Nov 03 2008
Word Shot – 3 November, 2008
To those of you who tried your hand at last Monday’s Word Shot, thank you. To those who didn’t, give this week’s Word Shot a try. Remember, you can submit a word, a phrase, a sentence, a paragraph or more.
Here’s this week’s Word Shot photo:
Look at it. Think about it. Let your creativity play with it. Then write about it.
Submit your commentary on the photo in the comment area below the post (go to “Leave a Reply” below). And don’t forget to check out others’ submissions for this Word Shot in the coming week. Please remember, this exercise is for all of us, and the purpose is to help up hone our writing skills.
Also, remember that if you participate in 10 Word Shots, I’ll e-mail you all three of my e-manuals. Once you’ve submitted comments for 10, just let me know via e-mail.
Good luck and have fun!
Sadness Captured
The journey ahead is long and painful. So wrong to have to go it alone. So wrong to have to do so at such a young age.
I want to be her hero. Catch up, hug, let her know it will all be ok. Be everything to her.
I am
Sad
As she looked down the old railroad tracks she vowed not to look back. She promised herself that she would forget this place.
Pierre, her only friend, swung merrily alongside her as she forged a path into her new future.
I ought to be watching out for trains. Can’t think of nothin’ but where this track’s going to end up. Got me a blister the size of a dinner plate on my big toe. Dinner…I sure am hungry. Gonna be night soon. Then what? Sleep in the woods? Wonder is there wild things in there? Or people? Can’t chance that. Best to just keep walking, I guess.
I really ought to be listening for trains. After all, I am the big brother.
“Gretel, you want me to carry that suitcase a while?”
Got my best friend. Forgot my good shoes but that’s okay. Nobody is gonna tell me what to do. I am a big girl now. I can take care of myself. They will all be sorry when I am not there anymore. No I ain’t crying. Stupid bear, what do you know about it anyway?
Dad is such an idiot. Mum told him that the camp site was too far way from the car park but would he listen? Now here I am in my sundress and thongs marching my suitcase and TedBear along this abandoned track until I see the sign pointing to McKinnon’s Corner. He thought it would be fun to get away from it all but I’m going to stop there and wait to see how he manages to carry the tent and the food boxes on his own. Serves him right!
In one hand is my Cara bear, not Teddy but Cara because she’s my girl bear. I made sure she had a girl name because girls are strong, not like my mom. I am definitely a girl on this trip down this track to her new place on her new life. I’m wearing the hat on head that my gramma made for me last Christmas. She is a strong, old woman who told me plenty of stories about how when she was a girl my age she did things for herself. In the other hand is my suitcase. It isn’t just any suitcase. It ‘s the best suitcase in my mom’s closet. Inside the suitcase is everything I will need for my brand new life. I planned this trip for months. I’m leaving all of those people yelling at each other, all those people who think they know what’s best in my life and everyone else’s. But they haven’t a clue about even their own messed up lives for gosh’s sakes, not my life. I know exactly what’s best for me. I can’t live in that stupid town anymore, where nobody ever leaves ever leaves, stays the same no matter what. I’m going to get my new life. Gramma said that others used to walk the railroad tracks in her day. I’m gonna to start my own life, just like gramma did when she was a girl, start her own new live. But I’m not going get stuck in a small town like she did. I’m gonna to walk these railroad tracks as long as it takes, and when I get to a city, new city I show them I can make it, even if it is hard. This is not running away from home. This is not playing pretend. My old home is gone. I’m not sad. I’m ready. I can do this by myself. I will make it. I am strong.
When train, time and tide wait for none;
-then why should I wait for someone?
Mama sent me on ahead. She’ll be comin’ right soon as soon as Gammie Beth feels better.
I like going to Aunt May’s. Her house always smells like fresh baked blueberry pie (that she knows is my favorite!) And she doesn’t mind if we color and spill a bit - as long as we do it in Uncle Joe’s shed.
I’ve brought all my important things - what Mamma calls “e-sentials”: Teddy the bear, my crayons, coloring book and pj’s. And Mamma made sure to pack my tooth brush and made me promise to brush after eating all the goodies that Aunt May likes to serve “the kiddies”.
Next year I’m going to start school, so Mamma wants Aunt May to buy me some shoes. Mamma says that all the school children wear shoes, even when it’s hot outside. Can you imagine? Papa has got shoes, real big and heavy, for working in the factory. But the first thing he does when he comes home is take them off - right in the living room - so Mamma has to come and put them away, saying, how many time do I have to tell you that shoes don’t belong in the living room.
