Storytelling,

Series: Tales of the Other Earth Tale: Halloween Story part 11 M/F Story

M G Kizzia Leave a comment

            “Now, if youse will all be good, Rapper Bob will make with the music.”  Owen the gangster spoke into the microphone while half the party left for the cafeteria.   “And I don’t want any trouble out of any of youse guys.  Got it?  So maybe Celeste will sing something later.”  The listening crowd cheered at the idea of having a real rock star sing at their party.

            “Oh Owen, you’re so commanding.”  Terry of the long nails and too short skirt and dumb blond attitude spoke as the music started, and she sat in Owen’s lap as he sat and nodded his head like she was speaking his tune.

            “You’re a good moll.”  He said.  “Every gangster needs a moll.”

            “And you’re my pumpkin wumpkin.”  Terry said, tweaking Owen’s nose.

            “And I think I’m gonna throw up.”  Celeste said, looking at Bob, but Bob had his headphones on against the music and was not paying attention, and Kyle, dressed like a pimp, was not to be found.  Celeste wondered for a minute what that sex fiend might be up to, but she soon shrugged it off and got into the music.

                                                            ————

            Pimp Kyle slid up to his intended tricks.  Once, they had been seventh grade wannabes, Anna, Lisa and Elizabeth.  Now, they found themselves as Cleopatra, Babette, the French maid, and a pregnant nun.  “Ladies.”  That was all Kyle had to say.  The look in his eyes said the rest.  The women scattered and ran for their lives, Cleopatra trying not to trip over or fall out of her long white dress, Babette shrieking and waving her feather duster like a weapon as she struggled to run in her extra high heels, and Elizabeth praying to Mary, the Mother of God.

            “And I’m not even Catholic!”  Elizabeth confessed.

            Kyle shrugged, tilted his hat forward, spun his cane once and swaggered off in their general direction.

                                                            ————

            “Thank goodness this couch was here.”  Raggedy Ann said as she fought to pull herself up.

            “What?”  The voice came from above.

            “I said.”  Raggedy Ann started to repeat herself, but then she got a look at the speaker.  It was Barbie, small and plastic, but at least the arms and legs were bendable.  “I said you try talking with your mouth sewn shut!”

            “Me?”  Barbie responded in a very un-Barbie like fashion.  “I’m made of plastic!”

            “At least you can stand.”  Raggedy Ann said as she fell on the couch cushion face down.  It was going to take some effort to turn face up and she only hoped she did not slide down to the floor again. 

            “Not hardly.”  Barbie said.  “Look.”  Her arms and legs went up and down, but she could not bend at the elbows or knees.  Of course, Raggedy Ann could not look, being face down, and she said so.  Barbie’s response was even sharper.  It appeared to be the beginning of a good brawl, when the couch interrupted them.

            “Quiet!”  The couch commanded.  “I don’t mind you sitting on me, but I don’t need to hear about your troubles.  I was going to come as a Hell’s Angels, but no!  At the last minute I decided to be a couch potato.”

            “Oh, I see.”  The girls both spoke together as they noticed the potato with a face attached to the top of the couch.

            “Oh, no!  Please no!”  Barbie shouted suddenly.

            “What?”  The others wondered and then they saw Super Model Kylie approaching.  The woman was nearly six feet tall and could not have weighed a hundred pounds.

            “There you are.”  Kylie said, shaking out her luxurious hair as if posing for a camera.  “Do you like my shoes?  They are Armani, a rich burgundy I matched with my Aigner bag and my luscious lips.”  She posed with a kiss puckered on her lips.

            “This will go on without end.”  Barbie shuddered.

            “Please, no!”  Raggedy Ann begged as Kylie sat between the dolls and picked them up as if they were real dolls while explaining all about her outfit and the designers that made each piece.

            “Ooof!” was what the couch said, a hundred pounds or not.

                                                            ————

            Life was quiet in room 204.  Five horrors, all boys, were scribbling on the blackboards and rummaging through the teacher’s desk while the devil girl and the skeleton girl sat with the axe-headed zombie and the dead lawyer and lamented their fate.  The two ghosts had already slipped off to the closet.

