Thursday 20 September 2012

'How I hate My Beautiful Friend' - RFW - Challenge No. 45 - September 21, 2012




Welcome to Romantic Friday Writers Challenge No. 45 for Friday 21th September 2012. RFWers is a fortnightly challenge that is founded by and hosted by and Donna Hole. For Challenge No 45, participants are asked to write a text 400 words or less using the prompt, 'Oh how I hate my beautiful friend'.

We can forget about Jenny & Co for a while; but I'll let you know if it becomes a novel. This is a new story with new characters which may or may not have the potential of growing into something larger. I can't write a winner every time. I'm just writing a text for the prompt.








 Title: 'Oh how I hate my beautiful friend'

Charlotte Pearce opened the front door and found two policemen showing her their IDs and a large photograph of a fashionably dressed young woman with long flaming carrot-red hair.

'Sorry to bother you at home like this, Ms Pearce, but we have reason to believe that you may know this woman.'

Charlotte stared at the image of this all too familiar face and was debating whether or not to say that she knew her, but decided to tell the truth.

'Yes, that's Ramona alright, Ramona Slope.'

'Do you know her well?'

'I used to', mumbled Charlotte, remembering the last time they met; how Ramona barged in at her home and immediately began rummaging through her clothes-closet, trying on different garments, laughing at Charlotte the whole time. Then Ramona wandered out to the kitchen wearing one of Charlotte's favourite outfits, spilling wine on it and cackling like a witch. Charlotte had to take Ramona's billfold and threaten to keep her ID, credit cards and cash, if she did not return her clothes and leave. 

'Yes, I used to know her, but I don't see her any more.'

'When was the last time you saw Ramona Slope?'

'Oh, that was several months ago. We had a falling out, and I told her that I never wanted to see her again,' said Charlotte, 'Ramona had stolen some of my things and I didn't feel that I could trust her anymore.' But Charlotte did not reveal the most important item that Ramona had stolen: Charlotte's former boyfriend, Emil Klinger. It hurt to talk about Emil.

'We may need to ask more questions later. Will you be available this week?'


'Yes. I'm usually at home. Why are you so interested in Ramona? Has something happened?'


'Her parents have reported her missing, so it is important that you tell us what you know. Here's my card. Call me if you think of anything,' said one of the policemen and gave Charlotte his card.

Ramona, thought Charlotte. Maybe someone got tired of her insane laughter and practical jokes. What a waste. Such a beautiful woman, with no common sense or morals. A few minutes after the police had left, Charlotte thought: But if Ramona is missing, where's Emil? Maybe I should have asked about Emil.

Charlotte hated Ramona as much as she loved Emil.
  
***

Word count: 397
[Text Copyrght Christina Wigren 2012]
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Word count, according to WordCalc, for 'Oh how I hate my beautiful friend' is: 397; FCA; Full Critique Acceptable



















Best wishes,
Anna












P.S. 
This is a fictional text. Any resemblance to events, firms or to persons living or dead, is purely coincidental.


First Commenter:

Crystal 

of
The Heart of a Writer 
The Simple Kind of Life
















Monday 10 September 2012

'It's only words...' - Mrs. Jenny Matlock's Saturday Centus Week 123

Jenny Matlock  









Welcome to Saturday Centus, Mrs. Jenny Matlock's writing challenge, where participants are asked to write a text to a given prompt only using 100 words or less plus the prompt. This week's prompt is 'It's only words. And words are all I have...'

Here is my text:

***

Before nightfall, Jenny Holland wanted to write in her notebook, that she happened to have along on her air-trip, that ended with an emergency landing on a desert island.  She surveyed the wreckage and lack of equipment. The radio did not work, and she didn't know how to repair it. The pilot, who did, perished in the crash. Her colleague only survived a few days longer.

'Jack and Tom are dead. I am alone and without food or shelter. What now? It's only words. And words are all I have. Maybe I can find that toolbox that Jack talked about.'

Jenny started looking for the toolbox.

[Text copyright 2012 Christina Wigren]

***


Wordcount: 107

Best wishes,
Anna
P.S.
This text is fictional, but could be a part of my ongoing story for Romantic Friday Writers. If you would like to read the story so far, please go here.












First Commenter:
Judie
of 
Rogue Artists






Here are Mrs. Matlock's instructions:

Welcome to week ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY THREE of Saturday Centus.




