By the time Remy reached the outskirts of her camp, her lips were cracked and bloody. Blisters from the desert sun dotted her nose and forehead, and her dark hair was matted more than usual. She had walked for three days along old “Hwy 8” with only two canteens of water and the remains of a crudely bound book clutched to her chest.
While the sun was setting, dragon’s breath wafted up from the cracked asphalt. The soles of Remy’s shoes were sticky from the heat and marked her path as she dragged her feet along the road, toward her grandmother’s tent.
The camp’s generators kicked sand up as she passed the massive cluster of roaring machinery. The stench of gasoline burned her nose and settled into the fibers of her clothing. As she rubbed her eyes with her free hand, she smeared dirt and blood across her face. Coughing, she ducked into the shadows and waited until she caught her breath before moving on.
Remy pushed through the heavy canvas doors and collapsed onto the area rug in the front room. She closed her eyes, let out a sigh of relief, and kicked off her shoes. Relinquishing the book, she slid it under her head and began to move her legs and arms across the floor. When she finally peeled herself from the rug and headed toward the bath to wash up, the dusty outline of her carpet angel remained.
“Is that you, child?” The familiar voice of her grandmother questioned from the other room.
“Yes, Ma’m. I’m sorry I’m late, Nan,” Remy shouted.
“Take your time. I will fix you a bite to eat.” She laughed.
The voice of her grandmother and the smell of breakfast made the process of scraping the dirt from her blistered flesh much easier. The water in the basin felt cooler than normal.
Ham and eggs were waiting for Remy at one end of the small kitchen table as she came out of the washroom. She quickly sat and began to eat. Slowly she let the flavors explode on her tongue as the weight of the last few days sank into her bones, and she hunched forward.
“Sit up properly, girl,” Nan said as she sat down in front of her at the table.
“Yes, Ma’m.” She sat up.
“What is this?” Nan asked as she slid the book onto the table. Remy dropped her fork, but her grandmother began to turn the slick pages instead of waiting for a response. “Where did you get this?”
Panic rose in Remy’s chest. She wanted to jump over the table and pull her book away. She wanted to shout keep your hands off that book, but she could barely breathe. She tried to push the knot back down her throat and closed her eyes, gripping the edge of the table.
A few moments passed and she opened her eyes. Nan was still turning the pages of the book, and tears were streaming down her delicate face. “Grandmother,” Remy whispered, but she did not look up. Remy cleared her throat, “Grandmother.”
“Your father used to collect comic books like these. Look how well these pages are preserved. Someone really loved these books.”
“I know.”
“Where did you get this?”
“I found it when we were out last… scavenging.” Remy did not explain that the book was split up between her and the other two girls, how she had lost most of her pages in an unfair card game, and how she had stolen her pages (and then some) back from Angel while she slept.
“How did you get away from those raiders?” her grandmother asked.
“What?” Remy tilted her head and screwed up her swollen face.
“Angel told the council that you were attacked by raiders…”
“Raiders?”
“She said that the three of you were attacked. They killed Tara… she said she couldn’t find you before she escaped in the camper,” Nan said as she raised her head and looked at Remy. “They thought you were dead.”
“Raiders? Raiders killed Tara? Are you sure?”
“Angel was able to bring back her body. Her throat was slit.”
Remy dropped her head into her hands. She followed the same road that the camper had traveled, and she hadn’t seen anyone for three days. “Grandmother, there were no raiders.” Remy shook her head. “Angel must have done it...”
“That’s a strong accusation, Thief. I wondered when you would make it back.” Angel stood in the doorway. The corner of her mouth twitched around a stubby cigar. Her freshly shaved head sported bruises and cuts but somehow managed to glimmer in the tent lighting.
“A lady shouldn’t smoke,” Nan stated.
“I never said I was a lady,” Angel spat. “What’s this?” she walked toward the table and grabbed a handful of pages from the book, but Nan had a good grip and pulled them away, sliding the laminated pages through the meat of Angel’s hand.
Instantly Angel was on Nan smearing her bloody hand on her face and gripping the front of her nightgown. Remy pushed the table back. “Hey!” Remy shouted, “Keep your hands off my Grandmother!” Angel smiled and tightened her grip on Nan.
