Brob’s Thread7

DOG          and         TROUBLE                                             

 

The Art of Companionship

 

1The best thing they had at the animal shelter was LaMont—a half-breed Rotweiler / Cockapoo that was presented to him as a Rotapoo, but then joggers can’t be choosers. 2Gregory ran every morning at 5:00 a.m. down Sherman Street and down a hazardous length of Colfax and he needed at least some semblance of protection provided by man’s best friend. 3But, unless you were a cat (for LaMont truly despised cats) the only thing intimidating about LaMont was the way he wheezed when he ran.

4Sure enough, two weeks after acquiring his four-legged bodyguard, a wild-eyed ruffian with a small knife stumbled out from behind a dumpster and implied an extemporaneous appendectomy if Gregory didn’t surrender a sizeable donation. 5True to form, LaMont stood there and wheezed—until a cat skittered out of the dumpster and landed in front of the would-be mugger. 6Abruptly motivated, LaMont sprang into action, causing the cat to attach itself to the ruffian’s thigh, who commenced screaming as he shook off the feline and fled down an alley.

7Gregory is never seen without LaMont and both seem content with the arrangement.

 

Wheel’s Thread7

BLIZZARD  and      SIGNATURE                                        

Downsized

1The storm moved in, howling in revenge against the summer that had burned for so long. 2William’s car made it two more blocks and then eased sideways into a drift outside the Mayfield Corporate Building, his wheels spinning uselessly.

3He could still make the 5:00 p.m. deadline with Benning: initial here, initial there, sign at the bottom and it was a done deal.

4It seemed ridiculous that there would be any danger—after all, this was downtown, where hundreds and hundred of people rushed through their itineraries and agendas. 5So William was surprised to find himself waking up in the hospital, his doctor explaining that he had been found unconscious in an alley that he had intended to be a shortcut.

6 Benning’s secretary Alice showed up with five minutes to spare, pushing the documents through the IV lines in the nick of time.

7 William reached out, discovering it difficult to take the pen when you didn’t have any fingers.

Scott Carter’s Thread8

Using help/distant

“Off!”

1. “Turn to the right, to the right!” Jaffa screamed as the heat lightning flashed by just under his feet, heating up his soles.

2. The arena dazzled the eye with the energy bursts, competitors racing around, under and above each other trying to get the upper hand.

3. “Where did it go?” Jaffa hollered over his shoulder.

4. His partner caught his eye and glanced off to the left where the tiny magnet whizzed between two other competitors, suddenly causing them to slam into each other and fall from the arena in a billow of acrid smoke.

5. A huge roar rose from the crowd as they realized a possible winning team was in the making.

6. There hadn’t been a winner at “Off” for at least half a century, but that wasn’t going to stop Jaffa – he was going to do it, but he needed help.

7. As the last two opponents were cut in half by a lightning surge – they hadn’t been paying attention – Jaffa realized the time had come.

8. “Now!” he screamed and flew as far distant from his teammate just as his teammate flew to the most distant corner of the arena – and with a loud crack the magnet disappeared into dust and the crowd exploded in joy for the new champions.

Raven’s Thread8

The Haves

1. Today had been a good day: he had sold everything and hadn’t gotten in trouble even once.

2. It was that second part that was the most important – he didn’t want to disappoint his mom who already had enough to worry about.

3. Some people say that the world is divided between the haves and the have nots, but Jonah didn’t seem to pay any attention to that – even if others put him down as a have-not.

4. His methods were simple: a little bit of chaos combined with a quick hand, a good eye for opportunity, and the ability and desire to make others happy – what could be easier?

5. At the market there were plenty of ‘haves’ selling their wares, serving their pizzas, pretzels and pork, or pouring cups of enjoyment, thirst-quenching or warmth.

6. Jonah knew that they were not careful, that they were lazy, and that they were wasteful – and he took advantage of their careless wastefulness.

7. There was another market, aplace where those who thought they were ‘have nots’ came to live what they thought was a life of decadence: here they could eat the crumbs from and partake of the nectar of the rich.

8. Jonah made his way home, his trained eye looking for any crumb, any puddle that might still be used; it was a good day.

Wheel’s Thread8

PUDDLE  and          CRUMBS                                               8 SENTENCES 

First Day

1You find that you have more difficulty than she did. 2Whereas she skipped into Kindergarten with a flick of her ponytail and a slight wave goodbye over her shoulder, you hesitate on the porch, your key a jagged thing in your hand.

3When you go inside, the house is empty. 4There will be no distractions and interruptions today.

5Finding the Lysol and Windex and a roll of paper towels, you set out to take care of the dust and stains, but it’s the silence that you want to scour away.

6In the kitchen you find a puddle of milk and a dusting of toast crumbs on the table and you turn away.

7That, you leave. 8Until she comes home.

Brob’s Thread8

HELP         and         DISTANT                                              8 SENTENCES 

SOS

1There were ships aware of the Titanic’s plight, but they were too far away. 2 There were others who were close enough, but they were not aware of the Titanic’s plight. 3Some had knowledge, but they didn’t have proximity. 4Some had proximity, but they didn’t have knowledge.