            “They’ve forgotten us.”  The skeleton insisted.

            “They wouldn’t.”  The lawyer responded. 

            The devil girl sat with her elbows on the desk and her chin resting in her hands.  She glanced up.  “It’s been over an hour.  They sound like they are having fun without us.”

            There was a bang from inside the closet.  “Kate and Winslow are having fun.”  The skeleton said.

            “Winslow’s gay.”  The devil girl said grumpily.

            “Doesn’t sound gay to me.”  The lawyer responded with a grin on his face.

            “You know what I mean.”

            “Hey!”  The grim reaper interrupted.  “A deck of cards.”  Scream and the demon both looked up, and the demon smiled.

                                                            ————

            “I want you two here on the west door.”  Captain Tor scowled at his men.

            “Sir!”  Opas and Miraz responded in their best military fashion, which was not very good.  The Captain’s scowl deepened as he looked out over the playground area.

            “Not much chance of the Queen Arosa coming this way, but the Queen Regent wants all the doorways guarded just in case.  I assume you two can handle this assignment.”

            “Yes sir.”  They said.  “But sir.”  Opas interrupted.  “What if we get hungry, or maybe thirsty?”

            Captain Tor put his head in his hands.  “Just don’t leave the door unguarded.  Keep the children in and keep your eyes open for the Queen.”

            “Yes sir.”  Miraz spoke.  “But sir, how will we recognize her, Queen Arosa I mean?”

            Captain Tor shook his head.  “Tell you what, just arrest any woman trying to get in.”

            “Yes sir.”  Both men said.  “But sir.”  Opas started again, but the Captain was not listening.  He had already gone back inside.

            “So, it’s you and me again.”  Miraz said.  “Eh!  Where are you going?”

            “Come on.”  Opas encouraged his fellow.  “I’m going to sit on one of these swinging things.  We can watch the door better and be in the shadows, if you know what I mean.”

            “Ohhh.”  Understanding dawned slowly on Miraz’ face.  “Catch them by surprise-like.  Very clever.”

                                                            ————

            In the Cafeteria, newly dubbed the war room, the people came to agreement.  They had to get the hostages free before they attempted anything else.

            “My loyal subjects.”  Queen Jessica tried to push herself up to the front for the third time, supported by her ladies in waiting, Mindy, Savannah and Shakira.

            “Sit down.”  People yelled at her.

            “Sitty Downy!”  Lila yelled from her perch on her grandpa-scarecrow’s shoulder.  Several people sighed.  The fairy was becoming so cute!  Ginger, the Jaguar, decided to roar at the Queen.

            “Heads will roll!”  Queen Jessica threatened, but she sat at the roar of the cat, not wishing to upset the panther.  She looked disgusted with the whole proceeding, but she did not appear as if she would try to take over a fourth time.  Her ladies in waiting were very comforting, and the witches, Brittany, Nichole and Molly were also right there with soothing words.  Lila briefly wondered what the witches were up to, but such a thought flits across a typical fairy mind without much impact.

            “Of course, I’m not clever about such things.”  The Scarecrow said, sounding more and more like the real Scarecrow.  “But I know a way we can get to the roof of the offices without going down the halls.  If some of you made a distraction, there might be a way to get the hostages out.”

            Peter the Ninja and Jennifer the elf came in at that point.  Everyone turned to hear their report.  “The Queen and a dozen soldiers have set up on the auditorium stage.  The wizard with his funny black box is with them and the Captain, and her Count Severas guy with his goons are there as well.  There are six guards in the offices guarding the prisoners, but since scouting them out, they have also set guards on the outside doors and guards with barriers in the halls east and west of the auditorium.”  The Ninja bowed and the elf lifted his face back up, holding him by the chin.

            “I never realized your eyes slanted like that, Peter, you know, Asian looking.”  The elf said.

            “A match for your pointed ears.”  The ninja responded.  Jennifer could not tell, but she was fairly sure Peter was smiling beneath his mask.  She did feel her ears turn ever so slightly red.