Remy jumped up and over the table, plunged her fork deep into Angel’s shoulder, and pushed her off Nan. Angel fell backward, hit her head on the corner of the table, and crumpled to the floor.
They stood and stared at her for several minutes, shaking. “Grandmother?” Remy whispered.
“Yes, Child?”
“Are you alright?”
“I… I think so.”
“We should probably go,” Remy said.
“Where, girl?”
“Anywhere,” she said. “Anywhere, but here.”
Friday, April 30, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Something Practical
“Only in a backwards world do guys throw baby showers for their guy friends, Ben,” Melanie said as she stuffed her tiny foot into an even tinier black heel.
“The guys from work planned this. I’m just following along.” Ben studied his reflection in the bathroom mirror and ran his fingers back and forth through his hair, “what do I buy for him?”
“What’s he having?”
“A baby.”
Melanie stared at Ben’s reflection in the mirror as he continued to strategically mess his hair. “Oh my god, Ben... a boy or a girl? I meant, is he having a boy… or a girl?”
Ben blinked. “Oh,” he said. “I don’t know.”
Melanie shook her head, straightened her dress, and walked out of the room.
“Are you going to help me here?” he shouted to his wife.
“You’re on your own on this one,” she shouted back as she opened the garage door and disappeared.
The office was surprisingly dull, and the day progressed at a snail’s pace. Ben had three meetings with four clients and had little to say to any of them. This baby gift was really eating at him, so he decided to leave early for lunch to shop around.
The first boutique was an epic failure. While the colors and tiny outfits in the window said baby, the interior screamed adult bondage. The second place stocked more than a fair share of breast pumps and hemorrhoid creams. While asking for help at the third stop, the clerk spoke to him in a sickly sweet voice, “Are you a new daddy?” It was turning out to be an impossible quest, and Ben was feeling the sting of defeat.
Ben stopped at a convenient store to grab a soda and sandwich. The thought had crossed his mind, to just give money as a gift, so he purchased an overpriced card, took it to his car, and filled it out while he ate.
He was ready to return to the office when he saw the sign, “The Coldest Beer in Town! Cheap Cigarettes! 99 Cent Corn Dogs!”
“Beer!” he shouted behind the closed doors of his Chevy Malibu. “I can get him beer and some… diapers! Diapers for the baby and beer for Dad. Oh man, I… am… Awesome.”
The rest of the day was smooth sailing, and Ben had a bit of spring in his step. “Hey Ben,” a co-worker stopped him in the hall. “Going to Randall’s baby shower?”
“Yep,” Ben smiled. “Is everyone heading over to Jerry’s after work?”
“Yeah, they reserved the small room in back for us. I’m thinking about taking off early, to see if they need help setting up.”
“Setting up?”
“Oh, just move some tables around and make sure that the bar is stocked.”
“Cool. What did you get Randall? The baby gift?” Ben asked.
“Oh shit, man, I got him an awesome gift.”
“No way, Chuck,” Ben held up a hand. “The gift I got him will blow your gift away.”
“What did you get him?”
“Shit… I am not telling you. You will try to one-up me the last minute. You’ll just have to wait and see.”
“Ha! OK. I am going to head that way. See you a little later.”
“Later, Bro.”
At 5:00, Ben was already standing on the curb outside of Jerry’s; a twelve pack of Bud Light tucked under one arm and a pack of diapers under the other. A few moments before, he had taken the liberty of writing “FROM: BEN CHESTER” with sharpie on both packages. He didn’t think his gift needed a frilly bow, but he slid a stick of beef jerky alongside one of the bottles of beer for good measure.
Opening the heavy wooden door of Jerry’s required superhuman skills, but Ben pulled it off like a pro. He nodded at Jerry at the bar and walked toward the back room.
The small room was bursting full of business casual, and Randall was already engaged in a round of shots at the corner bar. Ben waved at a few friends and headed toward the back of the room to drop of his baby gifts.
Two tables had been set up for gifts. One completely full of diapers; most were unwrapped, but a few sported bows. Ben figured this would be a common purchase for most of the party goers, so he had bought a larger size to accommodate a growing baby.
He had just slid the diapers onto the table when he noticed the presents on the next one. His heart sank. The table was almost buckling under the weight of cases of beer, bottles of wine, boxes of wine, whiskey, Jagermeister, and coffee. In the mix there were packages of peanuts, microwave popcorn, and nudie magazines.