PROMPT:  "It's only words.   And words are all I have..." 
WORD COUNT -  Not to exceed 109  (including the prompt)
STYLE OF WRITING - Any
PICTURES - Any Additional

The regular restrictions apply: PG, no splitting of the prompt, play nicely and visit the other entries, any style or genre of writing you prefer. Please display my link button or just a hyper-link back to Saturday Centus. Be careful to link your SC URL to the Linky and not just link to your main blog.
E-mail me directly with ???'s or ask your question in a comment and I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible.

Thursday 6 September 2012

'I should have kissed you' - RFW Challenge No. 44 for September 7th, 2012






Welcome to Romantic Friday Writers Challenge No. 44 for Friday 7th September 2012. RFWers is a fortnightly challenge that is founded by and hosted by and Donna Hole. For Challenge No 44, participants are asked to write a text 600 words or less using the prompt, 'I should have kissed you'.

I said earlier, that the text for 'Romantic Picnic' would be the last time that I post for RFW about Jenny & Co. I said this because I did not think that I could continue to fit the plot of this story into any more challenges. But I was wrong. There is a place in the story where 'I should have kissed you', might fit.

If you haven't read the story so far and would like to read it before reading the text for challenge No. 44, you will find it here.







 Title: 'I should have kissed you'

Sally Norton is the wife of the photographer, Tom Norton, who accompanied his writer-friend, Jenny Holland on a trip to the South Pacific. Here are excerpts from Sally Norton's diary:

August 29, 2009
Tom's old school friend, Jenny Holland, has won a writing contest and wants him to come with her on a trip to take photos. Tom has almost no assignments right now, so he really wants to go. Just a week. His photos will be published in Plot & Intrigue-Magazine along with Jenny's article. 

Sounds fun. Wish I could go. But someone has to stay with the children. And we can't afford my ticket.

September 14, 2009
Micky and Susan want a rabbit. The pet shop has something called 'Rent-a-Rabbit'. Families can rent a pet rabbit for a month and then return it to the breeder, when the novelty has worn off. I've ordered two.

September 15, 2009
Tom's excited about the trip. I helped him pack.

September 16, 2009
Drove Tom to the airport. Jenny, Paul and their children, as well as Paul's sister, Julia and her husband John, were all there. We came early and had time to eat lunch together. 

The kids wanted to eat hamburgers, but we succeeded in steering them away from McDonald's and took our meal at that French restaurant, Les Trois Gourmandes. Jenny ordered the Escalopes de Veal Chasseur, Paul had the Boeuf au Gingembre, Julia had the Rôti de porc poêlé, John, had the Gratin aux fruits de mer, Tom ate Beouf Bourguinon and I had Poulet poêlé à l'estragon. The children ate hamburgers: Bifteck haché. But Micky didn't like the onions and Susan wanted only catchup and no lettuce.

I hope that Jenny and Tom will have a good time. Hope it brings us luck. Tom needs the work and PR.

I am wondering how Jenny's and Paul's two children, Colin and Sarah, will take this separation. Sarah is so little. I don't understand how Jenny dare to leave her for a week, even if her mother and Paul's sister are taking care of her. She's so tiny. 

Jenny seems to have jumped at the chance to get away for a while. She has been more or less alone with the care of Colin and Sarah. Jenny says that Paul is a good provider, but I bet it hasn't been easy to be married to him. Jenny says that Paul has never changed a nappy or read a bedtime story. He seems to be more interested in his career than in his family. 

I'm lucky I've got Tom, who always helps me. Bless you Tom, wherever you are!

And now we're going to have another baby! Took a do-it-yourself-pregnancy-test when I came home from the airport. Micky and Susan are going to have a new little brother or sister! Must tell Tom! He'll be glad to hear this. Maybe I could leave a message at their hotel?

September 23, 2009
No word from Tom yet. Busy day today. Everything must be nice for Tom when he gets home. Picked up the rabbits yesterday. Micky and Susan call them 'Thumper' and 'Drusilla'. 'Thumper' is from Bambi, but why 'Drusilla'?

September 25, 2009
I don't know how to write this.
Someone from the embassy phoned. Tom and Jenny took a boat and their ship went down. They haven't found the bodies yet, if ever.

I just can't believe this. Must be some mistake. Say this isn't true. I didn't even kiss you good-bye. I should have kissed you. Please God, let me kiss my dear sweet Tom again.

  
***

Word count: 598


[Text Copyrght Christina Wigren 2012]
------
Word count for 'I should have kissed you' according to WordCalc is: 598; FCA; Full Critique Acceptable



















Best wishes,
Anna












P.S. 
This is a fictional text. Any resemblance to events, firms or to persons living or dead, is purely coincidental.


First Commenter:
Nilanjana Bose
of
Madly-in-Verse 







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