5Taylor thought it was all just a matter of Geography and Philosophy. 6Here in the city, you could sink so easily. 7To be close to people you had to know people. 8The rest was just dodging icebergs.

Wheel’s Thread9

BARK       and         BROTH                                 

Sustained

 1 Using the knife given him by the captain of the guard, Pyks was careful to break off only a piece of bark. 2 He had been foolish enough to get lost in the Barrens; he would not be foolish enough to ignore the plant lore he had known since he was a child. 3 Only the bark of the glissid tree should be used in a most dire circumstance to derive sustenance, for if you taste the tree itself, there is revealed a terrible mystery. 

4 Underneath the course rind of the tree, Pyks discovered a dark brown sheen with a fragrance that made his mouth water. 5 And he thought that if a broth made from the bark was enough to keep him from starving, surely the tree itself would give him enough strength to finish his journey back to the tower. 6 This, he reasoned to himself and he carved off a simple sliver and dropped it into the soup.

7 It was delicious and he fell asleep shortly after he swallowed the last of it, listening to the murmuring of the wind.

8 He was startled awake by the sensation of roots emerging from his arms and legs, anchoring him into the rich soil. 9 The transformation sloughed off his armor, his cries joining the wind that moved through his leaves—the mystery blowing wordless over the road. 

Brob’s Thread9

OWN         and         YESTERDAY                                       

Buying Time

1 On Monday, June 15, 2048, Nathan Denikin led the attack on the Fracture Faction, taking back control of the Demos Platform, with only one casualty and a helioblade burn on his upper arm. 2 On Monday, June 15, 2048, Nathan Denikin stood up in the Senate and defended a bill to protect the trans-stellar annihilation engine program. 3 On Monday, June 15, 2048, Nathan Denikin took his girlfriend to a waterfall in Dominica and proposed while the mist threw rainbows overhead. 4 On Monday, June 15, 2048, Nathan Denikin spent the day integrating artificial eyes for seven children making it possible for them to see for the first time in their lives. 5 On Monday, June 15, 2048, Nathan Denikin performed to a sold-out show, playing the cello for two hours while the audience alternated between cheering and weeping. 6 On Monday, June 15, 2048, Nathan Denikin scored two touchdowns in the new Toronto arena and signed a hundred autographs. 7 On Monday, June 15, 2048, Nathan Denikin pushed a beautiful girl out of the path of a rogue street glider, saving her life.

8 Seven splices were all he could afford—MindGlean charged quite a bit for units from famous people. 9 But it sure made for a pretty good week.

Raven’s Thread9

This is based on the words from Bret – bark/broth

Games people play
1. “Edith, how can you put up with that man? He is so caustic.”
2. “Now, dear – you only see one side of him, you know,” Edith poo-pooed as she fiddled about her tiny kitchenette, putting some water in a pan, chopping up some onion, the sound of clinking pans and ticking on wood.
3. “You know it’s all a game to him; when you come around, he figures it’s his right to bite a little – what else is there to make life interesting?” Edith finished.
4. “Well I’m not so sure about that,” the nurse replied with a huff, finishing off the bed-linens and coming up behind Edith, “ Do you mean to tell me that he doesn’t act like that around you?”
5. Edith looked up at her smiling reflection in the window, her aging eyes twinkling as ever, “Oh, he plays a different game when I’m around.”
6. “Well, at least he’s not like that horrid Mr. Denton down the way – he can’t keep his hands to himself,” the nurse began and then turned beet-red as she realized what she was implying and how she was gossiping.
7. “I’m sorry Edith – I didn’t mean to say… I mean … I…”
8. “Don’t worry about it sweetheart,” Edith shushed her as she put the last touches to her broth and headed down the hall of the care-home to her husband’s room, “just be happy that his bark is worse than his bite.”
9. The smell of rich broth wafted into the room as Edith opened the door and she smiled as her husband of 70 years, a twinkle in his eye, removed his teeth, gumming a smile as she sat at his side to share these intimate moments again.

Scott Carter’s Thread9

This is based on the words I sent to Bret – own/yesterday

My own, yesterday
1. He checked it all out again, scanning the items as if it were loot gathered in a life of piracy: a bicycle he didn’t really ride anymore, his guitar – waiting to be sung to, a set of pans he had been able to purchase saving coupons from the grocery store – their orange flowers screaming from the white enamel sides, several boxes with various papers and books, some old school books, and a few suitcases with his warddrobe.
2. So this was his life, all packed together in less than half the space of a small bedroom.
3. His possessions barely took up the space of a good-size bed, and yet they were his; he owned them.
4. “Are you ready to go? The truck is outside – not that we’ll need a truck.”
5. He glanced around at the laughing face, awoken from his reverie of his yesterdays.
6. “Yeah, we need to get going if we are going to get there on time.”
7. He wouldn’t be returning to this place; it would never be the same again, even if he did return, because he was different.
8. Yesterday he owned all that he now saw piled in a little heap in front of him, and himself.
9. He looked again at the eyes smiling into his own and couldn’t restrain his own smile; they were no more their own, this woman and man – they now belonged to each other – and yesterday made way for what tomorrow would bring.