“I think we should call it a draw,” Chuck laughed as he smacked Ben on the back. “Come on, we’re already behind.”
“Indeed,” Ben said as the two headed toward the bar and guest of honor.
Ben crept into bed a little before midnight, and Melanie’s eyes flicked open. “Nice baby shower?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he yawned, “Randall got a nice haul.”
“What did you decide to get him?”
“Oh, I decided on something practical.”
“That’s nice,” Melanie mustered before falling back to sleep.
“The guys from work planned this. I’m just following along.” Ben studied his reflection in the bathroom mirror and ran his fingers back and forth through his hair, “what do I buy for him?”
“What’s he having?”
“A baby.”
Melanie stared at Ben’s reflection in the mirror as he continued to strategically mess his hair. “Oh my god, Ben... a boy or a girl? I meant, is he having a boy… or a girl?”
Ben blinked. “Oh,” he said. “I don’t know.”
Melanie shook her head, straightened her dress, and walked out of the room.
“Are you going to help me here?” he shouted to his wife.
“You’re on your own on this one,” she shouted back as she opened the garage door and disappeared.
The office was surprisingly dull, and the day progressed at a snail’s pace. Ben had three meetings with four clients and had little to say to any of them. This baby gift was really eating at him, so he decided to leave early for lunch to shop around.
The first boutique was an epic failure. While the colors and tiny outfits in the window said baby, the interior screamed adult bondage. The second place stocked more than a fair share of breast pumps and hemorrhoid creams. While asking for help at the third stop, the clerk spoke to him in a sickly sweet voice, “Are you a new daddy?” It was turning out to be an impossible quest, and Ben was feeling the sting of defeat.
Ben stopped at a convenient store to grab a soda and sandwich. The thought had crossed his mind, to just give money as a gift, so he purchased an overpriced card, took it to his car, and filled it out while he ate.
He was ready to return to the office when he saw the sign, “The Coldest Beer in Town! Cheap Cigarettes! 99 Cent Corn Dogs!”
“Beer!” he shouted behind the closed doors of his Chevy Malibu. “I can get him beer and some… diapers! Diapers for the baby and beer for Dad. Oh man, I… am… Awesome.”
The rest of the day was smooth sailing, and Ben had a bit of spring in his step. “Hey Ben,” a co-worker stopped him in the hall. “Going to Randall’s baby shower?”
“Yep,” Ben smiled. “Is everyone heading over to Jerry’s after work?”
“Yeah, they reserved the small room in back for us. I’m thinking about taking off early, to see if they need help setting up.”
“Setting up?”
“Oh, just move some tables around and make sure that the bar is stocked.”
“Cool. What did you get Randall? The baby gift?” Ben asked.
“Oh shit, man, I got him an awesome gift.”
“No way, Chuck,” Ben held up a hand. “The gift I got him will blow your gift away.”
“What did you get him?”
“Shit… I am not telling you. You will try to one-up me the last minute. You’ll just have to wait and see.”
“Ha! OK. I am going to head that way. See you a little later.”
“Later, Bro.”
At 5:00, Ben was already standing on the curb outside of Jerry’s; a twelve pack of Bud Light tucked under one arm and a pack of diapers under the other. A few moments before, he had taken the liberty of writing “FROM: BEN CHESTER” with sharpie on both packages. He didn’t think his gift needed a frilly bow, but he slid a stick of beef jerky alongside one of the bottles of beer for good measure.
Opening the heavy wooden door of Jerry’s required superhuman skills, but Ben pulled it off like a pro. He nodded at Jerry at the bar and walked toward the back room.
The small room was bursting full of business casual, and Randall was already engaged in a round of shots at the corner bar. Ben waved at a few friends and headed toward the back of the room to drop of his baby gifts.
Two tables had been set up for gifts. One completely full of diapers; most were unwrapped, but a few sported bows. Ben figured this would be a common purchase for most of the party goers, so he had bought a larger size to accommodate a growing baby.
He had just slid the diapers onto the table when he noticed the presents on the next one. His heart sank. The table was almost buckling under the weight of cases of beer, bottles of wine, boxes of wine, whiskey, Jagermeister, and coffee. In the mix there were packages of peanuts, microwave popcorn, and nudie magazines.