            “People!”  Chris the knight, and Tyler, the NFL quarterback, restored order and silence.  The scarecrow then outlined his ideas while Lila got bored and looked around the room.  There was a Geisha setting up a tea service in one corner and a gypsy woman going into the fortune telling business in the opposite corner of the room.  The geeks had a third corner.  George was a real doctor, and Shirley was his nurse.  That could be useful if someone got hurt.  Ethan was a mad dentist.  Missing teeth was something she did not want to think about, but she supposed having him, even as a madman, was better than nothing.

            Meanwhile, Chef Brian – a rotund Chef Brian – had taken over the kitchen, and waitress Maria, who suddenly spoke perfect English, what could be discerned through the gum chewing, was taking an order from a Delta stewardess, a farm girl, and Snow White, who was identical to the Disney version except she was still black.  Lila shook her head.   She was feeling very confused, but then she was distracted by a sight near the kitchen door.  Nelson-Max Man and his no longer stuffed dog Maxamillian were sneaking off toward the kitchen and the food.  She zoomed over to cut them off, leaving a trail of golden fairy dust in her wake.

            “Max and Max!  You have to stay and help.”  Lila put one fist on her hip and wagged a finger at the two while she hovered in mid-air.

            “Uh-oh.  Snagged by Tinker Bell.”  Max Man said.

            “Indeed.  Max Man trapped by the glittering damsel.”

            “I am not Tinker Bell!”  Lila said, not quite sure what a glittering damsel was.  She put both of her fists on her hips and stomped her foot in mid air.  It actually made a snap!  “Would you stay and help for a cheeseburger?”  She had an idea.

            Max Man and Maxamillian looked at each other, but did not answer.  “OK.”  Lila said.  “How about two cheeseburgers?”

            “Two each?”  Max Man was bargaining.

            “Indeed.  Double enticements?”

            “Deal.”  Lila said, and before thinking too hard about what she was doing, she pulled out her wand and touched the air in front of Maxamillian and the air in front of Max Man.  The Cheeseburgers magically appeared.

            “Marvelous prestidigitation!”  Maxamillian shouted as the two scarfed down the treats.  Lila was in too much shock over what she had just done to notice.

            “Magic!”  Lila shouted.  “I just did magic!  Really for real!”  She shot around the room, shouting at everyone about her great accomplishment.  When she finally settled back on the Scarecrow’s shoulder, remembering that she was supposed to be listening to the plan, she had to catch her breath.

            “I heard.”  Grandpa said before she could shout in his straw ear.  “But now, Lila, you have to settle down.  You have to help me lead the group through the rafters.”

One Writer’s Writing Secrets 2: Finding your Voice

M G Kizzia 2 Comments

            I just finished rereading Huckleberry Finn, so if I break out in a twang, please bear with me.  (I ain’t agwyne do’t if I can hep it).  Dialect is a bear, and not recommended – unless it is who you are, and you know the dialect like the proverbial back of your hand (and your spelling is consistent).

            Allow me to share a bit of family folklore that floated down to me from my writer brother in Alaska.  It concerns a person named Tom (not Sawyer, but of the same type as I hear tell), though how true the story is, I cannot say.

            Tom went to the University of Michigan for one semester where he had a Freshman English professor who said something like this:

            “Tom.  You have a wonderful voice when you speak.  It is lively and very different from the dry papers you have been turning in.  You know, I believe you have the potential to be a good writer, but you have to stop trying to write the way you think it is supposed to be written.  Instead, I want you to try writing in a way that is most natural to you.  That is the secret to good writing.  Try writing the way you talk and it will be much better.”

            Now, Tom decided that was good advice; but if his best writing was simply writing the way he talked, and since he already knew how to talk, he also decided there was no more to be learned from that institution; so he dropped out and wandered his way up to Alaska where he took a job hosting a national radio show for NPR and writing just the way he talked, and though I don’t want to give everything away, the end of the story is if you ever go traveling across this country, I am sure he will “leave a light on for ya.”

Writing Tip 2: 

For most of us our talk can get pretty sloppy and might not be a good guide, but on principle, don’t worry about the way good writing is supposed to be writ!  Write the way that is most natural and comfortable for you.  That is your voice, and it will invariably be much better than imitating someone else.

