjured. One of the firefighters scooped up Austin and handed him to his distraught mother. Emily shook as she hugged here son.

“I’m okay Mommy,” said Austin. He wiggled and pushed away from his mother grasp, trying to escape to the floor. “I need to help the girl find her doll.”

“Um ma’am,” said one of the firefighters. “There’s something else here in the wall.”

Not in the Inventory, by W. J. Howard

I entered this story--originally titled "Lost and Found"--in Writer's Weekly 24 hour writing contest, and I just got the results back yesterday. Unfortunately I didn't place...boo hoo. They provided the first couple paragraphs of the story and I had to finish it in 900 words or less within 24 hours. I actually had a lot of fun writing this one Saturday afternoon and plan to enter the next contest. Hope you enjoy it. Oh, and if you wanna read the winning stories, go to http://www.writersweekly.com/contest/summer08winners.html

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The bells on the door echoed as she stepped further into the old toy store. Luis winked at her and turned back to his black and white television set. She reached under the rack on the back wall and pulled it out. The doll was just where she'd left it last week. She approached the counter and put it down.

Luis turned to her, grabbed the doll with surprise, and said, "This is NOT for sale." She froze, her innocent eyes staring up at him. “Where did you find this?”

The girl turned and ran from the store.

“Come back here!” Luis ran after her, but when the girl saw him approach, she ran faster. “Stop!” he warned. Luis cringed and turned his head as the girl ran into the path of an oncoming car. Her tiny body flew into the air and she landed on the sidewalk across the street. She was dead, just like the others had died.

Tears welled in his eyes as Luis walked back into the toy store hanging his head.

When Luis bought the toy store the previous owner failed to disclose the doll was part of a package deal, but Luis could hardly blame her.

Three months had passed since he last saw the doll. Luis remembered taking it away from a seven-year-old girl. He refused to sell it to her aunt. After they left, he took the doll to the dumpster and set it on fire. Now the doll had returned, looking like brand new. He never found out the fate of the girl.

Shortly after taking over the business, Luis sold the doll to a young girl who turned up missing. Two weeks later local hikers found her molested corpse off Highway 67. Luis recognized her face on the local news, but didn’t considered a connection to the doll.

Two months passed before another young girl bought the doll. The following week Luis recognized her face in the newspaper. The girl drowned during a tragic boating accident.

Luis thought it odd that both girls had bought the same type of doll, but dismissed the two deaths as coincidental.

All remained quiet until two days after Luis completed an annual inventory. A father brought his daughter into the store, and Luis was puzzled when the little girl placed the doll on the counter. Luis was sure the doll was not in the inventory.

“Where did you find this?” Luis asked. Neither the father nor the daughter could answer.

Five days later, while flipping through the newspaper, Luis recognized another familiar face. The headline read, Man shoots ex-wife and daughter, then self. The photo of the murderer was the latest purchaser of the doll.

Luis could not believe his eyes. He rushed to his office clutching the newspaper and searched for the man’s credit card receipt. His heart sank when he found that the name on the receipt matched the name in the newspaper.

A few months passed before the mother of an adorable four-year-old girl placed the doll on the counter. Luis stared down at the doll. “I’m sorry, but this doll is not for sale.” Tears welled in the girl’s eyes. “It’s okay. I have a doll in the back I bet you’ll love.” Luis brought out another doll and handed it to the girl. “She looks just like you.” A smile returned to her face as she took the replacement doll from Luis.

“How much is it?” asked the mother.

“Same price.”

She paid for the doll, and the two hurried from the store.

Luis watched the two get into a car parked outside the store. Luis was sure he had saved the girl’s life until he saw the mother pull the doll from her purse and hand it to her daughter. Ten days later Luis read the headline, Man shakes girlfriend’s daughter; girl dies. A picture of the victim was unmistakably that of the little girl Luis had tried to save.

Now, after watching the latest girl get hit by the car, Luis sat staring at the black and white television set. The bells on the door echoed and an impeccably dressed woman talking on her cell phone, and her spoiled daughter entered the toy store. The girl pointed at the doll laying on the counter. “Mommy look at that dolly. I love it! I want it!”

“I’m sorry. This doll is not for sale,” said Luis.

“But I want it!” she shrieked and stomped her foot.

“Holly stop. I’ll get you the doll.” The woman rubbed her temple. “Are you sure it’s not for sale?”

“Yes. I’m sure.”

“I don’t care. I want it,” wailed the girl.

“Just sell it to me so she’ll shut up.”

“You don’t understand,” he replied.

“No, you don’t understand.” She opened her purse and pulled out a hundred dollar bill. “Will this change your mind?”

“No.”

“I want the doll!” The girl screamed.

Luis expression turned threatening. “Get out!”

The woman turned and dragged her daughter out of the store.

After they left, Luis searched his Rolodex and pulled out a business card. He dialed a phone number on the card.

A woman answered.

“Estelle Singer please.” She was the listing agent when Luis bought the toy store.

“This is Estelle.”

“Estelle, this is Luis Arnold. I need to sell the toy store.”

Estelle laughed.