“I think we should call it a draw,” Chuck laughed as he smacked Ben on the back. “Come on, we’re already behind.”
“Indeed,” Ben said as the two headed toward the bar and guest of honor.
Ben crept into bed a little before midnight, and Melanie’s eyes flicked open. “Nice baby shower?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he yawned, “Randall got a nice haul.”
“What did you decide to get him?”
“Oh, I decided on something practical.”
“That’s nice,” Melanie mustered before falling back to sleep.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Chemically Induced Optimism
Lying on his bunk, Brian ran his fingers across the ceiling of his bedroom. Blue paint dripped from his hands, down his forearms, and onto his bare chest. The paint mingled with red and green stains on his skin.
“You are so lucky, Pete,” Brian groaned. He rubbed his sticky hands across his face, slid off his bed, and sat heavily on his brother’s bottom bunk.
“Sorry, Bro,” Peter replied from his desk.
“I can’t stand her…”
“Well, at least she’s pretty.”
“Pretty dreadful, “Brian said. The brothers shared a look and burst into laughter, but it was short lived for Brian. He ran his hands across his face again, blue pooled in the dimple on his right cheek and smeared across his forehead, “I really don’t know if I can do this. It’s the rest of my life, and every time I hear her voice,” his eyelids fluttered, “I want to explode.”
“Have you talked to Counselor Reed?”
“She made an appointment for me with Dr. Williams. That was a lot of help…”
“Did he give you something? Marco said they have some sort of bonding drug.”
“Yeah, he did.”
“Well?”
“It’s shit… Didn’t work. I was so excited about it when I first got it. I had made plans to take Rachel to a nice dinner and then spend some time in the gardens. I followed the instruction, and nothing changed.”
“Maybe you didn’t do it right.”
“No, Pete. I did it right. She must have some sort of super powers that make her exceptionally revolting. You’re so freaking lucky you’re thirteen…”
“Two more years…”
“Two more years. What I wouldn’t give for two more years,” Brian said as he sulked into the bathroom to wash the mess from his face and hands.
…
The elevator outside of Brian’s living quarters was under maintenance, so with a heavy sigh, he pushed open the door to the stairwell. He had already spent his required hour and half between the pool and fitness arena, so he wasn’t too eager to climb up the twenty-two flights to Level 12.
Brian sat down to catch his breath. Regret was eating at him, but he wasn’t going to climb back down only to change his mind and make the trek back up again.
Café Max seeped through the door and begged him out of hiding. As much as he wanted to stop and enjoy his favorite cup, Brian pushed on past the shops toward Low End, the slightly sunken and mostly condemned area furthest from the elevators.
He crossed the rope that marked off the area, stepped over a large crack in the foundation, and followed the “no entry” signs down toward the heart of Low End.
As Brian approached a group of people, he noticed an older classmate, Avery Miller, talking to a boy next to a large Eden Corporation poster. Avery noticed him and waved him over, but continued his conversation with the wild-eyed youth.
The boy’s gaze followed Avery’s hand toward a girl dressed in tattered clothing leaned up again the wall near a trash bin. Her eyes were rolled back in her head and her breathing was strange. She ran her hands up and down her body lingering on her exposed flesh. Two boys sat down in front of her, and gave her their full attention. She didn’t seem to notice. “What’s wrong with her?” the boy asked.
Avery laughed, “Nothing is wrong with her.” The boy looked again and the girl was on her hands and knees kissing one of the boys in her audience while the other played with her hair.
“What else do you have?” The boy glanced over at the girl again. This time she was kissing the other boy.
“Well...” Avery laughed again as the boy stared at the scene open mouthed, “Does that bother you?”
“She looks young…“
“She’s married.” The boy’s jaw dropped. “That’s her husband right there.” Avery pointed to another boy sitting on a bench watching the girl move from one boy to the next, smiling. “Think on it a few. I am going to talk to my friend here.” Avery said as he grabbed Brian’s arm and pulled him aside.
“Hey,” Brian said.
“Hey, Oldham,” Avery smiled, “I have something for you.”
“What is it?”
“Does it really matter…”
…
“Brian… Brian,” Rachel nudged him with her foot. He was lying on his back in the basking room waiting for her, enjoying the warmth of the lamps.