Series: Tales of the Other Earth Tale: Halloween Story part 5 M/F Story

M G Kizzia Leave a comment

            Barten-Cur came up to the Middle School in a hurry.  He tried to make it before the school busses started, but failed, and so he was delayed in traffic for a long time.  By the time he arrived, the library was already closed up and Arosa had gone home.  Lila was also nowhere to be found.  He was about to turn and rush to the house, but the Middle School Principal caught him.

            “Barten.”  The Principal called.  “I appreciate you coming over from the High School for this dance.  Wilson has little ones to trick or treat, you know.”  He said.  “I’m a little concerned, though, that all of the decorations are up to code.  We can’t have the Fire Marshall coming in and shutting down the whole event.”

            “Yes sir.”  Barten said.  He would need to check on that, but later, he thought.

            Mary, Principal Barlow’s secretary stuck her head out of the office door on hearing the voices in the hall.  “Ah.  Mister Cur.”  She said.  “I was hoping you would come early.  I have several instructions to go over with you and I want to ask you some questions.”

            Barten-Cur swallowed.  “Yes mam.”  He said, hoping it would not take too long.  He looked to the side as Morgan and Mary went by. 

            “I hear Secretary Mary, the school witch is coming as the Wicked Witch of the West.”  Morgan whispered.

            “Perfect.”  Mary said with a smile and shrug as they hurried off.

            Later, when Barten-Cur came out of the office, he looked very confused.  The school secretary was very good at doing that to people, even the bright ones.  Barten-Cur walked down the hall that ran along the side of the auditorium, and headed for the gym.  He had to be sure the decorations were not in violation of the fire codes.  By the time he remembered the soldier and his need to tell Arosa, it was too late.       

                                                            ————

            Lila left Jennifer and Ginger at the front walk and came in by the picket fence gate, waving as she walked up the porch steps.  Of course, Jennifer and Ginger had to go home to get in their costumes; but they would be back.  “One hour!”  Jennifer had shouted from the distance, though Lila suspected it would take a bit longer than that.

            Grandpa drove up as Lila reached the door, so she waited, and then decided to go to the car to meet him.  She hugged him.  “You are coming to the dance?”  She had not had a chance to ask earlier what with chemistry tests and such.

            “I wouldn’t miss it.”  Wendel said, putting his arm around Lila’s shoulder for a real hug.  “Your mother inside?” 

            “I guess.”  Lila said.  “She left school right away.  What takes so long to get ready for a crumby date, anyway?”  She asked.

            “Ah, yes.”  Grandpa Carter said in an all-knowing tone of voice.  “But I think you had better let your mother explain that.  I’m not much good on the ways of women and their dates.”

            “Oh, Grandpa.”  Lila said, happily, hugging him just a little more.

            Wendel Carter smiled.  He was genuinely happy.

            Upstairs, Arosa fretted in front of the mirror.  The white gown would suit well.  It fit nicely and had a solid Greco-Roman look to it as would be expected for an angel; but she was not sure if she should really do the wings or just suggest them with the strap-ons.  She straightened the golden circle around her hair, which was there to suggest the halo.  She was not about to wear one with a stick attached.  She picked up her brush and began brushing her bangs.  Her hair was short now, at least by her standards, falling only to the middle of her back; though it was still much longer than the boy haircuts so popular among the women around her.  “Definitely do the wings.”  She decided, and she focused, waved her hands slightly, producing a soft, swirling white light, which rose over her shoulder and touched her back.  The magic would do the work.

            Vents appeared in two places in the back of her gown, well edged so as not to fray, but large enough to let out the wings.  She felt the magic when it touched her back, and was uncomfortable for a moment as her back muscles became much stronger, multiplied and rearranged themselves.  Then the wings began to grow.  She could feel the tips extending, and felt the feathers like one felt one’s hair; yet there was life in the wings, and she could play with them, though she did hope she would not molt too much over the course of the evening.  The wings, when contracted, soon rose as high as her head, and the tip feathers touched the ground so she had to let them out just a little to keep them from dragging.  She considered their shape.  They were spaced perfectly so she would have no trouble sitting in a chair.  She would have to tell David no booths, though, wherever he was taking her.

