Through Glass

Last time with Helene Troy: http://lancemyblogcanbeatupyourblog.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/100-word-song-telling-stories/

Narrow lanes of red and purple scrapes stretched over the knuckles on each of her fists. Tiny specks of asphalt crumbled out of her cupped hands as she moved her thumbs over her palms. Helene picked up the bottle of beer and swigged from its settled brew. She sat it down and turned to face Sadie. Morning sunlight bounced off the glass patio door. She blinked and caught her reflection through the glass then looked away feeling shame.

“Leney, I think you hurt your hands when you fell out of the cab. You were screaming at the guy to take you to Ramona’s. We wouldn’t let you. You threw your phone at me and Dawn then rolled out of the cab. I think you punched the cab too.”

Helene’s eyes moved back to her patio door reflection. She was twenty-four but looked older. Out of nowhere, Mara appeared in the door’s threshold holding the two gray and white kittens.

“Helene, I didn’t know you were a crazy cat lady! What are their names?”

Mara’s interruption caused Helene to turn around in her chair and resume drinking. Sadie took one of the kittens and the two women stood around Helene’s chair admiring them. Helene finished the beer.

“Tegan and Sara. The one with white on her belly is Tegan. I got them from the Bodega on the corner. They’re seven or eight weeks old.”

Helene put the empty bottle on the table and stood. Her knees buckled as she tried to steady herself. She clenched her fists and breathed through pain and dizziness.

“I’m sorry. I’m just so fucking sorry. I don’t know why I lost it last night. I could say Ramona’s a bitch. I could say I was nervous. But I think…..”

She stopped as the words made her gasp and start to cry. Large tears fell from her sharp green eyes. Her head pounded from her hangover. Sadie handed one of the kittens to Mara and extended her arms. The two women hugged. Helene cried into Sadie’s left shoulder. Mara walked back inside with the kittens and closed the patio door. Sadie patted Helene’s long brown hair.

“Leney, other than whatever’s going on with you and Ramona Gallery, I think you made it out of last night alright. Jackson punched Case in front of a bunch of reporters right after you got seriously drunk. The Golden Apples fucked up a lot more than you did last night.”

Helene couldn’t stop crying. Through sobs and sniffs she caught her reflection again. She grit her teeth and swallowed, hard.

“Sade, I look like shit. Let me get in the shower, take care of Tegan and Sara, then we’ll go see the manager and get paid. You and Mara can help me buy a new cell phone.”

Sadie smiled and touched Helene’s left shoulder as she walked back inside the apartment. Helene opened and closed the patio door but refused to look through the glass.

****blogger’s note****

This is a new story episode of The Ballad of Helene Troy. You can find the rest of the story, so far, here: http://lancemyblogcanbeatupyourblog.wordpress.com/the-ballad-of-helene-troy/ This is also patterned to the Write On Edge prompt for  detail:   http://writeonedge.com/2012/05/red-writing-hood-advancing-the-plot/ 

Today’s song just fits the story. It’s a little lame but there’s a point here. The lyrics are perfect. Here’s Stone Sour’s Through Glass.

100 Word Song – Telling Stories

There were some outstanding 100 word singers this week. Some of you made a Deadman’s Gun a metaphor for storms, real and imagined. Others put some muscle into thetheir and kicked some ass with the literal interpretations. I dug the testosterone-filled writing. As usual with 100 word song, we like to change course each week. After Cameron’s risque piece and subsequent song choice I went over to k and her humor mixed with tension mixed with drama of her Lillie story http://bloggitwrite.blogspot.com/2012/05/petersons-gun-lillie-and-100-word-song.html?spref=tw The interpretation of the song was perfect for the story and it’s emotional impact. k’s musical choices are a lot difefrent than mine so Leeroy and I were surprised at her excellent and quite versatile 100 word song pick – Tracy Chapman soulful “Telling Stories”. You 100 word singers should shine with this one.

Back to Helene for my 100:

Last time: http://lancemyblogcanbeatupyourblog.wordpress.com/2012/05/08/sour-girl/

Helene glared at Mara then turned and walked to the patio. She cringed while sliding the door open. Sadie followed.

“Leney, ignore Mara. Our manager wants to meet today so we can get paid for last night and talk about the next gig. I know you got me the job with Ramona. I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”

Helene sat in the white plastic chair. She yelped in pain opening the beer. It spewed over the concrete. She raised her bare feet onto the white plastic table.