“Hey… you,” he smiled, opened his eyes, and propped up on his elbows.
“Oh my gosh! Where have you been all day? We have an appointment tomorrow to go over…”
“You look… pretty.” He sat up.
“and wedding schedules. My mother thinks it would be a good idea if we planned our wedding in a little over a month so…”
“Your hair is… nice.”Brian watched as Rachel’s mouth continued to move. “I really can’t stand you,” he sighed.
“The adoption process takes a few weeks to finalize our blood work. I have a copy of the catalog, so we can determine which traits we would like our child to have...”
“Well...I am glad I got that out in the open,” Brian said as he watched her continue on.
“I know we are supposed to have one child, but I really would like three. I really love having a sister, and…”
“I really wish you would shut up.”
“Really it’s whatever you think,” Rachel said as she sat down next to Brian on the grassy floor.
“Wow,” Brian mouthed.
“What?” she leaned toward him as Brian leaned in, brushed the blonde hair out of her face, and kissed her softly on the mouth. Rachel’s face turned a bright shade of red, and she tried to make herself look busy shuffling pamphlets.
Brian leaned back onto the warm grass and smiled.
“You are so lucky, Pete,” Brian groaned. He rubbed his sticky hands across his face, slid off his bed, and sat heavily on his brother’s bottom bunk.
“Sorry, Bro,” Peter replied from his desk.
“I can’t stand her…”
“Well, at least she’s pretty.”
“Pretty dreadful, “Brian said. The brothers shared a look and burst into laughter, but it was short lived for Brian. He ran his hands across his face again, blue pooled in the dimple on his right cheek and smeared across his forehead, “I really don’t know if I can do this. It’s the rest of my life, and every time I hear her voice,” his eyelids fluttered, “I want to explode.”
“Have you talked to Counselor Reed?”
“She made an appointment for me with Dr. Williams. That was a lot of help…”
“Did he give you something? Marco said they have some sort of bonding drug.”
“Yeah, he did.”
“Well?”
“It’s shit… Didn’t work. I was so excited about it when I first got it. I had made plans to take Rachel to a nice dinner and then spend some time in the gardens. I followed the instruction, and nothing changed.”
“Maybe you didn’t do it right.”
“No, Pete. I did it right. She must have some sort of super powers that make her exceptionally revolting. You’re so freaking lucky you’re thirteen…”
“Two more years…”
“Two more years. What I wouldn’t give for two more years,” Brian said as he sulked into the bathroom to wash the mess from his face and hands.
The elevator outside of Brian’s living quarters was under maintenance, so with a heavy sigh, he pushed open the door to the stairwell. He had already spent his required hour and half between the pool and fitness arena, so he wasn’t too eager to climb up the twenty-two flights to Level 12.
Brian sat down to catch his breath. Regret was eating at him, but he wasn’t going to climb back down only to change his mind and make the trek back up again.
Café Max seeped through the door and begged him out of hiding. As much as he wanted to stop and enjoy his favorite cup, Brian pushed on past the shops toward Low End, the slightly sunken and mostly condemned area furthest from the elevators.
He crossed the rope that marked off the area, stepped over a large crack in the foundation, and followed the “no entry” signs down toward the heart of Low End.
As Brian approached a group of people, he noticed an older classmate, Avery Miller, talking to a boy next to a large Eden Corporation poster. Avery noticed him and waved him over, but continued his conversation with the wild-eyed youth.
The boy’s gaze followed Avery’s hand toward a girl dressed in tattered clothing leaned up again the wall near a trash bin. Her eyes were rolled back in her head and her breathing was strange. She ran her hands up and down her body lingering on her exposed flesh. Two boys sat down in front of her, and gave her their full attention. She didn’t seem to notice. “What’s wrong with her?” the boy asked.
Avery laughed, “Nothing is wrong with her.” The boy looked again and the girl was on her hands and knees kissing one of the boys in her audience while the other played with her hair.
“What else do you have?” The boy glanced over at the girl again. This time she was kissing the other boy.
“Well...” Avery laughed again as the boy stared at the scene open mouthed, “Does that bother you?”