Oh, I miss Mama and Papa already. I wish I could stay home…
|
Jason picked nervously at the leather-covered lever, labelled ‘brake’.
He tapped his foot beneath the panel of controls, hoping that this run would be over soon.
“Don’t pick away at the leather, Son. Replacin’ that cover’s expensive.”
“Sorry.” He balled his fist for a moment, then placed his hand gently back on the brake.
“Why is it you wanna drive trains, anyway? You could be doin’ a million other, much more excitin’ things with yer’ life”
“Well, I suppose the main attraction is being relatively close to the outdoors. I won’t be stuck in a cubicle.” He chuckles. “And my father drove trains back in the day.”
“Ah, gonna grow up just like yer’ Daddy, huh? Well, that’s nice of you, Son. You’re doin well so far, I’m honoured to be your examiner today.” Jason smiled.
–
||
Stupid family.. Stupid school.. God, why can’t they just be normal? It isn’t my fault that I’m failing math, the teacher’s stupid! I wonder if they’ve noticed I left yet.. Oh, the regret they’ll feel when they find my bedroom empty, my clothes packed and Bearbear missing! I can’t wait for that phone call at Jennie’s house!
‘Oh, miss Arbuckle, thank god you answered! Gina’s missing! Have you seen her?’
‘Why yes, she said you gave her permission to come sleep here this weekend, in Jennie’s room!’
HA!
gave me permission.. I don’t need permission, I’m just like every other 16-year old girl. Perfectly capable of taking care of mys-
–
|
“Uh, sir? What’s that out on the tracks?” Jason asked, his voice cracking mid-sentence.
“Well, I don’ know.. it looks like a- aw hell. Jason, crank the horn.”
Jason swung his arm above his head, and yanked on a wire contraption, which made a sound loud enough to make his nerves shake.
“… crank it again! Start breakin’!”
Jason pulled the lever labelled ‘break’ as he was taught, slowly but firmly. He yanked at the contraption again. His eyes were bulging, tears forming, and sweat was accumulating on his forehead.
“Oh my God, is that a girl on the tracks?! Why isn’t she moving?” Jason yanked the wire again and again, but to no avail. The young girl was not moving off the tracks. He went against training, and pulled back the lever as hard as he could, launching his examiner from his seat to his feet.
Gina Moore, 16, was killed in a tragic accident this weekend. Jason Hughes, apprentice train conductor, is being charged with murder. Witness Grant McAnnigan to defend Hughes. Jury is undecided. Evidence shows Moore was deaf, leaving her unaware of Hughes’ supposed attempts at warning her. McAnnigan claims Hughes followed regulations. Hughes to return to courthouse Monday for another hearing.
Gina Moore, 16.
Wonderful daughter, loyal friend, forever in our hearts.
RIP
The crazy photographer who was stalking me managed to snap a photo of me walking. He snapped the photo just moments before the train hit us both from behind.
When Lindsey’s sister Disney collapsed that day, she had no idea what it meant. She had no idea what anemia was. No idea what hemoglobin count was, and why the number 4.5 was so bad. Why it meant that her sister was critically ill. Lindsey’s mom, although a health care professional, couldn’t cut through her state of shock to understand fully what those terms and numbers meant either. Disney, on the other hand, was scared, but too weak to understand anything other than the looks on the doctors’ faces, and her parents’ faces, and the nurses’ faces. They would have to give her a transfusion. New fresh blood. Someone else’s blood. Someone who had the same kind of blood as she. It meant that she’d have to be transferred to another medical facility. A cruise ship couldn’t give her fresh blood.
When the Doctor mentioned an airlift, it became clear to everyone just how important it was the Disney get this blood-sooner, rather than later.. And so it was. Disney and her mother took the helicopter to the hospital, and Lindsey and her Brother Richard and their Dad had to stay on the cruise ship until the cruise reached its port.
It was Lindsey’s responsibility to pack all of Disney’s clothes. To pack her own clothes, and to help her Father and Terrence. And Now, with Disney’s suitcase packed and her Teddy bear in hand, Lindsey entered the hospital, to see her sister Disney for the first time since she left on the stretcher. All she could do was hope to understand. All she could do was pray.