“You’re welcome Sade. Now, why are my hands are killing me?”

Everything you need to know about 100 word song is located here: http://lancemyblogcanbeatupyourblog.wordpress.com/100-word-song/

I’ll see all of you through the week. Make sure you get your entries into Leeroy by next Tuesday at 7pm Atlanta, Georgia time. Here’s Tracy Chapman’s Telling Stories.

 

 

 

2000 Light Years

Today was supposed to be the day my life changed forever. I made plans to meet up with the woman my wife approved of me seeing on the side, my novel. Three weeks ago, just after Nanowrimo ended, I completed the ending to the book I’ve been writing, rewriting, and editing since February. You can find parts of it, on this blog, under the page heading “Crazy Robot Stories”. There’s about thirty thousand words there for you to peruse. I hit the 50 thousand word requirement to “win” Nanowrimo, about a week early, then over the following two weeks wrote another 33 thousand words and produced a manuscript. My friends, fellow writers, told me to put it away for a while, and start anew after Christmas. So I did.

Today’s the day after Santy Claus. I had planned to break open files and start nipping and tucking Caleb, Breann, and the evil Ava. Then life happened. Again. My wife had to work. My mother in law is ill. That left me working from home and hanging with my middle child, 8 year old “Bug”. Bug is more of a boy than actual boys here age. By noon, when we met her mom for lunch and to buy a discount Christmas tree (our poor skinny meth addict looking one is being kicked out of the house tomorrow), Bug and I had a nerf gun battle, run errands, and watched at the first three episodes of the new show Austin and Ally.

I’m looking at my mistress, now. She’s better looking than I thought, three weeks ago. Her beginning is tight and her ending is delightfully complex. I’m staring at characters that interest more than most real people I’ve ever encountered. Yet, the amount of editing is staggering. I need time with my other woman.

A little while I go I took Bug to my favorite used record store. I found some old Green Day, then two minutes later, Bug announces “i’ve got to go to the bathroom and there’s one in this dumb place.” So much for musical inspiration for writing today.

The frontline women in my life are prioritied. My wife gets off from work in 30 minutes. My 7 year old daughter gets back home from her other family in less than an hour. Bug just bounded downstairs begging me to inspect her room. She organized her room to accomodate a new desk and other stuff. That means I have to end this post.

The important parts of this check-in is; I’ve finished the first draft of my novel and you aren’t being bored with an end of the year look back or a meaningless list of something. I can’t wait to show you what I’ve accomplished.

Now, Bug and I have to get in some one-on-one nerf basketball.

Today’s song is from Green Day with they were awesome snot-nosed punks from Berkeley, California. From 1992 loud  Kerplunk record, here’s 2000 Light Years Away. It’s a metaphor for my girlfriend, the book.

Old Rose

The room’s always dark. There’s never anyone around. I would rather not have people know I’m watching a certain television show. I think this video will explain everything.

Ahh yeah, it’s 69 year old Charlie Rose interviewing 69 year old Charlie Rose about technology and the internet. It just doesn’t get any more clever and rock star than that, huh?

In my previous life as a news and sports reporter I got invited to New York for the Associated Press reporters convention. As I was walking through the banquet hall I came within about 6 feet of Charlie Rose. He was already a legendary newsman. He was only 49 then and looked 69. He said hello to me but I think he thought I was a busboy because he asked me to fetch him a club soda. This is probably how Jay Z felt when the old man sat him down behind that desk.

In the spirit of 30 days of Shamelessness or as I called it originally, Humble Pie, I write number 1 of the meme – Declare Your Love Of An Uncool TV Show. It’ doesn’t get anymore uncool than Charlie Rose on PBS. There’s a desk, maybe 3 or 4 60 watt lights bumbs, and an hour of an almost 70 year old white dude, who talks in slow measued tones, interviewing rock stars, heads of state, actors, and writers about how it is to be whatever they are. Fascinating, right? Believe it or not, it is. Charlie is a terrific interviewer. His dry sense of humor, surprisingly knowledge of current events, and no commercial breaks end up making a good hour of television. Charlie is also on 60 minutes. He’s considered the new guy, the young whippersnapper.  Here’s Charlie and the now defunct White Stripes.