“She looks young…“
“She’s married.” The boy’s jaw dropped. “That’s her husband right there.” Avery pointed to another boy sitting on a bench watching the girl move from one boy to the next, smiling. “Think on it a few. I am going to talk to my friend here.” Avery said as he grabbed Brian’s arm and pulled him aside.
“Hey,” Brian said.
“Hey, Oldham,” Avery smiled, “I have something for you.”
“What is it?”
“Does it really matter…”
“Brian… Brian,” Rachel nudged him with her foot. He was lying on his back in the basking room waiting for her, enjoying the warmth of the lamps.
“Hey… you,” he smiled, opened his eyes, and propped up on his elbows.
“Oh my gosh! Where have you been all day? We have an appointment tomorrow to go over…”
“You look… pretty.” He sat up.
“and wedding schedules. My mother thinks it would be a good idea if we planned our wedding in a little over a month so…”
“Your hair is… nice.”Brian watched as Rachel’s mouth continued to move. “I really can’t stand you,” he sighed.
“The adoption process takes a few weeks to finalize our blood work. I have a copy of the catalog, so we can determine which traits we would like our child to have...”
“Well...I am glad I got that out in the open,” Brian said as he watched her continue on.
“I know we are supposed to have one child, but I really would like three. I really love having a sister, and…”
“I really wish you would shut up.”
“Really it’s whatever you think,” Rachel said as she sat down next to Brian on the grassy floor.
“Wow,” Brian mouthed.
“What?” she leaned toward him as Brian leaned in, brushed the blonde hair out of her face, and kissed her softly on the mouth. Rachel’s face turned a bright shade of red, and she tried to make herself look busy shuffling pamphlets.
Brian leaned back onto the warm grass and smiled.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Oklahoma? Beautiful?
My family and I moved back to Oklahoma last July. While I was born and raised here, I don't remember seeing the trees blooming like they have been the last couple of weeks.
I had to take some photos this evening in my yard, so I could show you how truly beautiful it is here right now.
I don't expect them to last long with the crazy wind, but I am going to enjoy them while I can.
I had to take some photos this evening in my yard, so I could show you how truly beautiful it is here right now.
I don't expect them to last long with the crazy wind, but I am going to enjoy them while I can.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Pimpin' Novak
Long ago, in a land far, far away (MySpace)...
I met an incredibly talented writer/illustrator (add filmmaker into the mix) by the name of Steven Novak, who blogged multiple times a week. Novak's top blog posts were filled with stories of his awkward youth, trying adulthood, and HILARIOUS fiction. He quickly scored readers by the hundreds, and personally responded to each and every comment.
Like most of his older readers, I felt a sort of family attachment. I purchased any self-published projects, to not only support my friend, but also because I was honestly proud of his accomplishments.
So...
Please check out Steve Novak's newest baby, Forts: Book 1 Fathers & Sons!
Description:
Check out the video trailer for Forts: Book 1 Fathers & Sons
I have an affinity for geeks, goobers, and underdogs. I am not saying that Steven Novak is all of the above (maybe a couple), but he is sure to pass on some of those traits to his characters. I am really excited about this book, and I look forward to welcoming these characters into my awkward family.
<3
~2
I met an incredibly talented writer/illustrator (add filmmaker into the mix) by the name of Steven Novak, who blogged multiple times a week. Novak's top blog posts were filled with stories of his awkward youth, trying adulthood, and HILARIOUS fiction. He quickly scored readers by the hundreds, and personally responded to each and every comment.
Like most of his older readers, I felt a sort of family attachment. I purchased any self-published projects, to not only support my friend, but also because I was honestly proud of his accomplishments.
So...
Please check out Steve Novak's newest baby, Forts: Book 1 Fathers & Sons!
Description:
For Tommy Jarvis, life has never been simple - quite the opposite, in fact. It is, however, about to become decidedly more difficult. Moments after stumbling through a doorway to another world, Tommy and his friends discover they are the key to ending a war in which the casualties are too great to count and their chances of survival are almost nonexistent. - Amazon listing
Check out the video trailer for Forts: Book 1 Fathers & Sons
I have an affinity for geeks, goobers, and underdogs. I am not saying that Steven Novak is all of the above (maybe a couple), but he is sure to pass on some of those traits to his characters. I am really excited about this book, and I look forward to welcoming these characters into my awkward family.
<3
~2
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)