            Arosa sighed.  “Why not?”  She asked herself.  She let the wings all of the way out and allowed one gentle flap, putting her hands above her head just in case she ran into the ceiling.  She lifted gently off the ground, about a foot, and then settled slowly back to her feet.  Lila came to the door just in time to see.

            “Mom!”  Lila nearly shouted. 

            “What do you think?”  Arosa asked.

            “Oh, Mom.”  Lila came close for a hug.  “I always knew you were an angel.”

            “But.”  Arosa had a sudden thought.  She broke the embrace and turned around.  “How do I look?” 

            Lila took a moment to look closely at the wings.  She saw them flex, like a wave beginning in her mother’s back and continuing to gently flow all of the way to the tips.  “Fine.”  She said, not knowing what she was supposed to be looking at.

            “My back isn’t too big?”  Arosa asked.

            Lila looked more closely.  “No.”  She said.  “Bigger than it was, I think, but not too big.  Still nice.”

            Arosa turned again with relief on her face.  “I was afraid the muscles needed to carry my wings might turn my back into some monstrous size.”

            Lila shook her head.  “They are angel wings, right?  Wouldn’t they have some magic in them to prevent that?”

            Arosa smiled.  “I know we haven’t practiced magic much.”  She said.  “We have to work on that, but you should at least remember the lessons you have had.  Even with magic, things…”

            “Still work by natural means.”  Lila finished the sentence.  “OK.  Now you can help me with my fairy wings.  Oh, wait.  Let me get in costume first.”

            “No Lila.”  Arosa spoke in her firm voice.

            “What?  But Mom!”

            “First of all, fairies are only about six or nine inches tall, and you are not allowed to go to the dance nine inches tall.”

            Lila interrupted.  “And second of all, we are not supposed to practice magic in public.  That’s your rule.  But you are.”  Lila was glad to point that out.

            “And second of all, you left the front door unlocked this morning.  No real fairy wings!”  Arosa shook her finger.

            “Not fair!”  Lila complained and went off to her room, closing the door with some volume.  Arosa sighed and went downstairs, letting her wings float her down.

            “Dad?”  She saw him rummaging through his briefcase.

            “I have to go back to the office.”  He said. 

            “You better dress first.”  She suggested.

            “Richard the Lionhearted goes to school.”  He winked.

            “Dad.”  She knew he did not have such a costume.

            “All right.  I’m really dressing as the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz, you know, if I only had a brain.”

            Arosa laughed softly and kissed him as the front doorbell rang and Wendel hustled upstairs.  Arosa answered the door, and David was dressed as Richard the Lionhearted.  She turned and shot a hard look up the stairs.  It was a good costume, too, almost good enough to give Arosa a feeling of home.  “You look very nice.”

            “You look.”  David had to pause for the right words.  “Very lovely.”  That was where he finally settled, though it was not what he was thinking.  Arosa saw much more in his eyes.  She smiled and looked down as she stepped out and took his arm.  They walked to the car, and as an afterthought, Arosa sent a bit of special magic, secretly, to let her sit comfortably in the front passenger seat, and still wear her seatbelt, despite the wings.  She had not thought of sitting in the car.

            “You do look lovely.”  David repeated himself as they got in and buckled up.  He really was a nice man, Arosa thought.

            In the house, Wendel Carter got his things and headed for the door, shouting back at Lila.  “I have to go back to the office.  I’ll see you at the school.  Your mother left supper on the stove for you.  Are you there, Lila?”

            Lila opened her door.  “I’m here. Grandpa.”  She shouted.  “I’ll lock the door when I go.”  She finished dressing and heard Grandpa’s car start and leave.  Lila let her magic out, but the wings would not attach and she could not grow any from scratch.  She felt useless.  Her magic was more yellow, like sunlight, and not the pure white of her mother’s magic.  She wondered briefly if that might have something to do with her difficulties, but she remembered when her mother explained that it should make no difference.  Barten-Cur’s magic tended to come with a light purple light, and he was a very powerful magician.

            “Someday.”  Lila said to herself, and she went downstairs and turned her nose up at the dinner her mother left.  She checked her resources and decided on the McDonalds, which was just a block from the school.