If I ever get published, I have one lofty celebrity goal. I want Charlie Rose to interview me. Two reasons. One, I admire his work and would find it an honor. Two, no matter how boring I am, Charlie can out boring me. I’ll feel safe as a new born kitten.

I only recently told my wife that I watch Charlie. She seemed surprised. I wonder what you all will think. It’s PBS and it’s an old man and it’s really dry. I can’t stop watching him. Here’s Charlie at his best, getting Conan O’Brien to be introspective, pensive and serious instead of funny.

****blogger’s note*** Thanks to my robot sister Amy at http://www.kidfreeliving.com I discovered Kristen Lamb’s writing advice site, : http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/ If you are a writer you better read it. It’s brutally honest and extremely helpful.

Today’s song is me redeeming myself for the uncool television show. Here’s The Damned’s punk epic, New Rose.

Thrash Unreal

“Yeah, we’re behaving. John wanted to wind down and get something to eat after the concert. We’re at Waffle House. I’m going to order some eggs and hashbrowns, then take him back to his hotel. I love you too, bye,”

“Checking in with the boss?”

“Dude you did the same thing in the bathroom, don’t tell me any different.”

“Ha! Yeah, she asked me if I was still upright since it’s 4 hours past my bedtime.”

“Yeah, well, my wife knew you and Pearl Jam being in town at the same time was a greater phenomena than Halley’s Comet so she insisted I go to the show and stay out all night. Of course that means I have kid duty and 123 chores tomorrow.”

“You mean today, slick. It’s 2 o’clock in the morning. It’s zombie stripper time right now. Speaking of which, look who just got off of the main stage two booths over.”

“Dude, that’s someone’s daughter. I bet her story is heart breaking.”

“What? Living in a  house full of women has made you a Lifetime Network candy ass. She’s a stripper.”

“I see it different and keep your voice down. Fiver says that girl had a bad home life, got screwed over by a boyfriend or seven, and is just trying to get by or least maintain her gutter level existence. You have a son. You better be teaching him that treating girls well is what prevents Sierra grinding it out for three songs.”

“What would you do if one of your daughters ended up liked that girl over there?”

“After I beat you senseless for asking the question, I’d consider her lot in life my fault. Respect for women is the difference between working for tips from drunks and being the first female President, which one of my 3 daughters will be. Somebody or a collection of somebodies failed that girl.”

“Tom, you know you bummed out a really good conversation about tits and ass, right?”

“Eh, I’d rather talk about Pearl Jam’s encores. My ears are still ringing.”

“I think we just had a boring grown up moment, maybe we should ditch the waffles and go get arrested, like the old days.”

“As awesome as that sounds, I’m starving and my wife and I did the budget for the month the other day. I don’t have enough in the bank for bail money and a rock concert. “

**********blogger’s note**********

This is my contribution to Katie’s The Lightning and the Lightning Bug http://thewriteandthewrongword.blogspot.com/ prompt “Talk it Out”. The assignment was write a scene or story using only dialogue. John is in regular type, Tom is in bold. This is all inspired by today’s song by Florida punk band Against Me! One of my favorite tunes of the past 10 years is Thrash Unreal. It’s about the type of girl Tom and John see in the diner booth. She’s every father’s nightmare but also a cautionary tale of how she got there. This song is brutally awesome but the lyrics are raw and real. Enjoy.

Ever Fallen In Love With Someone You Shouldn’t've

I caught her at the gate as the plane was boarding. I expressed my deepest love in an embrace and a long kiss. She got on the plane, anyway.

*****blogger’s note****

The Red Dress Club changed into Write On Edge http://writeonedge.com/ This is my first deal with them. A very short story of 140 characters or less, so in the form of a tweet, for their Red Writing Hood Friday feature. I have become a fan of http://www.very-short-story.com/ aka @VeryShortStory on twitter. dude is amazingly talented at tweet type fiction. I hope I do him some justice with this.

Today’s song is one of my top ten favorite tunes ever. It’s from underrated punk rock band The Buzzcocks. The title is almost as long as the very short story. This is the ultimate dude getting messed over by a girl song… and it’s a punk rock masterpiece…Here’s The Buzzcocks’s Ever Fallen In Love With Someone You Shouldn’t've?